Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books

by Michael J. Kruger

Publisher:

Crossway

, 2012

Overview

This study of the New Testament canon and its authority looks deeper than the traditional surveys of councils and creeds, mining the biblical text itself for direction in understanding what the original authors and audiences believed the canon to be. Canon Revisited distinguishes itself by placing a substantial focus on the theology of canon as the context within which the historical evidence is evaluated and assessed. In effect, this work successfully unites both the theology and the historical development of the canon, ultimately serving as a practical defense for the authority of the New Testament books.

Contents

Top Highlights

“That being said, however, the fundamental problem with the historical-critical model is not its affirmation that the church played a role, but rather its insistence that the church played the determinative and decisive role. Quickly swept aside are any claims that these books contain any intrinsic authority that might have been a factor in their reception.” (Pages 34–35)

“If we are to be balanced, it seems we need three aspects to our definition of canon: canon as reception (exclusive), canon as use (functional), and canon as divinely given (ontological).” (Pages 58–59)

“The problem, then, is not that the church plays a role in identifying canonical books (Protestants would agree with this), but the Catholic insistence that it plays the only and definitive role.” (Page 44)

“The various canonical models will be divided into two large categories, community determined and historically determined” (Page 29)

“The New Testament canon is the collection of apostolic writings that is regarded as Scripture by the corporate church” (Page 120)

Product Details

• Title: Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books
• Author: Michael J. Kruger
• Publisher: Crossway
• Print Publication Date: 2012
• Logos Release Date: 2016
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. › Canon
• ISBNs: 9781433530814, 9781433505003, 9781433530791, 9781433530807, 1433530813, 1433505002, 1433530791, 1433530805
• Resource ID: LLS:CNNRVSTDTSTMBKS
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T22:52:20Z

About Michael J. Kruger

Dr. Kruger received his B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary in California, and his Ph.D. from New College, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He is the author of The Gospel of the Savior (E.J. Brill, 2005), and has had articles appear in such journals as The Journal of Theological Studies, The Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, The Expository Times, and The Master’s Seminary Journal. His research interests center upon Christian Origins, particularly the development of the New Testament canon within the context of the early church. Prior to joining the RTS faculty, Dr. Kruger served in the pastorate for several years at Church of the Redeemer in Phoenix, AZ. There he developed a passion for preaching and ministry which he passes on to his students in the classroom. In addition to his faculty duties, he currently serves part-time as the Pastor of Discipleship Training at Uptown Christ Covenant Church in downtown Charlotte.