Thankfulness for the opportunity to study the Word.
Special thanks to John C. Philip who leads the session.
Focus topic: Bibliology and specifically the canon of the Bible.
Understanding Bibliology
The term "canon" originates from the meaning "measuring rod" and refers to the standard by which Christian faith and practice are measured against the Bible.
Common questions regarding the canon of the Bible include:
Guarantee of inclusion for all verbally inspired books.
Validity of the 66 books in the Bible.
Accuracy of historical records within the Bible.
Background Information
Hebrews 1:1: God previously revealed Himself through prophets; now through Jesus Christ.
Psalm 147: God gave the Holy Spirit inspired revelation only to the Jews.
Old Testament Scriptures (1450 BC - 400 BC):
Last book: Malachi (approximately 400 BC).
First books: Genesis to Deuteronomy (approximately 1450 BC).
New Testament Scriptures (AD 35 - AD 70). Claim that Revelation was written in AD 95 is incorrect; should be noted it was done before AD 70.
The art of writing was known long before Moses; archaeological findings contradict radical theories.
Sumerian writings were found dating back to 2000 years before Moses.
Writing Before Moses
Misconceptions exist about Moses and the art of writing:
Indicates that writing existed at least 2000 years before Moses.
Writing materials included clay, leather, and papyrus.
The Ebla Library is one of the oldest, predating Moses by 1000 years with evidence of complex civilization and writing techniques.
Evidence from Scripture
Scripture references to writing/books:
Genesis 5:1 mentions the "book of the generations of Adam."
Exodus references the need to write records.
Numerous mentions in Samuel, Chronicles, and elsewhere, showcasing familiarity with writing and documentation.
Non-canonical writings mentioned: The Book of Jasher, Chronicles of the Kings of Israel and Judah, etc.
Materials Used for Writing
Types of writing materials and their progression:
Clay tablets were common; fragile but widely used due to their abundance.
Transition to leather for durability due to advances in tanning techniques.
Introduction of papyrus made production cheaper and easier for book-making in New Testament times.
Canon Preservation
The process of preserving scripture:
God encouraged recording the law and other significant events.
Scribes emerged to maintain scripture copy and accuracy provisioned by religious leaders (e.g., Ezra).
The scriptures were kept in the Temple, and copies circulated widely among communities.
Role of Oral History
Oral history was significant in passing down accounts, including the Book of Job.
Oral traditions indicate that writings existed at that time and were documented through generations.
This reinforces the idea that historical accuracy of biblical narratives is based on both written and oral traditions.
Conclusion
Questions concerning the canon often arise in contrast with radical theological views.
The evidence and historical records, both local and archaeological, affirm the existence and preservation of scripture remarkably over centuries.