The Bible
The word Bible is derived from the Greek word biblia i.e.
booksThe books of the Bible are sacred because they are inspired by
God.The books in the Bible are canonical. They are definitively and
solemnly determined in 1546 by the Council of Trent.The Bible
Signifies the origin of the Bible
All scriptures are inspired by God and is useful for teaching (2
Tm 3:16)
God so moved the inspired writers by His supernatural operation
that he incited them to write, and assisted them in their writing
so that they correctly conceived, accurately wrote down and
truthfully expressed all that He intended and only what He
intended; and only thus can God be the author of the BibleDivine
Inspiration
Pope Leo XIII Providentissimus Deus, 18932
It is not Divine Dictation
2. It is not Negative Assistance theory
3. It is not Subsequent ApprobationWhat Divine Inspiration is
not?
Two Elements:God is actively present in a unique manner in the
composition of the biblical books. (cf. 2 Tim 3: 13-17; 1 Pt.
1:20-21)2. The freedom of the human authors in making use of their
own talents, and resources in cooperation with the Spirit of God (
Lk. 1:1-4, Jer. 36: 17-18)Divine Inspiration
But you remain faithful to what you have learned and believed
because you know from whom you learned itAnd that from infancy you
have known the sacred in Jesus scripture is capable of giving you
wisdom for salvation through faithIn Jesus Christ. All scripture is
inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for
correction, and for training in Righteousness. So that one who
belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2
Tim 3: 14-17
Luke 1:1-4New American Standard Bible
(NASB)Introduction1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an
account of the things [a] accomplished among us, 2just as they were
handed down to us by those who from the beginning [b]were
eyewitnesses and [c] servants of the [d]word, 3it seemed fitting
for me as well, having [e]investigated everything carefully from
the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most
excellent Theophilus; 4so that you may know the exact truth about
the things you have been [f] taught.
4
Basic principles:The words of the Bible are true only in the
sense in which human authemhors conveyed them. Therefore we must
determine how they thought,what influenced them etc.2. The human
author was not necessarily without error. But Inerrancy means that
the authors opinion, and convictions did not affect the
messageInerrancy
5. Inerrancy applies to those essential religious affirmations
which are made for the sake of salvation.
The Books of the Scripture must acknowledged as teaching firmly,
faithfully, and without error that truth which God wanted put into
the Sacred Writings for the sake of our salvation . Dogmatic
Constitution on Divine RevelationInerrancy : Basic Principles
Canon refers to the list of books considered as inspired
writings.
Old Testament canon is based on the Jewish canon.
There are 46 OT books considered by the Catholic Church as
inspired writings.
The Biblical canon
621 BC Finding of Deuteronomic code in the temple400 BC The
Pentateuch is published as the Torah or Law and later accepted as
the word of God written.200 BC prophetic writings become part of
the OT . After 70 AD - Two Jewish canons were formed1. Palestinian
canon (Jamnia by Johanan ben Zakkai) accepted 39 books 2.
Alexandrian canon accepted 46 booksDevelopment of OT canon
Other Christians follow the Palestinian canon
Catholics follow the Alexandrian canon which includes 1& 2
Maccabees, Tobit, Judith, Sirach, Wisdom, and Baruch and some
additional parts of Esther and Daniel. These books are called
Deutero-canonical books in the Catholic tradition while other
Christians regarded these books as apocryphal writings
Catholic OT canon
The song of Miriam in Exodus 15. It is dated at the time of
exodus from Egypt in 1280 BC
The song of Deborah in Judges 5. It is composed after the battle
at Taanach in 1125 BC
Earliest OT Writings
30-40 AD collection of Jesus sayings now called Q Quelle in
German i.e. source
50 -51AD - 1 &2 Thessalonians 54-59 AD Doctrinal Letters of
Paul: 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians and Romans - Pastoral
Letters: 1&2 Timothy, Titus - Captivity letters: Philemon, Eph,
Col, Phil
Development of NT canon
Apostolic originThe importance of the community addressedThe
centrality of the doctrine containedThe community of believers saw
their own faith in these books as in a mirror.Bases for
Canonization
The Gospel according to1.Matthew - 282.Mark - 163.Luke -
244.John - 21
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Symbols of the 4 Gospelsby Fr. Felix Just. S.J. PhD
Historical Writing5. The Acts of the Apostles - 28
16
Doctrinal Letters of Paul6. Romans - 167. 1Corinthians- 168. 2
Corinthians -139. Galatians - 6
17
Captivity Letters of Paul10. Ephesians - 611. Philippians- 412.
Colossians- 413. Philemon - 1
18
Pastoral Letters of Paul14. 1 Timothy - 615. 2 Timothy - 416.
Titus - 3
19
Earliest Writings17. I Thessalonians - 518. 2Thessalonians -
3
20
The Catholic Epistles20. James -5 24. 2 John - 1 21. 1Peter - 5
25. 3John - 122. 2Peter - 3 26. Jude - 123. I John - 5
21
Apocalyptic Writing27. Revelation - 22
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