Article 6 contrasts the “Canonical” with the “Apocryphal” books of the Bible. The latter were written probably after Malachi and perhaps before 200 A.D. The Apocryphal books are mentioned here because the Roman Catholic church added many of these to the Canon of Scripture at the Council of Trent (1545 – 1563). The Reformers, therefore, were involved in the question of the reliability of those books. The Confession acknowledges that there are certain things which can be learned from them, but these are not infallible Scripture. These (1) do not contain the lofty language of Scripture; (2) those written in the Old Testament age had not been received as Scripture in Jesus’ day; (3) these are contradictory within themselves and with the rest of Scripture; (4) these present fantastic and unbelievable feats.
Article 7 speaks of the “Sufficiency” of Scripture as the only rule of faith. The 66 Books are complete Scripture. Everything is contained therein that is necessary unto salvation. The Roman Catholic church relies both on “written” and “oral” tradition. These place equal value on Council decisions and Papal declarations as on Scripture. The Reformation churches insist on Scripture alone-and measure all truth with the Standard of Scripture.
QUESTIONS:
1. What does “apocryphal” mean? (see dictionary)
Council of Trent 1545-1563
2. What can you find out about the “Maccabees”?
5 sons – fought Syria 175-160 B.C.
3. What could a Christian possibly learn or benefit from the apocryphal books?
4. What are we to understand by the “sufficiency” of Scripture?
5. If God’s people relied on “oral tradition” until Moses, why can we not still do that?
6. Which sects rely on “inspired” books in addition to the Bible?
7. If the Bible is “sufficient”, why do we still need our Confessions?
8. What must we say of apostolic letters not found in the Bible? (see I Cor. 5:9 and Col. 4:17).
9. Is not the Roman Catholic correct that we too base some practices as Sabbath observance and infant baptism on oral tradition rather than the Bible?
10. If the whole church were so to decide, could not books still be added to the Bible which addressed current problems in the world? It was the church, after all, which finally selected the present books of the Bible.