Bible Insight聖經小發現
The Formation of the Bible (Canonization) Part 1
Introduction
So long as the living voice of prophets or apostles was to be heard, there was no pressing need of having God’s words in writing. Jews had a formula to pass on God’s words in an oral form with a way it won’t be forgotten or mistaken. But as soon as these men were dead or the country was under threat, it became necessary to gather their writings together.
Before we look at the formation of the Bible, we must clearly make the statement theologically. We believe that all scriptures were God-breathed, never had its origin in the will of man. Only the process of gathering different books as canon involved quite a long time and human authorities. Canonical books are all God-given and people of faith feel compelled to obey them.
The Old Testament (Tanakh)
Let’s look at the formation by two groups, the Old Testament and the New Testament. (Actually Jews have no concept about OT and NT. Their Bible has the OT part and it is the only Bible they have. Jews call the Bible as Tanakh). The formation of the OT canon was gradual, and was composed of writings which spread over many centuries.
The OT consists of 39 books. They are separated into three segments –
(1) Torah – The Law (i.e the first 5 books)
(2) Nevi’im – The Prophets
(3) Kethuvim – The Writings
(1) Torah – The Law
According to Deuteronomy 31:9, Moses wrote down the law and commanded that the books of the law be placed in the ark. Therefore, we believe the books (at least part of it) of the law were already formed during Moses’ time. The Torah is very important to Jews. They are called the canon of the canons.
2. Nevi’im – The Prophets
Based on the following scriptures, we believe some books (maybe most books) of prophets existed in the time of our Lord Jesus.
Daniel 9:2 Daniel understood from the scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet about the desolation of Jerusalem would last 70 years.
Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he (Jesus) explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
3. Kethuvim – The Writings
Luke 24:27 Psalm was mentioned by Jesus. Actually many books were already written before Jesus’ time as there were many evidences found.
Canonization of the Old Testament
When the pressure from Romans against the Judaism was getting big, and when Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70, Jews started to really press on for the canonization. Most people believe it was completely formed in the second century.
聖經的形成（成典）上集
引言
聽見先知或使徒活生生的聲音，實在急不著去把神的話語記錄並收集下來。猶太人有一個口述的方式，能準確無誤地傳遞神的說話。但隨著這些人的離去，或國家受到威脅；就必須匯集他們所寫的。
未看聖經的形成前，我們必須從神學的角度上作出聲明。我們相信所有經文都是神所默示的，一點也沒有人意在內。換言之，聖經作者就是神的代筆人，在祂的默示之下寫出祂的啟示來。但是，在匯集經卷的過程中，卻牽涉了很多不同的社群和漫長的時間。
舊約（塔納赫）
要看聖經的形成，最好是分為舊約與新約兩個組別。（其實猶太人並沒有新舊約的觀念。他們的聖經是沒有新約的部份。猶太人稱他們的聖經為塔納赫。）匯集舊約聖經書卷是漸進的，而寫成書卷的時間則超過很多個世紀。
整本舊約有39卷書。讓我們分為三類：
（一） 摩西五經（妥拉、律法書）
（二） 先知書
（三） 聖卷（文集）
（一）摩西五經（妥拉、律法書）
從申命記31：9 的經文中，我們知道摩西寫下律法書，並交給抬約櫃的祭司。因此，我們相信在摩西的時代，摩西五經已存在。猶太人很重視妥拉；他們稱妥拉是正典中的正典。
（二）先知書
從但以理書9：2及路加福音24：27，我們相信有部份或大部份的先知書已存在於主耶穌的年代。
（三）聖卷（文書）
從路加福音24：44中，我們相信詩篇已存在於主耶穌的年代。有關其他的聖卷，雖然經文沒有提及，但從其他的文獻，可以證實他們也存在於主耶穌的年代。
舊約聖經的匯集
當羅馬政府向猶太教不斷地施加壓力，並於公元70年聖殿被毀後，猶太人便迫切地匯集聖經書卷。大部份學者認為，整本舊約聖經的匯集和成典，大概於公元二世紀期間完成。
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