Soli Deo Gloria
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Soli Deo Gloria January/February 2016 Department of Bible and Theology Newsletter Term Paper Edition NT Canon New or Renewed? Espresso Yourself Church Clothes 3 NT Gateway Calendar Puzzle additions to the books in his in the Hebrew Scriptures. them with power. Within Every semester the Bible & proposed canon, which In other words, “the the NT, the apostles Theology faculty reads included the Gospel of theological matrix of first- repeatedly confirm that some amazing term papers Luke and ten of Paul’s century Christianity created divine authority is innate to in our courses. The epistles. The fact that a favorable environment for their role (Acts 10:41-42; 1 following articles by Claire editing was necessary the growth of a new written John 1:1-4; 2 Peter 3:2; Gal Bonin and Christian indicates the previous revelational deposit.” 1:1; 1 Cor 14:37-38; 1 Sanchez are two such existence of a standard and Thess 2:13, 4:8, 5:27). papers. They have been norm concerning those One aspect of that edited from their original texts that make up the NT. “theological matrix” was Here lies the key aspect of fifteen pages down to one If this were not the case, the recognition of the OT as the inherent authority of the page each. For brevity, their then the energy and a written narrative that was NT writings: it is divinely extensive footnotes have vehemence with which the incomplete. The basic conferred on the authors, also been deleted. Contact church leaders of the time tenets of the Christian faith the apostles, and flows the original authors to read rejected Marcion’s work declare the story of the directly from Jesus Christ, their papers in full. would make no sense. Jewish faith to be God the Son. Thus, any completed and fulfilled in letter, history, or Gospel In view of the response he Jesus Christ. How natural, that bore the apostolic seal received, it is only logical then, for the first believers “bore the highest possible Claire Bonin to suppose that in his (who were part of the authority that any document There is significant “creation” of a new canon, Jewish people) to assume could bear.” Given this fact, evidence to suggest that the Marcion was tampering that the continuation and there is significant support NT as it exists today was with writings that were ending of the old, sacred for the assertion that not the result of arbitrary already regarded as story would likewise be put recognition of the NT decisions on the part of a authoritative and thus part in written form. The canon was not a by-product select few solely as a of an accepted (though assertions of the earliest of heresy but the result of reaction to heresy. On the perhaps not yet formalized) believers that Jesus was the the regard in which the contrary, the probability of standard. long-awaited Messiah and apostolic writings would the natural and early the fulfillment of the have been held. recognition of the concept Clearly, even within Hebrew Law and Prophets of a NT canon is indicated Marcion’s era there are clearly called for new, Apostolic by the theological and indications that the concept authoritative accounts to be Acknowledgement historical roots of of the new canon should written and preserved. The authority of the Christianity, the nature of not be laid only at the apostles and, through them, the NT writings, and the heretic’s door. What The NT Writings: Self- of the NT writings, is also testimony of the Apostolic evidence for an early Proclaimed Authority upheld in the works of the Fathers. Before examining canonical concept exists In addition to Christianity’s Apostolic Fathers. Clement these three areas, it would before Marcion? First, there roots in Judaism, the NT of Rome references the be helpful to first clarify the is the substantiation that writings themselves argue divine origin of the evidence surrounding comes from Christianity’s for a ready acceptance of apostles’ authority when he Marcion himself. innate characteristics. their uniquely sacred reminds his readers that the quality. Within the Gospels, message declared by the Marcion the Mastermind? Christianity: A Religion Jesus himself establishes original disciples was the In A.D. 144, Marcion was with a Past the authority of the message first declared by excommunicated by the The faith of the original apostles, (the authors or at Jesus; he then further church in Rome for his disciples and all orthodox least sources of all the emphasizes this principle of heretical teachings. In order believers who followed canonical book), when he continuing commission: to uphold his own gnostic them was grounded in the chooses them, designates “Christ...was sent forth by beliefs, Marcion removed beliefs and history recorded them apostles, and imbues God, and the apostles by portions and made Jan/Feb 2016 Soli Deo Gloria Page 2 Christ.” Polycarp and substantiation of a known In the end, von Harnack’s doing this, Jeremiah Ignatius echo such Pauline collection. Papias “creative act” was God’s contrasts the old Mosaic prestigious assessments in recognized at least the alone. As with everything covenant to a new covenant their own writings. Gospels of Matthew and else He has done, this that is to come, Although several of these Mark and was likely aware creative act of God calls for characterized by a law that early Christian writers were of a collection of Gospels worship and thanks. will be be written “on their of that last generation who as early as A.D. 110. Other hearts” so they will all had personal contact with NT works he acknowledged know God, “from the least Paul and the original include 1 John, 1 Peter, of them to the greatest.” disciples, not one of them Rev, and several Pauline חָדָׁש ,claims for himself the same epistles.,which were clearly Christian Sanchez In 31:31 the term new level of authority. A clear regarded by Polycarp as “The time is coming,” (ḥā·ḏāš), can be translated a distinction exists between Scripture. declares the LORD, “when few different ways, the age of the apostles and I will make a new covenant including both new and all the leaders and written Conclusion with the house of Israel and renewed. E. P. Sanders works that came after. One There is a difference with the house of Judah.” points out the difficulties can only imagine, then, between publication of a (Jer 31:31) with interpreting this word their surprise if they were canon and the “fundamental as “new” when he asks, confronted with the popular idea of canonicity.” Historical Context “has God denied or modern theory that Marcion may have The prophet Jeremiah replaced the mosaic individuals like themselves achieved the former, but speaks of events during one covenant?” Werner Lemke possessed the authority to Christianity’s background of the most tragic eras of describes the translation independently determine in Judaism, the claims of Israel’s history, the options thusly, “We might the canon of the NT. the NT books, and the Babylonian exile. This exile call this new in the sense of witness of the Apostolic involved the “destruction of ‘brand new’ or ‘novel.’ On Apostolic Acceptance Fathers all point to the the Temple, the dwelling the other hand, ‘new’ may The significant catalogue of latter. The most that can be place of the Lord of Israel, also be used to refer to NT books cited by the said for Marcion is that he and the exile of God’s something which was Apostolic Fathers indicates aided the Church’s clarity people.” Jeremiah’s known previously but a certain level of canonical of expression concerning prophetic career lasted from which has received practice related to the NT what it already 627 - 586 BC, which ‘renewed’ vitality or texts, even if the word acknowledged in regards to included the end of validity, as for instance in “canon” was not used. the NT texts. Assyrian reign and the Lamentations 3:22-23, Clement (A.D. 95) appears beginning of Babylonian where the poet asserts that to be aware of a tradition The topic of the NT canon rule. Yahweh's gracious mercy concerning the Synoptic is indisputably complex, and compassion are ‘new’ Gospels, a collection of and it is not the purpose The main audience of (hâdàshim) every Pauline Epistles, and the here to suggest otherwise. Jeremiah 29 is the exilic morning.” book of Hebrews. Irenaeus’ Nevertheless, this community in Babylon. letters (c. A.D. 110) suggest understanding of the natural Jeremiah sends the exiles a Though translators have he was in possession of a progression of the canon’s letter of encouragement and argued for both new and collection of Paul’s letters recognition highlights later transitions to rebuking renewed, it seems that the that included 1 Cor, Eph, 1 God’s sovereign plan. Only a false prophet, Shemaiah. majority of modern & 2 Tim, Rom, Phil & Gal. He, with His absolute Jeremiah 31:31-34 is an scholarship has leaned on The Gospels of Matthew, knowledge and wisdom, oracle of salvation, and the side of renewed. Mark, and Luke also appear could have so skillfully more specifically, a to have been within paved the way through promise of deliverance. Walter Kaiser Jr. argues for Ignatius’ experience. history, the filters of human Jeremiah 31:31-34 is the a mediated position, “The authors, and the confusion climax of both 31:23-34 Hebrew word, however, It is generally accepted that of heresies for the new and of the whole oracle of must serve both ideas: new Polycarp, (c.