Discover the Meaning of "Canon", Why it Arose, and How Early Manuscripts and Early Christian Diversity Affect It
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Discover the Meaning of "Canon", Why it Arose, and How Early Manuscripts and Early Christian Diversity Affect It
Dr. Michael J. Kruger (Ph.D., University of Edinburgh) is President and the Samuel C. Patterson Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. He is one of the leading scholars today in the study of the origins of the New Testament, particularly the development of the New Testament canon and the transmission of the New Testament text. He is the author of numerous books including The Gospel of the Savior (Brill, 2005), The Heresy of Orthodoxy (Crossway, 2010, with Andreas Köstenberger), Canon Revisited (Crossway, 2012), The Question of Canon (IVP, 2013), and Christianity at the Crossroads: How the Second Century Shaped the Future of the Church (SPCK/IVP Academic, release date July 2017). He is also the editor of and contributor to A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament (Crossway, 2016) and co-editor of The Early Text of the New Testament (Oxford, 2012) and Gospel Fragments (Oxford, 2009). Dr. Kruger is ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America and also serves (part-time) as Pastor of Teaching at Uptown PCA in downtown Charlotte. You can follow his blog at www.michaeljkruger.com or on Twitter @michaeljkruger.
This course is made up of a four-part lecture series delivered in March, 2012 at the Orlando campus of Reformed Theological Seminary. This lecture series addresses four unique angles of the issue of the canon:
As you journey through each topic, a study guide is available for each lecture. You’re invited to follow along and engage with Dr. Kruger’s additional articles and chapters which are linked with each lecture.
Addresses the exclusive view.
Approaching the issue from a functional viewpoint, Kruger argues that the reception of the core of the canon took place even earlier than 200 AD.
Addresses the issue of self-authentication in contrast to a Roman Catholic tradition-exclusive view.
Examines patristic statements that view the canon as self-authenticating.
Evidence for the ontological view.
More evidence for the ontological view.
An academic treatment of the three views in this lecture.
By Books at a Glance
A shorter written summary of the contents of this lecture.
Linked in the reflection questions, above. This article evaluates Paul's statement in 2 Corinthians 3:14 in light of Jewish thinking regarding covenants.
An evaluation of the three-part argument against the canon.
Another evaluation in light of statements in the patristics.
An accessible answer to a common objection to the canon.
A detailed treatment of Dr. Kruger's argument regarding 2 Timothy 4:13.
An academic evaluation of the 2 John fragment described as P.Antinoopolis 12 (Gregory-Aland 0232) that argues that the codex once included Hebrews, 1-2 Peter, James, Jude, and 1-3 John.
Addresses the problem of apocryphal books that were included in Christian codices.
Counters the problem of early disagreements on the canon and non-canonical works by arguing that the extant canonical manuscripts have historical priority over all non-canonical alternatives.
Another article that compares the dates of apocryphal books with canonical books.
An argument that plays the criticisms of F. C. Baur and Walter Bauer against each other to expose the underlying theological unity of the New Testament canon.
Addresses the breadth of disagreement regarding the canon.
On early Christian use of non-canonical books.
On Origin's view of the canon.
More on Origin's view of the canon.
Expands on Eusebius' four categories of books and the development of the canon.
Connects the Muratorian fragment with the concept of the "core canon."
These works were referenced in the Q&A section of this lecture.