In this lesson, we begin a new series exploring the Canon of Scripture. While the term might sound technical, it simply refers to the "standard" or "measuring rod" used to determine which books belong in the Bible and are recognized as the authoritative, inspired Word of God.
Key questions we address in this introduction:
- What is a "Canon"? We define the term as a collection of authoritative books that serve as the rule for our faith and practice.
- Who sets the standard? Just as we don't "decide" how much a kilogram weighs but rather use an established standard to measure it, we don't "decide" what is scripture. We look for the standard set by the ultimate authority—God Himself.
- What makes a book authoritative? We discuss three basic criteria:
- The author must be an authority on the subject (God-breathed).
- The work must be approved by other recognized authorities (evidence through miracles and prophecy).
- The content must be demonstrated as accurate and consistent with existing scripture.
We look at passages like 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:19-21 to show that "holy scripture" is not merely the product of human will but men speaking from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. We also examine how the early church and even those in the Old Testament used the evidence of miracles and fulfilled prophecy to distinguish between true messages from God and human inventions.
Join us as we start this journey into understanding why we can trust the collection of books we call the Bible.