Expert: Sal - 7/10/2010

Question
Hi Sal,

First thank you for all of the answers to the many questions I've asked.

Now I've come across a discussion about the bible being canonized.

I've been told that at some point the protestants had some sort of meeting and re-canonized the bible. If you have any references or thoughts on this and when it was done, I'd appreciate it.

At the same time, I'd like to understand how the canonization works.  What rule was used to decided what was scripture and what was not, both for Catholics and for the protestants.

I had read somewhere (wish I could find it again) that the writings had to have a certain number of cross references before it would pass muster.  I just don't know.

I understand if this is a stretch of a questions and feel free to send me on my way.

Thanks,

Robb

Answer
Dear Robb:

The Catholic Church determined at the Councils of Hippo (AD 393) and Carthage (AD 397) what books belonged in the Bible. The bishops at those councils determined which Catholic bishops wrote which books. They had to determine which books had been passed on through the years as inspired. They also looked at whether a book taught anything heretical. The most important thing was whether the book had been passed on as inspired from the beginning since a book once inspired must always be inspired. Many books were said to have been written by a Catholic bishop such as Sts. Peter or Paul, but where known to have not been written by them.  

There were two versions of the Old Testament circulating in Jesus’ lifetime on earth. One contained 7 fewer books than the other. The Septuagint was the longer version written in Greek for Greek speaking Jews. The Catholic Church has always used the longer version because it was passed on through the Church as inspired. Also scholars now tell us that whenever Jesus and the Apostles quote from the Old Testament it is usually from the longer Catholic version.

The Protestant New Testament is the same as the Catholic New Testament. The Protestants use the shorter version of the Old Testament. This was done because they reject Purgatory which is clearly taught in the frist book of Maccabees. By rejecting the longer Old Testament they rejected Macabees which is one of the seven books that Catholics have that Protestants don’t have in their Bibles. So the rejection of the longer Old Testament was a matter of wanting to avoid the turth and protect a falsehood.

God Bless,
Sal