Canon and Canonisation's Significance for Biblical Studies: An Essay

This essay examines the critical role of canon and canonisation in biblical studies. It explores the historical context of biblical formation, including the selection of books for the Old and New Testaments, the criteria used, and the significance of these processes. The essay discusses the debates and decisions that shaped the biblical canon, highlighting key considerations like apostolic authorship, orthodoxy, and the influence of the Holy Spirit. It also addresses the importance of distinguishing between collection and canonisation, emphasizing that humans are responsible for preserving and collecting works, while the authority rests with God. The essay concludes by underscoring the enduring significance of canon and canonisation for understanding the Bible, providing readers with a framework for interpreting scripture and engaging with theological concepts. The essay emphasizes the importance of understanding the canonization process to understand which texts are considered divinely inspired and how they guide individuals toward a deeper spiritual life.

Theology- critical essay

"Is the study of canon and canonisation important for Biblical studies?
Bible is considered to be the collection of sacred scriptures and texts that Christians and Jews
consider to be a product of divine inspiration and records that enables to develop strong
relationship with God and humans (Spellman, 2014). There are many authors who have
contributed in order to form the Bible. On the other hand, there is some of the book that was not
included. In order to the concept of formation of bible, one need to understand that not all the
books found as scripture are not included in Bible. Among the process through bible was formed
was with the process of canonization of Scripture. Different people have diverse set of
perception for the aspects on which discussion take place. There are conditions in which
discussion can cause serious conflicts and can made the discussion with no outcome. Similarly,
in Christianity where it was just formed, people did not had any type of understand towards how
a holy life can be spent (Najman, 2012). When talking about New Testament, there are mainly
four gospels which are from the disciples of Jesus (Mathew, Mark, Luke and John). There are
other disciples of Jesus who wrote scriptures, like in the writings of Thomas, there are stories
which cover information about childhood of Jesus. Main reason due to which these books were
included in Bible was because of something called Canonization of Scripture (Peckham, 2011).
At the time when Christianity was forming, there were many books which were floating
around the churches. These developed teaching and ideas that caused problems among people
and thus had negative impact on churches (Nkomazana and Kealotswe, 2010). Many number of
controversies that raised on what Christians should believe and ways that they should behave. So
as an attempt to develop unity among Christians, some of the people can together and decided on
the books that should be included in the Bible and once that should not. This way, they were able
to develop what is called “canon of Scripture”. Canon is considered to be the measuring rod that
is used by builders and carpenters (Driver, 2013). In context with Scriptures, this is determined
to be the standards and rules through which various documents and letters were measured in
order to analyse whether people should accept and recognized by church.
During the year 200 AD, there were about 20 New Testament books that were considered
by leaders of church who had the authority and accuracy of Scripture (Maddix and Thompson,
2012). The books that were used currently in New Testament were debated by the early church
were 2 Peter, 3 John, Revelation, Jude, Hebrews, James, etc. In the year 397 AD final list of
books that was of 27 books were decided and was included in Bible at the Council of Carthage.
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However, the changes made was done so that Christian were able to live a spiritual life but there
were many groups formed which got divided and started their own rules that were followed by
them. In order to select the books for Bible, there were many rules and considerations made but
it is difficult to identify methods and standards that Council member used to decide 27 books of
New Testament (Anderson and Giles, 2012). There were mentioned criteria for selection of these
books done. However, some of the writers and most of the scholars in the modern world believe
that there are six of the criteria that were used and they are as follows:
 Apostolic: The book needs to be written by a ministry partner or by an apostle.
 Orthodox: Need to be approved by the approval and acceptance of the church.
 Christocentric: The book to be focused on the person or work of Jesus.
 Inspiration: It needs to have the characteristics and qualities of divinely inspired Word of
God (Katajala-Peltomaa, 2014).
 Testimony of the Holy Spirit: Authorities of church should have inner witness of the
Holy Spirit in order to help them to select certain books.
 Acceptance by Church: The book should be already being widely used and accepted by
majority of churches.
With the above given process is the result of New Testament and is being read new and
studies (van Aarde, 2012). On the other hand, when talking about Old Testament the process
used for selecting the 46 books were completely different. In this modern world, there are still
many issues face by the Canon of New Testament. For example, Martin Luther was willing to
remove Book of James from the Bible but this never happened. Further, there are some people
who are wanting to include other books as they seem that they were political and arbitrary
motivations for selection of the books (Patzia and Petrotta, 2010).
The canon are considered to be the selection of books done with the help of which bible
is formed. People do not have the capability to make own decision and to understand the set of
information that are provided in scriptures. In this context, there are leaders or individuals who
are professionals will knowledge and understanding who devote their life for understanding the
scriptures that are given by others through the spirit of God (von Weissenberg, 2012). In context
with the Bible, there are 73 books that are included in Bible and these books were selected
undergoing long process that included debates and long discussions which helped in selecting
most reliable book that could provide and guide individuals to know and develop their
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understanding about God and can live a spiritual life. The processes of canonization help
scholars to eliminate the books that could not be included in Bible (Spellman, 2014).
It is important to have canonization as all the Scriptures do not have enough information
and individuals also face difficult to understand them. For example, the book of Thomas consists
of things that are said by Jesus (Najman, 2012). The type of writing style that is used is not easy
to understand when it is compared with other books that are included in Bible. There are
different type of important considerations that are made for Canonicity and they are as follows:
Self authentication: It is important to remember Bible to be recognized as self
authenticating as all the words that are included in it is breathed out by God (Peckham, 2011).
When talking this in simple words, all these books were canonical at the moment when they
these were written. Further, it was not important that various type of council groups to be formed
so that these books could be examined. The canonicity was inherent within them as they were
from God. Consideration was made by the council members in which they acknowledged and
recognized the truth of intrinsic inspiration that book provided top its readers (Nkomazana and
Kealotswe, 2010).
Decision of men: For the canon, it was important to consider the books that were required
to be included in the canon. However, there were some of the members who were not inspired.
Thus, it was important to taken up decision so that right choice is made (Driver, 2013). In this
process, God guided the group so that they are able to choose and gather different writing into
the canons of the New and Old Testament.
Debates over canonicity: In accordance with the process of deciding and collection of
books, this is natural that some kind of debate that would have taken place. Each of the person
has their own set of understanding but these debates helped in considering the truly canonical
books (Maddix and Thompson, 2012).
Completion of canon: In the year 397 AD when Christian church confirmed, then it is
required to be closed and no other books should be discovered in which the canon are opened
again. Even if new letter of Paul is identified, then even it should not be included as there will be
many of the letter that Paul must have written in his lifetime (Anderson and Giles, 2012). At the
time of selection of canons, there were many other letters of Paul that were not included in the
canon. The reason for this may be that not everything would be inspirational in the writing of
apostle. It was not the writer who inspire but they are the writings and that also not all of them.
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To make people learn about God and it is important to have Scriptures on which
individuals can rely on and to make then understand the aspects that were taught by Jesus
(Katajala-Peltomaa, 2014).
It is important to have a distinction that is required between collection and canonizing. In
this context, no council or human being can pronounces a work scripture or canonisation.
However, humans are responsible to preserve and collect such works. For the church, New
Testament books did not become authoritative as they were included formally in the some of the
list that church included them in the canon as people already considered them to be the divinely
inspired by God (van Aarde, 2012). All the books that belong to canon are considered to be the
books which are authoritative Scripture. There were some of the individuals in past who have
viewed canon as containing books that were church had found edifying. These were the books
which were not necessarily the books of Holy Scripture. Main issue that was faced in this aspect
was that people got confused to identify the books that spoke with divine authority and the books
that are merely helpful. In this context, it was highly important to make sure and determine the
books that will be suitable for selecting in the bible. It was important to develop faith among
people and this made individuals to determine the selection of Scriptures done that can help in
focusing on the teaching that is given by God (Patzia and Petrotta, 2010). When Christ died, then
it was important for the disciples to travel around the world and proclaim the word of God. This
way only possible with the help of teaching that was given by Jesus. In order to make use of
these teaching they started to write down Scriptures and letters. Each of the disciples used the
form of writing so that other can get to know more about God. Among all these selection of letter
and scriptures were do so that an effective form of inspirational information could be provided to
people who can read them know the teaching that were provided by them. There were different
types of issues that were faced from the side of selection of canon (von Weissenberg, 2012). Still
with the help of God, people involved in the council were able to select the Scriptures that will
enable to develop faith of people.
All the issues that were faced of the canon Scripture were of high importance. When God
has revealed himself to humanity in the form of Scripture, then it is of supreme importance to
determine which of the writings come from him (Katajala-Peltomaa, 2014). All these are helpful
and provide individuals effective set of guidelines that should be followed to so that the rate of
support from the side of God increase and spiritual life can be lead.
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In accordance with the essay, it can be started that study of canon and canonization is
highly important as it provided with Scriptures that should be used among all the many type of
books that are written by others. All the information that was provided for the selection of canon
was done so that they are able to consider and determine the life that means to be with God.
There are still many conflicts that are taking place in order to include or eliminate the some of
the books from bible but the studies and the type of strategies that were applied in the early years
for canon was formed has proved to be strongly followed and it was God with the help of
member from the council who chose the right books that can be used in the bible.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Anderson, R. T., & Giles, T. (2012). The Samaritan Pentateuch: an introduction to its origin,
history, and significance for Biblical studies (Vol. 72). Society of Biblical Lit.
Driver, D. R. (2013). Childs and the Canon or Rule of Faith.”. The Bible as Christian Scripture:
The Work of Brevard S. Childs, 243-248.
Katajala-Peltomaa, S. (2014). Demonic possession as physical and mental disturbance in later
medieval canonization processes. Mental (dis) orders in later medieval Europe, 108-127.
Maddix, M. A., & Thompson, R. P. (2012). SCRIPTURE AS FORMATION: THE ROLE OF
SCRIPTURE IN CHRISTIAN FORMATION1. Christian Education Journal, 9, S79.
Najman, H. (2012). The Vitality of Scripture Within and Beyond the “Canon” 1. Journal for the
Study of Judaism, 43(4-5), 497-518.
Nkomazana, F., & Kealotswe, O. N. (2010). Biblical studies, theology, religion and philosophy:
An introduction for African Universities. African Books Collective.
Patzia, A. G., & Petrotta, A. J. (2010). Pocket Dictionary of Biblical Studies: Over 300 Terms
Clearly & Concisely Defined. InterVarsity Press.
Peckham, J. C. (2011). Intrinsic Canonicity and the Inadequacy of the Community Approach to
Canon-Determination. Themelios, 203.
Spellman, C. E. (2014). Toward a Canon-Conscious Reading of the Bible: Exploring the History
and Hermeneutics of the Canon. Sheffield Phoenix Press Ltd.
van Aarde, A. G. (2012). The use and origin of the (Old and) New Testament as Christianity's
canon. HTS Theological Studies, 68(1), 1-8.
von Weissenberg, H. (2012). The Twelve Minor Prophets at Qumran and the Canonical Process:
Amos as a ‘Case Study,’. The Hebrew Bible in Light of the Dead Sea Scrolls, ed. Nóra
Dávid et al., FRLANT, 234, 363-65.
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