Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 8
The speaker points to Peter treating Paul’s letters as “the other scriptures” and to Paul quoting Luke’s words (“the laborer is worthy of his wages”) as “scripture”; if the New Testament authors already viewed certain contemporaneous writings as “scripture,” how does that impact the common idea that “the church invented the canon later,” and what does it suggest about God’s timing in giving revelation?
Another way to ask: If Peter and Paul treated some New Testament writings as Scripture right away, what does that say about the claim that the church invented the canon later? What might it show about when God chose to give His revelation?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The transcript suggests that recognition of Scripture began inside the apostolic era itself, not only in later councils, which challenges the idea that the church “invented” the canon much later. It suggests God’s revelation was being given and recognized in real time as the church was founded.
- Peter refers to Paul’s epistles and says unstable people twist them “as they do also the other scriptures,” which the speaker says equates Paul’s writings with Scripture.
- He acknowledges an objection: “scripture” (graphe) can be used broadly, but argues the context shows “authoritative writings” because people “rest it to your own destruction.”
- Paul calls Luke’s words “scripture” in 1 Timothy 5:18: he quotes Deuteronomy and then “the laborer is worthy of his wages,” which the speaker identifies as Luke 10:7 (he says 10:17, but the point is Luke).
- He reasons that if 2 Timothy is around AD 64, Luke must have been written before that for Paul to quote it.
- His overall thesis: apostolic writings were “immediately received as scripture,” explaining the lack of a long, contentious selection process.