The Closed Canon – What Are the Implications?
The term “closed canon” refers to the concept that the books of the Bible in its current form represent the complete and final revelation of God’s word. The canon of scripture is considered “closed” because no other books can be added to it. This stands in contrast to an “open canon”, which would allow for additional books to potentially be included in the Bible.
The implications of having a closed canon are significant. Here are some of the main ones:
1. The Bible is Sufficient
Belief in a closed canon implies that the 66 books of the Bible are completely adequate for knowing God and living a godly life. No other source is needed. Paul stated that Scripture is “breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible contains everything needed for faith and practice.
2. The Bible has Final Authority
A closed canon elevates the Bible as the final authority on all matters about which it speaks. There is no other book or teaching that can supersede or contradict Scripture. The Bible alone is the ultimate authority for Christian belief and morality. As Hebrews says, “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12).
3. No New Revelation
With a closed canon, no new revelation can be added to the Bible. God spoke definitively through the prophets and apostles recorded in Scripture. Revelation 22:18-19 declares a warning not to add to biblical prophecy. This means that any claimed “new revelation” must be tested against the Bible. The canon provides a fixed measuring rod for evaluating all truth claims.
4. The Bible is Preserved
Belief in a closed canon implies that God has faithfully preserved His Word for each generation. This gives confidence that people today can read translations that accurately reflect the original biblical documents. While we no longer have the original copies, God has ensured that His Word endures forever (1 Peter 1:25).
5. Heresy is Prevented
A closed canon prevents false teaching and doctrinal error from infiltrating the church. It provides a bulwark against heresy arising from those who would add extra-biblical ideas and revelations. The Bible alone must form the foundation for Christian belief, rather than traditions or new teachings.
6. Unity is Promoted
Closing the canon fosters unity in the church around God’s authoritative Word. It acts as a hedge against divisions arising from competing revelations or disagreements over which books should be included. Unity is possible when the focus is on the unchanging message of Scripture.
In summary, belief in a closed biblical canon has profound implications. It means the Bible alone is sufficient, finally authoritative, and completely trustworthy. God spoke His definitive word and confirmed it through signs, wonders and the testimony of the apostles. The completed revelation of Scripture is now preserved as the church’s foundational document and final authority for all matters of Christian faith and doctrine.
The Closed Canon Protects Core Christian Beliefs
The fixed boundaries of the biblical canon serve to guard essential Christian doctrines from denial or distortion. Here are some examples of how key beliefs are protected by a closed canon:
1. The Trinity
The doctrine of the Trinity states that God eternally exists in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is clear in Scripture (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14) but denied by cults. The closed canon keeps out false teachings that would undermine the triune nature of God.
2. The Person of Christ
The Bible presents Jesus Christ as fully God and fully man (John 1:1, 14). The canon guards this truth from errors that would deny His divine nature or the reality of His humanity. This shields against false ideas about who Jesus truly is.
3. Salvation by Grace
The doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith in Christ alone is taught throughout the New Testament. A closed canon preserves the truth that salvation cannot be earned but only received as an undeserved gift (Ephesians 2:8-9).
4. The Resurrection of Christ
The bodily resurrection of Jesus is central to the Christian faith. The written accounts prevent naturalistic explanations from removing this cornerstone event (1 Corinthians 15:12-20). The resurrection is an essential truth that an unchanged canon protects.
5. Biblical Morality
God’s standards of morality do not shift with cultural trends. The closed canon preserves timeless ethical teachings on issues like sexuality, marriage, righteous living and God’s abhorrence of sin. Right and wrong are not decided by popular vote but are anchored in God’s unchanging Word.
In these ways and more, an unaltering biblical canon serves as a bulwark for sound doctrine and moral boundaries. It guards against distorted perceptions of who God is and how He expects His followers to live.
The Closed Canon and the Old Testament
While the term “closed canon” typically refers to the completion of the entire Bible, it is also relevant to speak of a closed Old Testament canon. By the time of Jesus, there was general agreement among the Jews as to which writings were rightly considered Scripture. There has been no change to the books of the Hebrew Bible since then.
Here are some key points about the closing of the Old Testament canon:
1. Completed over Time
The Old Testament canon was not officially closed all at once, but over the centuries consensus emerged among the Jews as to which writings were authoritative. By around 400 BC the Torah, Prophets and Writings (Hebrew Bible) were recognized as inspired Scripture.
2. Recognition, not Determination
Jewish scholars did not determine the canonicity of books but recognized the inspiration of writings that were already functioning authoritatively in the community. In other words, popular usage of a book indicated it held special status.
3. Evidence of Inspiration
Certain marks provided evidence of a book’s divine authority, such as the predictive nature of prophecy and textual consistency with undisputed Scripture. This distinguished God’s true messages from fraudulent claims of inspiration.
4. Already Closed in Jesus’ Day
The Jewish Scriptures almost certainly represented a closed Old Testament canon by the time of Christ in the first century AD. Jesus frequently referred to the entire corpus of the Hebrew Bible quoting from its different parts over 40 times as divinely authoritative.
5. Identical to Protestant OT Today
The 39 books of the Old Testament recognized by Judaism are exactly the same as those accepted by Protestants today. The early church affirmed the Jewish Scripture but differed in also embracing the apostolic writings recorded in the New Testament.
6. Preserved God’s Word
Closing the OT canon ensured that faith in the one true God was safeguarded. His revealed Word was protected from corruption and false writings were prevented from gaining equal standing with divinely inspired Scripture.
The completed Old Testament provided a theological and historical foundation upon which the gospel could be understood. Its closed status preserved and protected God’s preparatory revelation prior to the coming of Christ.
Factors in Closing the New Testament Canon
Distinct factors led the early church to formally close the New Testament canon of Scripture around the end of the fourth century AD. Key influences included:
1. Apostolic Authority
The initial criteria for recognizing New Testament books was apostolic authority – that is, written by an apostle or apostolic associate like Mark and Luke. This ensured inspired NT writings.
2. Church Use
Books widely used in churches were acknowledged as canonical. Letters like Colossians that were read publicly as Scripture indicated their status.
3. Consistency of Doctrine
Orthodox teaching was a standard for assessing canonicity. For example, the humanity and deity of Christ needed to be upheld, ruling out false writings.
4. Recognition by Church Fathers
Key early church leaders like Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Athanasius accepted the same canon of NT books handed down to them by faithful forebears.
5. Responses to False Teachings
The rise of heretical groups led the church to formally demarcate inspired writings to refute errors. For example, Gnostic false teaching was already being opposed by the apostles in the NT.
6. Councils’ Discernment
While regional councils deliberated, criteria were applied to determine the canon. This culminated in ratification of the 27 NT books at the Council of Carthage in AD 397 based on their clear divine origin and authority.
These historical factors led the early church to formally confirm the closure of the New Testament canon. This preserved the inspired record of apostolic testimony that was handed down from the very beginning of the Christian faith.
False Views that Deny Closing the Canon
While Scripture presents a closed canon, some persist in claiming God’s revelation is ongoing. Views that posit an open-ended canon expose believers to modern-day deception. Common arguments include:
1. Apostles Had No Successors
Some argue that the apostles were foundational to the church (Ephesians 2:20) but had no successors. Therefore, new apostolic writings could potentially be added to Scripture.
This undermines the completeness of the faith “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
2. Limiting the Spirit
An open canon is defended by saying God’s Spirit cannot be restrained from inspired utterances. But the Spirit guided the complete NT revelation, which included warnings not to go beyond the apostolic writings (Revelation 22:18-19).
3. Ongoing Revelation
Groups like Mormons claim new prophetic writings, such as the Book of Mormon, should be added. However, these cannot be verified as inspired compared to the testimony of Christ and the apostles confirmed with signs and wonders (Hebrews 2:3-4).
4. NT Doesn’t Say It’s Complete
Since no Bible verse explicitly says no more books can be added, some argue the canon should remain open. But the absence of other potential writings after the time of the apostles speaks decisively.
5. Church Councils were Mistaken
A claim is made that the church councils erred in closing the canon because they lacked authority. However, their decisions recognized the clear evidence of special revelation entrusted to the apostles as Christ’s unique spokesmen.
These arguments may sound plausible but do not stand up under the overwhelming historical testimony confirming the completed canon of Scripture handed down to today’s believers. The opportunity for new inerrant revelation ended with the deaths of the apostles who sealed the faith. Attempts to add to their definitive testimony should be rejected.
Key Events in Closing the Biblical Canon
The closing of the biblical canon was a process that occurred over centuries. However, certain historical events stand out as pivotal in confirming the limits of inspired Scripture.
Closing of the Old Testament Canon
– 400 BC – Torah, Prophets and Writings recognized by Jews as authoritative
– 200 BC – Dead Sea Scrolls show accepted Hebrew Bible
– 90 AD – Council of Jamnia formally affirms Jewish canon
– Later Councils – Subsequent Jewish councils at Yavneh and elsewhere endorse the 39 books
Closing of the New Testament Canon
– Mid-2nd Century – Earliest lists of NT books match current canon
– 367 AD – Athanasius’ 39th Festal Letter lists complete NT canon
– 382 AD – Council of Rome ratifies current 27 book NT canon
– 397 AD – Council of Carthage reaffirms same NT canon
– 419 AD – Council of Carthage again reaffirms canon as closed
These conciliar pronouncements built on the widespread recognition of the same inspired books by early church fathers beginning as early as the late second century. While no new revelation was expected, formal declarations helped unify the church around the apostolic writings that were accepted from the very start. The canon was not so much decided as recognized by each succeeding generation.
Objections to Closing the Canon
Despite strong historical confirmation of the closed biblical canon, some raise objections:
1. No Bible verse limits inspiration – But Deuteronomy and Proverbs warn against adding to God’s words. And Revelation closes with a warning not to add to the book.
2. Church councils erred – However they ratified the books that were already recognized based on apostolic authority and use in the churches.
3. We need more revelation – But Scripture says the apostles delivered the faith “once for all” (Jude 3). The completed revelation in the Bible is sufficient.
4. Closes off God – God can still work, but new revelation has ceased. We have the more sure prophetic word in Scripture (2 Peter 1:19).
5. Hinders the Spirit – The same Holy Spirit leads into all truth through the closed canon, not fresh revelations.
These objections hold little weight compared to the overwhelming biblical and historical evidence that God has indeed given His church a definite and final revelation – one that is complete, sufficient and reliable to point the way to salvation through Jesus Christ.
The Closed Canon as a Protective Fence
Belief in a defined canon of holy Scripture provides a protective barrier for the church. Having a closed set of books that comprise the Bible enables crucial safeguards:
1. Prevents fabrication – No one can add their own prophecies or revelations, preventing fraudulent claims that may lead people astray.
2. Upholds authority – An open canon weakens biblical authority, whereas a closed canon establishes Scripture alone as the final authority.
3. Promotes unity – Fixed boundaries foster unity in the global church around agreed-upon apostolic teaching.
4. Guards sound doctrine – Essential doctrines stay intact without distortion from novel extra-biblical ideas.
5. Rebuffs heresy – Cults are unable to infiltrate a closed canon with their false writings such as the Book of Mormon.
6. Shields from cultural trends – An unchanged Bible stands as a bulwark against simply conforming theology to changing cultural views.
7. Maintains moral boundaries – An open canon allows for morality to slide as people claim new revelation, but a closed canon preserves timeless moral instructions.
Just as a fenced yard establishes a safe space for play, a closed canon creates defined borders that protect the church from deception and harmful influences trying to infiltrate biblical faith and teaching.
Conclusion
In summary, the concept of a closed biblical canon conveys that God has given His complete and final revelation to humanity in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. No new inspired Scripture is expected. This belief has profound implications for the sufficiency of Scripture, its final authority, and the preservation of sound doctrine. While some argue for an open canon, history and the testimony of the Bible itself strongly attest that the Canon of Scripture has been sealed. The church today can have full confidence in the finished revelation of the written Word of God. Just as the apostles delivered the faith once for all, so their definitive authoritative teachings have been faithfully passed down. Affirming a closed canon protects this treasured deposit and equips the church to flourish through its unchanging gospel message until Christ returns.