On The Bible Series - Part 2
Interesting Info:
A.D. - Anno Domini.
Used to date years by reckoning the date of Christ's birth, as opposed to B.C., the years "Before Christ."
Literally, Anno Domini means "In the year of the Lord." Remember two important notes! Anno Domini
does not mean "After Death." (If it did, there would be a thirty-three year gap between 1 BC and the
crucifixion thirty-three years later.) Also note the politically correct tendency is to use the abbreviation
CE (Common Era) and BCE (Before Common Era). These abbreviations are an attempt to avoid the
religious connotations of the Latin abbreviation. In spite of the name change, BCE and CE still divide
history according to the life of Christ, but CE and BCE may be less offensive (or at least less ethnocentric)
to a non-Christian audience.
cf. - confere.
A Latin imperative suggesting the reader should compare and contrast one statement or idea with
another one. Literally, “compare.” Researchers often follow the abbreviation with a reference to an
author or page number, suggesting the reader look for similarities and differences between what a
previous citation has said with the subsequent source listed.
Usage: Some scholars think Hitler’s Mein Kampf used genocidal ideas found in earlier anti-Semitic
literature him (Smith 42), but others argue Hitler himself was the primary originator (cf. Jones
98).
c. - circa.
Used by historians to show that a date is approximate. Literally, the word means "around," and it is
sometimes abbreviated "ca." Usage: Shortly after Henry IV seized the throne from Richard II, Geoffrey
Chaucer died (c.1400 A.D.), perhaps due to old age.
The New Testament
This aspect of study of the New Testament and it’s origin and canonicity is the basis of a word that defines who
you are and what you believe. – Apostolic.
The New Testament was written by eight authors in various locations. Paul wrote from prison, Luke wrote while
traveling, John wrote while exiled on an island.
NEW TESTAMENT (27 Books) (3 x 9 = 27)
– GOSPELS –
LIFE OF
JESUS
(4 books)
HISTORY
EPISTLES
(LETTERS)
PROPHECY
(1 book)
(21 books)
(1 book)
1
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
(of the Apostles)
Romans
1 & 2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 & 2 Thessalonians
1 & 2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 & 2 Peter
1, 2 & 3 John
Jude
Revelation
When reviewing the New Testament, the primary consideration for canonicity is the apostolic authority. Of the
eight authors five were recognized apostles (eyewitnesses of Jesus and founding leaders of the church):
1) Matthew – Originally part of the 12 apostles
2) John – Originally part of the 12 apostles
3) Peter – Originally part of the 12 apostles
4) Paul – Having seen Jesus Paul was recognized as the apostle to the Gentiles (I Corinthians 15:8-9)
5) James – Half-brother of Jesus was considered an Apostle (Galatians 1:19)
These five writers account for 22 of the 27 books in the New Testament.
The authors of the remaining five books or close associates of the apostles:
1) Mark – Mark was Peter’s son in the Gospel (I Peter 5:13) and recorded Peter’s eyewitness accounts.
2) Luke – Luke was a coworker of Paul and assisted Paul’s missionary works was a close friend in Paul’s
later years
3) Jude – Half-brother of Jesus
4) Writer of Hebrews – Although the authorship is often attributed to Paul, what we do know is the
writer of Hebrews is an associate of Timothy and knew Paul well (Hebrews 13:23, I Timothy 1:2)
Jesus gave his followers special insight into the Old Testament (Luke 24:45), and he promised that the Spirit
would teach them all things, bring His words to their remembrance, guide them in all truth, and tell them things
to come (John 14:26; 16:13).
Although all believers can enjoy the illumination and guidance of the Spirit, only first century disciples
could recall the earthly life and teachings of Jesus or a fellowship with those who did.
Jesus said people would be saved by believing on Him through the apostles’ word (John 17:20, Matthew
10:40; Luke 10:16). All commanded the apostolic Church to hear to apostolic traditions (I Corinthians
11:2; II Thessalonians 2:15).
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Evidence of Acceptance by the Church
The early church accepted apostolic writings as inspired as soon as they were written.
 Paul’s epistles were read to believers and circulated among the churches (I Corinthians
1:2; Colossians 4:16; I Thessalonians 5:27).
 John intended for revelation to be ready generally (Revelations 1:3).
 Paul quoted from Luke’s Gospel (Luke 10:7; I Timothy 5:18).
 You recognize Paul’s epistles as Scripture (II Peter 3:15 – 16).
 Jude apparently quoted Peter (II Peter or 3:2 – 3; Jude 17– 16)
Post-apostolic

The earliest canonical list of the New Testament is from the Muratorian Fragment (c. 170)
refers to at least 22 of the New Testament books. (excludes Hebrews, James, I Peter, and
II Peter – possibly dude to a break that occurs in the manuscript. It does reject a number
of nonbiblical books by name, but it does not reject any biblical book)

The earliest translation of Scripture, The Old Latin version (c. 200) included every book but
Hebrews, James, I Peter, and II Peter.

The Old Syriac version (c. 200) included every book but II Peter, II and III John, Jude, and
revelation.
By 150 we find New Testament quotations representing every book except 1 to 4 short personal
letters. By about 200 we have postbiblical witnesses to every book of the New Testament.
It was 367 that the first known writer listed the New Testament exactly as it is today without any
qualification. And again the Councils of Hippo (393) in Carthage (397 & 419) confirm the same
list.
The fourth century church did not canonize the New Testament. They simply ratify what
early relievers already practiced.
In no sense was the authority of the canonical books contingent on the letter church
counsel.
We do not depend on the authority of fourth century leaders when we accept the New
Testament canon nor endorsed all the doctrines they taught.
20 of the 27 books were never disputed or questioned, and these 20 books compromise 7/8 of the total
text of the New Testament and these 20 books contain all major New Testament documents.
Completeness of the Canon
With the Old Testament can be incomplete between 400 and 300 BC, The New Testament canon was
completed before the post-apostolic period. No subsequent generation has received authority or
inspiration to write scripture. This is true for couple of reasons:
1) First century apostles had unique qualifications
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2) We will not receive a third covenant
a. God added the New Testament to the Old because he was instituting a new covenant,
which required new revelation.
3) The New Testament asserts the completeness of its revelation.
a. Galatians 1: 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto
you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said
before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye
have received, let him be accursed
b. II Peter 1: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God,
and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things
that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us
to glory and virtue
c. Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it
was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints
Is it possible that other inspired books can be found?
No – absolutely not – I would be contrary the principle that God protects and preserves the word that he
is inspired.
Maybe the best way to answer this question is with questions of critical thought.
1) What God inspire a book and then allowed to be lost for most of subsequent history?
2) When you inspire book only for certain people are time, when his word is universally in
eternally true?
Most so-called lost books of the Bible that are referred to are missing for a couple reasons:
1) They were not inspired
a. Book of the Wars of the Lord, Book of Jasher, Book of the Acts of Solomon (Numbers
21:14; Joshua TN: 13; I Kings 11:41) take
2) They were incorporated into the biblical text.
a. “the book of Samuel the seer… the book of Nathan the prophet, and … the book of
Gad the seer” or probably in Samuel and Kings (I Chronicles 29:29)
3) They may have been superseded or later replaced with more comprehensive books.
4) Some bridesmaid only temporary, Local or personal application.
5) Biblical offers probably also wrote private, personal, uninspired materials.
Textual Criticisms
The discipline of seeking to reveal the original text among numerous ancient manuscripts comparing
variations in different readings is called textual criticism.
Because of the large number of New Testament manuscripts, A large number of variants among those
manuscripts exist. Approximately 200,000 variations in about 10,000 places occur in description.
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Most radiations are insignificant, obvious riddle errors, spelling and stylistic variations, and other
variations that make no significant difference in meaning.
According to Rene Pache, the unresolved variants of that no more than 1/1000ths part of the
New Testament… only 400 new Testament variants materially alter the sense. Among these, no
more than 50 have real importance for any reason whatsoever; and even in the case of these 50,
not one touches on any article of faith or any moral commandment not forcibly supported by
other entirely clear passages, or by the teaching of the Bible as a whole.
Three such variants of importance:
Mark 16:9 – 20
Some manuscripts do not contain these Scriptures (Aleph and B) while others do
(A,C,D, and the vast majority of Greek manuscripts). It does not exist in ancient
versions but it is in manuscripts of the Old Latin, Vulgate, Old Syriac, Peshitta,
Coptic, Gothic, Armenian, Ethiopic, and Georgian versions. In the second century
Irenaeus quoted from these passages, Tatian included in his harmony of the
Gospels, and Tatian’s teacher, Justin, probably do he did. Many third century
works also included it (Tertullian, Hippolytus, the so-called Gospel of Nicodemus,
the Apostolic Constitutions, and Vicentius at the seventh Council of Carthage).
Critics claim that these treasures contained 17 non-Marcan words or words used
in a non-Marcan way. Most critics included that the Gospel of Mark ended with
verse 8. This verse would seem an unlikely finish because it does not include the
resurrection. They believe there was an ending but it was lost. There’re several
possible reasons for this ending to be missing from some of the manuscripts.



An early copy of Mark circulated in unfinished form
The ending was accidentally lost an earlier copy
It was deleted by early critics of the supernatural signs it mentions (most critics
seem to objectives content as much as anything)
Is important to note that when the post-apostolic Church accepted the book as
canonical, it did so with this ending being included. And it is consistent with the
other Gospel accounts, and the doctrines that it teaches are affirmed elsewhere in
Scripture.
John 7:53-8:11
These verses tell the familiar account of the woman taking an adultery that most
people have no problem excepting as being Scripture. These versus do not exist in
a number of manuscripts (Aleph, B, probably A and C - even though this area is
defective because there is not enough room) and are absent from many ancient
versions. It does appear in D manuscripts that contain this account place it
elsewhere in the Gospel of John or even in the Book of Luke.
I John 5:7-8
Both the Majority and Critical Text say here, “For there are three who bear
witness: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.” After
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“witness” the Received Text adds,” In heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy
Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth…”
Of the thousands of Greek manuscripts, the additional words appear only in four
very late manuscripts. They became a part of the Received Text (from which the
KJV is derived and it based on the Majority Text) at the request of the Roman
Catholic Church and was added in 1522. The originating manuscript from which
this text is derived was written in Oxford in 1520 by a Franciscan friar named Roy
or Roy who took the words from the Vulgate.
In a textile evidence for the disputed phrase this week, although some authors
have argued in favor based on Greek grammar the passage.
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