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Articles > Systematic
Theology > The
Canon of Scripture > Part XX: Introduction
Part XX: Introduction to the Canon of Scripture
I. Definition
a. Wayne Grudem: "The canon of Scripture is the
list of all the books that belong in the Bible." (Endnote
1)
b. Norman Geisler: "Canonicity-The character
of a biblical book that marks it as a part of the canon of Scripture,
namely, the divine inspiration and authority that designate a
book as part of the rule or standard of faith and practice."
(Endnote 2)
c. In short, canon involves the issue of recognizing which books
were inspired by God.
II. Importance of the Canon
a. "I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands."
(Psalm 119:60)
i. Yet, how can one obey the Word of God if one does not know
which books are the Word of God?
b. "Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract
from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give
you." (Deuteronomy 4:2)
i. One needs to know what the commands of God are in order
not to add and subtract from it
c. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work." (2Timothy 3:16-17)
i. The entirety of Scripture is sufficient for the Christian
for the ministry and Christian living, yet how would this be
possible if one does not know what encompasses Scripture?
III. A God-centered approach to the Canon rather than a socio-centered
approach
a. Any theory on the canon presupposes a theory in regards to
the origin of Scripture itself. The Christian is obligated to
start with the axiom that Scripture originates from God rather
than men or even the Church.
b. "First, a book is not the Word of God because it
is accepted by the people of God. Rather, it was accepted by the
people of God because it is the Word of God. That is, God gives
the book its divine authority, not the people of God. They merely
recognize the divine authority which God gives to it."
(Endnote 3)
c. Concerning the church, "She discerns the canon of
the Scriptures, she does not make it; she has recognized their
authenticity, she has not given it." (Endnote
4)
d. The Church is not the mother which gave birth and regulates
the Scripture, but the Church is the child of the Scripture, who
recognizes the Word of God and submits to it.
Endnotes
- Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction
To Biblical Doctrine, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan), 54.
- Norman Geisler, A General Introduction to
the Bible, (Chicago: Moody Press), 638.
- Ibid, 210.
- Louis Gaussen, God-Breathed: The Divine Inspiration
of the Bible, (Unicoi: Trinity Foundation), 132.
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