The Canon of the New Testament
Its Origin, Development, and Significance
Published on 7. March 1997
337 pages
978-0-19-156860-2 (ISBN)
Description
This book 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 among scores of gospels, epistles, and other books that enjoyed local and temporary authority - some of which have only recently come to light among the discoveries of Nag Hammadi.
After discussing the external pressures that led to the fixing of the limits of the canon, the author gives sustained attention to Patristic evidence that bears on the development of the canon not only in the West but also among the Eastern Churches, including the Syrian, Armenian, Georgian, Coptic, and Ethiopian. Besides considering differences as to the sequence of the books in the New Testament, Dr Metzger takes up such questions as which form of text is to be regarded as canonical; whether the canon is open or closed; to what extent a canon should be sought within the canon; and whether the canon is a collection of authoritative books or an authoritative collection of books.
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Content
- Intro
- Contents
- Introduction
- PART ONE: SURVEY OF LITERATURE ON THE CANON
- I. Literature on the Canon Published Prior to the Twentieth Century
- II. Literature on the Canon Published During the Twentieth Century
- PART TWO: FORMATION OF THE CANON
- III. Period of Preparation: The Apostolic Fathers
- I. CLEMENT OF ROME
- II. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH
- III. THE DIDACHE
- IV. PAPIAS OF HIERAPOLIS
- V. THE EPISTLE OF BARNABAS
- VI. POLYGARP OF SMYRNA
- VII. HERMAS OF ROME
- VIII. THE SO-CALLED SECOND EPISTLE OF CLEMENT
- IX. SUMMARY
- IV. Influences Bearing on the Development of the Canon
- I. GNOSTICISM
- II. MARCION
- III. MONTANISM
- IV. PERSECUTIONS AND THE SCRIPTURES
- V. OTHER POSSIBLE INFLUENCES
- V. Development of the Canon in the East
- I. SYRIA
- II. ASIA MINOR
- III. GREECE
- IV. EGYPT
- VI. Development of the Canon in the West
- I. ROME
- II. GAUL
- III. NORTH AFRICA
- VII. Books of Temporary and Local Canonicity: Apocryphal Literature
- I. APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS
- II. APOCRYPHAL ACTS
- III. APOCRYPHAL EPISTLES
- IV. APOCRYPHAL APOCALYPSES
- V. MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS
- VIII. Two Early Lists of the Books of the New Testament
- I. THE MURATORIAN CANON
- II. EUSEBIUS' CLASSIFICATION OF NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS
- IX. Attempts at Closing the Canon in the East
- I. FROM CYRIL OF JERUSALEM TO THE TRULLAN SYNOD
- II. THE CANON IN THE NATIONAL EASTERN CHURCHES
- X. Attempts at Closing the Canon in the West
- I. FROM DIOCLETIAN TO THE END OF ANTIQUITY
- II. THE MIDDLE AGES, THE REFORMERS, AND THE COUNCIL OF TRENT
- PART THREE: HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE CANON
- XI. Problems Confronting the Early Church Concerning the Canon
- I. CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING CANONICITY
- II. INSPIRATION AND THE CANON
- III. WHICH PART OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS FIRST RECOGNIZED AS AUTHORITATIVE?
- IV. THE PLURALITY OF THE GOSPELS
- V. THE PARTICULARITY OF THE PAULINE EPISTLES
- XII. Questions Concerning the Canon Today
- I. WHICH FORM OF THE TEXT IS CANONICAL?
- II. IS THE CANON OPEN OR CLOSED?
- III. IS THERE A CANON WITHIN THE CANON?
- IV. THE CANON: COLLECTION OF AUTHORITATIVE BOOKS OR AUTHORITATIVE COLLECTION OF BOOKS?
- APPENDIXES
- I. History of the Word Kav(Omitted)v
- II. Variations in the Sequence of the Books of the New Testament
- III. Titles of the Books of the New Testament
- IV. Early Lists of the Books of the New Testament
- INDEX
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- Y
- Z
