How We Got The Bible

1
How We Got The Bible

• Its Transmission
• Thru the Ages

2
Lesson 13
3
New Testament Canon

• Within 50-75 years of their writing NT books were
  being read in many churches.
• How did they get there? Who collected them?
• We dont have dates or names
• Pauls letters were collected
• The Gospels were collected (probably to include
  Acts)
• The collections were not always the same in
  different places and at different times.

4
New Testament Canon-2

• One church might not have the letter to Titus, or
  the Gospel of John, or the Revelation of John.
• Thus those that did not have copies would not be
  quick to automatically accept them without some
  study/basis.
• Over time, a universal consensus developed about
  the 27 we have today.

5
New Testament Canon-3

• The Apostolic Fathers left us and the earliest
  writings left us many quotes that attribute
  canonicity to many of the NT writings
• Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp, Papias
• The Shepherd of Hermas the Epistle of Barnabas
• II Peter 315-16 Paul is scripture
• I Tim 518 Deut and Luke are scripture

6
Justin/Clement

• Justin Martyr (160 AD)
• notes that in Christian worship assemblies the
  memoirs of the apostles were read.
• He doesnt name any books
• Clement of Rome (100 AD)
• Knows of Hebrews, knows of doubts
• Knows Pauls letters to Corinth

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Muratorian Fragment

• The Muratorian Fragment is the first list we have
  - it dates from mid to late 100s.
• The list is only partial (it is a fragment)
• Luke is the first mentioned by name and is called
  the 3rd Gospel (indicating there were 2 others in
  the missing part of the list)
• Included were Johns Gospel, Acts, Jude, 2
  letters of John (probably 1 2) the Revelation
  of John
• 13 Letters of Paul are included (I Cor, Eph,
  Phil, Col, Gal, I Thess, Rom, II Cor, II Thess,
  Phile, Titus, 1 2 Timothy)

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Muratorian Fragment-2

• The Muratorian Fragment does not list Heb, James,
  I II Peter, and III John
• 2 other Gospels (Matt Mark?) were listed in a
  missing part of the document.
• 20 of our 27 are accounted for by name. 22 by
  count.
• The list does contain the Wisdom of Solomon and
  the Apocalypse of Peter.

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Muratorian Fragment-3

• The list includes editorial comments, opinions of
  the 2nd century church, i.e. it is not just a
  list.
• At this time various other Acts were known, but
  not included
• Peter, Paul, John, Andrew and Thomas
• The list seems to specifically allude to some
  info in the Acts of Peter
• Clement (early 1st century, Rome - in a letter)
  noted that Hebrews was known, but in question due
  to its unknown authorship.
• No viable explanation for the inclusion of the
  Wisdom of Solomon.

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Muratorian Fragment-4

• The Apocalypse of Peter is noted as not being
  accepted by some.
• The Shepherd of Hermes is specifically excluded
  as being of late (140 AD) origin
• The writings of certain heretics are noted as
  being excluded (Arsinous, Valentinus, Miltiades,
  Marcion, Basilides)
• Arsinous is unknown to us
• The other 4 are known from history

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Muratorian Fragment-5

• This list was possibly made to counter Marcions
  canonical list.
• It is a list unique to the church in Rome in the
  late 2nd Century.

12
Irenaeus of Smyrna

• Irenaeus (130-202)
• Raised a Christian in Smyrna, Asia Minor
• Polycarps hometown
• Quotes the 4 gospels, Revelation, 1 John, 1
  Peter, Pauls epistles (except for Philemon) as
  scripture
• Quotes 1 Peter as by Peter 1 2 John as by
  John
• He quotes James but does not ascribe authorship
• Quotes the Shepherd of Hermas as scripture
• Adament that there are only 4 gospel accounts and
  names them Matt, Mark, Luke John

13
Hippolytus of Rome

• Lived 170-235
• Last significant personage in the church in Rome
  to write in Greek
• Great scholar, but not the equal of Origen
• Clearly accepts the Gospel and Revelation of John
• Calls all scripture as being the prophets, the
  Lord and the apostles
• Knows of and quotes Hebrews, but not as scripture
• Seems to know of James, 2 Peter Jude
• Quotes the Shepherd of Hermas, Didache, Letter of
  Barnabas but not as scripture

14
Novation

• Roman Christian
• Wrote a treatise On the Trinity around 250 AD
• Clearly considers the 4 gospels as authoritative
• Quotes much from Pauls epistles as authoritative

15
Tertullian

• Lived 155-230 AD
• Born, lived and died in Carthage
• Converted around 197
• Wrote extensively in Latin after his conversion
  mostly against heresies
• Introduced the word Trinity
• First to use the term New Testament

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Tertullian-2

• Did not leave us a list, but clear that he had a
  concept of what works were canonical
• Clearly accepted the 4 gospels, Acts, 13 epistles
  of Paul, 1 Peter, 1 John Revelation (which he
  says the apostle wrote)
• Also accepts Jude, but says the apostle wrote it
• Does not mention James, 2 Peter, 2 3 John
• Knows of Hebrews but accepts the prevailing
  non-canonical status

17
Cyprian

• Early 3rd century, lived in Carthage
• Born a pagan, converted abt 246
• Bishop of Carthage, martyred 14 Sep 258
• Ordered that his executioner be paid 25 pieces of
  gold
• Clearly accepted the 4 gospels, Acts, Pauls
  letters to churches, letters to Timothy Titus,1
  Peter, 1 John Revelation

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Cyprian-2

• Does not quote Philemon, James, 2 Peter, 2 or 3
  John or Jude
• Echoes the first verse of Hebrews in one of his
  works, but does not attribute it to Hebrews

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Clement of Alexandria

• Lived 150-216 AD, from Athens
• Raised a pagan, converted
• Lived in Alexandria the last quarter of the
  century
• Fled during persecution in 202 to Asia Minor
• Probably converted in Alexandria by Pantaenus
• Accepts the 4 gospels, Acts, writings of the
  Apostle (meaning Paul including the Pastorals)
• He believed Paul wrote Hebrews
• Seems to accept Revelation
• Was one of Origens teachers

20
Origen

• Lived 185-254 considered the greatest scholar of
  the early church
• He knows of only 4 true gospels (MMLJ). He knows
  of several heretical gospels.
• He notes that accepted w/out dispute are Acts,
  Pauls letters (he doesnt number them), 1 Peter,
  1 John Revelation
• His other writing shows he accepts all 13 of
  Pauls epistles

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Origen-2

• He knows of Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, Jude, 2 3
  John but notes they are disputed
• Some churches do not accept Hebrews
• Says 2 Peter is possibly by Peter
• Is the first to mention 2 Peter
• Says John wrote a 2nd 3rd letter, but not all
  accept them
• Quotes James, but notes its disputed
• Says Jude was written by Christs brother, but
  notes it is disputed

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Origen-3

• In his Homily on Joshua he seems to say that
  the following are scripture
• Matthew, Mark, Luke Johns Gospels
• 1 2 Peter, James, Jude
• Johns epistles and Revelation
• Acts
• Pauls 14 (Hebrews is included here)
• He treats the Shepherd as scripture

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Eusebius of Caesarea

• Lived 275-339 Church Historian
• Ecclesiastical History (Christ to 313 AD)
• Friend of Constantine
• He lists the NT books by 3 categories
• Universally accepted
• 4 Gospels
• Acts, Letters of Paul (this would be 14 to
  Eusebius)
• 1 John, 1 Peter, Revelation

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Eusebius of Caesarea-2

• Disputed (but recognized by the majority)
• James, Jude
• 2 Peter, 2 3 John
• Spurious (un-canonical)
• Shepherd of Hermas
• Epistle of Barnabas
• The Teachings of the Apostles
• The Acts of Paul
• The Apocalypse of Peter
• And others

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Eusebius of Caesarea-3

• Spurious (un-canonical) also includes the
  Revelation of John! Accepted spurious?
• He may have thought it was not by the Apostle,
  but another John
• He seems to have had some problem with the
  millennium concept in the book, so he maybe
  doubted it, but the rest of Christianity didnt

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Athanasius

• In 367 he published a list, that is the list from
  then on
• Bishop of Alexandria from 328-373
• Annually published the date for all Christians to
  celebrate Easter
• Those notices tended to include additional
  information
• His 367 notice listed the canons of both the OT
  and NT as they have remained since (other than
  his omission of Esther from the OT list)

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Lesson 14
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NT Canon

• Dont know when the first collections were made
• Epistles (Paul, James, Peter Jude) were
  probably first
• Not too long after the Gospels
• The Epistles and Gospels agree
• Were circulated long before formal lists were
  produced or needed

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Gospels

• Mark to Rome
• Matthew to Jewish Christians in Syria
• Luke to Gentiles
• John probably 1st read in Ephesus
• Collected around 100 AD and circulated

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Lists

• Why make lists?
• Heretics
• Roman efforts to destroy
• Which books should be protected from Rome?
• Most Christians already had a good understanding
  of what was authoritative
• The very discussion of the canon implies there
  were works already accepted

31
Wescott

• the limits of the canon were fixed in the
  earliest times by use rather than by criticism,
  and this use was based on immediate knowledge

32
Marcion

• The churchs strong reaction to Marcion excising
  works shows they were already accepted
• It shows that they accepted a larger number than
  Marcion

33
Canonicity

• Apostolic authority - very important
• Mark, Luke, Acts, James, Jude Hebrews
• The 4 gospels are anonymous
• Matthew John apostles
• Mark wrote for Peter Luke wrote for Paul
• Doubts delayed Hebrews Revelation acceptance
• James, Christs brother, witness of the
  resurrection
• Jude, James brother therefore Christs brother

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Canonicity-2

• Antiquity - the work had to be a product that
  dated to the apostolic age
• The Shepherd of Hermas was almost universally
  well thought of, but was definitely post
  apostolic
• Apostolic authority did not rub off on Clement,
  Polycarp, etc even though they could be
  considered to overlap the apostolic age
• Hebrews falls into this criteria (it is from the
  right period, but has no known apostolic
  association)

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Canonicity-3

• Orthodoxy (consistency of doctrine) with the OT
  and the Apostles
• Most rejections were due to false doctrine
• What does it teach about Christ?
• Even claims of apostolic authorship could not
  overcome heretical doctrine
• Hebrews also benefits from this criteria in
  addition to its age

36
Canonicity-4

• Acceptance by original churches and continued use
  in public worship there
• If the receiving church still used it that spoke
  well for the work
• Some were orthodox, but when proved to falsely
  claim apostolic authorship they were rejected
• Every book of the NT was originally accepted by a
  local church
• The strength of tradition means no work not
  accepted by the early church should be considered

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Canonicity-5

• These were the writings that could be used to
  resolve doctrinal questions
• These were the books to be protected from Roman
  confiscation
• These works were accepted as inspired

38
The Disputed

• Hebrews
• Unknown author
• Accepted in the East very early, Western delayed
• Acceptance by Pantaenus, Clement cautiously by
  Origen helped vouch for it
• James
• Which James was the author?
• Lack of doctrine
• Eusebius, Jerome Augustine accepted it

39
The Disputed-2

• II Peter
• Style different from I Peter, but less an issue
  today than originally
• Only limited circulation
• Origen first to say Peter accepts it, others do
  not
• Clement of Rome may have quoted it, but did not
  attribute it to anyone
• Iranaeus
• paraphrases II Pet 115 as being by Peter,
• uses the examples in II Pet 24-7, but does not
  cite a source
• Not in the Muratorian Fragment, but it is a
  fragment
• Cyril and Athanasius accepted it
• Never rejected as spurious, just considered
  disputed

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The Disputed-3

• II III John
• Relatively unimportant
• Personal not very doctrinal
• Which John wrote them?
• Jude
• Author was not an Apostle
• Quotes of Enoch and possibly the Assumption of
  Moses were seen negatively (probably main
  objection)
• Muratorian Canon, Anthenagoras (late 2nd
  century), Origen, Tertullian accept it
• Included in the Bodmer Papyri

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The Disputed-4

• Revelation
• Well accepted early
• Papias accepted it
• Justin says John wrote it (JM lived in Ephesus
  130)
• Iranaeus, Hippolytus Tertullian accept it
• Clement (Alexandria), Origen and Athanasius
  accept it
• MF includes it
• Dionysius (247-265) expressed doubts about it
  being written by the Apostle John

42
The Disputed-5

• All of the disputed were what are called catholic
  epistles
• Not addressed to particular church, but as a rule
  to a more general audience
• This may be why there was less attempt by any
  specific church to ensure their distribution
• In the end the evidence supported accepted far
  more than not

43
The Apostolic Fathers

• We have a few early church leaders who wrote and
  left us additional records
• They provide good insight into the early church
  and its doctrinal progression
• They often quoted OT and NT as authoritative
• They were respected but not universally accepted
  as authoritative

44
Clement of Rome

• I Clement - written to Corinth 95-100
• Elder in Rome
• 1st thing written after the NT
• Liberally quotes OT and NT
• Quotes Jesus, but no particular gospel
• Quotes I Corinthians
• Knows of I II Tim, Titus, Heb, Rom, Phil, Phile
  and Eph
• No reference to death of Peter or Paul

45
Clement of Rome-2

• II Clement 120-140
• Certain that Clement did not write it
• Believed intended for Corinth

46
Epistle of Barnabas

• Author does not claim apostleship
• Many believed it was the Barnabas of Acts
• 1st appears around Alexandria
• 70-130 around 100 is the most accepted
• Very anti-Judaism (religion not the people)
• Strange beliefs about some animal physiology
• In Sinaiticus

47
Epistles of Ignatius

• Ignatius lived 50-117 AD
• Bishop of Antioch of Syria
• Taken to Rome to be martyred
• Wrote 7 letters on his trip
• 4 written from Smryna to churches
• 3 written from Troas
• 2 to churches
• 1 to Polycarp

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Epistles of Ignatius-2

• Those from Smyrna were to churches he never
  visited
• In Smyrna, delegates from Ephesus, Magnesia and
  Tralles visited him
• Those from Troas were to churches he had visited
  on his journey to Rome
• He shows a clear desire to die as a martyr
• Speaks of bishops and elders in a way that could
  suggest a difference

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Epistles of Ignatius-3

• He is escorted by 10 Roman soldiers on his trip
• In his 7 letters he quotes
• Matthew and Luke
• Acts
• Romans, I Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians I
  Thessalonians

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Letters From Smyrna

• Epistle to the Ephesians
• Epistle to the Magnesians
• Magnesia 15 miles SE of Ephesus
• Epistle to the Trallians
• Tralles 35 miles east of Magnesia
• Epistle to the Romans

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Letters From Troas

• Epistle to the Philadephians
• City 50 miles NE of Ephesus
• Epistle to the Smyraeans
• 45 miles N of Ephesus
• To Polycarp

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The Didache

• Late 1st century to 130/150, latter is more
  accepted
• The Teaching of the (12) Apostles
• Author unknown
• Consists of a moral treatise and directions for
  church functions
• We have known of it for a long time, 1st copy
  found in 1873

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The Didache-2

• Speaks of
• Itenerant prophets
• Plural elders
• Presbyter and elder the same
• Agape feast is still part of the Lords Supper
• Baptism is commonly immersion
• 1st reference to pouring is found here (could be
  used if adequate water is not available)

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The Epistle of Polycarp

• Martyred around 156
• Elders at Smyrna
• Written to the church in Philippi
• Speaks of plurality of elders deacons
• May have known the Apostle John
• He does not quote Johns gospel
• Quotes OT
• Short letter, but he has 60 NT quotes in it

55
The Epistle of Polycarp-2

• Definitely quotes from 16 NT books
• Matt, Luke, Acts, Rom, I II Cor, Gal, Eph,
  Phil, I II Thess, I II Tim, Heb, I Peter, I
  John
• Possible quotes 2 others
• Mark and III John
• 16-18 of the 27 are definitely quoted
• Only 2000 words long
• All of these were in one collection known to
  Polycarp by early the 100s

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The Martyrdom of Polycarp

• Shortly after his death 156
• Church in Smyrna documents his death for the
  church in Philomelium (Phyrgia)
• Lots of detail, much of what we have today looks
  like myth more than fact

57
Fragments of Papias

• Lived 60/70 to 150 AD
• Wrote Exposition of Oracles of the Lord around
  130-140
• A 5 volume work
• Elder in Hierapolis (Lycus valley near Colossae
  and Laodicea
• Only fragmets are left to us and quotes from
  other writers
• May have known the Apostle John and Polycarp

58
Shepherd of Hermas

• Well thought of by early church
• Written about 150
• Author (Hermas) is uncertain
• Had been a slave
• Was freed and lived a sinful life
• Bad situation turns him to God
• Hermas teacher is the Shepherd
• Written from Rome

59
Shepherd of Hermas-2

• We only have 3 incomplete manuscripts in Greek
  and some fragments
• For 14 of its chapters we have no Greek copies
• It is in Sinaiticus, and is incomplete there

60
Epistle of Diognetus

• Author is identified as Mathetes
• Disciple of the apostles
• Not a name, a title/label
• Date very uncertain, but maybe 150 (some say as
  late as 300)
• Diognetus is thought to have been the tutor of
  Marcus Aurelius (161-180)
• Severe persecutor of the church

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Epistle of Diognetus-2

• The letter is an apology, meaning a defense of
  Christianity
• Was preserved in only one 13/14th century MSS,
  which was destroyed by fire
• That was an incomplete copy

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Apostolic Fathers Summary

• All have merit
• In the end not considered inspired
• Shepherd, Didache Barnabas
• They were authentic
• Written by Christians
• Not intended to deceive anyone re authorship or
  canonicity
• They quote OT and NT as authoritative, i.e.
  canonical