Posted by Bibleman [Bibleman] on November 17, 1999 at 14:14:42 {xx2d.1sWpQMSSTtTA17sslyACFuF8c}:
In Reply to: *****Why Believe the Bible? posted by Antique on November 17, 1999 at 05:36:29:
There is a critical deciding factor in this regard and that is that the "Christian Bible Writers" quoted from all the books of the OT except for three. So it could be said the Bible sets it's own "internal canon" by cross-quoting. Those books excluded were "Esther", "Song of Solomon" and "Ecclesiastes". Based upon that, you can exclude all books not directly quoted from by the Apostles and other NT writers.
Of note, both "Esther" and "Song of Solomon" have critical textual problems which prove they are not inspired. So the safest canon is the one the Bible provides by cross-quoting. Esther and SOS though must definitely be excluded since they can be proven to be false historically or of pagan origin.
Cheers,
Bibleman