Episode 124: The Canon of Scripture (Part 1) & Beware of the Leaven of Pharisees & Sadducees (Part 2)

DEFINING THE TERMSCanon – a set of texts (also called "books") which a particular Jewish orChristian religious community regards as part of the Bible. Greek – “rule”,“measuring stick”Urtext - In Biblical studies, the Urtext is the theorized original, uniform text ofthe Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), preceding both the Septuagint (LXX) andthe Masoretic Text (MT). An original or the earliest version of a text.Vorlage - A Vorlage (from the German for prototype or template) is a priorversion or manifestation of a text under consideration.Inspiration – All Scripture is “God-breathed”… (2 Tim 3:16)Inerrancy – The Bible is without error in its original manuscriptsOur Protestant “Tradition” - 66 Books in the Bile39 Old Testament Books27 New Testament BooksJEWISH CANONSMasoretic Text (MT) – Rabbis (descendants of the Pharisees) - the Hebrew Bible numbers thesame books as 24. The Hebrew Bible counts Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles as one bookeach, and the 12 minor prophets are one book, and also Ezra and Nehemiah form a singlebook. This is the same Canon as the 39 Books in Protestant OTs. No ApocryphaWhen? AD110-125 – Rabbinic/Talmudic JudaismSeptuagint (LXX) – 52 OT Books (13 more that the MS), OT Apocrypha, Psalms of Solomon –When? 250BC – 2nd Temple JudaismEthiopian Jews (Beta Israel) – Testaments of Abraham, Isaac and JacobEssenes/Qumran Community/Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) - Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs (affirmEnoch!) – DSS contain fragments of 5 of them (Levi, Judah, Naphtali, Joseph, and Benjamin).WHAT ABOUT "THE TESTAMENTS OF THE PATRIARCHS"?ALL Jews believed that all the patriarchs from Adam to Aaron (37+) were prophets that wrote “Testaments ”.2nd Century - Rabbis believed they were lost. REJECTED – Why??1600s – Found in an Armenian Orthodox Bible – REJECTED as “too Christian” (see below)Essenes / Dead Sea Scrolls - Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs – DSS contain fragments of 5 of them (Levi,Judah, Naphtali, Joseph, and Benjamin).**Quoted/referenced by Paul in the NT (1 Thes 2:16, Rom 12:18, 21, 2 Cor 7:10 and Eph 5:6)**Fragments from 8 other “Testaments” of these were found in the DSS. (Enosh, Enoch, Lamech, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Kohath, Amram)Christian "Content" in the "Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs"-Messiah = Son of God -Messiah is God incarnate-Levi’s Priesthood ONLY until Messiah comes-Levi’s ordinances and sacrifices ONLY until Messiah comes-Messiah born of a virgin-Messiah will be worshipped-Messiah will be sinless -Messiah would die for our sins to reconcile us to God-The Levites would crucify Messiah -Messiah would be resurrected-Messiah would ascend-Messiah would create a new priesthood-Veil of Temple would be torn -Apostle Paul – called from Jews to Gentiles, his writings = inspiredCHRISTIAN CANONS-Muratorian Canon (AD 170) – The Apocalypse of Peter-Codex Sinaiticus (AD 330) – LXX OT – includes OT Apocrypa & Shepherd of Hermas, Epistle of Barnabas (29 NT Books)-Codex Alexandrinus (AD 400) – 1st and 2nd Clement-Protestants - 39 OT Books / 27 NT Books = 66 Books / Martin Luther-Ethiopian Orthodox – OT Apocrypha + 2 Edras, **Book of Enoch** (only one) – 81 books total (35NT, LXX and Enoch) also “Didache - Teaching of the 12 Apostles”, Book of Jubilees-Armenian Orthodox – Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs-Catholics & Orthodox – OT Apocrypha (Tobit, Judith, 1 & 2 Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, Additions to Daniel & Esther)-Orthodox – add 1 Edras, 3 Maccabees, Prayer of Manasseh (Russian Orthodox – 2 Edras)DISPUTED TEXTS (DISAGREEMENTS)6 Disputed New Testament Books 1. The Didache (or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)2. The Shepherd of Hermas3. The Apocalypse of Peter,4. The Epistle of Barnabas and 5. The First Epistle(s) of Clement.6. The Second Epistle of Clement* EVERY BOOK THAT HAS EVER BEEN CONSIDERED SCRIPTURAL CANON HAS BEEN LISTED ON THE PAST FEW SLIDES * NEVER the Gnostic Texts!!! (Gospels, Epistles) - i.e. Gospel of Thomas (2nd Ce(continued)