Springville Road Community Church
"Knowing God... Making God Known"
 
Bible Institute: Canonicity - Class #9 This is  lesson #9 in a study of canonicity, a study about where we get our Bible.  Your instructor is Elder David Nichols.

1.  Inspiration = Authority of God’s Word
     Canonicity = Acceptance  of God’s Word 
     Transmission = Accuracy of God’s Word
2.  The unique features of the Hebrew and Greek languages:
    Hebrew – Very emotional, pictorial, personal language
    Greek – Universal , intellectual language, a language of the mind
3.  Advancements in Writing – Four Stages of Development
    A.  Pictograms  (7000 B.C. – 3500 B.C.)
    B.  Ideograms  (3500 B.C. – 2100 B.C.)
    C.  Phonograms   (2100 B.C. to 1400 B.C.)
    D.  Alphabet  (1450 B.C.)
4.  Writing Materials:
    A.  Clay  (Jer. 17:13, Ezek.4:1)
    B.  Stone  - Rosetta stone
    C.  Papyrus - Egyptian form of paper
    D.  Vellum – (Calf skins)
    E.  Parchment – (Lamb skins)
    F.  Leather -  (Cowhide)
    G.  Metal  - Only thin sheets, of soft materials like lead
    H.  Ostraca - Potsherds
    I.   Paper  (Alabama is 3rd leading producer in the world)
5.  What is a manuscript?  A copy  - The original letters are called autographs.
6.  Manuscripts are a key link in understanding the chain “from God to us.? They provide tangible and very important evidence about the transmission of the Bible.
7.  No manuscripts or portions of manuscripts exist that were written before the  Babylonian captivity (586 B.C.) but there are quite a few scripture copies dating from the Talmudic era (300 B.C. to 500 A.D.)
8.  Two General Classes of Old Testament Manuscripts:
    A.  The Synagogue Roll
    B.  Private copies
9.  The New Testament has a tremendous amount of manuscripts in whole or fragments (as many as some 14,000) some dating back to 125 A.D.
10.  Major Manuscripts of the Bible
    A.  Cairo Geneza Manuscript
    B.  Masoretic text
11.  The Old Testament text owes its accuracy to the commitment, ability and reliability of the scribes and scholars who transmitted it.
12.  The “Great Debate?
      Older is Better vs.  More  is better
13.  Uncials had no punctuation, all capitals, and no divisions
Minuscule manuscripts were written during the age known as the     “Queen of the Cursive.?
15. In the fullness of time, God in His sovereignty and grace brought together all of the ingredients to preserve His Word and to propagate His gospel message.
Direct download: canonicity_09.mp3
Category:Bible Institute -- posted at: 8:00am CDT