Fall 2008 Online Certificate Students:
View all sessions below. Then log all your comments, questions, discussion question answers, criticisms, or thoughts below.
NOTE:
This is not the place for general discussion and questions. Go to the foyer for general discussion and refer to the FAQ on the right for question. Time spent in the comments section will apply toward your one hour of community time per week. To download audio sessions, visit the course homepage on the TTP site. The next session will be posted each Wed.
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How did the Church decide which books belonged in the New Testament? Were any other writings like the Gospel of Thomas ever seriously considered for the New Testament canon? What role did the church councils play in the canonization process? Upon completion of this session the student should have a better understanding of the complexities of the canonization process with regards to the New Testament. Regarding this, the student will come to understand that the canonization process of the New Testament began with the apostles’ immediate recognition of each others writings, then moved to the early churches’ acceptance of the majority of the New Testament books, and finally ended when some local church councils made “official” declarations of what books were already generally recognized as the authoritative word of God. Finally, there will be brief discussion concerning translation theories. The student should leave with a basic understanding of why various Bible translations differ, and better equipped to answer the commonly asked question, “Which version of the Bible is the best?”
Recap of the canon of the Old Testament [22:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Canonization of the New Testament, Part 1 [28:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Canonization of the New Testament, Part 2 [5:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Canonization of the New Testament, Part 3 [18:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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September 23rd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
1. If we had a different canon, we’d have different books and different messages. Our canon is closed and complete. It has been validified by the apostles and other early church leaders. It is the message of salvation and redemption. Each piece has a purpose.
2. They are important, in that, they are a complete work–The Holy Bible. They are there because that is how God wanted it. However, some books are much more important to the Gospel than others.
No, I wouldn’t have known if 3 John didn’t make the canon. I don’t even know what it talks about. I’d assume love, but I really don’t know.
I don’t really want to say that one of the books of the Bible isn’t important, though. There is some reason it’s there, or God would have made sure it wasn’t included.
3. The early acceptance of the Gospels and the Pauline corpus give the Bible more authenticity. Even before the Bible was published adn printed, the early church seemed to be quoting from the Gospels and the Pauline corpus like it was the Word of God. (Probably, because it was!) I also liked how it was a majority of the church that accepted these things, not just a radical sect or something.
4. No. I spent quite a while trying to come up with something, but I couldn’t think of anything. It is significant because it means our essential doctrine “holds water”; it is solid. There aren’t any holes. We have everything that we need explained in the Bible. It doesn’t always seem like we have enough, but we do.
5. I feel more confident. This lesson demonstrates again the authenticity of the Scriptures. So many copies in the early days!!–it’s so neat! No other book has this type of verification and to this extent.
6. Huge! God’s sovereignty is why I can believe in inerrancy and that it is complete. If I didn’t think that God had that power….well, so many things would be different. I would be doubting certain passages or books, I guess. But I know that He was in control (and still is). I might be looking into the Apocrypha more, too, since I wouldn’t believe that the Bible was complete without God’s sovereignty.
7. I am surprised that Revelation was thought of as false teaching. That is a pretty big deal. I had always heard that Hebrews was challenged, but on the chart, Hebrews was more accepted than Revelation. It’s very interesting.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:41 am
Marsha Johnson
Session 5, B&H, Fall 2008
1)It is important that we have the right canon because we base our faith and understanding of God on it and we live our lives by it. It was also makes a strong witness to unbelievers that the historical evidenced is the same as our Bible.
2)Yes the all are important and I for one would have missed 3 John, Jude, or Hebrews if they were removed from Scriptures.
3)In the beginning the Apostles and church father recognized that the writings of Paul were more that Paul’s communication to accomplish business. Peter and the Church fathers and Bishops recognized his writings were inspired by God (God breather). This is essential to their being accepted today.
4)Yes, the deity of Christ, the trinity, and the deity of the Holy Spirit. These issues came up in the first 400 plus years and defended the Gospel against hiericy.
5)I am more confident because of the “charts of comparison”, information presented in class, and information I read in the required and recommended reading . Theses compared old writings with other non-religious writings and the Scriptures have more info. Backup than any other writings.
6)God has always provided for me. I have great trust in His provision for me. God has been with me in times of trouble and deep sadness and I have learned to trust His sovereignty…not blindly but with deep meditations and struggles.
7)I would say that because I read “The Journey from Test to Transmission” and additional information provided in the class I feel better able to defend the accuracy, trustworthiness and prophetic nature of the Scriptures.