Bible Institute: Canonicity - Class #4

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Springville Road Bible Institute -

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This is  lesson #4 in a study of canonicity, a study about where we get our Bible.  Your instructor is Elder David Nichols.

1. The development of the Old Testament Canon involved a period of development from 1500 B.C. to 100 A.D.
 A)  Progressive collection of prophetic books B)  Prophetic continuity through the books  C)  Books accepted by all – Homologoumena  D) Books rejected by all – Pseudepigrapha  E)  Books disputed by some – Antilegomena  F)  Books accepted by some – Apocrypha
2. From the very beginning, the inspired writings were collected by the people of God and they were revered as being very special and sacred.
3. The books of Moses were cited throughout the Old Testament
4. A psalm of David – Ps. 18 – is recorded word for word in II Sam.22
5. Daniel cites Jeremiah 25 in Daniel 9:2.
6. The prophet Jonah recites parts from many psalms (Jonah 2)
7. Clearly there is seen a progressive collection interlocking the Old Testament together so that we can see a growing collection of divinely
8. There was also a prophetic continuity through the books:            * One Theme – Jehovah – Jesus Christ  * One problem – sin – separation from God  * One solution – salvation by a substitutionary atonement by a Savior 
9. Joshua wrote the last chapter of Genesis
10. Judges continues after the death of Joshua, the son of Nun.
11. Samuel established a school of prophets I Sam. 19:20
12. Homologoumena – to speak as one
13. Pseudepigrapha – false writings
14. Antilegomena- to speak against
15. Apocrypha – hidden or doubtful   
16. Homologoumena – received by all  *  34 of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament were never disputed
17. Pseudepigrapha – rejected by all    * Most of these books arose from within the context of religious fantasy *Curiosity about the death of Moses led to the writing of the non-canonical book, "Assumption of Moses *  These books reflect a literary style of a period around 200 B.C.  To 200 A.D
18. Antilegomena – disputed by some

Five -                                    Rejected because: 
The Songs of Solomon        Too sensual
Ecclesiastes                         Too skeptical
Esther                                   No mention of God by name
Ezekiel                                  Too anti-Mosaic
Proverbs                               Too conflicting
Apocrypha – accepted by some
Def. Something understood only by the initiated and not an outsider There are fifteen books Usually placed between Malachi and Matthew.