Bible & Interpretation_Bible : Canon

■ Infallibility VS. Inerrancy

Infallibility of scripture

- older term associated with the unfailing purpose and the trustworthiness of the bible

 

Inerrancy of Scripture

-Newer tern formulated because of the lax use of infallibility

-Primarily focused on the trustworthiness of the bible

 

The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy(1978)

-Art XI- "We deny that it is possible for the bible to be at the same time infallible and errant in its assertions. Infallibility and inerrancy may be distinguished, but not separated."

 

■ Truth and trustworthy

 

■ Jesus and Inerrancy

- Jesus assumes the divine authority of Scripture

Matt 5:17-18 / Matt 19:4

-Jesus saw his entire life as a fulfillment of Scriptures.

Matt 26:54

-Jesus' disciples must share his view of Scripture.

 

■ The Canon of Scripture

- Why does the bible contain only the 66 books?

- How was the Canon formed?

- What was the role of the Church in the formation of the Canon?

 

■ Canon

-Canon comes from the Greek kavwv meaning “rule, standard" by which to determine the quality of something.

 

- Canon applied to the bible suggests

-- the standard of faith and practice

-- the closed list of inspired texts

 

■ Assaulting the Canon

- 300 years of historical criticism

 

- Rethinking and rewriting early Christian history

-- Waler Bauer, Orthodoxy and Heresy in earliest christianity(1971)

-- Bart Erhman, Lost Scriptures: Books that did not make it into the New Testament(2005)

 

 

■ History VS Theology

- Major question in Canonical Study:

-- Historical view of Canon

-- Theological view of Canon

-- Are these two at odds?

 

- How one incorporates and relates these two views largely determines one's acceptance of the biblical Canon.

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■ Historical view of Canon

- When were the first canon lists formed?

 

- NT Canon lists begin in the early 3rd century:

-- Marcion(c.140); Muratorian(C. 270); Bracoccia(c.206); Apostolic(C.300); Nicea(c.323); Athanasius(367; 1st to contain all 27 books); Hippo(393); Carthage(397)

 

- Conclusion from the historical evidence; NT canon incomplete until 4th century

 

- Assumptions of this approach

--The establish Church(Catholic) conferred authority on the canonical texts based on political needs.

--Canonical orthodoxy is arbitrary.

--The authority of the Church stands above the authority of Scripture.

 

 

 

■ Theological view of canon

- What is Scripture and how was it used?

 

- Begins with Scripture as inspired texts that are "God-breathed" and therefore, enjoy a divine quality.

-- Divine inspiration suggests that canon is a working assumption of Jesus and the early church.

 

-Conclusion from the theological evidence; NT canon complete when inspired and set by God.

 

- Assumptions of this approach:

-- The establish Church(Catholic) discovered the authoritative quality of the canonical texts based on experience.

-- Canonical orthodoxy is divinely determined, not arbitrary winner vs. losers.

-- The authority of the church stands under the authority of Scripture