Justin Effler > Recent Status Updates

“Canon exists not when there is a final, closed list, but when books function as authoritative Scripture for the community—and this happened well before the 4th century.” Pg 57

“Canon as function antedates canon as shape.”

“At these meetings you should heed the Bishop and Presbytery attentively, and break one bread, which is the medicine of immortality, and the antidote which wards off death but yields continuous life in Union with Jesus Christ.” —Ignatius to the Ephesians

J.I. Packer "The Church no more gave us the New Testament canon than Sir Isaac Newton gave us the force of gravity. God gave us gravity...Newton did not create create gravity but recognized it." Pg 45

“The problem then is not that the church plays a role in identifying canonical books (Protestants would agree with this), but the Catholic insistence that it plays the only and definitive role.” Pg 44

“This is the reason men cannot find peace. They give way to human fears and prefer the pleasures of the present to the promises of the future. For they do not what gear torment the pleasures of the present bring, and what delight attaches to the promises of the future.” —Clement of Rome

Romans Catholic Model:

Trifold Authority: Scripture, Tradition and The Magisterium

“…the Magesterium…has the right and authority to define what writings constitute scripture.” Pg. 39

“Catholic Theology…has solved the canon problem with a plea to the authority of the church.” Thus the canon is ultimately community determined. Pg. 39

A canon doesn’t exist until “there is some sort of response to a community”, typically in 1 of 3 ways:

1.) Historical Accident
2.) Church determined declared
3.) Event, Holy Spirit impacting individuals

All agree though that’s is done through the Christian community.

“Love puts up with everything and is always patient. There is nothing vulgar about love, nothing arrogant. Love knows nothing of schism or revolt. Love does everything in harmony.” - Clement of Rome

“And we, therefore, who by his will have been called in Jesus Christ, are not justified of ourselves or by our wisdom or insight, or the religious devotion or the holy deeds we have done from the heart, but by that faith by which almighty God has justified all men from the very beginning.” —1 Clement 32

“Here is what this book is designed to Answer”

“This volume is concerned with the narrow question of whether Christians have a rational basis (I.e. intellectual sufficient grounds) for affirming that only these 27 books rightfully belong to the New Testament canon.” Pg. 20

“He showered his benefits…abundantly on us who have taken refuge in his compassion through our Lord, Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and majesty forever and ever Amen.” -1 Clement