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PART II '

The Authority of the Apostles in the

Formation of the New Testament Canon

The Delegated AuthoJit)' of the Apostles

The fundamental fact about the apostolate is that the apostles were specifically called by Christ to be his authoritative representatives.! At every stage of their ministry; Christ "stands behind the testimony of the apostles. "2 The apostle was "directly commissioned by the risen Lord to be His special messenger and personal representative."3 He who receives the apostle, receives Christ himself (Matt. 10:40; John 13:20; Gal. 4:4). The apostles thus stand in Christ's place to the church. They carry his authorit)s and ground their authority over the churches in Christ's calling of them to that office (Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:1) They exist by virtue of the commandment, appointment, and will of God (1 Tim. 1:1; 2 Tim.

1:1,11). They have received their ministry directly from the risen Christ (Acts 20:24; Rom. 1:5; 1 Cor. 11:23; Gal. 1:12). The one who rejects the word of an apostle will endure greater judgment than 'will Sodom and Gomorrah (Matt. 10:14,15). Moule went so far as to say that "the Twelve evidently constitutes the earliest Christian 'canon' or measuring rod - the

standard by which the authenticity of the Church's message was to be guarded, for the duration of their lifetime. '>4

The unique inspiration of the Holy Spirit is at the heart of the apostolic ministry and the source of their infallible, unquestionable authority in the church. Jesus himself possesses a limitless filling of the Holy Spirit and has shared of that fullness in an authoritative, inspirational sense with his apostles (LuKe 4:18;]ohn3:34). In the well-known J ohannine passages,jesus promises to

16 'i' THE COUNSEL ofChalcedon 'i' April!May, 1998

give the Holy Spirit to the apostolate in a special way Oohn 14:26; 15:26,27; 16:13-15). He will guide them into the truth thereby enabling them to testify to Christ and his saving work (Matt. 10:20). The apostles are specially chosen to reveal truths to the church which have been hidden in ages past (Eph. 3:5).

"In all the testimony as to the gift of the Spirit, it is positively implied, that it would at least enable the Apostles to become infallible teachers of the truth. It was not intended to render

them infallible as men. When they taught orally or in writing, it was their privilege and their bounden duty to do so under the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit. "5

The form of apostolic authority is manifold. As long as they were alive, they were received as Christl> special representatives, fully invested with his authority, and uniquely inspired. 6 "The words of the apostles, because of this direct commission, were placed on the same level as the words of the Lord. "7 Paul equates his preaching with the

preaching oEJesus Christ canonical authority over the absolutely binding upon the (Rom. 16:25ff.). He life and doctrine of the life and doctrine of the commends the Christian church. church. lO Paul maintained Thessalonians for receiving The Apostolic Testimony that his writings, down to his preaching as the Word to their own Inspiration the individual letters used of God (1 Thess. 2:13). and Authority in its composition, were . Oral tradition handed down

Before considering directly from the Holy Spirit

from the apostles is (1 Cor. 2:14). "Not only the therefore binding upon the appropriate testimony, it substance of their teaching, church and was the must be remembered that but also its form of principle locus of apostolic what the apostles say on the expression, was asserted to authority early in their binding authority and be of divine origin.'>ll The ministries (2 Thess. 3:6). inspiration of their own gospel he preached did not Yet the written Word of the writings is Christ himself come from man but apostle is equally talking. Everything written through the revelation of authoritative (2 Cor. 13:10; to this point has sought to Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:11,12). Col. 4:16; 1 Thess. 5:27; 2 establish their divine His preaching was the word Thess. 2:15; 3:14). commission from the of God (1 Thess. 2: 13). "Apostolic speaking on Messiah to represent him Peter views Paul's writings behalf of Christ was authoritatively to the as on par with the inspired recognized in the church, church. Their words are Scriptures of the Old whether in personal therefore his words, at least Testament (2 Pet. 3:15). utterance or in written if we are to allow the New The well-known passage in form. Both the spoken Testament any say in the 2 Timothy 3 is not only a word of an apostle and the matter. And when we do, sure indicator that the letter of an apostle the testimony is universal apostles viewed all of the constituted the word of and clear. The apostles Old Testament SCriptures as Christ."8 Moreover, with considered their writings inspired by God, but also the passing away of the absolutely binding upon the that Paul considered his apostles, the only infallible church because they were own teaching to Timothy on repository of the sacred the very words of God. par with that prior tradition which they They were the custodians of revelation (2 Tim. 1:13; 2:2; received from Christ and the authoritative gospel 3:14). handed on to the church is tradition, and therefore, The extra-Pauline

:1 the writings they left behind their written testimony evidence is equally ~ , or officially sanctioned for must be received with all compelling. Peter writes ;i': submission. 1 continued use in the that the apostles preached ,

church.9 Thus, it is to the Contrary to McDonalds the gospel by the Holy apostolic writings that an claim, the apostles Ghost sent forth from

I appeal must be made to considered themselves to be heaven (1 Pet. 1:12). John demonstrate their divine, writing inspired Scripture, testifies at the conclusion of

AprillMay, 199B'I' THE COUNSEL of Cbalcedon '117

his gospel that what he has issue, as his testimony is The apostles written is absolutely true absolutely true (John self-consciously wrote and (John 21:34). "How could 21:24). In Revelation spoke as men chosen by he know that the sublime 22:18,19,]ohn forbids any Christ to be his unique, statements in the very first man to add to or take away foundational representative verses of his gospel were from what he has 'written, to the Church, under the true, if he had not penned and pronounces an inspiration of his Holy them under the guidance of authoritative curse upon all Spirit, and with an authorit the Spirit; and that his such attempts. Luke equal to his.13 Hence, Paul record of the Savior's most identifies adherence to did not hesitate to speak wonderful and mysterious apostolic doctrine as one of with binding authority on teachings were accurate, if the defining marks of a true issues which Christ had nOI the Spirit had not brought church (Acts 2:42). The specifically addressed these things to his apostles authoritatively during his earthly ministry; remembrance?"12 The decide the Gentile question but which he found apostles self-consciously and pen a confession of necessary to resolve in the spoke and wrote under the faith which is binding upon fulfillment of his immediate, supernatural all the churches (Acts apostleship (1 Cor. 7:10). influence of God's Holy 15:23; 16:4). Paul Apostolic writings are to be Spirit. commands the Thessalonian read authoritatively in the

Knowing themselves to church to maintain the churches in the same be speaking and writing tradition which they had manner as the Old under the inspiration of the received by his letter to Testament Scriptures (Col. Holy Ghost, the apostles them (2 Thess. 2:15). He 4:16; 1 Thess. 5:27). They and their writings exercised pronounces a curse upon are placed side by side with absolute authority over the any man or angel who them and designated life and doctrine of the would alter the apostolic "Scripture" (1 Tim. 5:18 wi Christian Church. From proclamation of the gospel Deut. 25:4 and Luke 10:7). the following survey of (Gal. 1:6-9). What he The reason for this is clear: relevant passages, it can be writes is the commandment apostolic epistles and repeatedly seen that their of the Lord, the sanctioned writings were authority extends especially unchallengeable, inseparable from the

, to their writings. John nonnegotiable standard of authority they possessed as , .

wrote his gospel with the truth (1 Cor. 14:37). His the living voices of Christ ir , i signature validates his letter the Church. 1 expressed purpose to make , .'

and certifies his authority in known the way of salvation: "Alongside the viva vox faitl1 in the name of the Son the churches (1 Cor. 16:21; by which the oral traditiolli of God, Jesus Christ (John Gal. 6:11; Col. 4:18; 2 were conveyed to the 20:30). He writes as one Thess. 3:17; Phil. 19). assemblies, his (Pauls) who has the unquestionable What shall we say then to letters were sent as right to be heard on this., all the available evidence? extensions of his pastoral

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and didactic ministry and her to be faithful to Christ at the very time of their were intended to by obeying their writing that they were complement the apostolic commandments. They are authentic spokesmen for work which he did in Christ's official spokesmen, God is what determines the fulfillment of his God-given with an unquestionable intrinsic canonicity of their task. The Pauline letters (as authority delegated directly writing. It is altogether we have observed) were from the risen Lord, and God's Word only if it is occasioned by the needs of with the promise of the full God-breathed. We can be the congregations, yet once inspiration of the Holy assured that the books composed and sent, they Spirit to enable them to under question were constituted the literary speak and write his Word received by the church of deposit of his apostolic without error. They bear a the apostolic age precisely influence. Only on this unique, foundational, and when they had been assumption can we eA'-plain final authority for the certified by an apostle as the authoritativeness of Christian Church as well as being thus inspired. "16 what he writes, the for the New Testament The Historical Recognition eA'-pectancy he cherishes Scriptures. The writings of the Authority of that their contents will be they left behind, therefore, Qlrist and his Apostles heeded, and the future he contrary to the vociferous Before drawing some assures for them by claims of the critics, never conclusions from the above requiring that they should became holy books by the presentation, we should be preserved and circulated decisions of the church or note that the early church among the churches."14 the random selection of

viewed the authority of the The inspiration and history; but were recognized apostles and their writings

authority of the apostles from the start as the as the uniquely inspired thus provides the second authoritative, inspired Word of God and binding aspect of the foundation for tradition respecting the upon all the churches. This an authoritative New person and work of the classical position is Testament canon. In the Messiah. IS increasingly denied by Bible fulfillment of their office, "From this we can derive, scholars. It is maintained the apostles safeguarded the in tum, the basic principle that the writers of the first gospel message proclaimed of canonicity for the New few centuries of the and accomplishe~ by Jesus Testament. It is identical to Christian era viewed Christ, and in t11eir writings that of the Old Testament, themselves as inspired in the prOvided an inspired, since it narrows down to a same manner as the apostles.

" permanent record of that matter of divine inspiration. Sundberg, for example, ~i : ! tradition for the church in Whether we think of the writes that "in forming the

" II all subsequent ages. They prophets of Old Testament canon, the church i claim absolute' authOrity times or the apostles and acknowledged and , over the doctrine and life of their God-given associates established the Bible as the ~ the Church, and call upon of the New, the recognition measure or standard of AprilJMay, 1998'l' THE COUNSEL of Cbalcedon 'l' 19 i f

inspiration, not as the A few statements from gospels as canonicaP3 totality of it. What concurs the patristic writers will be Tertullian's comments are with canon is oflike sufficient to verify this reflective of the high view inspiration; what does not is claim. Clement maintained the fathers maintained of not of God."17 He gathers that the authoritative apostolic authority and statements from Clement to foundation for the New provide strong proof that Origen in order to prove his Testament canon was the the fathers viewed apostolic thesis, that inspiration person of Christ and the doctrine, communicated cannot be the test of delegated authority of his both orally and in their canonicity; because the apostles. "The apostles have epistles, as proceeding church fathers wrote of preached the Gospel to us directly from Christ and themselves as inspired of from the Lord Jesus Christ; binding upon all churches. God. One fundamental Jesus Christ has done so by Churches are apostolic only problem with this approach the command of God. if their teaching is that it assumes, once Christ therefore was sent corresponds to that left again, that the church forth by God, and the behind by the apostles. determines the limits of the apostles by ChriSt."21 He "Now, what that was canon, and that the New fully maintains the unique which they preached-in Testament documents do inspiration of Paul,22 other words, what it was not carry their OViI]} Polycarp cites the Psalms which Christ revealed to authOrity apart from and EpheSians side by side them-can, as I must here ecclesiastical recognition. as Scripture. "In the sacred likewise prescribe, properly Beyond that, however, in books, as it is said in the be proved in no other way

; I, spite of the exaggerated Scriptures, 'Be ye angry and than by those very churches manner in which the sin not,' and, 'Let not the which the apostles founded church fathers sometimes sun go down upon your in person, by declaring the spoke of their own writings, wrath. '" Ignatius clearly gospel to them directly they attributed to the distinguishes his personal themselves, both viva voce, apostles' writings a unique authority over the churches as the phrase is, and

, : authority which their own from that possessed by the subsequently by their did not carry.18 They based apostles. In his Letter to the epistles. If, then, these

!I, , their authority and right to Romans, he writes: ''1 do not things are so, it is in the i ! be obeyed upon their order you as did Peter and same degree manifest that : ',ii' "

adherence to apostolic Paul; they were Apostles, I all doctrine which agrees 00

j'li doctrine.19 As Thielman am a convict." Irenaeus with the apostolic L ,I; '.,

wrote, "The apostles were writes that the SCriptures churches-those molds and "

uniquely commissioned by were received from the original sources of the faith .:( I Jesus, and the early church apostles, that their teaching must be reckoned for truth, : I II made no mistake in was the pillar and ground of as undoubtedly containing '!I: considering them uniquely the Christian faith, and then that which the (said) i:li I" inspired. "20 proceeds to cite all four churches received from the ii:i ;i!: iii, I . 20'1' THE COUNSEL of Chalcedon 'I' Apri1JMay, 1998 , i) :'1 :::'

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apostles, the apostles from known, they were accepted authority the church Christ, Christ from God. as God's inspired Word and ascribed to it. "26 For Whereas all doctrine must binding upon the life and various geographical, be prejudged false which doctrine of the Church. printing, and circulation savors of contrariety to the They were accepted as reasons, instantaneous truth of the churches and authoritative side by side recognition of all the twenty apostles of Christ and God. with the previously existing seven canonical books of It remains, then, that we canon of Old Testament the New Testament was demonstrate whether this Scriptures. impossible.27 It is also doctrine of ours, of which

"They are conclusive indisputable that the we have now given the rule, evidences rather of the various heresies which the has its origin in the estimation of the New early church faced directly tradition of the apostles, Testament books from the impacted the full canonical and whether all other very beginning as Scripture, recognition of certain doctJines do not ipso facto and of their attachment as disputed books such as proceed from all falsehood. SCripture to the other Revelation and 2 Peter. We hold communion with SCriptures already in hand. Though the majority of the the apostolic churches New Testament documents The early Christians did not

were received as canonical because our doctrine is in then, first form a rival no respect different from

"canon" of "new books" by the second century, the theirs. This is our witness of which came only gradually complete canon was not truth."24 recognized and arranged in to be accounted as of equal its final form until 367

Conclusion: Applying divinity and authority with A.D., when Athanasius the Apostolic Test the "old books"; they issued his Festal Epistle. for Canonicity received new book after The principle which guided

The above citations new book from the the church in her demonstrate that the early apostolical circle, as equally recognition of God's holy church from the beginning "Scripture" with the old

. Word was the authority of received the apostles as the books, and added them one Jesus Christ speaking living voice of Christ in the by one to the collection of through his Holy Spirit Church. Their oral teaching old books as additional inspired apostles, and and written epistles were Scriptures, until at length located primarily in the received as the very Word of the new books thus added written epistles they left ~~ ! God and determined the were numerous enough to behind. "The New 'J: standard of orthodoxy for be looked upon as another Testament recognizes no ( the churches. The New section of the Scriptures. "25 other principle -in addition :t. :,( Testament documents, The complete canon we to that of apostolic authOrity . 'I, ~ therefore, did not come to now possess was recognized and tradition-that could be I be viewed as canonical only by tne church over time. of equal lasting foundation after a period of slow Yet this process is not "in significance for the , growth. Where they were conflict with the special church."26 I AprillMay, 1998 'i' TIlE COUNSEL of Cba1cedon '" 21

f I ~1

In conclusion, we must the canonical authority of frequently arises with be clear what the apostolic our twenty seven received reference to the canon of test for canonicity means. books, the church created Scripture: is it closed? That The test of canonicity is not nothing - "she was is, do we have all the apostolic authorship for not rendering an account to revelation God intends for all canonical books were .herself and others why she the church to possess? This written by apostles. Some had from earliest times been question is perhaps the of the early fathers confused living by these canonical most compelling in some these two issues. This writings. "31 As Metzger has circles whenever the issue of confusion sustained the recently written, the canon arises. For on the drive to ascribe disputed

"N either religions nor one hand, modern critics books like Hebrews to an artistic works really gain have recently suggested that apostle, thereby ensuring anything by having an certain apocryphal books their inclusion in the official stamp put on them. might be added to the canonical lists. Properly If, for example, all the canon if the church came to speaking, however, "the academies of music in the be persuaded of the validity principle of canonicity was world were to unite in of their testimony to the not apostolic authorship, declaring Bach and Christian faith or their but imposition by the apostles Beethoven to be great inspirational value. There as 'law. "'29 musicians, we should reply; are, moreove~ some

"If not actually written by 'Thank you for nothing; we Christians who believe that one of the Twelve, a Gospel knew that already.' And God is still speaking to the (to confine our enquiry for . what the musical public can church through various the moment to this recognize unaided, those prophetic utterances given categOlY) must at least have with spiritual discernment to Spirit-filled men. Against some kind of apostolic in the early Church were all such interesting imprimatur: it must be able to recognize in the case hypothesis, it must be shown to come from some of their sacred writings maintained that the New close associate of an apostle through what Calvin called Testament canon is closed. and, if possible, with the the interior witness of the This conclusion irresistibly

!! : apostle's express Holy Spirit. This follows from the biblical commission. "30 testimonium Spiritus Santi evidences summarized in

'i' It is not only the books intemum, however, does not this paper. Jesus Christ is which the apostles create the authOrity of the unique individual who

! . personally left behind that Scripture (which exists stands behind the New I compose the canonical New already in its own right), Testament canon. It bears

Testament, but those which but is the means by which witness to his person and they; as Christs inspired believers come to work as the fulfillment of representatives, sanctioned acknowledge that God's redemptive program for permanent use in the authority. "32 in history. He committed to

! i: churches. In recognizing A final question his Holy Ghost filled " I'

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apostles the writing and sanctioning of his word which explains the significance of his person and work for all succeeding generations. With the passing away of their office, which the New Testament teaches was temporary and foundational in nature,33 the period of the writing and compilation of the inspired Scripture which constitute the Christian canon has terminated. The church has in her completed SCriptures the authoritative tradition which she needs to make her perfect for every good work. To the extent that she adheres to them, and them alone, she maintains the faith once for all given

. to the saints and functions as the pillar and ground of the truth. To suggest that we need more revelation from God for today, is to condemn his final word given through Jesus Christ by his apostles as insufficient. It is also to question God's providential preservation of the twenty seven inspired books to which the church in every age has turned to learn of Jesus and his saving work, and from which she has received all necessary life and light to live for him and

seek his kingdom. And tragically; it betrays the modern immaturity of judgment and lack of contentment with that perfect word which Jesus has graciously left to .his blood-bought people which so characterizes our current period in church history. n

Soli deo glo1ia! 'Herman Ridderbos, Paul: An

Outline of His Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1975), p. 449.

'Matthew 28: 18-20; Acts 1:8. Herman Ridderbos, "The Canon of the New Testament," Revelatlon and the Bible, ed. Carl F .H. Henry (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1958), p.194.

3Martin, op. dt., p. 69. 'C.P.D. Moule, The Birth of the

New Testament (London: Adam & Charles Black, 1962), p. 179.

'T.C.Johnson, "TIle Testimony of the Apostles to Inspiration," The Inspired Word, ed. Arthur Pierson (New York A.D.F. Randolph, 1888), p. 181.

'Thielman, op. dt, p. 406. 7Kistemaker,op. cit., p. 7. 'Fisher, op. dt., pp. 76-77. 9Bruce, op. elt., pp. 39-40. lOMcDonald, op. dt., p. 9. "Loraine Boettner, TI,e

Inspiration of the SCriptures (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1937), p. 23.

uJolmson, op. dt., p. 182. 13 A. A. Alexander, EvidelJces of

the Authentidty, Inspiration, and Canonical Authority of the Holy Scriptures (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1836), p. 238.

"Martin, op. cit., pp. 75-76. 15Kistemaker, op. cit., p. 6. "Fisher, op. cit., p. 66. l7Albert C. Sundberg, Jr., "The

Bible Canon and the Christian Doctrine of Inspiration," Interpretation, 29/4 (1975), p. 371.

"R. Laird Harris, Inspiration and Canonidty of the SCliptures (Greenville: A Press, 1995), p. 249.

'9Kistemaker, op. cit., p. 7. 200p. cit., p. 406. 2lTo the Corinthians, chap. 42,

in The Anti-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, p. 16. Hereafter, ANF.

22Ibid., chap. 47, inANF, vol. 1, p. 18.

23Against Heresies, Book 3, Chapter 1, in ANF, vol. 1, p. 414.

Han PresCliption Against . Heretics, ch. 21, in ANF, vol. 3, p. . 252.

25Warfield, op, dt., pp. 452-3. 2'Ridderbos, op. dt., p. 3. 27Warfield,op. dt., p. 454. 28Ridderbos, op. cit., p. 29. 2OWarfield, op. cit., p. 455. 3OMoule, op. cit., p. 189. 3lGuldenhuys, op. dt., p. 122. 32Metzger, op, cit., p. 288. 33Donald Guthrie, New

Testament Theology (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity, 1981), p. 768.

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