The Authority of the Biblical Canon

By Seung-woo Byun

All problems in the Church arise from neglect of the Bible. From the heretics to the orthodox churches, every problem that has arisen in Christianity is a result of confessing only with words that the Bible is the Church’s foundation while having failed to truly hold onto this. Thus, the solution to every problem in the Church is to simply return to the Scripture.

1. Heretical entities that have sprung up by adding to or subtracting something from the Bible 2. New theology and liberation theology that devastated the Church 3. Religious pluralism that stripped Christianity even of its identity 4. Apostasy and derailing of the US and European churches that accepted homosexuality 5. Many churches that elevate religious dogma and tradition over the Bible 6. Blind faith in the revelations that historical saints and mystics have received 7. Blind faith in contemporary ecstatic or spiritual experiences

Why do these problems arise? They arise from a disbelief in the absolute authority of the Bible or underestimation of it even if they do believe in its authority. So I believe the faith in the ultimate authority of the Bible needs to be restored.

However, there is a serious roadblock to believing in the absolute authority of the Bible. The problem is the canonization process. I have been feeling a dire need and a huge burden to provide teaching on the reliability of the canonization process.

Why is this topic, which is of little interest to the public, important? It is because, as the saying goes, “A deeply rooted tree will not be shaken.” One will not stumble or be shaken to and fro by all kinds of teachings only when he or she stands on the conviction that the 66 books of the Bible constitute the canon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Holypearl
• Release date: Nov 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9791190341745

Book preview

3:12-17

Prologue

I’ve written some 80 books and use them as textbooks when teaching at the Holy Spirit Seminary. Can you guess the name of the subject I am teaching? It is Foundational Theology. The word foundation means that the Bible should become the sole foundation of the Church. The book that discusses this in detail is The Foundation. I made the following claim in this book:

All problems in the Church arise from neglect of the Bible. From the heretics to the orthodox churches, every problem that has arisen in Christianity is a result of confessing only with words that the Bible is the Church’s foundation while having failed to truly hold onto this. Thus, the solution to every problem in the Church is to simply return to the Scripture.

Listen to my explanation, and you’ll see this is true.

1. Heretical entities that have sprung up by adding to or subtracting something from the Bible

2. New theology and liberation theology that devastated the Church

3. Religious pluralism that stripped Christianity even of its identity

4. Apostasy and derailing of the US and European churches that accepted homosexuality

5. Many churches that elevate religious dogma and tradition over the Bible

6. Blind faith in the revelations that historical saints and mystics have received

7. Blind faith in contemporary ecstatic or spiritual experiences

Why do these problems arise? They arise from a disbelief in the absolute authority of the Bible or underestimation of it even if they do believe in its authority. So I believe the faith in the ultimate authority of the Bible needs to be restored.

Sinclair Ferguson made the following remark:

The book of John uses the phrase ‘it is written’ when quoting the Old Testament, as was the custom in the New Testament times (Jn. 6:31, 8:17, 12:15, etc.). This phrase silences all counter-arguments in the New Testament.¹

Yes. The Bible should be given supreme authority over all other doctrines and practices. All arguments should be put to naught in front of the Bible, but unfortunately, that is not the case today.

Sinclair Ferguson continued as follows:

The point to be emphasized is that such a plea for the absolute authority of the Bible is a plea for correctly interpreted Bible. Misinterpreted Bible is no longer the Word of God, as emphasized by the confrontation between Jesus and Satan in the desert. (Mt. 4:1 and below, Jn. 10:34). ²

The above comment applies mostly to the liberal Christian camp, but it applies to the conservative camp as well because the religious dogma or tradition of an individual denomination is often upheld over the Bible even within conservative churches.

However, there is a serious roadblock to believing in the absolute authority of the Bible. The problem is the canonization process. I have been feeling a dire need and a huge burden to provide teaching on the reliability of the canonization process. Still, I had misgivings as to whether it would indeed be possible. Then, one day, during my lecture at the Holy Spirit Seminary, I received the following question from a minister of another denomination.

There are many pseudepigraphical and apocryphal books related to the Old and New Testaments. How, then, can we believe the decision the Church councils have made relative to the canonization of the 66 books?

I was forced to answer a question I had also been wondering about, but the matter was sorted out to a certain extent while answering the question. It prompted me to collect data and study this topic. Then, why is this topic, which is of little interest to the public, important? It is because, as the saying goes, A deeply rooted tree will not be shaken. One will not stumble or be shaken to and fro by all kinds of teachings only when he or she stands on the conviction that the 66 books of the Bible constitute the canon.

Let me give you an example. What made the Catholic Church turn into a spiritual prostitute tainted by religious pluralism? It is their placement of the authority of the Pope over that of the Bible. Why did the churches in predominantly Christian countries in Europe collapse? It is because of the liberal theology that denies the authority of the Bible. The churches in Korea, regrettably, tend to be skeptical about the Bible's absolute authority as evidenced by what happened before the Busan WCC Assembly. As you may all know, a so-called Joint Statement was released abruptly before the WCC Busan Assembly. The details are as follows:

1. We reject religious pluralism.

1) We declare that there is no salvation except through Jesus Christ only.

2) We confess that worship is an act that can be offered up through the Holy Spirit only by those who confess Jesus Christ as the only Savior and Lord. Therefore, we declare that Christian worship cannot be aligned with unbiblical syncretism like the invocation of the spirits of the dead.

2. We oppose communism, humanism, homosexuality, and all other ideologies that are contrary to the gospel.

3. We oppose prohibition on proselytism and declare that we shall, according to God’s mandate that we be witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), fulfill our evangelistic mission to all, regardless of their generation, region, country, or religion.

4. We declare that the 66 books of the Bible are infallible special revelations that serve as the ultimate and absolute standard in matters of faith and deeds.

Accordingly, all conservative groups under the Christian Council of Korea understand and hope that the 2013 WCC Busan Conference hosted by the Korea WCC Assembly Preparation Committee will serve to glorify God.

Also, the Christian Council of Korea and the National Council of Churches in Korea promise to collaborate to make the 2014 WEA (World Evangelical Association) General Assembly a success.

However, a ridiculous incident occurred. Twelve days later, on January 25, at the United Christian Center in Yeonji-dong, Seoul, NCCK (National Council of Churches in Korea) Chairman Geun-sang Kim released NCCK Chairman’s Public Statement, declaring that NCCK has no part in and cannot accept the Joint Statement released by the Christian Council of Korea, although it was signed by the general secretary of NCCK.

The NCCK Chairman Geun-sang Kim emphasized the following point: The Joint Statement, released just before the WCC Korea Preparatory Committee meeting convened on June 13 in Myongsung Church for the successful hosting of the 10th WCC conference, was signed by Rev. Sam-hwan Kim, chairman of the Standing Committee of WCC Korea Preparatory Committee and Rev. Young-joo Kim, chairman of the Executive Committee cum general secretary of the Association of Churches. Notwithstanding, it cannot be regarded as embodying the intent of either WCC or NCCK. … The spirit we are pursuing, i.e., the spirit of unity and unison, or oikoumene (ecumenical), seeks to open up the door to any type of church. It aims to preclude any measures that may, at any time, generate wariness or antagonism. Therefore, we cannot accept the framework and limiting measures of this 1.13 Joint Statement, if even just from the standpoint of the ecumenical spirit. … I would like to extend my apologies to many people and organizations and especially to the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, which were deeply hurt unwittingly by the inappropriate expressions incorporated in this Statement, and I commit myself to jointly advance the salvation work of Jesus until the end.

But which passage in the above Joint Statement is unacceptable or improper? The above four provisions are the fundamental truths that form the basis of Christianity. If even one is denied, it is no longer Christianity.

That is not all. The professors of theology at SungKongHoe University and Christian women endorsing ecumenicalism denounced the Joint Statement on the 25th.

First, a group of professors of theology at SungKongHoe University said in a press release that they could not help being deeply concerned about the current state of affairs that seriously impairs the ecumenical theology and its tradition, and they called for the abolishment of the Joint Statement. They also demanded the resignation of those responsible.

The group of professors made the following assessment: "The intense ardor and efforts the ecumenical movement pursues should not be undermined by Christian fundamentalism,