Bible Institute: Canonicity - Class #5

This is  lesson #5 in a study of canonicity, a study about where we get our Bible.  Your instructor is Elder David Nichols.

1.The 5 basic criteria of Canonicity
    1)  Is it authoritative – does it claim to be of God?
    2)  Is it prophetic – was it written by a servant of God?
    3)  Is it authentic – does it tell the truth about God, man, etc.?
    4)  Is the book dynamic – does it possess  the life-    transforming power of God?
    5)  Is the book received or accepted by the people of     God?
2. The development of the Old Testament canon was during the period of 1500 B.C. to 100 A.D.
3. The development of the New Testament canon was during the period of 55 A.D. to 200 A.D.
4. Apocrypha = hidden, misunderstood
5. Purposes in putting together a New Testament canon
    a.  The Ecclesiastical reason
    b.  The Theological reason
    c.  The Political reason
6. Emperor Constantine became a Christian and ordered Eusebius to prepare 50 Bibles to be distributed
7. The New Testament was written during the last half of the first century.
8. During the 4th century – 27 books are secured as canonical and have never been questioned since.
9. Books rejected by all “Pseudepigrapha? – By the 9th century, it has been estimated that perhaps there were as many as 280 of these books.
10. These books were completely rejected by all the church fathers because none of them met any of the standards of canonicity and many of them teach heresy and religious fantasy.
11. Books disputed by some – “Antilegomena?
    a.  Hebrews
    b.  James
    c.  II Peter
    d.  II and III John
    e.  Jude
    f.  Revelation
12.  Of the twenty seven books that make up our New Testament, all have passed the test of canonicity and have a permanent place in our Bible.