
Irenaeus, the Scriptures, and the Apostolic Writings
Reevaluating the Status of the New Testament Writings at the End of the Second Century
Kenneth Laing(Author)
T.& T.Clark Ltd (Publisher)
Published on 24. August 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-0-567-70206-7 (ISBN)
Description
Kenneth Laing challenges the concept of Irenaeus as the primary witness to the point at which the New Testament achieved scriptural status, and calls into question some of the most basic conclusions and assumptions of New Testament canon formation scholarship. Laing proposes a new interpretation of Irenaeus' understanding of the nature and basis of authority of the New Testament writings, based on his christocentric theology of revelation.
By exploring the texts themselves, the concept of authority, scriptural tradition and the question of inspiration, Laing argues that while the writings possess authority equal to the Jewish scriptures, it is their apostolic origin and the apostles' relationship to Christ - not inspiration - which forms the basis of the unique revelatory authority of the New Testament writings. Laing thus stresses that Irenaeus regards the New Testament writings as a written record of the apostolic tradition and the primary means of accessing its content, rather than as a purely scriptural text.
By exploring the texts themselves, the concept of authority, scriptural tradition and the question of inspiration, Laing argues that while the writings possess authority equal to the Jewish scriptures, it is their apostolic origin and the apostles' relationship to Christ - not inspiration - which forms the basis of the unique revelatory authority of the New Testament writings. Laing thus stresses that Irenaeus regards the New Testament writings as a written record of the apostolic tradition and the primary means of accessing its content, rather than as a purely scriptural text.
Reviews / Votes
Laing's detailed and clearly written study of Irenaeus includes several astute observations on a number of subjects that have too often been overlooked or treated in a simplistic fashion. * RBL *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 150 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
340 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-567-70206-7 (9780567702067)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Kenneth Laing
Irenaeus, the Scriptures, and the Apostolic Writings
Reevaluating the Status of the New Testament Writings at the End of the Second Century
E-Book
01/2022
1st Edition
T.& T.Clark Ltd
€32.99
Available for download

Kenneth Laing
Irenaeus, the Scriptures, and the Apostolic Writings
Reevaluating the Status of the New Testament Writings at the End of the Second Century
E-Book
01/2022
1st Edition
T.& T.Clark Ltd
€32.99
Available for download
Person
Kenneth Laing is Instructor of Religious Studies at Trinity Western University, Canada.
Content
Preface
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part One: Assessing the traditional interpretation
Chapter 1: The apostolic writings and graphe
Chapter 2: Authoritative texts or authoritative authors?
Part Two: Constructing an alternative interpretation
Chapter 3: The apostolic writings and the tradition, the rule of truth, and the Jewish scriptures
Chapter 4: The question of inspiration
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part One: Assessing the traditional interpretation
Chapter 1: The apostolic writings and graphe
Chapter 2: Authoritative texts or authoritative authors?
Part Two: Constructing an alternative interpretation
Chapter 3: The apostolic writings and the tradition, the rule of truth, and the Jewish scriptures
Chapter 4: The question of inspiration
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index