Scripture is central to ministry, and yet questions concerning the formation of the canon of scripture and its legitimacy are becoming more and more common. As Christians who are called to declare and demonstrate the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is imperative that we understand how the church received the various texts of scripture in the first place. This course examines the history and theology behind the early stages of the development of the canon of scripture by means of a detailed study of the formation of the canon (especially the NT texts) within the context of the development of orthodoxy in the early church. Central focal points of this course include key texts, figures, historical events, and the role each played in the discussions and development of textual authority. Specific attention is paid to the issues of textual and manuscript concerns and questions, orthodoxy and heresy, extra-canonical literature, and questions of inter-textual compatibility and biblical interpretation. The aim of this course is to provide students with an informed perspective from which they may engage in ministerial and cultural questions about the history, theology, and authority of scripture. In addition to course lectures students will engage with historical surveys, and primary source texts from an array of early ‘orthodox’ and ‘heretical’ writers.
This course is divided into two parts, each occupying 4 Modules. Part 1 will look at modern estimations of the formation of the canon and competing documents that were not included. Part 2 will look at the integrity, formation, and manuscript issues relating to the canon in the early church.