The Canon of ScriptureWinner of two 1990 Christianity Today Awards: Readers' Choice (1st place; theology & doctrine) and Critics' Choice (1st place; theology & doctrine). A 1989 ECPA Gold Medallion Award winner! How did the books of the Bible come to be recognized as Holy Scripture? Who decided what shape the canon should take? What criteria influenced these decisions? After nearly nineteen centuries the canon of Scripture still remains an issue of debate. Protestants, Catholics and the Orthodox all have slightly differing collections of documents in their Bibles. Martin Luther, one of the early leaders of the Reformation, questioned the inclusion of the book of James in the canon. And many Christians today, while confessing the authority of all of Scripture, tend to rely on only a few books and particular themes while ignoring the rest. Scholars have raised many other questions as well. Research into second-century Gnostic texts have led some to argue that politics played a significant role in the formation of the Christian canon. Assessing the influence of ancient communities and a variety of disputes on the final shaping of the canon call for ongoing study. In this significant historical study, F. F. Bruce brings the wisdom of a lifetime of reflection and biblical interpretation to bear in answering the questions and clearing away the confusion surrounding the Christian canon of Scripture. Adept in both Old and New Testament studies, he brings a rare comprehensive perspective to his task. Though some issues have shifted since the original publication of this book, it still remains a significant landmark and touchstone for further studies. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
accepted according acknowledged Acts Alexandria Apocalypse Apocrypha apostles appears ascribed Athanasius Augustine authorship biblical bishop called canon canon of scripture catholic epistles Christ Christian church Clement Clement of Alexandria codex collection Commentary copies Corinthians covenant Daniel Diatessaron Didache disciples divine document Eccl Ecclesiastes edition Enoch Ephesians Esdras Esther Eusebius evangelist evidence exegesis Ezra faith four gospels Galatians gnostic Greek Hebrew Bible Heresies Hist holy scripture included inspiration interpretation Irenaeus Isaiah James Jeremiah Jerome Jerome's Jesus Jewish Jews John John's Jude Justin Laodiceans Latin Letter of Jeremiah Lord Luke Maccabees Marcion Mark Matthew Moses Old Testament Old Testament books oracles original Papias Paul Paul's letters Pauline Peter plenary sense primary sense probably prologue prophets Psalms Qumran quotation quoted reference Roman Rome says second century Septuagint Shepherd of Hermas Songs Spirit Strom teaching Tertullian Testament canon Testament writings tradition translation Vulgate Wisdom words written wrote