Canonization

1
Canonization
2
The Canon

• Canon comes from Greek word meaning rule or
  measuring stick
• When applied to a group of books refers to a
  recognized body of literature eg. The
  Shakespearean canon
• In the case of the Bible, refers to books
  accepted as authoritative by a religious body eg.
  Jewish vs. Christian canon or Protestant vs.
  Catholic canon

3
New Testament Some Basic Facts

• 2nd part of Christian Bible
• Christianity 2 billion adherent
• 27 books written in Greek
• 15-16 different authors
• Written 50CE-120CE in different communities of E.
  Mediterranean region
• 1st 4 books are called Gospels (good
  news)Recounts stories about the life of Jesus

4
The Gospels Some Basic Facts

• Tradition ascribes these books to 2 of disciples
  of Jesus Matthew (the tax collector of Matt 99),
  and John ( the beloved disciple of John 1926)
• Marksecretary of Peter
• LukePauls companion
• These titles are not from the original documents
• In the texts themselvesthe authors are anonymous

5
The Hebrew Bible or Jewish Scriptures

• The Jewish Bible consists of the books called the
  Old Testament by Christians
• Books are ordered differently than in Christian
  Bibles
• The Torah, the Prophets and the Writings
• TorahPenateuch (1st 5 books)

6
Deuterocanonical books/Apocrypha

• Within Christianity there are different books
  included in the Old Testament
• Roman Catholic Church accepts 12 additional books
  (.eg Tobit, Judith Maccabees)
• Protestants call these book Apocrapha (means
  hidden away) and do not consider them part of the
  canon of Christian Scripture

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History of Canonization

• Judaism had a rough canon of scripture even
  in Jesus day consisting of The Torah, the
  prophets, and an (as yet) fully determined of
  other writings
• By the end of the 1st century Christians were
  calling the writings of Paul and records of the
  words of Jesus scripture (eg. Tim 518, 2 Peter
  316)

8
Timeline of Canonization 50-393 CE (343 yrs)

• 367CE Athanasius bishop of Alexandria 1st to
  mention the list of the 27 books as authoritative
• The African Synod of Hippo, in 393, approved the
  New Testament, as it stands today, together with
  the deutercanonical books, a decision that was
  repeated by Councils of Carthage in 397 and 419

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Structure of the New Testament

• 4 Gospels
• 1 Book of Acts (stories of the spread of early
  Christianity)
• 21 Epistles (letters)
• 12 Pauline
• 8 General
• 1 Revelation of John/Apocalypse
• 27 books in total

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Other Early Christian Writings

• Other writings (such as letters) mentioned by
  Paul have not survived
• Other, like the Shepherd of Hermas, have survived
  through history and were considered, but not
  included in the Canon
• Some writings not mentioned in Christian
  scriptures or ancient authors, but discovered
  lately (such as some of the Gospels found at
  Nag Hammadi)

11
Problems arising from Literary Historical Analysis

• Some Christian groups in the early centuries held
  non-canonical books to be scripture--Why were
  these books rejected by the Church?
• Books included in canon originated from diverse
  authors and communities (before combined in a
  canon)do they all logically cohere?
• Have errors of transmission occurred?

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Research Paper

• A research paper is NOT and essay--you are not
  defending your own view on the issue in question
• You are seeking prominent positions on the issue
  and documenting these positions and why you chose
  them
• Provide at least 3 quotes
• 2 from different sources expressing a prominent
  conflicting viewpoint
• 1 quote from someone surveying the prominent
  viewpoints