--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One thing must be emphatically stated…" description: "\"One thing must be emphatically stated. The New Testament books did not become authoritative for the Church because they were formally included in a can..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/f-f-bruce-28956_apostolic_one-thing-must-be-emphatically-stated-th_743403.png" --- # One thing must be emphatically stated. The New Testament… ![“One thing must be emphatically stated. The New Testament books did not become authoritative for the Church because they were formally included in a canonical list; on the contrary, the Church included them in her canon because she already regarded them as divinely inspired, recognizing their…” quote by F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/f-f-bruce-28956_apostolic_one-thing-must-be-emphatically-stated-th_743403.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/f-f-bruce-28956_apostolic_one-thing-must-be-emphatically-stated-th_743403.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/f-f-bruce-28956_apostolic_one-thing-must-be-emphatically-stated-th_743403.png) > “One thing must be emphatically stated. The New Testament books did not become authoritative for the Church because they were formally included in a canonical list; on the contrary, the Church included them in her canon because she already regarded them as divinely inspired, recognizing their innate worth and generally apostolic authority, direct or indirect.” [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The New Testament became canonical because the early Church already recognized its divine inspiration and authority, not because it was formally listed. **In simple terms:** Church recognized authority before formal listing. Key Takeaway Trust early community discernment. Themes authority canon scripture tradition Mood scholarly reflective Type historical theological When to use this quote - theology studies - church history - biblical education Key Concepts Divine inspiration apostolic authority historical development Questions to Reflect On - What criteria did early Christians use to judge texts? - How does this view affect contemporary biblical interpretation? A Different Perspective Modern scholars may debate specific criteria for canity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apostolic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apostolic/) [Apostolic Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apostolic-authority-3153316/) [Authoritative Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authoritative-church-5799897/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Canon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canon/) [Canon Regarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canon-regarded-5799896/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Included Canonical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/included-canonical-5799898/) [Indirect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indirect/) [Innate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innate/) [Inspired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired/) [Lists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lists/) [New testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-testament/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Recognizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognizing/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testament/) ## Related quotes > [ What the universal Church holds, not as instituted \[invented\] by councils but as something always held, is most correctly believed to have been handed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/what-the-universal-church-holds-not-as-instituted-invented-by/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [It is not the part of prudence to neglect that which antiquity in its long experience has approved and which is also taught by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-is-not-the-part-of-prudence-to-neglect-that-which-antiquity-in-its/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Contemporary Christianity, diverse and complex as we find it, actually may show more unanimity than the Christian churches of the first and second centuries.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/contemporary-christianity-diverse-and-complex-as-we-find-it-actually/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [The best advice that I can give you is this: Church-traditions- especially when they do not run counter to the faith- are to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/the-best-advice-that-i-can-give-you-is-this-church-traditions/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [The apostolic writings are of three kinds: historical, didactic, and prophetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-schaff/the-apostolic-writings-are-of-three-kinds-historical-didactic-and/) [Philip Schaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-schaff/) > [For me, passion means whatever a person is willing to suffer for.'Apostolic passion,' therefore, is a deliberate, intentional choice to live for the worship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mcclung/for-me-passion-means-whatever-a-person-is-willing-to-suffer-for/) [Floyd McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mcclung/) > [The best advice that I can give you is this. Church-traditions — especially when they do not run counter to the faith — are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/the-best-advice-that-i-can-give-you-is-this-church-traditions-2/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [I held apostolic succession fully, and the channels of grace to be there only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nelson-darby/i-held-apostolic-succession-fully-and-the-channels-of-grace-to-be/) [John Nelson Darby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nelson-darby/) > [Wherefore, by the authority of Apostolic power, We declare inventors of novel notions, which as the Apostle Paul has said are of no edification,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-i/wherefore-by-the-authority-of-apostolic-power-we-declare-inventors-of/) [Pope Innocent I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-i/) > [To be a Christian is to be a theologian-a student of God and his will. The contemporary disdain for theological content and emphasis on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/to-be-a-christian-is-to-be-a-theologian-a-student-of-god-and-his-will-2/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods that are cleverly drawn up and "efficient", but is the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/apostolic-and-missionary-fruitfulness-is-not-principally-due-to/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [What kind of authority can there be for an 'Apostle' who, unlike the other Apostles, had never been prepared for the Apostolic office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-christian-baur/what-kind-of-authority-can-there-be-for-an-apostle-who-unlike-the/) [Ferdinand Christian Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-christian-baur/) > [“If we were less of what seems like ease in our lives they would tell more for Christ and souls...We profess to be strangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/if-we-were-less-of-what-seems-like-ease-in-our-lives-they-would-tell/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [If anyone in word and mind does not properly and truly confess according to the holy Fathers all even to the last portion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-martin-i/if-anyone-in-word-and-mind-does-not-properly-and-truly-confess/) [Pope Martin I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-martin-i/) > [I entrust this Twenty-second World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary. I ask her to help the sick to bear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-entrust-this-twenty-second-world-day-of-the-sick-to-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More by F. F. Bruce > [Christian holiness is not a matter of painstaking conformity to the individual precepts of an external law code; it is rather a question of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/christian-holiness-is-not-a-matter-of-painstaking-conformity-to-the/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) > [Un-Christian behavior on the part of any Christian is a disgrace to all Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/un-christian-behavior-on-the-part-of-any-christian-is-a-disgrace-to/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) > [Any part of the human body can only be explained in reference to the whole body. And any part of the Bible can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/any-part-of-the-human-body-can-only-be-explained-in-reference-to-the/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) > [Whatever else may be thought of the evidence from early Jewish and Gentile writers it does at least establish, for those who refuse the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/whatever-else-may-be-thought-of-the-evidence-from-early-jewish-and/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) > [The soul’s deepest thirst is for God Himself, who has made us so that we can never be satisfied without Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/the-soul-s-deepest-thirst-is-for-god-himself-who-has-made-us-so-that/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) > [The historicity of Christ is as axiomatic for an unbiased historian as the historicity of Julius Caesar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/the-historicity-of-christ-is-as-axiomatic-for-an-unbiased-historian/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) > [The world has no idea how much it owes to the presence of righteous men in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/the-world-has-no-idea-how-much-it-owes-to-the-presence-of-righteous/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) > [Sanctification is glory begun. Glory is sanctification completed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/sanctification-is-glory-begun-glory-is-sanctification-completed/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) > [The variant readings about which any doubt remains among textual critics of the New Testament affect no material question of historic fact or of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/the-variant-readings-about-which-any-doubt-remains-among-textual/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) > [Persistence in prayer for someone whom we don't like, however much it goes against the grain to begin with, brings about a remarkable change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/persistence-in-prayer-for-someone-whom-we-don-t-like-however-much-it/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) > [There is no body of ancient literature in the world which enjoys such a wealth of good textual attestation as the New Testament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/there-is-no-body-of-ancient-literature-in-the-world-which-enjoys-such/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) > [God's peace is joy resting. His joy is peace dancing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/god-s-peace-is-joy-resting-his-joy-is-peace-dancing/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) > [God bestows His blessings without discrimination. The followers of Jesus are children of God, and they should manifest the family likeness by doing good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/god-bestows-his-blessings-without-discrimination-the-followers-of/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) > [Spiritual influence never coincided with material affluence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/spiritual-influence-never-coincided-with-material-affluence/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) > [And if the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/and-if-the-new-testament-were-a-collection-of-secular-writings-their/) [F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) [Explore all 19 F. F. Bruce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/) ## More Apostolic quotes > [I entrust this Twenty-second World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary. I ask her to help the sick to bear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-entrust-this-twenty-second-world-day-of-the-sick-to-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The apostolic writings are of three kinds: historical, didactic, and prophetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-schaff/the-apostolic-writings-are-of-three-kinds-historical-didactic-and/) [Philip Schaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-schaff/) > [Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods that are cleverly drawn up and "efficient", but is the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/apostolic-and-missionary-fruitfulness-is-not-principally-due-to/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The best advice that I can give you is this: Church-traditions- especially when they do not run counter to the faith- are to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/the-best-advice-that-i-can-give-you-is-this-church-traditions/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [If anyone in word and mind does not properly and truly confess according to the holy Fathers all even to the last portion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-martin-i/if-anyone-in-word-and-mind-does-not-properly-and-truly-confess/) [Pope Martin I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-martin-i/) > [“If we were less of what seems like ease in our lives they would tell more for Christ and souls...We profess to be strangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/if-we-were-less-of-what-seems-like-ease-in-our-lives-they-would-tell/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [What kind of authority can there be for an 'Apostle' who, unlike the other Apostles, had never been prepared for the Apostolic office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-christian-baur/what-kind-of-authority-can-there-be-for-an-apostle-who-unlike-the/) [Ferdinand Christian Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-christian-baur/) > [Contemporary Christianity, diverse and complex as we find it, actually may show more unanimity than the Christian churches of the first and second centuries.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/contemporary-christianity-diverse-and-complex-as-we-find-it-actually/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [To be a Christian is to be a theologian-a student of God and his will. The contemporary disdain for theological content and emphasis on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/to-be-a-christian-is-to-be-a-theologian-a-student-of-god-and-his-will-2/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Wherefore, by the authority of Apostolic power, We declare inventors of novel notions, which as the Apostle Paul has said are of no edification,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-i/wherefore-by-the-authority-of-apostolic-power-we-declare-inventors-of/) [Pope Innocent I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-i/) > [I held apostolic succession fully, and the channels of grace to be there only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nelson-darby/i-held-apostolic-succession-fully-and-the-channels-of-grace-to-be/) [John Nelson Darby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nelson-darby/) > [The best advice that I can give you is this. Church-traditions — especially when they do not run counter to the faith — are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/the-best-advice-that-i-can-give-you-is-this-church-traditions-2/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [For me, passion means whatever a person is willing to suffer for.'Apostolic passion,' therefore, is a deliberate, intentional choice to live for the worship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mcclung/for-me-passion-means-whatever-a-person-is-willing-to-suffer-for/) [Floyd McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mcclung/) > [One of the special marks of the Holy Ghost in the Apostolic Church was the spirit of boldness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-simpson/one-of-the-special-marks-of-the-holy-ghost-in-the-apostolic-church/) [A. B. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-simpson/) > [Apostolic preaching is not marked by its beautiful diction, or literary polish, or Cleverness of expression, but Operates “in demonstration of the Spirit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-wallis/apostolic-preaching-is-not-marked-by-its-beautiful-diction-or/) [Arthur Wallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-wallis/) [Browse all 82 Apostolic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apostolic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One thing must be emphatically stated. The New Testament books did not become authoritative for the Church because they were formally included in a canonical list; on the contrary, the Church included them in her canon because she already regarded them as divinely inspired, recognizing their innate worth and generally apostolic authority, direct or indirect.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "F. F. 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