Bibliology   Revelation                 a.  General Revelation is what God has revealed to all men in nature, history and conscience.                 b.  Special Revelation (direct revelation), is what god has revealed in his written word.  It is knowledge unknowable to the natural.   Authentic The books and letters of scripture are truly written by the claimed authors in the time they are said to have been written.  They were received by the people (churches, etc.) that they were addressed to.  They are not frauds, but are historical documents.     Inspiration Is the recording of truth as the Spirit of God moved on men to write or speak it.  Inspiration speaks of the origin and source of the message.  The scriptures came from God the Holy Spirit.   Authority The Bible carries with it the divine authority of God.  It is binding upon man – on his mind, conscience, will , heart.   Man, doctrine, tradition and the church are all subject to the authority of Scripture.       Inerrancy (Infallible) This means that the scriptures are without error in the original manuscripts. It is inerrant in all that it affims (historical, scientific, moral, doctrinal.)   Illumination The one who inspired the writing of Scripture (Holy Spirit) is also the one who illumines the minds of those who read and study it.  Because of sin and darkened understanding, no one can understand scripture properly without the assistance (illumination) of the Holy Spirit.   Canonicity                 “Canon” comes from the Greek word “kanon.”  It means originally “a reed or rod.”  Since these rods were used as measuring rods the word “kanon” came to mean “a rule or standard.”  This word was used to describe and identify the accepted books of scripture that would be the churches standard.   Criteria for New Testament Canonicity a.  Apostolicity – must either be written by an apostle or someone closely associated with an apostle b.  Reception by the Churches – must be universally received by the local churches as authentic at the time of their writing c.  Consistency – consistent with the doctrine that the Church already possessed d. Inspiration – Each book must give evidence, internally and externally, of being divinely inspired. e.  Recognition – Each must be recognized as canonical in the writings of the Church Fathers and then used by those who at that time had the gift of pastor/teacher.                   Rejection of the Apocrypha                 a.  The apocrypha was never in the Hebrew (Old Testament) \ cannon.                 b.  Jesus Christ did not, nor did any apostle, quote from the apocrypha.                 c.  Josephus expressly excluded them from his list of sacred scripture.                 d. No mention of the apocrypha was made in any catalogue of the canonical books in the first four centuries of the church.                 e. They never claim to be inspired by their authors.                 f.  No prophets were connected with these writings                 g.  These books contain many historical, geographical and chronological errors.                 h.  The apocrypha teaches doctrines and upholds practices which are contrary to the canon of scripture:                                 -Prayers and offerings for the dead (2 Maccabees 12:41-46)                                 -Suicide justified in 2 Maccabees 14                                 -Atonement and salvation by almsgiving (giving money)                                 -Cruelty to slaves justified                                 -Doctrine of Emanations                                 -Pre-existence of souls                   Debated for Inclusion/Exclusion  in New Testament Canon:                 Hebrews – Western church thought it was a non-Pauline forgery                 James – Authorship was questioned in West                 2 Peter – Authorship questioned, Chapter 2 similar to Jude                 Jude – Authorship questioned                 Revelation – Eusebius Questioned it because he opposed the doctrine of Christ’s personal return to earth (chiliasm)                 The Shepherd of Hermas – Non-apostolic origin; Late date of Writing                 Didache – Uncertain origin; Late date                 Revelation of Peter – Authenticity doubted