Reference: Canon of Scripture
Fausets
(See BIBLE.) The collection of sacred books constituting the Christian church's authoritative RULE (Greek canon) of faith and practice. The word occurs in Ga 6:16; 2Co 10:13-16. The law, i.e. the Pentateuch or five books of Moses, is the groundwork of the whole. The after written sacred books rest on it. The Psalms, divided into five books to correspond with it, begin, "Blessed is the man" whose "delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law will he meditate day and night." In Joshua (Jos 1:8) similarly the Lord saith, "this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night." Moses directed the Levites, "Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God" (De 31:25-26). "The testimony," or Decalogue written by God's finger on the tables of stone, was put into the ark (Ex 25:16; 40:20; 1Ki 8:9).
Hilkiah "found the book of the law in the house of the Lord," where it had lain neglected during the reigns that preceded godly Josiah's reign (2Ki 22:8; 2Ch 34:14), "the law of the Lord by (the hand of) Moses." Joshua under inspiration added his record, "writing these words in the book of the law of God" (Jos 24:26). Samuel further wrote "the manner of the kingdom in a book" (1Sa 10:25). Isaiah (Isa 8:20) as representative of the prophets makes the law the standard of appeal: "to the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." The earlier sacred writings by his time seem to have been gathered into one whole, called "the book of the Lord": "seek ye out of the book of the Lord" (Isa 33:16; 29:18). Just as our Lord saith" Search the Scriptures" (Joh 5:39).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
And he took and put the testimony into the ark and set the staves on the ark and put the seat of reconciliation upon the ark above,
And he took and put the testimony into the ark and set the staves on the ark and put the seat of reconciliation upon the ark above,
that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,
that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, Take this book of the law and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God that it may be there for a witness against thee.
Take this book of the law and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God that it may be there for a witness against thee.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou may keep and do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way to prosper, and then thou shalt understand everything.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou may keep and do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way to prosper, and then thou shalt understand everything.
And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and taking a great stone, he set it up there under an oak that was in the sanctuary of the LORD.
And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and taking a great stone, he set it up there under an oak that was in the sanctuary of the LORD.
Then Samuel recited unto the people the rights of the kingdom and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his house.
Then Samuel recited unto the people the rights of the kingdom and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his house.
Then Hilkiah, the high priest, said unto Shaphan, the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
Then Hilkiah, the high priest, said unto Shaphan, the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
And in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see in the midst of darkness, and of gross darkness.
And in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see in the midst of darkness, and of gross darkness.
he shall dwell upon the high places: fortresses of rocks shall be his place of refuge: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
he shall dwell upon the high places: fortresses of rocks shall be his place of refuge: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are those who testify of me.
Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are those who testify of me.
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Morish
The word ????? signified a rod or rule by which things were tested. It is thus used by Paul in Ga 6:16; Php 3:16. As to the scriptures the expression refers to what books should be included: thus the 'canon' of scripture is often spoken of, and the books are called 'canonical' or 'uncanonical.' Happily most Christians are not troubled with such questions. In christian simplicity they believe that in the Bible they have nothing but what God caused to be written, and that it contains all that He intended to form a part of His book. Still, as everything is now challenged it may be well to examine the subject a little.
In the first place, the Church of Rome boldly declared that it was only 'the church' that could decide what books were canonical: as early as the Council of Carthage (about A.D. 400) lists of the books were made out, and at the Council of Trent they dogmatically settled what books constituted the scripture. They decided to include the books now known as the APOCRYPHA (q.v.), as may be seen in the Latin Vulgate, which is the version used by that church. Now the scripture informs us that to the Jews were committed the oracles of God, Ro 3:2, and as is well known they most carefully guarded the O.T. scriptures for centuries before there was any christian church. The books were written in the Jews' language
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Much in every way: first, certainly, that the oracles of God have been entrusted unto them.
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Nevertheless, in that unto which we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us have the same mind.