ADVICE FOR THOSE WHO RESEARCH THE CANON
ADVICE FOR THOSE WHO RESEARCH THE CANON
Having the experience of doing all this research, I offer the following lessons learned for anyone else who tries to do their own research:
- Focus on individual books; try not to think of the Apocrypha as a set.
- Review evidence chronologically and focus on eras. The year 200 AD is worlds apart from 400 AD.
- Try to drill down to original sources as much as possible, and in particular, do so on key issues; do not just assume that someone is correctly describing the past.
- Look at pieces of evidence individually, in detail, but judge it all together at the end—not piecemeal.
- Search for corroborating evidence until you can search no more.
- Seek out comparables to judge by; never compare to perfection.
- Apply the same standard across the possible Scriptures, not a different standard for Apocrypha.
- Consider all arguments in light of arguments for the New Testament, the Protestant canon, etc. Have you ever seen this argument argued against in another context?
- Always read both sides before deciding anything.
- Double-check everything. Triple-check whatever you agree with.
- Never let a lawyer talk you into looking at only their preferred pieces of evidence. The other side is entitled to introduce evidence too.
- Proceed with caution when:
- Someone does not cite to something—very suspicious;
- “Most scholars agree”—that is not the same as proof;
- Relatively neutral parties do not concur with someone’s argument—if they do not, why would you agree with it?;
- Someone shows even the slightest emotion, even “righteous anger.” We are all blind as bats when we are emotional; or
- Someone reads minds to show what was thought or meant—especially when that is a perfect match for their own views, or disparaging the mind being read.
