The Pseudepigrapha or False writings are writings whose authors fake other famous authors' names. e.g. include famous author names from the OT/NT. The aim is to let the work have more influence in the christianity circle.
Though like the Apocrypha, not in the canon yet has remained as the works of the early Christian church, but what's different with the Apocrypha is that its authority is below that of the Apocrypha. If we say that the Apocrypha is a reference to faith, devotion or doctrine related materials, then the Pseudepigrapha is just a religious literary work.
There are a huge quantity of such books. They were authored between 200 BC - 200 AD. What is worth mentioning is that the NT authors have used a portion of the Apocrypha. E.g., Jude 14 "It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying,“Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, "
The Pseudepigrapha is not a devils' bible or heresy. They are literary works popular during the early christian church.
Showing posts with label How did we get the bible?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label How did we get the bible?. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
What Are The Apocrypha?
The term apocrypha is used with various meanings, including "hidden", "esoteric", "spurious", "of questionable authenticity", ancient Chinese "revealed texts and objects" and "Christian texts that are not canonical".
The Hebrew bible does not include the apocrypha, but it was preserved in the Septuagint, which is the Greek O.T.
Though in the times of Jesus and the apostles, the most popular version of the OT is the Septuagint, however, authors of the NT did not refer to the apocrypha books in it.
However, in the 4-5th century, many church fathers like Gregory of Nazianzus started to suspect the canonizing of these books. Jerome, accepted only the Hebrew bible books to be the canon. He felt that it was necessary to distinguish the books of the Hebrew bible and the other books. Thus, he started using the term 'Apocrypha' to refer to the books not canonized into the Hebrew bible. The Latin bible which edited, Vulgate did not include the Apocrypha books in the bible. because of Jerome, the churches of the middle ages suspected the legality of the apocrypha.
In the 16th century, in the council of trent, 1546 by the RCs, they announced the apocrypha had authority and included them into the canon, thus which became the RC bible of the Deuterocanonical books. The Protestants however denied the canon of the Apocrypha. Thus, the Christian OT has 39 books (same as Judaism) and the RC, 46 books in the OT.
However, Martin Luther when he was translated the German bible, included the Apocrypha books and included in his preface, that reading the Apocrypha has its benefits. But he did not place them on the same level of authority. In England, later, initally the apocrypha was included but then, the Puritans after it gained strength, pointed out in the Westminster Confession that the Apocrypha is just the work of man, and it cannot be placed on the same authority as the bible. This was accepted widely by the Protestants.
The Hebrew bible does not include the apocrypha, but it was preserved in the Septuagint, which is the Greek O.T.
Though in the times of Jesus and the apostles, the most popular version of the OT is the Septuagint, however, authors of the NT did not refer to the apocrypha books in it.
However, in the 4-5th century, many church fathers like Gregory of Nazianzus started to suspect the canonizing of these books. Jerome, accepted only the Hebrew bible books to be the canon. He felt that it was necessary to distinguish the books of the Hebrew bible and the other books. Thus, he started using the term 'Apocrypha' to refer to the books not canonized into the Hebrew bible. The Latin bible which edited, Vulgate did not include the Apocrypha books in the bible. because of Jerome, the churches of the middle ages suspected the legality of the apocrypha.
In the 16th century, in the council of trent, 1546 by the RCs, they announced the apocrypha had authority and included them into the canon, thus which became the RC bible of the Deuterocanonical books. The Protestants however denied the canon of the Apocrypha. Thus, the Christian OT has 39 books (same as Judaism) and the RC, 46 books in the OT.
However, Martin Luther when he was translated the German bible, included the Apocrypha books and included in his preface, that reading the Apocrypha has its benefits. But he did not place them on the same level of authority. In England, later, initally the apocrypha was included but then, the Puritans after it gained strength, pointed out in the Westminster Confession that the Apocrypha is just the work of man, and it cannot be placed on the same authority as the bible. This was accepted widely by the Protestants.
How Did We Get The New Testament?
Formation of the New Testament
The formation of the N.T. went through a long period as well. The four gospels as well as the 13 epistles of Paul were affirmed in about 130 AD by the church as having sacred authority scriptures. About AD170-220, they had the same authority as the OT canon. The rest of the NT books were canonized later. Amongst them which stirred greatest controversy were Hebrews, Jude, 2 Peter, 2 John, 3 John and Revelation.On the other hand, there were other works which were earlier recognized as having authority but later not canonized. E.g. Epistle of Barnabas and Shepherd of Hermas.
The earliest church NT list of titles was written in AD367 by Athanasius titled, the 'Festal Epistle'. The order in which he wrote was, the Gospels, Acts, Major letters, Pauline letters, Revelation. In AD 397, north africa in a meeting, they decided that the 27 books listed by Athanasius to be the canon which we have today.
After the 16th century, the Protestant church (新教／更正教) had a meeting and affirmed the 66 books of the NT, OT canon. The Roman Catholics in 1546 in the council of trent added seven more books into the canon. Thus, the RC's canon became 73 books. The eastern orthodox church in 1672 added 14/15 books in their canon which made their canon 80/81 books.
We have to note that this does not mean that the books were decided to be in the canon by these meetings, e.g. Jewish meetings, the Synod of Jamnia, Catholic Church, Carthage Meeting, because man has no ability to decide or judge which books' content are God's Words. Rather, the Holy Spirit led the Jewish rabbis to understand which books ought to be in the OT canon. Similarly, the Holy Spirit led the early church to understand which books's content were the word of God. God revealed His word to some Christian authors, and through their writings, presented the Word of God in written form.
Thus, before the period of Athanasius, various churches already knew and recognized which books were deemed to have authority. This is because they were moved by the same Spirit. Only till the 4th century, when the church met with heresies that the church decided in AD 397 to be the canon. The rest of the meetings similarly were just to re-affirmed what was already recognized to be the canon in the believers circle.
How Did We Get The Old Testament Bible?
The formation of scriptures into the bible we have today is termed as the 'canon'. Its original meaning is the carpenter's ruler or measuring tool. Later, this term came to mean 'standard'. In Christianity, the term canon came to mean holy scriptures which have absolute authority and is the highest standard of the faith.
The formation of the bible did not happen in an instance nor was did it dropped from heaven. Its was formed through a period of time. It was formed by the Holy Spirit moving through the Christian church. This process is the known as the 'Formation of Canon' or 'Canonical Process'.
The confirmation of the OT canon began only after the second destruction of the holy temple in 70 AD. It was done by the rabbis who confirmed which books belonged to the canon. At the Synod of Jamnia in AD 70, it confirmed the 24 books in the Hebrew bible (??). We should take note, that though the OT was only confirmed then, in actual fact, many of the books were already affirmed by the Jewish community as part of the canon. For e.g., Jesus and the disciples used many O.T. verses and termed these as 'the Writings/Scriptures', Mt 22:29, Mk 12:24, Lk 24:32,45...
Thus, what we have discussed is the last confirmation（确立） of the canon (AD 70) and not to say that that is the date where it was accepted （接受）as the canon.
Essentially, the Rabbis used three principles to decide which book were to be in the canon.
First, it had to be authored before the time of Malachi. It had to be a work completed before 400 BC. This is because the Jewish rabbis felt that because of the disobedience of the Israelites, God's spirit left the Israelites, thus after Malachi, God did not reveal anymore.
Second, the books needed to be authored in Hebrew. A minor portion of text in the Hebrew bible was written in Arabic. The rest were written in Hebrew.
Thirdly, the books needed to be generally affirmed and accepted by the Jews and recognized it as having sacred authority. It also had to have general authority.
Thus, the rabbis chose form large amounts of books, and then affirmed it to be the OT we see today.
The formation of the bible did not happen in an instance nor was did it dropped from heaven. Its was formed through a period of time. It was formed by the Holy Spirit moving through the Christian church. This process is the known as the 'Formation of Canon' or 'Canonical Process'.
Formation of the Old Testament
The Old Testament bible is also known as the Hebrew bible. It is received from Judaism and therefore thought as revealed and completed（达成） through the Jews. "First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God." Romans 3:1-2. Judaism is though of as the medium through which the O.T. canon came.
The Hebrew bible includes three portions. The 'Pentateuch' or 'Torah/Law', 'the Prophets' and the 'Writings.'
The Hebrew bible was formed firstly through oral communication/tradition. Later, the contents of the oral message was written down. The records were consolidated between 8th BC - 3rd BC. The Torah was consolidated around 4th BC. The prophets and writings were consolidated around 5th-3rd BC - 1st AD.
The confirmation of the OT canon began only after the second destruction of the holy temple in 70 AD. It was done by the rabbis who confirmed which books belonged to the canon. At the Synod of Jamnia in AD 70, it confirmed the 24 books in the Hebrew bible (??). We should take note, that though the OT was only confirmed then, in actual fact, many of the books were already affirmed by the Jewish community as part of the canon. For e.g., Jesus and the disciples used many O.T. verses and termed these as 'the Writings/Scriptures', Mt 22:29, Mk 12:24, Lk 24:32,45...
Thus, what we have discussed is the last confirmation（确立） of the canon (AD 70) and not to say that that is the date where it was accepted （接受）as the canon.
Essentially, the Rabbis used three principles to decide which book were to be in the canon.
First, it had to be authored before the time of Malachi. It had to be a work completed before 400 BC. This is because the Jewish rabbis felt that because of the disobedience of the Israelites, God's spirit left the Israelites, thus after Malachi, God did not reveal anymore.
Second, the books needed to be authored in Hebrew. A minor portion of text in the Hebrew bible was written in Arabic. The rest were written in Hebrew.
Thirdly, the books needed to be generally affirmed and accepted by the Jews and recognized it as having sacred authority. It also had to have general authority.
Thus, the rabbis chose form large amounts of books, and then affirmed it to be the OT we see today.
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