1. The NT Books Are the Earliest Christian Writings We Possess

• Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are all from the 1st century A.D.

• All scholars agree on that fact. • Writings closest to the events are the most

reliable ones. • There were eyewitnesses who can either

confirm or deny the account.

2. Apocryphal Writings Are All Written in the 2nd Century or Later

• All scholars agree on that fact.• This calls into question how these

“lost” books contain the “real” version of Christianity.

A. Many are forgeries– They pretend to be written by others– This calls into question

the reliability of content.

2. Apocryphal Writings Are All Written in the 2nd Century or Later

B. Many contain embellishments and legendary additions.– Canonical gospels are very restrained.– The “lost” gospels fill in the gaps.

C. Many contain a Gnostic-style theology– Only emerge in the 2nd century

3. NT Books are Unique Because They Are Apostolic Books

A. The Apostles Were Eyewitnesses to the Events– Reliability increases if eyewitnesses wrote it.

B. The Apostles Were Authoritative Eyewitnesses– The NT is connected to the apostles.– Jesus commissioned His apostles.– He warns those who reject the apostles’

authority.– They had the authority of Christ Himself and

were His mouthpiece.– Their teachings were the

foundation of the church.

3. NT Books are Unique Because They Are Apostolic Books

B. The Apostles Were Authoritative Eyewitnesses– To know true Christian message, refer to the

teaching of the apostles.– The church valued apostolic books.– “Apocryphal” books were name after apostles

to gain credibility.– The early church was in a better

position to ascertain authorship than modern scholars.

4. Some NT Writers Quote Other NT Writers As Scripture

• Critical scholars claimed the NT was not used as Scripture till the end of the 2nd century.

• This concept was not a later development, but is present in the earliest stages of Christianity.

4. Some NT Writers Quote Other NT Writers As Scripture

• 2 Peter 3:15-16– Paul’s letter on par with the Old Testament.– Peter mentions multiple letters of Paul, indicating

that he was aware of some sort of collection.– He assumes his audience is aware of this as well.

It wasn’t a new or novel idea. – Apostolic letters had a scriptural status.– Peter expected his letters to be received with the

same authority.

4. Some NT Writers Quote Other NT Writers As Scripture

• 1 Tim 5:18– Latter quote is from Luke 10:7– Not oral tradition because he said,

“The Scripture says.”

• This concept shows the canon was not a later development but some innate to the early Christian faith.

5. The Canonical Gospels are Well Established Early on in

Church History• Critical scholars claim the apocryphal

gospels were just as popular as the canonical ones.

• Irenaeus: “There are four zones of the world in which we live and four principle winds… [and] the cherubim, too, were four-faced.”

• He pointed out that only these four gospels are recognized by the church.

5. The Canonical Gospels are Well Established Early on in

Church History• Why listen to Irenaeus?– He was the disciple of Polycarp who was the

disciple of John the Apostle.– He is only one person removed from the very

source itself.

• Some critical scholars suggested that only Irenaeus held this view.

5. The Canonical Gospels are Well Established Early on in

Church History

A. Irenaeus’ Own Writing– He assumes the reader knows these same

gospels. – He doesn’t write like these books are a new

concept.

B. Irenaeus’ Contemporaries– Tatian’s Diatesseron: A harmony of the gospels.

C. Irenaeus’ Predecessors

6. At the End of the 2nd C., the Muratorian Fragment Lists

22 of our 27 NT Books

• This contains our earliest list of books in the NT.

• Hence, the central core of the NT was established.

• There were some disagreement over a handful of books.

6. At the End of the 2nd C., the Muratorian Fragment Lists

22 of our 27 NT Books

A. The debate was over only a handful of books– It was not an open, free-for-all.– There was an agreed-upon core.

B. The theology was already determined before this– Core doctrines were already established.– The acceptance or rejection

of these books would not change that fact.

7. Early Christians Often Used Non-Canonical Writings

• Those highly critical of the NT conclude that our NT writings are nothing special.

A. The Manner of Citation– Non-canonical literature are not cited as

Scripture.– These books are helpful and illuminating. – NT canon overwhelmingly cited as Scripture.

7. Early Christians Often Used Non-Canonical Writings

B. Frequency of Citation– NT Canon cited with greater frequency– Cited 16 times more often than non-canonical

ones. – Clement cited Matthew 757 times.

• The NT has been settled for over 1,600 years.

8. The NT Canon Was Not Decided At Any Church Council

• Nicea’s goal was how to articulate belief about the divinity of Jesus.

• Which council voted on the NT books?– This reason assumes that it had to be decided by a

church council. – Regional councils didn’t just “pick” books they liked.– They recognized these books as foundational.– They declared the way things had been, not the way

they wanted them to be. – They didn’t determine the

canon, only recognizing.

8. The NT Canon Was Not Decided At Any Church Council

• The NT canon was not determined by a council but by a consensus.

• The canon is not just a man-made construct.• The same was true for the OT canon. • There was widespread consensus for the OT. • Humans didn’t determine the

canon, they responded to it.

9. Christians Did Not Disagree About the Canonicity of Some

NT Books

• The development of the canon was not a problem-free process.

• Some books were disputed.• God gave His books through ordinary,

historical means, and it is not always smooth.

9. Christians Did Not Disagree About the Canonicity of Some

NT Books

A. These Disputes Only Affected a Handful of Books– Not every book was equally disputed. – Vast majority were in place.

B. The Extent of these Disputes Are Overestimated– Origen accepts 2 Peter.– No reason to think most Christians rejected these

books. Origen was acknowledging the minority report.

9. Christians Did Not Disagree About the Canonicity of Some

NT Books

C. The Church Eventually Reached Consensus– The church was unified regarding these writings.– Critics suggest this fact should be disregarded.– Why should disagreements be significant and

unity not be?

• Assumption: If these writings be from God, there should be few dissenters and universal agreement.

9. Christians Did Not Disagree About the Canonicity of Some

NT Books

A. How does the critic know the manner in which God gives His books?

B. Some disputes are inevitable• The overly-pristine expectation is not from

Scripture.• God uses normal, historical processes to

accomplish His ends.

10. Early Christians Believed that Canonical Books

Are Self-Authenticating

• Christians appealed to the internal qualities of NT books.

• They bore certain attributes that distinguished them as being from God.

• “My sheep hear my voice.” (John 10:27)• Objection: Why are they rejected by so

many?• Answer: The Holy Spirit

helps us see with objectivity.

10. Early Christians Believed that Canonical Books

Are Self-Authenticating• Objection: How can Christians claim they are the

only ones who can see the truth while other are blinded to it?

• Answer: It is biblically consistent that a person without the Spirit can’t discern spiritual things.

• A tone-deaf person can’t discern if a note is on key.

• These books impose themselves through their internal qualities.