Peter's Logic

I'm currently reading through an amazing book by Dr. Michael Kruger that I bought from the Shepherds' Conference. The Question of Canon is a book that pokes holes in the extrinsic model of the canon. Before I explain the models, "canon" must be defined.

Canon comes from a Greek word meaning "measuring rod", "standard", or "rule". In regards to the Bible, the term canon refers to the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments because they act as the authoritative standard (canon) for the Christian.

In his book, Kruger gives two models for the development of the New Testament canon:

1. The Extrinsic Model:
   
   “[T]he canon was, to some degree imposed upon the Christian faith.” (p. 18)
   
   
2. The Intrinsic Model:
   “[The canon was] not something imposed from the outside but develops more organically from within the early Christian religion itself.” (p. 21)

In raising some problems with the extrinsic model, Kruger paves way for the intrinsic model. One way in which he does that is his argument against the claim that the NT writers did not know they were writing Scripture, therefore there is no evidence of an authoritative source other than the OT until later on in history.

One of the examples given was that Peter* knows he is writing Scripture. Here's the flow of thought summarized from pages 150-151:

1. Claims apostolic texts to be authoritative (2 Pt. 3:16)
2. His readers should submit to apostolic authority (2 Pt. 3:2)
3. Calls himself an apostle (2 Pt. 1:1)
4. Recounts his own apostolic credentials (2 Pt. 1:16-18)
5. Therefore his letters are authoritative

*There are scholars who do not believe in Peter's authorship of 2 Peter and a different author for 1 Peter. But as noted in the book, authorship is irrelevant here. The point is whether the writer of this epistle is aware that he is claiming apostolic authority and therefore is writing, what we call, Scripture.

Shepherds' Conference 2015 - Day 3

It's been over a month since Shepherds' Conference at Grace Community Church (March 3-8, 2015). Around 5000 men flew from all over the world to attend this historic event. Historic because it is different than the past conferences in that it was a summit. The conference was 4 days (when it was 3 before), the number of people that attended doubled from before, the number of General Sessions doubled also, there were many more speakers than before, and the topic was Inerrancy. That is, the inerrancy of Scripture. The Scripture does not have any errors in its original writings.

My two highlights from day three:

Dr. Steve Lawson opens up the morning with the sermon titled The Invincible Power of the Inerrant Word. In it, he goes through 7 symbols/analogies that the Bible refers to itself as, giving the listener a greater reverence and confidence in the inerrant Scripture. 

"It is an inerrant word that gives infallible guidance."

Dr. Derek Thomas then preached later that day on 2 Peter 1:16-21. Expounding from this text, Dr. Thomas gives an amazing message on the doctrine of Scripture. The sermon is structured around three questions.

1. What does Peter say the Bible is?
2. How is the Bible written by human instrumentality?
3. To what extent can we be certain that the Bible is God's word written?