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In what ways does increasing your awareness of how the Old Testament canon was formed inform your understanding of the Old Testament itself?
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In understanding the formation of what became the Bible, what the Apocrypha and others, we can reason the authenticity of scripture with those who have doubts. It is very important for us to believe in the assurity of authenticity for our own faith (2 Tim 3:16). I believe God not only directed what was to be written, what was was then accepted as canon, but also the placement of these texts into those caves for our reassurance of faith. God is good.
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I have studied Old Testament Canon and even taught the Old Testament for many years. I never get tired of studying it and teaching people of the importance of accepting the entire Old and New Testament in order to understand God’s love for us.
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By understanding the different ideas of how the canon of Scriptures was compiled, it becomes clear that God had His hand directing the various groups that “canonized” the books of the Old Testament. I believe that the books we have in the Bible are exactly the ones that God wants us to have. For me, it is no big thing to believe that because if I accept that God inspired or breathed the Words to the various writers, then He directed the canonization of tge books of the Bible.
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Increasing my awareness of how the Old Testament canon was formed helps me better understand the Old Testament itself because the “canon’ itself is scripture inspired by God Himself. If I am able to understand how God influences scripture, then I will be more equipped to understand the scripture itself and the lessons it teaches.