Lecture Notes: Responding to Dr. Gavin Ortlund on the Canon of Scripture
Introduction
The speaker is responding to Protestant apologist Dr. Gavin Ortlund.
The discussion involves the canon of scripture in the early church, following a podcast appearance.
Critique of Dr. Ortlund's First Video
Dr. Ortlund only responded to a 60-second clip from the podcast.
The speaker claims Ortlund agrees with the Catholic position without realizing it.
Ortlund spends most of his video discussing early church fathers but misses the core Catholic argument.
Points of Contention
Two major claims contested by Ortlund:
Protestant canon can't be found in the first 1500 years of church history.
Catholics and Protestants have always disputed the Old Testament.
Speaker argues there was no dispute in the early church about Old Testament books.
Early Church and the Old Testament
In the first 300 years, there was no dispute about Old Testament books among Christians.
The Catholic Encyclopedia is cited to show the early church used both protocanonical and deuterocanonical books in the same way.
The speaker argues against Ortlund's claim that the canon was only settled at the Council of Trent, citing earlier councils and papal actions.
Jerome's Influence and Misinterpretations
Jerome's stance on the deuterocanonical books evolved over time, initially rejecting and later accepting them as scripture.
Jerome submitted to church authority, which supported the deuterocanonical books.
Protestants are criticized for selectively using Jerome's earlier skepticism.
Protestant Positions and Historical Consistency
Speaker challenges Protestants to explain why they reject Old Testament deuterocanonical books but accept the New Testament's equivalent.
Points out that Protestant Bibles included these books until the late 19th century.
Scholarship and Historical Evidence
References to contemporary scholarship supporting Catholic positions on the canon.
Early church councils and figures are shown to use deuterocanonical books as scripture.
Conclusion and Challenges
The speaker invites further dialogue with Dr. Ortlund and Wesley Huff.
Encourages a debate or discussion on the topics covered.
Summary
The speaker presents a detailed critique of Dr. Ortlund's videos, focusing on historical evidence and interpretations regarding the canon of scripture.
Emphasizes the consistency in the use of deuterocanonical books throughout early church history.