FIRST YEAR EXAMINATOINS FOR F=DEGREE IN BACHELOR OF EDUCATION ARTS

NAME: MULONGO EUGINE SIMIYU

ADM: EDA 372/2022

COURSE CODE: REL 121

COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE

TO LEC

PHONE NUMBER:0758796218

TASK: CONTINUAL ASSESMENT TEST ONE

1.

a] DISCUSS THE CANONIZATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT (10 marks)

As the scriptures themselves reveal, the old testament is essential a Levitical document canonized under
the authority of the Aaronic priesthood. Canonization as it is called from the Greek canon, meaning ‘rule
or measuring rod’ is a process by which a collection of writings come to be considered authoritative,
definitive and fixed by a particular religious authority. A canonical book, therefore, is one that conforms
to the “canon” that is, passes the test of authenticity.

Because the sacred books of Israel were inspired by God or as the apostle Paul says, were God breathed
it was imperative that the texts remain distinctly numerous texts were known historically to exist
alongside the scriptures and many were purported to be sacred. Thus, the texts which make up the old
testament were canonized in order to assure their singular position as the inspired word of God.
Contrary to what many of todays scholars teach this all important task of canonization was not left in the
hands of so called fathers of Judaism but was carried out under the authority of the Levitical
priesthood .As we will see, the book that we call the old testament is a thoroughly Levitical document.

Furthermore, in the Jewish canon and the Christian canon, [Link] L . Wheeler points out that idea of a
finalized Hebrew Canon began to emerge shortly after the Babylonian exile. He notes that it was the
Jews fear of religious contamination hat motivated them to create an official version of the various
scriptures and gather them to create an ‘official version of the various scripture and gather them into
one organic collection . Indeed, the primary reason for the final compilation compilation of the sacred
Aaronic writings into an authentic, authoritative canon of scripture was to combat an insidious
counterfeit system of worship arising out of Samaria during the post-exilic period.

Historically, a counterfeit form of Judaic worship emerged from Samaria, north of Jerusalem, in the
fifth century BC led by the apostate high priest Manasseh.

b] JUSTIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BIBLE IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD (10 marks)
FIRST YEAR EXAMINATOINS FOR F=DEGREE IN BACHELOR OF EDUCATION ARTS

The bible shows the world Gods character and provides them Gods revelation of himself to his people.
In each section of the bible God is seen to be holy, unchanging , faithful , gracious and loving character
to his people

The bible provides us with solutions for every situation in life and teaches us to love even our enemies
and ones us that we should not live according to the standards of this world as a whole

The bible is a life giving book as it is alive and powerful, it exposes our innermost thoughts and desires to
God who desires to redeem us through his word

The bible give us the opportunity to see and know God. The scriptures reveal his character and nature,
his sovereignty and power, and his reason for creating us, the universe and everything in it. We read
about Gods dealings with humankinds his goodness and grace, his light and love, his holiness and justice
and his mercy and compusion through the bible

The bible reveals Gods desires from the beginning to have a people of his own in it, the world learn
about the perfect fellowship that humans once had with God in paradise and how it was broken by sin
and disobedience but through the sacrifice of Jesus C hrist we can be forgiven

The bible contains an essential wisdom and guidance for making a way through life. Jesus taught us to
depend on Gods word for our daily bread and we cannot underestimate the importance of consuming it
regularly for it is the fuel of our daily lives

The bible equips and empowers us to serve him and we can wield it as our greatest offensive weapon
against our adversary , the devil, and the powers of darkness

The bible shows the word Gods [Link] obeying what the lord says in the bible, we can keep ourselves
pure, meditating on the teachings off scripture will cause us to proper spiritually and bring blessings and
true success in life

The bible provides the world with power to sanctify us. Now that you have purified yourself by obeying
the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply from the heart Gods
word has power to cleanse and make us holy. And his words gives us power to defeat sin and bring our
thoughts into spiritual obedience to God.

2] EXPLAINTHE FIRST STAGE OF THE THREE IN THE CANONIZATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT (10
marks)

The first period extending to 170 AD.-- By the end of the 1st century all of the books of the New
Testament were in existence. They were, as treasures of given churches, widely separated and
honored as containing the word of Jesus or the teaching of the apostles. From the very first, the
authority of Jesus had full recognition in all the Christian world. The whole work of the apostles
was in interpreting Him to the growing church. His sayings and His life were in part for the
illumination of the Old Testament; wholly for the understanding of life and its issues. In every
assembly of Christians from the earliest days He was taught as well as the Old Testament. In
each church to which an epistle was written that epistle was likewise read. Paul asked that his
letters be read in this way
FIRST YEAR EXAMINATOINS FOR F=DEGREE IN BACHELOR OF EDUCATION ARTS

The widening of the area of the church and the departure of the apostles from earth emphasized
increasingly the value of that which the writers of the New Testament left behind them. Quite
early the desire to have the benefit of all possible instruction led to the interchange of Christian
writings. Polycarp (110 AD) writes to the Philippians, "I have received letters from you and from
Ignatius. You recommend me to send on yours to Syria; I shall do so either personally or by
some other means. In return I send you the letter of Ignatius as well as others which I have in my
hands and for which you made request. I add them to the present one; they will serve to edify
your faith and perseverance" (Epistle to Phil, XIII). This is an illustration of what must have
happened toward furthering a knowledge of the writings of the apostles.
Just when and to what extent "collections" of our New Testament books began to be made it is
impossible to say, but it is fair to infer that a collection of the Pauline epistles existed at the time
Polycarp wrote to the Philippians and when Ignatius wrote his seven letters to the churches of
Asia Minor, i.e. about 115 AD. There is good reason to think also that the four Gospels were
brought together in some places as early as this. A clear distinction, however, is to be kept in
mind between "collections" and such recognition as we imply in the word "canonical." The
gathering of books was one of the steps preliminary to this. Examination of the testimony to the
New Testament in this early time indicates also that it is given with no intention of framing
the canonicity of New Testament books. In numerous instances only "echoes" of the thought of
the epistles appear; again quotations are incomplete; both showing that Scripture words are used
as the natural expression of Christian thought. In the same way the Apostolic Fathers refer to the
teachings and deeds of Jesus. They witness "to the substance and not to the authenticity of
the Gospels."
That this all may be more evident let us note in more detail the witness of the sub-apostolic age.
Clement of Rome, in 95 AD, wrote a letter in the name of the Christians of Rome to those in
Corinth. In this letter he uses material found in Mt, Lk, giving it a free rendering, he had
influenced by the Epistle to the Hebrews. He knows Romans, Corinthians, and there are found
echoes of 1 Timothy, Titus, 1 Peter and Ephesians.
The Epistles of Ignatius (115 AD) have correspondences with our gospels in several places and
incorporate language from nearly all of the Pauline epistles. The Epistle to Polycarp makes large
use of Phil, and besides this cites nine of the other Pauline epistles. Ignatius quotes from
Matthew, apparently from memory; also from 1 Peter and 1 John. In regard to all these three
writers--Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius--it is not enough to say that they bring us reminiscences or
quotations from this or that book. Their thought is tinctured all through with New Testament
truth. As we move a little farther down the years we come to "The Teaching of the Twelve
Apostles" (circa 120 AD, the Epistle of Barnabas (circa 130 AD) and the Shepherd of Hermas
(circa 130 AD). These exhibit the same phenomena as appear in the writings of Clement,
Ignatius and Polycarp as far as references to the New Testament are concerned. Some books are
quoted, and the thought of the three writings echoes again and again the teachings of the New
Testament. They bear distinct witness to the value of "the gospel" and the doctrine of the
apostles, so much so as to place these clearly above their own words. It is in the Epistle of
Barnabas that we first come upon the phrase "it is written," referring to a New Testament book
(Matthew). In this deepening sense of value was enfolded the feeling of authoritativeness, which
slowly was to find expression. It is well to add that what we have so far discovered was true in
widely separated parts of the Christian world as e. g. Rome and Asia Minor.
FIRST YEAR EXAMINATOINS FOR F=DEGREE IN BACHELOR OF EDUCATION ARTS