The Closing of the Canon of Scripture                                                                                2011     by Jack Kettler

To start off, we need to be clear, the canon of Scripture or the list of books considered to be authoritative is complete and closed. The canon being closed means that additional books cannot be added or existing books removed, which represents historic Protestant belief that revelation has ended and the text of Scripture is complete. In contrast, an open ended canon would permit the addition of books through continued or on-going revelation. This issue of a completed canon needs to be settled at the outset of this study because of what this means for any person or religion that claims continued revelation.

The following study will show that the not only is the canon of Scripture closed, but that God's revelation ceased in the First Century when the canon was completed. Today, God speaks to us in Christ, through the completed Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. This means for our present study that of on-going revelation in the church today are false.

The Scriptures are complete and divine revelation has ceased. In fact, the ceasing of divine revelation is seen right in the texts of Scripture. This is what is meant when theologians talk about the closing of the canon. Consider the biblical evidence for this:

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write
unto you of the common salvation, it was needful
for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye
should earnestly contend for the faith which was
once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3)

Also, it should be noted how the New King James Version renders the last part of this verse:

Which was once for all delivered to the
saints. (NKJ)

This verse in Jude clearly anticipates the closing of the New Testament Canon. What does Jude mean by the phrase (the faith)? Simon J. Kistemaker in the New Testament Commentary of the book of Jude says the following:

What is this faith Jude mentions? In view of the
context, we understand the word faith to mean the
body of Christian beliefs. It is the gospel the apostles
proclaimed and therefore is equivalent to "the apostles
teaching (Acts 2:42).(1)

The phrase once [hapax] delivered is important. Hapax means once for all. In Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words we find this comment concerning hapax:

Once for all, of what is perpetual validity,
not requiring repetition.(2)

The following verse provides more important information concerning the completion of Scripture:

And are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief corner stone. (Ephesians 2:20)

This verse in Ephesians tells us that the apostles are part of the foundation of the church. There is only one foundation that the church has. The Scripture in John 14:26 teach that the apostles were taught "all things." Paul commanded Timothy to "guard the good deposit" of truth in II Timothy 1:14. Clearly this "deposit" was identifiable or else Paul's command to Timothy would not make sense. And furthermore, this deposit in order to guard it, could not have been a nebulous association of oral traditions. Written documents can be compared to forgeries whereas oral traditions as already shown (classroom exercise) by their very nature are open to endless differing accounts and interpretations.

Since the apostle's were taught all things, there would be no need for further revelation. What can you add to all things? The “good deposit” or the “all things” was tied to the apostolic period i.e., the foundation of the church. The authoritative apostolic writings became part of the New Testament canon. The biblical conclusion is that after their death apostolic revelation ceased. Why? On account of the fact that after the death of the apostles their special office in the church ceased. The church has only one foundation, not layers of foundations on top of each other, as the ongoing apostolic office view would require.

The next verse from Daniel cannot be disregarded in its importance for the subject of the closing of the canon:

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people
and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression,
and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation
for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting
righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy,
and to anoint the most Holy. (Daniel 9:24)

The terminus or completion of this prophecy is clearly in the first century. Verses 25-27 make it clear that when the seventy-week period begins, it will continue uninterrupted till the seventy week period is over or complete. Christ's death and resurrection made an end of the sins of His people. He accomplished reconciliation for His people. Christ's people have experienced everlasting righteousness because of the fact that we are clothed in Christ's righteousness, which is everlasting. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. is clearly within the time frame of the seventy weeks, and is proved by verse twenty-six. The phrase "and to seal up the vision and prophecy" clearly sets forth the closing of the canon of Scripture.
E. J. Young in The Geneva Daniel Commentary makes the following observations concerning "vision" and "prophecy":

Vision was a technical name for revelation given
to the OT prophets (cf. Isa, 1:1, Amos 1:1, etc.)
The prophet was the one through whom this vision
was revealed to the people. The two words, vision
and prophet, therefore, serve to designate the prophetic
revelation of the OT period.... When Christ came, there
was no further need of prophetic revelation in the OT sense.(3)

Since there is no fundamental difference between Old and New Testament revelation, and the source of the revelation is identical and there is no reason to doubt that all giving of new revelation ceased in the first century.

In Adam Clarke’s commentary concerning this same phrase we read:

To put an end to the necessity of any farther revelations, by completing
the canon of Scriptures, and fulfilling the prophecies which related to his
person, sacrifice and the glory that should follow.(4)

A passage in I Corinthians sheds even more light on the completion of Scripture:

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is
come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (I Corinthians 13:9,10)

The passage says that something that is "in part" will be done away with when "that which is perfect is come." What is the apostle referring to when he says that something perfect is coming? Theologian Gordon H. Clark comments on this:

There is one phase, not so far mentioned: "When the completion comes," or "when that
which is perfect comes." This raises the question: Completion of what? It could be the completion
of the canon. Miracles and tongues were for the purpose of guaranteeing the divine origin of
apostolic doctrine. They cease when the revelation was completed. Even the word knowledge
is better understood this way. Instead of comparing present-day extensive study of the New
Testament with Justin's [Martyr] painfully inadequate understanding of the Atonement, it would
be better to take knowledge as the apostolic process of revealing new knowledge. This was
completed when revelation ceased.(5)

Clark is right on track when connecting the coming perfection with the completion of the Scriptures. The tongues and prophecy of the apostolic era confirmed and bore witness to the truthfulness of that message. These tongues, prophecy, and revelatory knowledge were lacking when compared with the written Scripture. The written Scriptures are far superior to spoken words. Dr. Leonard Coppes also has relevant comments regarding this section of Scripture:

This is a clear statement that when the knowledge being given through the apostles and prophets
is complete, tongues and prophecy shall cease. Tongues, prophecy, and knowledge (gnosis)
constitute partial, incomplete stages. Some may stumble over the idea that "knowledge"
represents a partial and incomplete (revelational) stage. But is rightly remarked that Paul
distinguishes between sophia and gnosis in I Cor. 12:8 All three terms (tongues, prophecy,
knowledge) involve divine disclosure of verbal revelation and all three on that basis alone
ceased when the foundation (i.e., the perfect) came (10). Verse 11 speaks of the partial
as childlike (cf., 14:20) and the perfect as manly (the apostolic is "manly," too, cf., 14:20).
Paul reflecting on those who are limited to these childlike things describes this limitation as
seeing in a mirror darkly (12). When the perfect (the apostolic depositum) is come, full
knowledge is present.(6)

Coppes, like Clark connects the perfection with the completion of the canon. The next passage of Scripture cited contains a strong warning not to tamper with God's Word. This verse is particularly relevant for the closing of canon at this point in redemptive history:

For I testify unto every man that heareth the
words of the prophecy of this book, If any man
shall add unto these things, God shall add unto
him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of
the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his
part out of the book of life, and out of the holy
city, and from the things which are written in
this book. (Rev. 22:18-19)

The book of Revelation for good reasons is believed to be the last book written. It was completed prior to 70 A.D. The passages in chapter 1:3 and 22:6, 12 are time indicators that point to an early date to this book. Why, someone may ask? The wording in these texts such as "for the time is at hand" and "which must shortly be done" provide convincing evidence for an early date prior to 70 A.D. for John’s revelation. This is because, the First Century fulfillment of the prophecies within the book are relevant to dating of Revelation prior to 70 A.D. The time texts previously mentioned become important indicators pointing towards dating the book in the Firs Century.

In addition, the temple in chapter eleven shown to be still in existence also supports this early date prior to 70A.D. If an early date for the book of Revelation is accurate (which it is) then it allows the book to fit into the time frame of Daniel's prophecy. Accordingly, the book of Revelation fits into the time frame and purview of Daniel's "seventy weeks." Therefore, those who argue for continued revelation do so at the peril of their souls since they are urging men to violate this Scriptural warning recorded in the last book of the canon.

Another passage that sheds important light on the penalty for giving false revelation is in Zechariah thirteen. The context of this section of Zechariah places it in the First Century. See Zechariah 11:13; 12:10; 13:1; 13:7 for proof of this First Century setting. Consider this warning not to add to God's word:

It shall come to pass that if anyone still
prophesies, then his father and mother who begot
him will say to him, You shall not live, because
you have spoken lies in the name of the Lord. And
his father and mother who begot him shall thrust
him through when he prophesies. (Zechariah 13:3) (NKJ)

This passage supports the view that prophecy has ended in light of the fact that the death penalty is still to be carried out for false prophetic utterances and is in harmony with Daniel 9:24. The phrase "If anyone still prophesies" makes it clear that prophecy has ended. The death penalty is required for those who give new revelation. Why? On account of the fact that it is false revelation since God has ceased giving revelation. This is the consistent theme of Scripture. Again, see Rev. 22:18, 19; Gal. 1:8, 9; Deut. 13:5 for the penalties and curses associated with violating this prohibition.
Consider the important fact that Jesus is the incarnate word of God:

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Because of the incarnation, the next passage may be most important verse in our study regarding the completion of the Scriptures:

God, Who at sundry times and in divers manners
spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom
he also made the worlds. (Heb. 1:1,2)

This passage in Hebrews makes it clear that Christ Jesus is the final and complete revelation of God. God in times past spoke through the prophets. Now, He speaks through Christ. God speaks to us in and through the Scriptures which Jesus said “testify of me” (John 5:39). Jesus also admonished his disciples saying “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). Christ is the head corner stone of the church’s foundation. He is the head of the church.

Jesus as the head of the church commissioned the twelve apostles to speak in His name with His authority and power:

And When he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power
against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and
all manner of disease…. These twelve Jesus sent forth… (Matthew 10:1-5)

These apostles whom Jesus commissioned, spoke in His name, 2 Peter 3:2, they wrote in His name, 1st Corinthians 14:37. God confirmed the words of the apostles with power:

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders,
and mighty deeds. (2 Corinthians 12:12)

The words of the apostles were the words of Christ and as shown earlier the words of the apostles that God intended to preserve for His Church were committed to writing. Beyond the words of Christ and His apostles, new alleged revelations are nothing more than an attempt to rebuild or add to the foundation of the church. Any attempt to add to Scripture is a direct attack upon the person and work of Christ. How is this so? The Scriptures are so connected to Christ e.g., Luke 24:27, and John 5:39 that any attempt to undermine them is an attack upon Christ himself. In the book of Colossians we see Christ's preeminence over all of creation:

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were
all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether
they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him
and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Col. 1:15-17)

The Father declared concerning Jesus in Matthew 17:5 "…This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." Where do we hear the words of Christ? It has been abundantly demonstrated that we hear Christ speaking in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. In addition, when we read "the Scriptures hath said" and "God hath said" we see how the Scriptures and God speaking are equated in such a way as to be identical. Therefore, the testimony of Christ is so connected with and interwoven into the very fabric of Scripture that to deny the authority of Scripture in any fashion is to deny Christ Himself.

In conclusion, in light of the closing of the canon, new revelations no matter who gives them are false revelations. Therefore, alleged spiritual experiences, new revelations, only the Scriptures where God has spoken. For those whom disagree with this conclusion, the burden of proof is upon them.

Notes:

1. Simon J. Kistemaker, New Testament Commentary Jude, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1987), p. 371.
2. W. E. Vine, Vine’s Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words, (Iowa Falls: Riverside, 1952), p. 809.
3. E. J. Young, Daniel, (Oxford: The Banner Of Truth Trust, 1988), p. 200.
4. Adam Clarke, Clarke’s Commentary Vol. 4, (Nashville: Abingdom Press, 1956), p. 602.
5. Gordon H. Clark, First Corinthians, (Jefferson, Maryland: The Trinity Foundation, 1991), pp. 212,213.
6. Leonard J. Coppes, Whatever Happened to Biblical Tongues?, (Chattanooga, Tennessee: Pilgrim Publishing Company, 1977), pp. 59,60.

Mr. Kettler is an ordained Presbyterian Elder and the owner of http://www.Undergroundnotes.com where his theological, philosophical and political articles can be read. He has worked in corporate America for over 30 years and is now realizing his dreams as a successful home business entrepreneur.