Canon

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Bible

The books that meet the standard and are worthy of inclusion. They have to have God's authority for what they say. God spoke through its human author to teach his people what to believe and how to behave. It is not just a record of revelation, but the permanent written form of revelation. This makes the books of the Bible different from all other books.

(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Canon of the Old Testament by R. T. Beckwith. Pages 51-52.)

Canonization of the Bible

References to the canon in Scripture

It was possible for a short document like Exodus 20-23 to become canonical before it had grown to anything like the length of the book that now embodies it. The people recognized the divine authority of the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 24:7), Hilkiah recognized the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22-23), and the people recognized the Book of the Law read by Ezra (Nehemiah 8-14) as having divine authority and serving as a written rule of faith and practice for God's people before they were canonized. Other examples: Joshua 1:7; 8:31; 23:6-8; 1 Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 14:6; 17:37; Hosea 8:12; Daniel 9:11; 13; Ezra 3:2, 4; 1 Chronicles 16:40; and 2 Chronicles 17:9; 23:18; 30:5; 18; 31:3; 35:26.

Deuteronomy was considered canonical even within Moses' lifetime (Deuteronomy 31:24-26), for this writing was placed beside the Ark.

The Bible commonly refers to the Pentateuch as canonical. The Pentateuch was basically completed by one prophet by the time of Ezra and Nehemiah and was closed to continual addition. The other books were produced later and were not complete until after the return from the Babylonian exile.

The Pentateuch was accepted as canonical by both Jews and Samaritans, suggesting it was canon before their split.

Moses is depicted as a writer of Scripture (Exodus 17:14; 24:4; 7, 34:27; Numbers 33:2; Deuteronomy 28:58; 61; 29:20-27; 30:10; 31:9-13, 19, 22, 24-26.

(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Canon of the Old Testament by R. T. Beckwith. Pages 51-56.)

The formation of the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, and the New Testament

Do not change the canonized books

There was a time when these documents were being added to and edited by a succession of prophets. There are signs of growth in some books: Psalm 72:20 - "The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended." and Proverbs 25:1 - "These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied."

  • Deuteronomy 4:2 - You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.
  • Deuteronomy 12:32 - “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it."
  • Proverbs 30:6 - Do not add to his words, / lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Canon of the Old Testament by R. T. Beckwith. Pages 51-56.)

Disputes

The Samaritans rejected all books of the OT except the Pentateuch.

From the 2nd century B.C. onward, pseudonymous works, usually of an apocalyptic character, claim inspiration and find credence in circles.

According to rabbinical literature, the first few centuries of the Christian era, certain sages disputed on internal evidence, the canonicity of Ezekiel, Proverbs, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, and Esther.

In the patristic period, the inspiration Apocrypha of the Greek and Latin Bibles was uncertain. During the Reformation, the church of Rome insisted the Apocrypha was Old Testament, while the Protestant churches deny it. The Church of England includes it in its lectionary (example of life but not to establish doctrine). The Eastern Orthodox Church was divided but has recently tended more to the Protestant side.

(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Canon of the Old Testament by R. T. Beckwith. Page 51-52.)

Etymology

It's borrowed from Greek kanon meaning a rule, standard for measurement. Used since the 4th century by Christians to denote an authoritative list of books belonging to the Old and New Testaments.

(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Canon of the Old Testament by R. T. Beckwith. Page 51.)