This presentation examines, through internal evidence, how the Bible, regarded as the Word of God, has been passed down to modern readers. It highlights the reliability of this transmission, emphasizing that the prophets and apostles responded to God's communication. Their awareness of this divine inspiration is pivotal, as reflected in passages like 1 Peter 1:25 and Psalm 119:89.
This presentation examines, through internal evidence, how the Bible, regarded as the Word of God, has been passed down to modern readers. It highlights the reliability of this transmission, emphasizing that the prophets and apostles acted in response to God's communication. Their awareness of this divine inspiration is pivotal, as reflected in passages like 1 Peter 1:25 and Psalm 119:89
The session highlights the significance of the Bible and the early church’s criteria for canon formation: apostolic connection, orthodoxy, universal use, and spiritual impact. It discusses how the canon was established through manuscript evidence, including the Dead Sea Scrolls and over 5,800 Greek New Testament manuscripts.
Additionally, it addresses the Apocrypha, respected Jewish writings that were excluded from the Hebrew canon but are included in Catholic and Orthodox traditions. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has the most extensive canon, incorporating unique texts like Jubilees and 1 Enoch.
Finalized in the 5th to 6th century, the Ethiopian canon, along with the Eastern and Western canons shaped by church councils, reflects different early beliefs while affirming the authority of Scripture and the centrality of Christ.
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Divine Preservation: The Bible claims that God preserves His Word, referencing passages such as Isaiah 40:8, Psalm 119:89, and Matthew 5:18.
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Manuscript Evidence: There are over 5,500 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, with most textual variants being minor and not affecting core doctrines.
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Geographical Consistency: Early manuscripts from regions such as Egypt and Syria exhibit consistent texts, supporting the idea of stable preservation.
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Early Church Quotations: Early church leaders quoted the New Testament extensively, making it possible to reconstruct nearly the entire text from their writings.
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Recognition of Certain Books: Books such as Hebrews and Revelation were scrutinized but ultimately recognized for their apostolic authority.
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Rejection of Apocryphal Works: Texts like the Gospels of Thomas and Judas were rejected because they contradicted apostolic doctrine.
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The Masoretic Text: This Hebrew text aligns with the Dead Sea Scrolls over 95%, indicating no significant changes over time.
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Key Takeaways: The biblical text is well-preserved and historically supported, and the canonization process was intentional.