ISBN: 083081258X
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Avg Cusomer Rating: 5
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Summary: Cannonize this book
I've read part or all of this book several times, as the multiple highlightings & margin notes in my treasured copy attest. It is readable and accessible to the reader just beginning to learn about how we received our Christian canon of Scripture, while it is not the least beneath the intelligence of the advanced student of the Bible. I've used it in teaching Bible Classes on the canon at our Lutheran church & have seen its appeal to those making honest inquiry at all levels of familiarity. Bruce is unapologetic and effective in his "conservative" approach, & make his case convincingly. I've been impressed at how even "liberal" commentators who arrive at different conclusions nevertheless feel compelled to quote him -- with respect -- as THE authority of the counterpoint to their position. If you read only one book on the formation of the Christian Biblical canon, THIS is the one I MUST recommend. It is scholarly but not in the least arrogant. While Bruce is confident in his orhthoxy, he is also completely intellectually honest and is unafraid in appreciating the most probing, critical inquiry. This book has my highest recommendation.
Summary: Holy Words of Holy Book
Amazing that this work is almost twenty years old now. Still salient and so pertinent to wild rampage of Gnostic Gospels et al that are now appearing attacking Biblical witness.
What they do not possess and the Biblical books have in spades is carefully and meticulously explored by this fine NT exegete. They have the consensus of the apostles and the church, thus out of all the challengers to canonicty, rule of faith handed down, the surviving books are accepted as those to be read and used in church and to decide doctrinal matters.
To now surface books which have not be hid but at their appearance were examined either by the apostles or those taught by the apostles and found to be lacking the credentials to be part of the canon, to be expunged.
This book will aid those interested enough to clear the air on these important matters and see that the Scripture is authentic in meeting the test of time and reputable eyewitnesses who knew firsthand what was truth and what was phony.
Tracing of usage of this canon and textual criticism matters are covered well here by this scholar, with marvelous references which can be followed up by the inquisitive and serious investigator.
Summary: Excellent Scholarship
This is an excellently researched work by a master in the field. Bruce discusses all aspects of the history of canonization with depth and precision. He includes many interesting asides, yet maintains a thoroughly orthodox perspective. It turns out that the New Testament authors quote from the Samaritan Pentateuch at times. That the Old Testament canon really wasn't finally decided until Luther's time. That the earliest references to II Peter are late 2nd century, claiming it to be psuedopyphrigal or questionable at best. These and many other pearls await the reader of the text.
I was disappointed though that Bruce never really explains how the canon became what we have- at what moment or after what time the majority of the church accepted our present canon, and why. The closest he comes is describing how Eusebius compiled 50 copies of the Bible for Constantine, and this was the first time that this was done, with all 27 books. (Incidently including Revelations, not because Eusebius liked it- he felt it was probably uncanonical- but rather because Constantine liked it because he felt it predicted his coming. Which is...disturbing to say the least.) Understanding this moment, and why, was the main reason why I wanted to read the book.
However, Bruce does a great job of describing the various canons, their similarities, and why the questionable books of II & III John, II Peter, Jude, Revelations, The Shepherd of Hermes, The Didache, I Clement, and the Epistle of Barnabas made the cut or not, for various communities and apostolic fathers. After reading this book, I find it impossible to view the canon in the same way. Not to doubt it, but to see it as an expression of an original oral tradition. Which is for the best I think. After all, in our religion it is not the Word become Book, but rather the Word become Flesh. The book (or books, in the Greek) should never supplant the living center of the faith of the Spirit, for that road is the path to idolatry.
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