關於聖經的成形，我們需要知道六件事6 THINGS WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUTTHE FORMATION OF THE BIBLE
作者: Timothy W. Massaro 譯者: Maria Marta
1. 新約正典不是由任何教會議會確定的。
教會議會沒有確定哪些是正典書卷。地區教會議會曾對正典作出聲明，承認那些他們認為可用作基督信仰基礎文件的書卷。議會只是宣布自使徒時代以來的一貫情況。因此，這些議會沒有創作、批準，或確立正典。他們所做的只不過是識別已經存在的正典的過程的一部分工作而已。
2.早期基督徒相信正典書卷是自明自證的。
另一個鑒定因素是每卷書卷的內在品質。憑著內在品質和對基督及其拯救工作的獨特性描述，這些卷書在教會內自我確立。我們所擁有的新約正典不是由教會領袖或君士坦丁的政治當權者共謀裁定的，而是由這些書卷所具有的獨特聲音和語調來確定的。
3. 新約聖經是我們現有最早的基督信仰著作。
新約聖經(27本書卷) 是我們擁有的，關於耶穌的最早的著作。新約聖經在第一世紀成書。這意味著這些著作包含來自目擊者的見證，而這些見證是目擊事件發生後的五十年內寫成的，但不能說這些見證是新聞經常討論到的任何一種啟示文學( Apocalyptic
Literature)。這一點在四福音書中尤為明顯。馬太福音、馬可福音、路加福音、約翰福音是唯一來自第一世紀的福音記載。
4. 新約聖經與使徒的見證有直接聯系。
有別於那個時期或下一個世紀的所有書籍，新約聖經與使徒及其復活的基督的見證有直接關系。 正典書卷與他們的活動和影響密切相關。 使徒擁有基督自己的權柄（太廿八18-20）。使徒教訓連同舊約聖經都是教會的根基。 教會「被建造在使徒和先知的根基上」（弗二20）。
5. 一些新約作者將新約書卷當作聖經來引用。
相信新的啟示集或聖經文集不是後期的發展。從使徒自己的時代開始，這些書卷在他們的權威和見證中被視為獨一無二。這種相信似乎存在於基督教的早期階段。在彼得後書三章15至16節，彼得指保羅書信為「聖經」，將它們等同於舊約聖經。這是一個經常被忽視的重要事實。
6.早期基督徒在沒有類比權威的情況下使用非正典著作。
基督徒經常引用非正典文獻，并積極肯定它們的教導。但基督徒只是把這些書籍當作有用、具啟發性、起教化作用的文本。它們是否同等於聖經，很少人會混淆。根據是否被普遍接受；是否具使徒性；是否自自證自明等等這些的標準，這些非正典著作最終被忽視了。
6
THINGS WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FORMATION OF THE BIBLE
Timothy
W. Massaro
1.
The New Testament Canon was not decided by any church council.
The
church councils did not decide what was canonical. While regional church
councils made declarations about the canon, these councils affirmed the books
they believed had functioned as foundational documents for the Christian faith.
The councils merely declared the way things had been since the time of the
apostles. Thus, these councils did not create, authorize, or determine the
canon. They simply were part of the process of recognizing a canon that already
existed.
2.
Early Christians believed that canonical books were self-authenticating.
Another
authenticating factor was the internal qualities of each book. These books
established themselves within the church through their internal qualities and
uniqueness as depicting Christ and his saving work. The New Testament canon we
possess is not due to the collusions of church leaders or the political
authority of Constantine, but to the unique voice and tone possessed by these
writings.
3.
The New Testament books are the principal Christian writings we have.
The
New Testament books are the earliest writings we possess regarding Jesus. The
New Testament was completed in the first century. This means the writings
include testimonies from eyewitnesses and were written within fifty years of
the events, which cannot be said of any of the apocryphal literature often
discussed in the news. This is particularly evident when it comes to the four
gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the only gospel accounts that
originate in the first century.
4.
The New Testament books directly relate to the apostolic testimony.
Unlike
any book from that period or the following century, the New Testament books
were directly connected to the apostles and their testimony of the resurrected
Christ. The canon is intimately connected to their activities and influence.
The apostles had the very authority of Christ himself (Matt. 28:18–20). Along
with the Old Testament, their teachings were the very foundation of the
church. The church is “built on the
foundation of the apostles and the prophets” (Eph. 2:20).
5.
Some New Testament writers quote other New Testament writers as Scripture.
The
belief in new revelation or a testament of books was not a late development.
From the days of the apostles themselves, these writings were seen as unique in
their authority and witness. This belief seems to be present in the earliest
stages of Christianity. In 2 Peter 3:15–16, Peter refers to Paul’s letters as
“Scripture,” which would have put them on a par with the books of the Old
Testament. This is a significant fact that is often overlooked.
6.
Early Christians used noncanonical writings without analogous authority.
Christians
often cited noncanonical literature with positive affirmation for edification.
Yet, Christians were simply using these books as helpful, illuminating, or
edifying texts. Rarely was there confusion as to whether they were on a par
with Scripture. These books were eventually disregarded according to the
criteria of whether they had general acceptance, apostolicity, and
self-authentication.
