The Canon of the New Testament Its Origin, Development, and Significance

by Metzger, Bruce M.

• ISBN13: 9780198261803
• ISBN10: 0198261802
• Additional ISBN(s): 9780191606878
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1987-10-08
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

Completing his New Testament trilogy, eminent theologian Bruce Metzger provides information from Church history concerning the recognition of the canonical status of the several books of the New Testament. Canonization was a long and gradual process of sifting through scores of gospels, epistles, and other books that enjoyed local and temporary authority--some of which have only recently come to light. Metzger discusses the external pressures that led to the fixing of the limits of the canon as well as Patristic evidence that bears on the development of the canon, not only in the West, but also among the Eastern churches. He also considers differences as to the sequence of the books in the New Testament.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
Literature on the Canon Published Prior to the Twentieth Century	p. 11
Literature on the Canon Published During the Twentieth Century	p. 25
Period of Preparation: The Apostolic Fathers	p. 39
Influences Bearing on the Development of the Canon	p. 75
Development of the Canon in the East	p. 113
Development of the Canon in the West	p. 143
Books of Temporary and Local Canonicity: Apocryphal Literature	p. 165
Two Early Lists of the Books of the New Testament	p. 191
Attempts at Closing the Canon in the East	p. 209
Attempts at Closing the Canon in the West	p. 229
Problems Confronting the Early Church Concerning the Canon	p. 251
Questions Concerning the Canon Today	p. 267
History of the Word [actual symbol not reproducible]	p. 289
Variations in the Sequence of the Books of the New Testament	p. 295
Titles of the Books of the New Testament	p. 301
Early Lists of the Books of the New Testament	p. 305
Index	p. 316
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.