Worship
Prayer by Amah
Review of homework
Last time we talked about Inspiration (theology of scripture) and study tools... this time I want to expand on that those themes a little bit
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet... mystery of the menorah
Psalm 119:105
Exodus 25:31-40
this is not what was meant though... it's an interesting coincidence and some would call it a "spiritual meaning" but it is not the plain meaning of the text.
So today I want to talk about the canonization of scripture
The Composition of the Canon
1. Old Testament Canon
Named sources: Numbers 21:14, Joshua 10:13, 1 Kings 14:19
Compilation of prophets: Jeremiah 36:1-4, 32
Wisdom books compiled: Pr 1:1, Pr 22:17, Pr 25:1, Pr 30:1, Pr 31:1
Seams in the psalms books... Ps 41, Ps 72, Ps 89, Ps 106, Ps 150
Compare Dt 34:10-12 / Josh 1:1-9 with Malachi 4:4-6 / Psalm 1:1-3
DATING: Composition and compilation likely finished about 400 - 500 BC… already translated to Greek in the 300s BC. Various artifacts found with very old text matching current editions
2. New Testament composition/dating
Gospels - John 21:25, Luke 1:1-4
Epistles - Colossians 4:16, 2 Peter 3:15-16
Revelation 1:1, 22:18-19
DATING: None mention the temple destruction.. everything likely was written before AD70
The scope of scripture
So... 66 books? When did that happen? some time after the exile but before Jesus we got the old testament fixed as a set of scrolls stored up in the temple. Origen (185-253) tells us a list of accepted scripture that is basically what we have now.
Matthew first sounded the priestly trumpet in his Gospel; Mark also; Luke and John each played their own priestly trumpets. Even Peter cries out with trumpets in two of his epistles; also James and Jude. In addition, John also sounds the trumpet through his epistles, and Luke, as he describes the Acts of the Apostles. And now that last one comes, the one who said, ‘I think God displays us apostles last’ [1 Cor 4:9], and in fourteen of his epistles, thundering with trumpets, he casts down the walls of Jericho and all the devices of idolatry and dogmas of philosophers, all the way to the foundations.
— Origen (Homily on Joshua)
What didn’t make the cut?
Deuterocanon: Greek OT (LXX) books: Maccabees
Apocrypha: Gospel of Thomas, 1 Enoch,
Apostolic fathers and later: 1 Clement, Shepherd of Hermas, Didache
You can read these and they’ll give you insight… but they aren’t scripture
We believe in a "Closed Canon"… as well as prophecy that is “already but not yet”
Correct transmission to today
Manuscripts and text criticism
(Examining a variant) Mk 1:1 in B vs. ℵ (Is he the Son of God?)
Hebrew: Leningrad / Aleppo
"what is written (Ketiv), what is spoken (Qere)" in Ps 100:3 -> “The lord made us / We did not make ourselves”
Comparison to data backups for today
(a) Multiple copies
(b) Spread out geographically
(c) Consistency check in grammar forms and translations
Comparison to the Quran, other books of ancient literature
WISDOM LITERATURE AS A GENRE
Consider Proverbs 26:1-12
Lots of pictures... for "wisdom" its not clear like instructions
Written as commands but consider the pair: Proverbs 26:4-5
Also not promises… generalizations
In many ways, these are worded in such a way that you need to carefully consider what it means... the "work" of thinking about what it means in different circumstances is the point...
They focus on the individual versus nations
They rarely mention things like the temple, sacrificial system, or the law
They rarely mention Old Testament historical events, like the exodus, the monarchy, and the division and fall of the northern and southern kingdoms
There is little interest in politics, history, acts of God, miracles, sin, forgiveness, and the like
Read for the overall message. Taking bits and pieces out of context can result in misapplication.
Consider the terms and categories of Hebrew wisdom, as well as its styles and modes.
Understand what the book at hand is all about so that you can follow the line of argument.
Summary, references
The OT composition was a complex process but around 500BC there were fixed books
NT composition was relatively easy and probably completed before 70AD
The 66 books were widely accepted, and other books widely rejected prior to the councils of the 300s
The transmission of manuscripts today tells us that we can trust the text was not corrupted
Wisdom literature is meant to make you do the work of thinking how to apply it
Homework
Make a small group lesson for some wisdom literature (Ecclesiastes)
Practice memorizing the 66 books of the Bible
Let's let you ask questions now.
Prayer and worship to finish.