Canon of a Book of the Bible
What makes a book of the Bible a book that belongs to the Bible? It has to be part of the canon. The canon of a book is the rule or standard by which something is judged. Oxford Dictionary defines it as thus: “a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged.”
Bible Canon
The canon of a book tells you whether or not something belongs in that book. So what is the canon for the Bible? There are two separate canons: one for the Old Testament, and one for the New Testament.
Old Testament Canon of a Book:
1. Since God is perfect and infallible (incapable of making mistakes), an inspired book must be perfect and infallible, in the facts and teachings of the original manuscript of the inspired writer.
Neh. 8:8: “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”
It is so perfect, it can be understood by all who take the time to study it.
2. Since God is perfectly holy and pure, an inspired books must present only pure and holy teachings.
Psa. 19:7-11: “7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”
Psa. 119:105: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
3. Since God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent, an inspired book should reflect those characteristics.
a. If a book of the Bible speaks of future events, those events MUST happen.
b. If a book of the Bible speaks of locations, those locations MUST be real.
By studying the Bible, archaeologists have found cities and nations no one had heard of until then. The Bible was often laughed at for having stories of the “Philistines” and the “Amalekites,” nations thought to have never existed. But in the end, God had the last laugh, when these nations and people were found to be real.
4. Since God is absolute truth, no Bible verse can contradict another.
5. Since God is absolutely just and fair, the Bible must be impartial to everyone without prejudice to anyone.
How might you tell a false prophet from a real prophet? If his words are true, then he is a real prophet (Jer. 28:9). How can you tell a false book of the Bible from a real one? If the words are true, it is a real book of the Bible!
New Testament Canon of a Book:
The New Testament has another set of rules on top of the rules we’ve already mentioned. The following four are the rules by which the New Testament books are judged.
1. Apostolicity: Did an apostle write the book?
If an apostle did not write the book, then did someone closely associated with the apostles write it? Mark, Luke, James, and Jude were not apostles, but they WERE contemporaries and friends. An example of this is found in each of Paul’s letters.
Eph. 1:1: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:”.
2. Authenticity/Accuracy: Is the book accurate and true in all that it says?
If the book speaks on anything historical, scientific, moral, anything about anything, then it must tell the truth on what is written. If the book speaks falsehood, then it is not canonical.
3. Acceptance: Did the 1st century church accept the book?
2 Tim. 3:16-17: “16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
These books were used to guide the church in all spiritual matters (and are still used for the same purpose!). If they were not accepted because they were not profitable, then they wouldn’t be profitable for us either! The New Testament church did not accept every writing given to them: they put time and effort into deciding which books should be accepted.
4. Genuineness/Inspiration: Was it “God-breathed?”
In 2 Tim. 3:16 (quoted above), the phrase “given by inspiration” is “theopneustos” in the Greek. In other words, we want to ask the question: Did God inspire this book?
1 Pet. 1:22: “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:”.
This truth that came through the Spirit is the truth of the Bible. Did the Spirit guide the writer into writing this book?