Conversion to Catholicism

Carson Weber wrote:

What books are inspired by God and intended by Him to be a part of our Bible?

The 66 books of the Bible, as believers have commonly received them since apostolic times comprise the whole of the inspired scriptures. These 66 books alone, Christians have always understood to be the inspired scriptures.

How is the biblical canon established?

If we base our confidence that these books are the Word of God on the authority of a church council, then that council becomes the final authority for determining truth! That is an unreliable way to decide what is scripture and what is not.

Instead the Bible must be received by Christians because God gave it. The present books of the Bible have always been received by the covenant people of God as God's word. Each book, from the time it was written, was received as Canon.

Church Councils met at times to form answers to those who had questions abut God's word. Many of these councils were formed by Catholics and their conclusions were not always reliable.

In any event, Councils did not decide what belongs in our Bible. Councils merely re-stated what believers already knew and accepted.

What about the Apocryphal Books?

Other books, written after the completion of the Hebrew Scriptures, are sometimes included in ancient copies of the Bible. They are: Ecclesiasticus, Wisdom of Solomon, I & II Maccabees, Judith, Tobit, Baruch, and additions to Esther & Daniel. These books contain some fanciful and questionable material that is in open conflict with the canonical books.

The Apocryphal books are included in the Latin Vulgate which was translated by Jerome. This version adds I & II Esdras, and the Prayer of Menassah. Jerome translated the Vulgate around the year 400 AD. Yet he speaks of a canon identical with our canon of 66 inspired books. He personally rejected the Apocryphal books as authoritative.

He translated Tobit and Judith in one day (not much time invested), then refused to translate any more. Other apocryphal books were added to the Vulgate at a later time by other translators.

Early copies of the Bible and Septuagint often include the Apocrypha. These early versions regarded the Apocryphal books as good writings of value for reading (like Bible notes or appendices) but not as inspired writings.

Augustine (393 - 397 AD) listed the apocryphal writings along with other books he felt were acceptable for Christians to read for edification. He did not state that he accepted them as inspired.

Why do we accept the 66 books of the Bible as Canon?

We do not accept the Bible because of human scholarship or church councils. Human scholarship and Church Councils are Fallible and Open to Error. If these were the ground of our confidence in Scripture, we could not be certain of God's word.

The Roman Catholic view is that the church authorizes the Canon.

This idea makes the Catholic Church the final authority in all matters. It elevates the tradition of the church to the level of the Bible. Since Catholics see the church as the authority by which we know which books are canon, the Catholic Church in reality sets itself above the Scriptures!

Since the Bible is God's Word, by its own internal testimony, then the Bible alone must be authoritative. The Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth of the inspired scriptures in the hearts of every born again, saved child of God.

By the inward testimony of the Holy Spirit at work in regenerated believers, we have full assurance that the 66 books of our Bible are the Word of God.