Introduction to the Bible
The Canon
Inspiration
Texts & Versions
Hermeneutics
1. Canon & Authority
• Who is responsible for the contents of the Bible?
Prominent lawgivers, prophets, and teachers as
well as editors and compilers preserving what
they thought were religious norms, and thereby
exercising a significant amount of authority
within the community.
• Why has the Bible endured over the centuries?
The reason lies in the fact that the church
throughout the ages has held the faith in its
authoritative character.
1. Canon & Authority
• Is the Bible relevant and still normative?
Anyone can be profoundly moved by the inspirational
quality of the literature, religious or nonreligious. A
believer, however, accept the traditions of the church
as somehow binding. They are regarded as not only
explaining the faith, but as forming the members
within the faith.
• The canon then has to do with reference to authority. It
is a statement from the past that continues to
operative to the present. Believers hold that these
writings had their origins in revelation and that as
historical memory they continued to be a source of
revelation today.
1. Canon & Authority
• The word “canon” originally means “reed.” it
came to signify something that acted as a
norm, a measuring stick. In Christian usage it
refers to a model or a rule.
The Bible
• Inspired Word of God to certain people to
write it down
• How is it written?
Theories of Inspiration
A. Mechanical Theory (Islam)
- Human writer is a passive tool
- Luke 1:1-4
B. Natural Theory
-Natural product of personal experience –
depends on closeness of person to the events,
some heresies
-2 Peter 1: 20-21
Theories of Inspiration
C. Moral Theory
-Ability to discover spiritual truth through a change of life
style
-Undermines the supernatural inspiration, Some heresies
D. Dynamic Theory: + + THE ONLY THEORY THAT WE
BELIEVE IN + +
- the Holy Spirit penetrating all the faculties & talents of the
writer –enabling them to write God’s words & intentions
without obstructing their free will, nor changing their
innate character
- 4 Gospels (Humanity & Divinity)
The Bible
• The Bible is the WORD OF GOD & the
SUPREME AUTHORITY in the CHURCH. It takes
its authority directly from God
• All the Bible is inspired, but not all of it is the
Revelation of God. (example: Human words &
words of the devil). Author is Inspired by God
to write it, but it is not a “Revelation of God”
Proof of Direct Inspiration
(witnesses for the Revelations)
1. From within the Bible (Internal)
Important Verses:
A. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
B. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of
any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by
the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were
moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21
• Other Verses: Mat. 5:18; 15:3-4; 22:31-34
• Acts 2:17-18… Etc
Proof of Direct Inspiration
(witnesses for the Revelations)
2.Outside the Bible (External)
A. CHURCH: We do not accept a book to be from
the Bible except what the Church says it is the
HOLY BIBLE
• St. Augustine: “But I would not believe in the
Gospel, had not the Authority of the Universal
Church already moved me.”
The Relationship Between the
Authority of the Bible & Authority of the
Church
• The Bible gives sufficient knowledge of
Salvation in light of the Church Tradition
• “But if I am delayed, I write so that you may
know how you ought to conduct yourself in
the house of God, which is the Church of the
Living God, the pillar and ground of the Truth.”
1 Timothy 3:15
The Relationship Between the
Authority of the Bible & Authority of the
Church
• + Church authority is to interpret & explain
the Bible
• The Bible has difficult meanings
2 Peter 3:16-18
• The new life in Christ is not accomplished in
separate individuals, but given to the Church
as the living body of Christ with Jesus as the
head of that Body
Apostolic Tradition
1. Definition: It is the collective teachings of Christ &
the Apostles
2. Characteristics of Apostolic Tradition:
A. Can be traced back to the time of the Apostles
B. Is present in all Apostolic Churches
C. Does not contradict the Bible
-Some “Church Traditions” are not
apostolic
tradition like… (the infallibility of the Pope in the
Catholic Church)
-The Protestants reject all tradition
Apostolic Tradition
3. Where Do We Find Apostolic Tradition
A. The Commentary on the Bible-The
Consensus Patrium (The Agreement of the
Fathers)
B. The Church Creed
C. The Liturgy & Worship Practices in General
D. The Work of the Canonical Ecumenical
Councils
Apostolic Tradition
4. Proof of Tradition
A. From the Bible
1. Not everything Jesus did & taught is
written in the Bible: John 20:30, 21:25; 2
John 12
2. 1 Corinth 11:34; 2 Timothy 1:13, 2:2;
Rom 6:17; 2 Thes 2:15
3. Rev 3:11; 2:25
Apostolic Tradition
B. From the Church Fathers
• St. Athanasius & the “Purpose” of the Bible
(To Serapion 2,7 & Bishops of Egypt 40)
• How the Arians missed the Purpose of the Gospel
• -Irenaus: The “Design”
• -St. Basil: defense for the Holy Spirit is present in the
Liturgy
• -St. Augustine: “But I would not believe in the
Gospel, had not the Authority of the Universal
Church already moved me.”
Apostolic Tradition
• And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence
of His disciples, which are not written in this book.
John 20:30
• And there are also many other things that Jesus did,
which is they were written one by one, I suppose
that even the world itself could not contain the
books that would be written. Amen. John 21:25
• Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to
do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you
and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. 2
John 12
Apostolic Tradition
• Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard
from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy
1:13
• And the things that you have heard from me among many
witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to
teach others also. 2 Tim 2:2
• But God be thanked that though you were slaves to sin, yet
you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you
were delivered. Rom 6:17
• Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which
you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. 2 Thes 2:15
• Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no
one may take your crown. Rev 3:11
• But hold fast what you have till I come. Rev 2:25
Apostolic Tradition
5.The Two Dimensions of the Apostolic Tradition
A. Objective: = “Keeping a Treasure” = nothing added
& nothing should be subtracted
-work of Popes & Bishops is to protect the
Revelation of God through Tradition
B. Subjective/ Personal: The work of the Holy Spirit in
the Heart of the Believers without ink or paper
(Jer 31:31 & Hebrews 8:8-11)
-To form the conscience of the believer not after
one person but the collective conscience of the
Church
The Bible as Tradition
1. Canon of Scriptures
-The Apostolic Tradition discerned what list of
books should be incorporated in the Holy
Bible
-49 Books in Old Testament
-27 Books in New Testament
2.New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and
the Old Testament is unveiled in the New
Testament (St. Augustine)
The Bible as Tradition
3. The Bible as oral tradition:
-Old Testament Church were taught the Word
of God orally in the wilderness by Moses
before it was written, 5 Books of Moses
-New Testament Church kept the Gospel by
oral tradition before they were written.
-Jesus had never asked his disciples to write
but to teach.
The Bible as Tradition
4.The Gospel is the heart of all Scriptures
-3 stages of Formation of the Gospels
a. The Life & Teaching of Jesus
b. The Oral Tradition after His Ascension
c. The Written Gospel
5. The Four Fold Gospel has a Unique place in the
Church
-i.e. we stand up, light candles, listen in fear &
reverence, offer incense
-we emphasize personal daily readings of the
Gospels