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How do we know if the Bible that we read is composed of the right books?  When it comes to the New Testament, how did the church know which of these were from God, and which were just other writings floating around by the 2nd and 3rd centuries? Canon, is the collection of books that we regard as the inspired Word of God. 

There were several criteria that were used to help make this determination of making a book 'canonized'.  Of course, the church prayed, and sought the Lord’s help in this process.  But they didn’t merely rely on their subjective, Spirit-led understanding alone.  Below is an example of four objective criteria, which helped them to determine what God’s authority had spoken, versus what was merely ‘a nice letter’, or maybe even a false one.

• Apostolicity - To be included in what we now call the New Testament, the letter had to either be written by an apostle, or have come through the authority of an apostle.  Why was this necessary?  Well, because the Lord Jesus personally chose His apostles, gave them authority, and commissioned them to teach in His name (Mk. 3:13-19, Mt. 10:1-8).

• Universality - That means the writing enjoyed early, widespread, and continual acceptance by the church, from the time of the first believers.

• Veracity - This meant that the writing was consistent with the truth and the revelation of both the Old Testament, and also with the other apostolic writings. 

• Antiquity - Finally, the writing had to pass the test of antiquity.  This criteria ensured that the writing was in circulation during the lifetimes of the apostles.  It helped to ensure that the teaching was known by the apostles and overlapped with those who witnessed and first believed in Christ.

Because of its importance, entire books are written about this topic! If you would like a little more explanation and encouragement on this, you can click here to check out the message from February of 2012, “From God to Us - Part II”.

Also, if you would like an easily-accessible deep-dive into this fascinating topic, there is a great seminar coming soon to Albuquerque at Desert Springs Church.  Check out https://www.signupforms.com/registrations/31631 for more information.

May the Lord continue to enrich your love for His Word, and deepen your confidence in His revelation.

In Christ our great Savior,

Frank

Kevin DeYoung has some great insight on how we can define "Love"  

"No one can hate you as much as they hated Christ.

No one will ever be mistreated as unfairly as was our Lord.

He was stricken, smitten and afflicted. He was despised and rejected by men—his own creatures. He was a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering, like one from whom me hide their faces. He was despised and we esteemed him not. When reviled, Jesus did not revile in return. He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. When he rode in on that donkey on Palm Sunday, he did so knowing that he would bear the punishment to bring us peace and that by his wounds we would be healed.

In other words, he showed his great love for us in this: that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

So we will not know what love is like unless we know Jesus.

The world will not know what love is truly like until it sees it in Christ. Everything else is a pale imitation, maybe even a deceptive imitation. Christ is our substitute and our example. And with Christ as our example, our command is this: we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. This is why love is so much more difficult than the bumper stickers make it out to be. It requires so much more than a general sentiment of good will. It is so much deeper and better than unconditional affirmation.

What does unconditional affirmation require of you by way of sacrifice? Nothing. All it requires is a wave of the hand–“Whatever you do, I’m fine. However you live, that’s fine.” The problem with unconditional affirmation is not that it is too lavishly loving, but that it is not nearly loving enough. When God tells us to love our brothers he means more than saying, “I’m okay. You’re okay. Whatever you do is fine and I don’t judge.” To really love your brother is to lay down your life for him. It requires you to die to yourself, which may mean a sacrifice of your time, a sacrifice of your reputation, and a sacrifice of your comfort. Unconditional affirmation only asks that you sacrifice your principles.

Love is harder than we think. Of course we love our kids and grandkids and those who treat us well. We love nice people. But Jesus says even the pagans do this. That’s not hard. People love people who love them. But will we keep on loving when it means bearing burdens we would rather not be bothered with? Will we love when the people we love do not love us in return? Will we lay down our lives for those who are unlovely, undeserving, ungrateful?

Isn’t that what Christ did for us? When we were unlovely and undeserving and ungrateful, Christ died for us. He loved us not because we were holy, but so that we might be holy. His love was self-sacrificing, sin-atoning, and life-transforming.

He loves us with a love that the world does not understand. And it is so much better than unconditional affirmation."

DeYoung, Kevin

"What is Love?"

The Gospel Coalition

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/what-is-love/

October 20th, 2015

Commercial Valentine’s Day. It’s getting ready to throw heart shaped boxes of chocolates and cartoon themed mailboxes at us.  Is it bad? No. Do we eat the chocolate? Yes. I love taking this modern made-up day of love as an opportunity to consider love. Real and meaningful ways to love. When I stumbled on “My Brother’s Keeper” from Not Consumed, I knew I found what we were going to use for our Bible study this February. 

 “My Brother’s Keeper” is a 4-week long parent-led Bible study for siblings.  There is a parent guide and every child gets a book. You can customize your order and get the book based on age range.  Everyone from toddlers to teens gets an age-appropriate book. Using examples of 10 biblical siblings, through the study you will cover God’s plan for families, envy, jealousy, selfishness, love, service, and forgiveness.  There is time to work and answer questions independently and sections to do together. It has a breakdown of how to resolve conflict and steps to take when you have wronged someone or been wronged. 

There are plenty of rough days in our all-girl household ranging from toddler to teen. Ultimately, I know as the mother of my home all I can do is plant the seeds. Seeds based in biblical truth and not commercial one day only holidays. Whether or not we use this study or a different one or none at all, I am striving to point their hearts to discipleship. A great place to start is the walls of our own home. 

  The Holy Spirit creates in us an affection for the Word of God. Once we meet Him, we begin to yearn to know the Lord better, and to read His “love letter” to mankind. Soon after, we start to ask the question, “What Bible translation should I read?”

  I have been asked that, or heard comments about that question, a number of times over the years. So, finding a good Bible translation is important. But translating between languages is not as simplistic as we might think. Our brother Sergio Albonico shares an example that makes the point well:

  “Many of you will remember our dear friend Dalma Piper from Costa Rica.  She was an amazing chef and one expression she often used was, “Que rico gallo pinto!”  If we were to do a literal translation of this expression it would read, “What a rich painted rooster!” When in fact the contemporary meaning amongst the locals in Costa Rica is something more like, “How tasty this rice and beans dish is!” 

  Translation is not simplistic. In the English-speaking world, though, we have an embarrassing wealth of good options when it comes to the Bible. There are a number of solid, faithful translations to choose from. Each has its own slight strengths and weaknesses. It is very helpful for us to know a bit about those, in choosing what translation we use.

  One key idea to grasp is that each version has a translational philosophy. This is not something that eggheaded experts concocted to complicate the Bible. This is merely a by-product of trying to be consistent. When there is a passage like Sergio’s example above, should we translate the literal words, word-for-word; or should we translate the idea, and then express that in words that are as close as possible to the original where we can? There are obvious advantages and disadvantages to each.

  For study of the Bible, there is an advantage in having a more word-for-word literal translation. Since each word is inspired by God, anything less than this may at times gloss over (or even obscure) connections and nuances that the Author has intended. For this reason, I would highly recommend the New American Standard (NASB) or the English Standard Version (ESV).

  For general comprehension of the Bible, there can be an advantage to having a more idea-for-idea translation. The New International Version (NIV) is a good choice here. While it might not capture some phrases as well, it can be easier to read while still being faithful. Other translations can also be very useful. The King James (KJV), the New King James (NKJV), and the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) each have their own advantages.

  Today it is very easy to refer to multiple translations with a single click. Sites like blueletterbible.org will do this for you quickly, once you are comfortable navigating them. Also, a good Study Bible - with notes to go along with each passage - can very quickly answer questions and clarify issues as you read. Choose a trusted editor or publisher, and your Study Bible will give you confidence in embracing passages that you’ve never read before.

  God does His work in us through His Word. It is where we meet Him, see Him, hear Him, and are transformed by Him. May you find Him rich, as you commune with Him in His Word today.

“The law of the LORD is perfect,
restoring the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;

the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes ...”
~ Ps. 19:7-8

"IT IS GOD WHO ARMS ME WITH STRENGTH AND MAKES MY WAY PERFECT" - PSALM 18:32