Steve Ray has a list of more than 35 loaded Questions for "Bible Christians" (quotation marks his)(link to the whole list). I originally planned to respond to just 35 of them, but the series seems to have been of interest, so in this extension, I'm responding to three more numbered questions in his list, plus fourteen "bonus questions" that take the form "Where does the Bible say ... ." I'm trying to provide the answers in the same common format as the original series, for easy reference. This is number 7/17.
Where does the Bible . . .
. . . provide a list of the canonical books of the Old Testament?
Simple Answer(s):
1) Of course, there's an uninspired list provided in the front of most Bibles.
2) If someone had their Bible (assumed in the question) but their Bible didn't have that list, one could go through and create such a list quite easily.
3) But if the question is simply asking whether one of the books of the Bible includes an inspired list of the books of the Old Testament, then of course the answer is that no one book provides such a list.
Important Qualification(s):
1) Jesus does help us identify the canon of the Old Testament by using the expression:
Matthew 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Abel is the first martyr in Genesis, and Zacharias is the last martyr of 2 Chronicles, which was the last book of the Hebrew Bible.
2) Jesus also helps us identify the canon of the Old Testament by using the expression:
Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
The Law, the prophets, and the Psalms refer to the three parts of the Hebrew Canon. The Law included the five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). The prophets included Joshua, Judges, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve minor prophets. The Psalms was the first book of the "other writings" (with 1&2 Chronicles being the last book of the "other writings") which included the remainder of the canonical Old Testament books.
3) There is also reference to the "law and the prophets" which is another similar way of referring to the canon by its two major subdivisions (the five books of Moses and everything else):
Matthew 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Acts 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
4) We also see other places where:
a) The Psalms are called Scripture
Mark 12:10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: [Psalm 118:22]
(and many other passages could be cited)
b) Isaiah is called Scripture
Mark 15:28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. [Isaiah 53:12]
(and several other passages could be cited)
c) The Book of the Twelve Prophets is called Scripture
Mat 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. [Zechariah 13:7]
John 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. [Zechariah 12:10]
John 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. [Hosea 6:2 prophesied the third day resurrection]
d) The Books of Moses are called Scripture
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. [Genesis 15:6]
Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. [Exodus 9:16]
James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: [Leviticus 19:8]
1 Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. [Deuteronomy 25:4] And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. [Luke 10:7]
- TurretinFan
Saturday, February 20, 2010
1 comment:
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10. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you; and abstain from doing to others what you would not wish upon yourself.
For me, the question underscores, as the other previous questions do, a spirit of disobedience is at work against the Work of the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteThe answers given to each and every question in question, though, clearly mitigates it and clearly establishes that Our Everpresent God is the Only True Overseer of the Faith once delivered to His Saints predestined for His Salvation.
It also brings to mind the warning and admonition given by one the Inspired authors of the Written Word of God, boots on the ground, so to speak:::>
2Ti 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2Ti 3:2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
2Ti 3:4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2Ti 3:5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2Ti 3:6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
2Ti 3:7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
The questions seem to never bring closure when asked; all the while the answers have always arrived at the "knowledge" of the Truth!
Thank you TF for doing this as it exercises my senses to discern more keenly the good from the evil!!