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The word "canon" means guideline or rule. It refers to the collection of writings inspired by the Spirit of God, which are binding for believing Christians. They form the guideline for our faith.
The formation of the canon is often described in a misleading way. Allegedly, in the 3rd or 4th century AD, the church leaders authoritatively selected from the numerous existing "biblical" books. This selection was then recognized as canonical scriptures and the rest was "banned from the Bible". This creates the impression that the Holy Scriptures only received their authority in Christendom with this.
However, the Holy Scriptures inspired by the Spirit of God were respected and recognized as the Word of God from the very beginning. As with the writers, the Holy Spirit also worked with the recipients and readers: what some wrote under His guidance, others recognized as coming from God under the same divine guidance (translated from "Die Bibel - das Wort Gottes", Arend Remmers, p. 95).
This becomes very clear when we examine in this lesson what the Old Testament and the New Testament testify about themselves.
In 1 Timothy 5:18, the Apostle Paul quotes two scriptures:
For the scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox that treads out corn, and, The workman is worthy of his hire. (1 Timothy 5:18)
Where can these passages be found in the Bible?
Your response:
The second quotation from 1 Timothy 5:18 is not found in the Old Testament. Nonetheless, the words with which the Apostle introduces these two quotes are significant!
For , You shall not muzzle an ox that treads out corn, and, The workman is worthy of his hire.
Regarding the letters of the Apostle Paul, his final words at the end of the Epistle to the Romans are significant (Romans 16: 25-27):
Now to him that is able to establish you, according to my glad tidings and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, as to which silence has been kept in the times of the ages, ...
Can you complete these final words from the Epistle to the Romans?
... but which has now been made , and , according to commandment of the eternal God, for obedience of faith to all the nations — the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
The testimony of Peter about the writings of Paul is also important. He speaks of them in 2 Peter 3:15-16.
And account the longsuffering of our Lord to be salvation; according as our beloved brother also has to you according to the wisdom given to him, as also in his , speaking in them of these things; among which some things are hard to be understood, which the untaught and ill-established wrest, as also the , to their own destruction.
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Bible course: Basic Bible Course 2
