New Testament Canon
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Questions and Answers

What is one reason some modern archaeologists doubt the reliability of the Bible?

  • They do not recognize archaeological discoveries.
  • They presume that the stories are fiction. (correct)
  • They think the Bible was written too early.
  • They believe the stories do not have moral lessons.

    • What does the New Testament provide evidence for?

  • The historical accuracy of Roman conquests
  • The reliability of the Old Testament (correct)
  • The cultural practices of the Egyptians
  • The philosophical teachings of the Greeks

    • Who held that the Torah was from Moses?

  • King David
  • The Sadducees
  • Paul and Peter
  • Jesus and the New Testament writers (correct)

    • What do some archaeologists doubt despite recognizing archaeological discoveries?

    <p>The conclusions drawn by earlier archaeologists</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to McDowell, what can one conclude about the Bible?

    <p>It is the reliable Word of God when considering both Old and New Testament.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which book by McDowell is mentioned for further details?

    <p>The New Evidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which authors from the New Testament reference the Old Testament?

    <p>Various authors including Jesus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some reasons modern archaeologists attack the Bible's reliability?

    <p>They presume stories are fiction and doubt earlier conclusions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the New Testament authenticate the Old Testament’s historical reliability?

    <p>Through numerous Old Testament references by Jesus and other authors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What source is recommended for more details on the reliability of the Bible?

    <p>McDowell's 'The New Evidence'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Canon of the NT

    • The Canon of the NT shares similar rules and standards for acceptance as inspired with the OT:
      • Authorship
      • Local church acceptance
      • Recognition by church Fathers (direct disciples of the Apostles)
      • Subject Matter: Is the book doctrinally sound and able to edify?

    Recognition of the NT Canon

    • The NT canon was recognized as early as AD 367, and the OT no later than 150 BC.
    • Jesus recognized the law, the prophets, and the writings as such (Luke 24:44, 11:51).

    Esther and The Song of Songs

    • Esther: although God is not explicitly mentioned, His hand can be seen in the story, controlling seemingly insignificant coincidences to protect His people.
    • Song of Songs: a great description of love, God's greatest gift to marital life, with nothing impure about it.

    The Apocrypha

    • Reasons to exclude a book:
      • Inaccuracies (historical, geographical)
      • Doctrines inconsistent with other scriptures
      • Lack of divine characteristics
    • Examples of apocryphal books:
      • Sirach/Ecclesiasticus (180 BC)
      • Baruch (AD 100)
      • 1/2 Maccabees (1st century BC)
    • Philo, Josephus, and early Church fathers did not recognize the apocrypha.

    Historical Reliability of the Bible - NT

    • To test the historical reliability of the Scriptures, the Bible should undergo rigorous tests used for all historical documents.
    • Three basic principles for testing reliability:
      • The bibliographical test
      • The internal evidence test
      • The external evidence test

    The Bibliographical Test

    • Examination of the textual transmission by which documents reach us.
    • Answers the question of how reliable are the copies we have in regard to:
      • Number of manuscripts (MSS) and the time they were copied.
      • Credibility of the written document and the truthfulness of the author or witness.

    External Evidence Test

    • Proofs whether there are other historical documents that confirm or deny the internal evidence of the documents.
    • Examples of external evidence:
      • Early Christian Writers Outside the Bible (Eusebius, Papias, Irenaeus, Clement of Rome, etc.)
      • Early Non-Christian Confirmation of the NT (Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, etc.)
      • Archaeological Evidence of the NT (support for the Gospel of Luke, earlier records of Christianity, etc.)

    Historical Reliability of the Bible - OT

    • While some means used in testing the reliability of the NT are applicable, much of the evidence used is different.

    The Jewish Oral Law

    • The Talmudist (AD 100 - 500):
      • Body of Hebrew civil and canonical law based on the Torah.
      • Represents opinions and decisions of Jewish teachers.
    • The Masoretes (AD 500-950):
      • Jewish scholars who gave the final form to the Old Testament.
      • Preserved in writing the oral tradition (masorah) the correct vowels and accents, and the number of occurrences of rare words of unusual spellings.

    Witness of the Dead Sea Scrolls

    • The Dead Sea Scrolls:
      • Discovered in a series of caves in Jordan, at the north-western end of the Dead Sea in the area of Khirbet Qumran.
      • Covers a period between 1947 and 1956.
      • Includes two of the oldest-known Hebrew copies of the Book of Isaiah, dated 125 BC, and fragments of every book in the Old Testament except Esther.

    Evidences for the Reliability of the Bible

    • Evidences Through Archaeology:
      • Reconstructing biblical events and matching them with known historical events from the ancient Near East.
      • Determining how close the biblical writers' accounts are to modern historians' understanding of what "actually happened".
    • Important areas:
      • Hard Evidence: Artifacts from previous societies that directly testify to biblical events.
      • Documentary Evidence: Extra-biblical texts and written documents that confirm Old Testament history.

    Criticisms of Evidences

    • Some modern archaeologists raise concerns about the Bible's reliability:
      • They may see the stories as fiction.
      • Despite recognizing archaeological discoveries, they question conclusions drawn by earlier scholars.

    The Credibility of Written Documents

    • Three key aspects to assess credibility:
      • The Rule of Benefit of the Doubt: Trusting the document's authenticity unless there is substantial evidence to the contrary.
      • Freeness From Known Contradictions: The document should not contain contradictions unless they have a clear explanation.
      • Whether the Writer Used Primary Sources: How geographically and chronologically close the author is to the events they describe.

    New Testament Confirmation of the OT

    • The NT records can be used to authenticate the OT's historical reliability.
    • Jesus and the NT writers recognized the OT as authoritative.

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    Description

    Explore the rules and standards for accepting books as inspired in the New Testament, including authorship, local church acceptance, and more. Learn about the recognition of the NT Canon and its historical significance.

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