This is why we should call the canon an artifact of revelation: It is not itself an object of revelation, but comes into existence as a by-product of the action itself. God inspires, and the canon expresses the limitation of that action. Note something else as well: Canon1 exists whether or not canon2 exists. canon1 is necessary, while canon2 is based solely upon God’s desire to make known the extent of His act of revelation. Theoretically, God could keep canon1 to Himself, leaving the world in
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