As I start thinking about this topic, I am reminded of First Corinthians 1:18, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (New International Version)
Nothing we can do or say to a lost person will make them believe that the Bible is the Word of God. They are incapable of such as the Scripture tells us, “The god of this age has blinded the minds the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that display the glory of God, who is the image of God.” (NIV)
The reason for this article is not to try to convince an unbeliever to believe intellectually. This article is for those who believe so that we don’t allow the arrogance of this world to shake our faith. Again, for us, the gospel is power; for them is foolishness. Engaging in an intellectual conversation attempting to bring these two extremes together is a recipe for frustration and anger.
Ephesians 2:19-20 tells us that we are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, whom God inspired to write the Word. Peter tells us, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 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 Spirit.” (King James Version) So, even as men wrote the Bible, the inspiration was divine.
The Canon of the Bible or ruler or how the Boks considered inspired came about seems to be a very complex thing, but it is not. The Canon was not up to men; God put it together, and Men acknowledged what was obvious. Let’s start with the Old Testament. The Old Testament is Scripture simply because Jesus says so. Jesus quoted the Old Testament, and that’s good enough for us believers.[1] Regarding the New Testament,
First Thessalonians 2:13 tells us, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” (NKJV)
The process of canonization did not grant biblical books their authority. Rather, books that were recognized as authoritative were admitted to the canon.”[4] Klein gives the following criteria for the New Testament Canonicity:
- Apostolic connection.
- Orthodoxy in the theology and ethics of the New Testament.
- Books passed the test of times in their effectiveness in helping a large number of churches since the early generations of Christianity.”[5]
Kruger echoes the same criteria for the canonicity of Scripture; in his case, he writes: 1. Divine qualities 2. Corporate reception, and 3. Apostolic Origins.[6]
Furthermore, Bruce also offers very similar explanations for the criteria for the canonicity of Scripture: 1. Apostolic Authority, 2. Antiquity: (Needed to be written during the apostolic age), 3. Orthodoxy (Again referring exclusively to the apostolic faith), 4. Catholicity (It needed to be recognized universally, even the Catholic Church agreed on the 66 books recognized by the rest of the orthodox Christendom.) 5. Traditionally use, 6) Inspiration (Books were indeed included in the canon because they were recognized as inspired.)[7][2]
[1] https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1060&context=second_person
[2] https://angelcasiano.com/2018/02/12/the-canon-of-the-bible/
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