Help! What does this statement about the Bible mean?

Question

"The canon does not contain its own self-justification but rather directs our attention to the tradition which it mediates. For to say the least which has to be said, without the tradition there is no shared memory and therefore no community. Our study of the canon has led to the conclusion that no one interpretation of the tradition can be accorded final and definitive status. The presence of prophecy as an essential part of the canon means that it will always be possible and necessary to remold the tradition as a source of life-giving power." -- Joseph Blenkinsopp.

In particular, I need to know what he means by "the canon does not contain its own self-justification."

Thanks!

This is from a reading assignment in my Biblical Ethics class. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with the statement. Heck, I'm not even sure what it means! Oh I feel so stupid today!

Answer 1

I believe what he is saying is that the bible alone does not justify itself. And that without our present and past traditions our current religious practices would be dead. That tradition itself helps to build a religious community and understand the mysteries of faith more. And that there is not one right tradition. Meaning that Catholics and Baptists have different traditions but this does not mean that their core theology is flawed or different.

I don't beleive he is saying that one can add what ever they want to the bible - merely that prophecy can help strengthen a tradition and bring it more in-line with God's will. (Catholics believe that God still talks and interacts with this world, that God still sends prophets. Which makes them different from many Protestant denominations). And this being more attuned to God is the source of life.

The bible cannot justify itself - only with God can it stand.

Answer 2

Let me state that I do not know the actual definition, but from your cite I would surmise that Blenkinsopp is saying that the Bible itself cannot give witness to itself ie justify, give proof. But, it gives us tradition a sense of self. He goes on to say that the tradition the Bible gives is the only reason the Jews (and later Christians) share a common memory and sense of community.
He then says that as the people continue to grow the canon too can grow and change. No book is safe from this change and the reason is Prophecy which being essential to the canon allows for the remolding of these traditions to always be a source of "life-giving" power or if you will purpose and right to act in accordance to popular opinion.

In short He is saying that the Bible is nothing more than a focal point for a group of people to rally around and can change on a whim to give this group continuing sense of purpose and identity.

I would say it is blasphemy and poppy cock.

Answer 3

It means you basically can't use the bible to prove the bible. That there's nothing in any of the canonized books to prove that they are the truth, the whole thruth, and nothing but the truth. That the books focus on what was most acceptable.

The books that were canonized were chosen by a group of men who felt each of the books were the best representations of the traditions, or beliefs most widely accepted at the time.. Other books (such as the gospel of Thomas, the gospel of Mary, the gospel of Judas, etc) were left out of the bible because they felt those books didn't agree with what they wanted the religion represented to be.

Answer 4

Hey Heron, I think I may owe you an apology for misunderstanding an earlier post you made.

But, I may be missing the point here, but it sounds very much like what is in the Buddhist tradition of constantly reviewing the spiritual text you're reading.

So, a text can have meaning in a certain time and a certain culture, but may have no meaning in your time and culture. If this is the case, that text is seen as useless.

If this is what he is saying, it would be nice to know *someone* looking at the Bible is willing to say this same thing.

Answer 5

I have not heard of him but the word canon comes from the root word reed ( English word cane, Hebrew from ganeh, and Greek form kanon ).

As applied to the Scripture, canon means " an officially accepted list of books".

It is important to note that the church did not create the canon; it did not determine which books would be called Scripture, the inspired Word of God. Instead, the church recognized, or discovered, which books had been inspired from their inception. Stated another way, " a book is not the Word of God because it is accepted by the people of God. Rather, it was accepted by the people of God because it is the Word of God. That is, God gives the book its divine authority, not the people of God. They merely recognize the divine authority which God gives to it. "

The correct view;
The church is the Discoverer ( not Determiner ), Child ( not Mother ), Minister ( not Magistrate ) , Recognizer ( not Regulator ) , Witness( not Judge ) and Servant ( not Master ) of Canon.

Answer 6

it looks like your christian counterparts choose not to examine passages that do not suit their needs or emotional addictions --- like the author said, ..."no one interpretation of the tradition can be accorded and final..." - self-justification is a cop out, it is a way to shuffel responsibility from the person to a belief


- you can give up power, but you can never give up responsibility -

Answer 7

Sounds like it means that the bible does not contain any proof for itself, within itself.

Answer 8

I had a vision of a large explosion in New York before 911.
I have seen supernatural life saving miracles,Can lay my hand on people for severe pain.and it leaves them immediately.
The spirit of God is with anyone who wants it ,and has faith and love.it will guide anyone, who asks of it, and then listens, and then a person can do gods Will.
all who call on Jesus will not be saved Jesus said, only those who will do my Fathers will .will make it to heaven,
sorry I dont know exactly what is your question.prehaps it means that the spirit is alive and well and is still working thru people in this world and will still preform miracles.and will show us what we need to know thru the Spirit of God.

Answer 9

The Bible is of no priviate interprtation.Because of this there is no solid proof of what lies within its pages.Mans faith is the only proof of what he believes.

Answer 10

What he is trying to say is that they feel that they can add more books to the Bible, maybe the "lost gospels". If they try to do that, they will inherit a double portion of Hell!