The regnant view of NT canon formation in academic circles holds that the canon is a late ecclesiastical creation, and one that is far removed from the mindset of Jesus, his apostles and even the church for at least the first century and a half of its existence. Kruger takes five major planks on which this view is built, subjects them to historical scrutiny, and, where there are any solid splinters of truth left after inspection, shows how they may be incorporated into a better empirical foundation for canon studies. This important study argues that an ‘intrinsic’ model for canon, which recognizes the canon as the product of internal forces evolving out of the historical essence of Christianity, is superior to the ‘extrinsic’ model that has dominated canon studies for too long. ~ Charles E. Hill

Table of Contents

• Preface
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• 1. The Definition of Canon: Must We Make a Sharp Distinction Between the Definitions of Canon and Scripture?
• 2. The Origins of Canon: Was There Really Nothing in Early Christianity That May Have Led to a Canon?
• 3. The Writing of Canon: Were Early Christians Averse to Written Documents?
• 4. The Authors of Canon: Were the New Testament Authors Unaware of Their Own Authority?
• 5. The Date of Canon: Were the New Testament Books First Regarded as Scripture at the End of the Second Century?
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Author Index
• Subject Index
• Scripture Index