Understanding Scripture and Canonicity

The understanding of scripture during Paul's time was shaped by the perspectives of the Jewish community, particularly in light of Josephus' assertion regarding the limited number of canonical texts. Josephus emphasized that only those writings attributable to prophets possessed divine inspiration, implying that later texts, including the deuterocanonical books, lacked the same authoritative status. This notion is reinforced by the fact that Jesus and Paul did not cite these books, indicating a consistent view of scriptural authority among early Jewish and Christian leaders. Consequently, the implication for modern Christianity is that the canonicity and inspiration of these deuterocanonical texts remain a matter of debate, with the recognized canon being defined by texts considered to have foundational prophetic legitimacy.