The Measure of measures
Greetings Cliff!
Thank you for your good question. It is encouraging that you want to be confident in the truth-value and trustworthiness of the things upon which you ground your beliefs.
I must say from the outset that the topic you are exploring is a complex one—and many different areas of scholarship have volumes to say about it. I confess that I am not an expert in some of these areas. Still, I will do my best to show you a firm foothold from which you can start climbing as you explore this topic further.
The word “canon” as you apply it means “reed”—literally a measuring stick. It denotes that which holds the ultimate explanatory value for determining meaning. Every time a builder reaches for a tape-measure they are applying the concept of a canon. There is an objective measure that supplies meaning not only to that builder’s tape-measure—but to every tape measure there is. In this sense the Canon is the Measure of measures.
Notice that there can only be such a thing as a bad tape measure (one that “falls short” of accuracy) if there is an ultimate Canon or Standard that is intrinsically Perfect. Of course, the use of any bad tape measure will inevitably result in a crooked house—and no less in a torqued-off architect and homeowner!
It is no different when it comes to building your worldview. Using the wrong standard will produce a crooked perception of reality, offend reality’s Architect, and produce great discomfort as you constantly search in vain for balance.
Cliff, your question might imply a category mistake of sorts—one that has become quite popular in the 21st century following the imaginative writings of Dan Brown, Michael Baigent, and other authors of fiction with an axe to grind against revealed religions like Judaism and Christianity.
The truth of the matter is that no part of Scripture has ever been “canonized” by any group of human beings. This didn’t happen with the New Testament—and it never happened with the Old Testament either.
Notice this carefully. If a council of people could bestow the label “canonical” on a piece of historical literature, then it is they—not the literature in question that is the final “measuring stick” for what is authoritatively true. Such a council would wield ultimate authority over a candidate for “scripture”—instead of Scripture informing the true views of the council. Can you see the cart yanking on the proverbial horse here? The obvious difficulty is that no human council has ever been a Perfect authority on meaning, morality, or anything else for that matter.
The Christian view of Scripture is that it is “God-breathed” (1 Timothy 3:16). That is to say that the “canonicity” of Scripture is intrinsic to it by virtue of its Perfect Source. See my essays entitled What Does "God" Mean? and Who Is God? for some further development of this line of reasoning.
It is not within the purview of imperfect men to establish a canon of Meaning. We can only recognize one—and that only with God’s equipping and help. I am convinced that we are so equipped, and that God stands ready to help us, especially when it comes to discerning His Truth in the pages of Scripture.
Now, it is self-evident that agreement on the topic of a canon has never existed in the absence of controversy. Of course, our imperfections and biases offer a ready explanation for the vast differences of opinion that have arisen on this and every other important topic of religious philosophy—both since Christ and before Him.
As a consequence of human imperfections (sin), I’m sorry to say that you can find no sure-confidence in the judgements of any human council on this topic. Indeed, placing too much weight on the creeds of historical Christendom (the church-state) is a really common mistake. So far, Christendom hasn't been an exemplar of Perfection—or even goodness for that matter!
But Jesus Christ Is!
And right here is where we find our sure and solid footing. We need the endorsement of Someone who is more than “merely human.” We need the Word of a Perfect Being to establish where our reasonable trust should be invested. Thank God, that is exactly what we are given in Jesus!
Our surest hope in the validity of the Old Testament Scriptures is found in Jesus’ own attitude and teachings about them. Jesus constantly quoted from and alluded to the Old Testament in His teachings. His quotations and allusions sampled the Torah (the five books of Moses); the Writings (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, etc.); the historical literature of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles; and the Prophets, whom Jesus referenced verbally and fulfilled personally—especially the really controversial parts like Daniel, Jonah, and the later chapters of Isaiah.
See especially Daniel 7:13-14 in comparison to Mark 7:60-65; and Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 in comparison to the Passion narratives.
Indeed, in Luke 4:16-30 Jesus reads about Himself from the scroll of Isaiah to the synagogue in Nazareth, concluding: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” In Jesus’ opinion, the scroll of Isaiah is Scripture for the express reason that it speaks truthfully from and about Himself— “The Word” (John 1:1).
Thus, from Jesus’ life, teachings, and attitude we are justified to arrive at the following reasonable inference:
1. God Is the Perfect Being.
2. Since God Is Perfect, whatever He claims and teaches is perfectly true.
3. Jesus claimed to be God.
4. Jesus proved His claim true by predicting and fulfilling His resurrection.
5. Jesus Is God.
6. Jesus affirmed the Old Testament as Scripture.
7. The Old Testament is Scripture on the testimony of God Himself.
Now, I want to leave you with something really important. Notice that in this argument the Bible isn’t the Canon—God Is.
Scripture is an avenue, or stream of truth, but it is not its Headwaters. Scripture is not a Christian’s Source of Truth. This is a critical point of fact that many well-meaning believers are confused about. This confusion mainly results from historical biases that have been furtively transmitted into the present by the fundamentalist reformed traditions of the 16th and 17th centuries. These biases have become unfortunately reflexive in Christian speech habits.
Contrary to normative Christian speech—the Bible is not the Logos or Word of God. This Title belongs exclusively to God the Son (John 1:1).
We would be well reminded by Christ Himself who told the scribes and Pharisees (the biblical experts of His time) that they were making the word of God of no effect through the traditions which were handed down (Mark 7:13). You see, they mistook their love for God’s law as a love for God Himself. Jesus thought this love was badly misplaced. Today, we are in danger of making the same essential error by prioritizing our traditions and mistaking God’s word (The Bible) for God Himself (The Word).
Scripture is a special “creation” of God. But it is the “Creator” who is the ultimate Perfection who supplies any creation with its meaning. Returning to our analogy, the Bible is something like a good tape measure. It shows us the Truth, but its meaning is solidly grounded in Something infinitely higher up and further back than the ink on its pages.
Our actual Source of Truth is the necessarily Perfect Being Whom we call God. It is only in God’s Perfection that any of us can find the Perfect Measure that we seek. Applying His Measure, we can discern and recognize the self-attesting nature of the Truth. Thus, we can test all things (including Scripture) and discern the difference between good and evil (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).
We can even test to see if something really is Scripture or not? This is really important since hundreds of purported scriptures are in competition for our faith today! Since this is the case, the project of recognizing the biblical canon isn't really closed. Also notice that Paul encouraged the believers in Thessalonica to test for truth long before the New Testament canon was ever completed. Their Canon was Jesus Himself as He was truly represented in the testimony of the Holy Spirit, and through the teaching of His Apostles.
I think that in the Old Testament era, the same Spirit guided the Jews to recognize God's Truth in the recorded testimony of faithful kings, priests, and prophets—that is, in those who prefigured Jesus in His messianic offices (See What is a Christian?).
In summary Cliff, Scripture is an important resource to show us the way…but it isn’t the Way itself (John 14:6). Scripture is canonical only because it has been spoken out by the Canon Himself. God alone makes Scripture what it is. Scripture is God’s Truth especially revealed to us for our benefit.
On faith, I accept that God has endowed Scripture with an intrinsic authority and a self-attesting canonicity. I also believe that every human being is especially fitted to recognize and receive the Truth through the testimony of true Scripture. My beliefs are anchored to the solid Rock of Jesus Christ's Perfect life and testimony.
For the "first-and-last" Word on this topic, please see Jesus’ teaching during the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:24-29 where He establishes Himself as the Canon. He is our solid Rock, and it is His teaching that allows us to build our houses (worldviews) safely and "squarely" on the solid foundation of the Truth. You see Cliff, Jesus doesn’t just tell us the truth. He actually Is the Truth! (John 1:1; 8:58; 14:6).
The Perfect Life of Jesus Christ Is the Measure of every measure.
Blessings in God to you and your loved ones,
Jonathan Michael Huls M.A.
P.S.
For more on the technical issues surrounding the Old Testament canon, please see the work of Merill F. Unger, a well-regarded Hebrew specialist. The article on this topic in his famous Bible Dictionary is particularly insightful and full of interesting historical details.
Also, since my view of the Old Testament’s authority depends so heavily on the historical reliability and authoritative testimony of the New Testament—please see the work of Norman Geisler, and Daniel B. Wallace on the topic of New Testament canonicity. I think you will find the results of their work faith affirming to say the least. There are many other voices worth consulting, but these resources and their bibliographies will get you started.
All the best as you seek after Truth!
—JMH
