Full Description
Despite the profound influence of the New Testament, a variety of questions related to its background and history remain common. Contemporary readers often find the subject of the canon's origin and formation to be complicated and confusing, while scholars continue to struggle to find agreement about basic elements of the canon's development. In this engaging study, Benjamin P. Laird explores several misunderstood, disputed, and overlooked topics in order to provide fresh insight and clarity about the canon's creation and modern relevance. The volume addresses questions such as:
Was there a single "original autograph" of each New Testament writing?
Who exactly were the "original readers" of the New Testament writings?
Did theological controversies play a decisive role in prompting the canon's formation?
How did such a diverse body of writings come together to form a single canonical collection?
Is there a basis for the canon's ongoing authority?
Wide-ranging yet accessible, Creating the Canon offers an illuminating treatment of the composition, formation, and authority of the New Testament and serves as a valuable guide to those with limited prior study.
Contents
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part One: Questions Relating to the Composition of the New Testament Writings
1. The Composition of the New Testament Writings
2. The Original Autographs of the New Testament Writings
3. The Original Readers of the New Testament Writings
Part Two: Questions Relating to the Formation of the New Testament Canon
4. Theological Controversies and the Formation of the New Testament Canon
5. The Primary Witnesses to the Early State of the New Testament Canon
6. The Canonical Sub-Collections and the Formation of the New Testament Canon
Part Three: Questions Relating to the Authority of the New Testament Canon
7. Apostolicity and the Formation of the New Testament Canon
8. Apostolic Authorship and the Authority of the New Testament Canon
Bibliography
Indexes
