OVERVIEW The Canon is the books in the Jewish and Christian Bible. These books are considered to be Scripture, and therefore authorities for faith and doctrine. The term “canon” translates both a Greek and a Hebrew word that means “a rule,” or “measuring rod.” Like a ruler or measuring tape, the Bible can be used to “measure” the worth of other books, and of our actions and lives. After the fourth century A.D., the Christian church found itself with 66 books worthy to be called “Scripture”; 27 of these were the New Testament and 39 were the Old Testament. We know little about how the books of the Jewish canon—the Old Testament—were originally chosen. It clearly had something to do with their worth in the ongoing life and religion of Israel. According to early church writers, the books of the New Testament were selected on the basis of their connection to the original apostles of Christianity, such as Jesus’ disciples and Paul. As the books of the Old Testament had been, these books were collected and saved by the local churches that used them. The formation of the canon was a process, rather than an event. It took several hundred years to reach throughout the Christian world. Local canons existed already—certain books that specific local churches had found helpful—and these were compared. Out of them eventually emerged the general canon that exists today, although some of the Eastern churches have a New Testament that is slightly smaller than that accepted in the West. Christians and Jews believe that despite the long, difficult process, the Spirit of God was at work, inspiring and preserving his Word. God Save the World, Inc.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 04:19:45 +0000
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