Definitions

of

Terms Concerning

The Bible

Canonical Books — The complete set of sixty-six books of the Protestant Bible. Those books

recognized by man as meeting the qualifications to be called inspired of God. The following criteria were used to determine whether a writing should be included in the canon:

1. Was it used, received and preserved by the people of God?

2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

Personal Opinion:

Now here's a very good point. Who are you going to trust as to which books deserve to be included in the cannon?  Some atheistic university professor who hates the ideas of sin and hell and repentance and Jesus or some saintly, God fearing, Jesus loving, Spirit filled man or woman of God who has a testimony of a changed life and answered prayer?

I'll take the latter any day.

2. Is it dynamic? Does it possess the power of God? Is the book able to change lives?

2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

Personal Opinion:

Good point again. 

How many people go to Voltaire, Emerson, Marx, Tom, Dick, and Harry three hundred and sixty-five days a year, year in ,year out for spiritual guidance?  Not many.

All worldly writers sooner or later lose their appeal.  They start to ring hollow.  Their readers find their messages do not produce results of lasting value.

On the other hand we have the Bible which remains the world's best seller over hundreds of years and never stops rewarding its readers with spiritual uplifting.

 

3. Is it authentic? Does it reveal God's truth? Does it agree with the rest of the Scripture?

Personal Opinion:

Authentic, God's truth, agree with the rest - How am I to know?

My opinion is that God's truth should be understandable to even a child, to the person with less than average intellect, to someone of say an I. Q. of seventy.  It should not be rocket science.

Bible concepts such as "put God first, neighbor next, self last" or "righteous, sin free living" are contrary to human nature but certainly easily understood.

The Bible is surely consistent from page one of Genesis to the last page of Revelation.  It is contrary to human nature but always true to its message.

It is easier to believe it is God inspired than that a committee of dozens of writers over dozens of centuries could have cobbled it together.

 

4. Is it prophetic? Was it written by a man of God? (Example: a prophet, apostle or one with apostolic authority)

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Personal Opinion:

How do we know that the prophet was moved by the Holy Ghost?  Well, if his prophecy turns out to be not true, we know he was not moved by the Holy Ghost  And further more he deserves to be stoned.  That may sound a little severe but Jesus does warn that to offend the Holy Ghost is a very grave offence.  And to claim to received a message from the Holy Ghost does seem to be close to taking his name in vain it that claim is knowingly untrue, a lie.

But back to the original prophesy, if it turns out to be true, I am puzzled how we can be sure the prophet got his information from the Holy Ghost.  It could have been pure luck, pure chance.  Some prophesies, just by their very nature have a certain probability to turn out to be true.

5. Is it authoritative? Does it have the authority of God behind it? Does it claim to be the Word of God?

Personal Opinion:

 

Of course, just because a writing claims to be the word of God is no proof that it actually is what it claims to be.

 

But on the other hand, if the writer makes the admission right in the writing itself that the writing is no more than his own opinion, it is safe to assume it is exactly that.

 

Since the theory is that God's direct inspiration ended with the book of Revelation, any claim that a piece of writing is in agreement with God's word would have to be backed up with a scriptural reference.  Red flags should go up if a post apostolic writer claims to have God's direction in adding to canon as right there you know you are dealing with a liar