The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1899-11-08
HOW THE BIBLECAME TO Us
LECTURE FIRST. THE FORMATION OF
THE CANON.
BY Rev. Albert r. Bond.
,CTuRE FIRST. THE FORMATION or
THE CANON.
[Continoed ]
II. THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON.

prOpHecy anu MS hit. JtdcuiiiR
and subsequent influence through
the Holy Spirit form the subject
Of our New Testament. The au-
thor of Christianity did not leave
any personal writings, but he
selected men to be trained for the
purpose. The Apostles and two
or three close companions became
the writer's of Gods new mes
sage. The record of Jesus earth
ly life must be made and so we
have the Gospels, and the vari-
GUS Epistles and other books
we're called forth by some special
need of the churches. An early
test of canonicity was apostolic
authorship, which included the
apostles or some one specially
connected with them. We must
notice here too that these books
were not at first universally re-
cognized as scripture, because it
required some time for them to
become known in an age when
means of communication were
defective.
The entire history of the New
Testament canon may be divided
into three periods. The canon,
Notwithstanding many difficulties,
was generally recognized at the
close of the second century.
FIRST pERIoD-cIRcULATIoN AND
COLLECTION.
In this period we find the his
tory of the gradual circulation Of
the separate books and their col
lection into one volume. 1t ex-
tends from 70 A. D., the de-
struction OF Jerusalem, to 40.
the time Of Hegesslpus.
Ia THE AGE OF THE APOSTOLIC
FATHERS TO- -120 A. D.
Clement of Rome (died 1917
wrote to The church at Cornth.
He shows the influence Of Paul,
Peter, James and the writer OF
the Hebrews (ifhe were not Paul)
in style, doctrine and church or
der though he shows some ten
denotes towards ritualism. He
knows of no conflict between
Petrine and Pauline doctrines.
He ratIfies generally the CLAIM of
the whole canon.
Ignatius of Antioch was ar
rested on charge OF causing
disturbances between Christians
and heathens, was tried, con-
demned and sent to Rome, where
he suffered nartyrdom in 115.
Upon the Journey to Rome he
wrote letters to several churches
He is the representative OF the
high church ideas and orders IL
the ministry and especially die
he desire to exale the powers oil
the bishop. He recognizes Paul
Peter and John and the genera
facts recorded in the Gospels.
Polycarp of Smyrna died abour
155 A. D., being between 86 anc
100 years old. He was a disciple
of the beloved John and thus re-
ceived his teaching from the
apostle. A number of Christian:
were arrested in Smyrna apc
thrown to the wild beasts. Aftel
sometime Polycarp was found anC
brought into the amphitheatre
f.Away with the atheists" wa'
his cry when asked to swear by
Caesar. He was placed on pile
he kneeIed in prayer; torches
were lit; be remained unburned
ooldier pierced him through
his body was consumed and tn.
ashes were collected and buriet
on hill near the city. He wa
a disciple of John. a pupil o
Ignatius, and teacher ofIrenaeus
He testifies to Paul, Peter anC
John and makes numerous cita
tions to our canon, and evince
its influence upon his language.
The Epistle Of Barnabas i
supposed 10 have been writer
between 40 and 200 A. d.
was placed by some churches ii
the canon because it twas suppos
ed that Barnabas, Paul's com
panion, was the author, but Bar
nabas Of Alexandria was proba
bly, the writer. 1t discusse
types OF the Old Testament an,
in this respect resembles th
book Of Hebrews, but the style
are widely different. It's valu
for the canon is found in the fac
that some churches coneidere
Barnabas, the apostle, the au