The Bible, regarded by Christians as the ultimate source of spiritual truth, has its origins steeped in the belief that it is not merely a human creation but a divine revelation. This belief has persisted through centuries, with Christians holding that the Bible exists because of God’s self-disclosure to humanity. The process by which the Bible was transmitted to us is seen not as a random or purely human endeavor, but as one guided by supernatural means.
Revelation: God’s Self-Disclosure to Humanity
At the heart of the Bible is the concept of revelation, where God has revealed Himself to men and women through its pages. Christians believe that by reading the Bible, we gain knowledge of God, understanding His nature, will, and purposes. This revelation is twofold: general and special.
General Revelation: God’s Signature in Creation
General revelation refers to the way God has revealed Himself through nature and creation. The beauty, complexity, and order of the world around us are seen as a testament to God’s existence and power. As the Psalmist writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). Similarly, the Apostle Paul notes that God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse (Romans 1:20).
Special Revelation: The Bible as God’s Complete Revelation
While general revelation provides a glimpse of God’s majesty, special revelation offers a more complete understanding of who God is. This special revelation is found in the Bible, where God communicated directly with chosen individuals, guiding them to write down His words. The biblical authors did not simply record their own thoughts; they were conduits for God’s revelation.
God’s Methods of Revelation to Biblical Authors
God used various methods to reveal His truths to the authors of the Bible. These include:
- Voice: God spoke audibly to some of the biblical authors, instructing them on what to write. For example, God spoke to Moses in an audible voice, providing him with the commands and instructions that would form the foundation of the Old Testament (Exodus 33:1).
- Dreams: God also communicated through dreams, revealing prophetic truths. One such instance is found in the book of Daniel, where God used dreams to unveil the future (Daniel 2:1-49).
- People: The personal experiences and spiritual lives of individuals were used by God to convey His messages. King David’s heartfelt repentance in Psalm 51, for instance, reflects a deep spiritual truth about confession and God’s mercy.
- Holy Spirit: Perhaps the most significant method of revelation is through the Holy Spirit, who guided the biblical authors in all their writings. As Peter writes, “For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
The Formation of the New Testament
The New Testament, which forms the second part of the Christian Bible, was gradually recognized and collected by the early Christian church. This process of canonization—determining which books were to be considered authoritative Scripture—began soon after the writings of the apostles.
Early Recognition of New Testament Books
Some books of the New Testament were instantly recognized as Scripture. The Apostle Paul, for example, regarded Luke’s writings as authoritative, placing them on the same level as the Old Testament (1 Timothy 5:18, see Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7). Similarly, Peter acknowledged Paul’s letters as Scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16). These writings were circulated among early Christian communities and were read in their assemblies (Colossians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:27).
Acknowledgment by Early Church Leaders
The acknowledgment of New Testament books by early church leaders further solidified their status as Scripture:
- Clement of Rome (c. A.D. 95) mentioned at least eight New Testament books.
- Ignatius of Antioch (c. A.D. 115) acknowledged about seven books.
- Polycarp, a disciple of John the Apostle (c. A.D. 108), acknowledged 15 books.
- Irenaeus (c. A.D. 185) mentioned 21 books.
- Hippolytus (c. A.D. 170-235) recognized 22 books.
The First Canon: The Muratorian Canon
The first known list of New Testament books, the Muratorian Canon, was compiled around A.D. 170. This early canon included all of the New Testament books except for Hebrews, James, and 3 John.
The Councils and the Final Canon
The formal recognition of the New Testament canon came through various councils:
- Council of Laodicea (A.D. 363): This council declared that only the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament were to be read in churches.
- Council of Hippo (A.D. 393): The council affirmed that the 27 books of the present New Testament were authoritative.
- Council of Carthage (A.D. 397): This council reiterated the decisions of the Council of Hippo, confirming the 27-book New Testament canon.
Summary: The Church’s Reception of the Canon
It is important to note that the Christian church did not create the canon but received it as something God had already established. The Old Testament canon was passed down from the Jewish Scriptures, recognized as fulfilled by Jesus’ coming. The New Testament canon was formed under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who enabled the apostles to speak and write the truth about Jesus.
Key Bible Passage
The passage from Acts 13:27-33 encapsulates the fulfillment of God’s promises through Jesus, showing how the Scriptures—both Old and New Testaments—are a cohesive revelation of God’s redemptive plan:
“For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulcher. But God raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee” (Acts 13:27-33).
Warfield on the New Testament Canon
One of the most significant theological discussions on the New Testament canon was provided by B.B. Warfield, a prominent theologian of the 19th and early 20th centuries. In his 1892 article, “The Formation of the Canon of the New Testament,” Warfield emphasized that the concept of a Bible—a collection of books given by God as the authoritative rule of faith and practice—was inherited from the Jewish church.
The Church’s Inheritance of the Canon
Warfield argued that the Christian church did not need to create the idea of a canon; it was inherited from the Jewish Scriptures, which were already recognized as divinely authoritative. The apostles, appointed by Christ, carried with them the Old Testament Scriptures and imposed them on the early church as the foundation of Christian teaching.
Apostolic Authority and New Testament Scripture
The authority of the apostles was central to the formation of the New Testament canon. Warfield noted that the apostles, like the prophets of the old covenant, were divinely inspired, and their writings were regarded as Scripture. This authority extended to the New Testament books, which were received by the early church as equally authoritative as the Old Testament.
Early Acceptance of New Testament Writings
From the very beginning, New Testament writings were accepted as Scripture by the early church. Warfield highlighted that Peter referred to Paul’s letters as Scripture, and Paul himself equated the Gospel of Luke with Old Testament Scripture. The new books were not seen as separate from the old but were added to the existing canon as part of the one law of God.
Conclusion
The origin of the Bible, particularly the New Testament, is rooted in divine revelation and apostolic authority. The early Christian church did not create the canon but received it as a continuation and fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures. The Bible, as we have it today, stands as a testament to God’s revelation to humanity, preserved through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the faithful witness of the apostles and early church leaders.
In the words of Warfield, the New Testament was not merely a collection of new writings but an extension of the Scriptures, fulfilling and clarifying the Old Testament. The Bible, therefore, remains the authoritative rule of faith and practice for Christians, revealing the nature of God and His plan for salvation through Jesus Christ.