Joel and the Canon

Dummelow’s Bible Commentary says of the teaching of the book of Joel: The book of Joel addresses the Christian Church under the visitations of evil with a call for humility and intercession both through outward form and ceremony and through the inward motions of the heart, with the assurance that God hears and answers prayer, turning the day of calamity into one of prosperity.

 

This reference to the Christian Church surprises me, for the book was written long before the coming of Christ.  So, here is something for me to ponder.  Does it mean that the compilers of our Bible chose writings from the Old Testament with reference to the way they were relevant to the churches many years later? The Canon, I think it is called.

 

The Internet bogged me down somewhat when looking up ‘Canon’.  Until I came to this from the Christian Apologetics and Research site –

 

What is the Canon?

by Matt Slick

The word "canon" means "standard" or "rule."  It is the list of authoritative and inspired Scriptures.  Different religions have different canons.

In Judaism, the canon consists of the books of the Old Testament only.

In Protestant Christianity, the canon is the body of scripture comprised in theBible consisting of the 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.

In Roman Catholicism, additional books were added in 1546.  These books are known as the apocryphal books: Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, The Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), and Baruch.  I need to add here that Roman Catholicism maintains that the apocrypha was always inspired along with the Eastern Orthodox, Coptic and Armenian churches.  The Protestant movement has not accepted the apocrypha.

In Mormonism, four additional books have been added to the Canon: The book of Mormon, the Book of Abraham, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

In Christian Science an additional book has been added to the Canon.  This additional book is called "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" written by Mary Baker Eddy.

In Islam, their inspired book is called the Quran (Koran).

The Protestant Christian Canon
Old Testament	New Testament
Pentateuch - 5 books Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Historical Books - 12 books Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, Second Kings, First Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. Poetical - 5 books Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon Prophetical - 17 books Major Prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel Minor Prophets - Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi	Historical Books -  5 books Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts Pauline Epistles - 13 books Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians. 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon Non-Pauline Epistles - 9 books Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation   Note:  Some authors attribute Hebrews to Paul.

Joyce Voysey