Outline:
- What Scripture is "Physically"
- Old Testament = TaNaKh
- Torah = Books of Moses
- Nevi'im = Prophets
- Ketuvim = Writings
- New Testament = Christian Canon
- Mostly Letters
- Declared Canon at the Council of Rome (382 A.D.)
- Apocrypha: Other Writings of the Hebrew People
- Written in Greek
- Not part of the Tanakh
- Some churches consider as part of Canon
- 39 Articles: "the church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners; but yet doth it not apply to establish any doctrine." (BCP 868)
- What Scripture is Spiritually:
- Simply: the Word of God
- Outline of Faith (BCP 853-854):
- OT = Looking at God's working throughout history (Past)
- NT = Proclaiming the Good News of God to the world (Present and Future)
- Ordination Services: "I believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary for Salvation."
- Means we are assured of God speaking through Scripture
- Doesn't mean it is the only way we hear God
- Tradition of the church established at the same time as Scripture Canon recognized
- Canon = measuring rod; means we "measure" God speaking through what we see in Scripture