Understanding the Christian Canon

The video explores the concept of canon in Christianity, focusing on the Old and New Testament canons. It discusses the inherent authority of scriptures, the process of their recognition, and the role of early church figures. The Old Testament canon was completed by 430 BC, while the New Testament canon was recognized by the early church and formally listed by Athanasius in 367 AD. The video emphasizes the careful discernment process in recognizing authoritative texts.

What is the primary difference between an authorized collection of writings and a collection of authoritative writings?

• An authorized collection is recognized by an external authority, while an authoritative collection has inherent authority.

• An authorized collection is older than an authoritative collection.

• An authorized collection is larger than an authoritative collection.

• An authorized collection is more popular than an authoritative collection.

When was the Old Testament canon completed according to the video?

• AD 90

• 367 AD

• 1400 BC

• 430 BC

What is the Protestant Old Testament canon compared to the Hebrew scriptures?

• The Hebrew scriptures are longer

• The Protestant canon has more books

• They have the same content but are arranged differently

• They are completely different

How does the New Testament recognize the authority of the Old Testament?

• By dismissing its teachings

• By rewriting it

• By ignoring it completely

• By quoting and referring to it as authoritative

What was the time period during which the New Testament was written?

• 100 to 200 AD

• 367 to 400 AD

• 40s to 80, 90 AD

• 1400 to 430 BC

What role did the early church fathers play in the formation of the New Testament canon?

• They ignored the New Testament writings

• They actively quoted and recognized the authority of the New Testament writings

• They only accepted writings from their own regions

• They rejected all New Testament writings

What was the significance of Athanasius's Easter letter in 367 AD?

• It was a letter about church holidays

• It was the first time the 27-book New Testament canon was listed

• It introduced new books to the canon

• It rejected the New Testament canon

How did early Christians ensure the authenticity of the New Testament writings?

• By only accepting writings with apostolic authority

• By accepting any writing they found

• By rewriting the texts

• By ignoring the writings

What was the role of councils in the late 300s regarding the New Testament canon?

• They rejected the New Testament

• They ignored the canon

• They formally recognized the 27-book New Testament canon

• They added new books to the canon

What does the video suggest about the process of recognizing the New Testament canon?

• It was done without any discussion

• It was a chaotic and unorganized process

• It was a careful and discerning process

• It was completed in a single day