"Five Views on the NT Canon" (Stanley E. Porter and Benjamin P. Laird)

TITLE: Five Views on the New Testament Canon
AUTHOR: Stanley E. Porter and Benjamin P. Laird
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2022, (288 pages).

How was the Bible put together? What are the criteria to determine which books are legitimate? What prompted the canon process? What about authorship and apostolic authority? These are some of the critical questions dealt with in this book. The canonization of the Holy Bible has become one of the most controversial issues in modern times. With rising suspicion of the institutional church and the growing intellectual climate of mistrust, it has become increasingly necessary to re-examine old assumptions and historical evidence. In the pre-enlightenment age, societies in Christendom jurisdictions mostly accepted the authority of the Church in all things religious. Today, contemporary society does not share such trust. Instead, suspicion and skepticism tend to be the default paradigm. Who gives any human being the right to canonize anything? What about perceived and actual authority? These questions are some of the issues dealt with by five different scholars and theologians from different backgrounds. With five views, readers can get a better idea of the complex issues and why they are so controversial. The five views presented are:

1. Conservative-Evangelical (Darian R Lockett)
2. Progressive-Evangelical (David R Nienhuis)
3. Liberal-Protestant (Jason David BeDuhn)
4. Roman Catholic (Ian Boxall)
5. Orthodox (George L Parsenios)

All of these perspectives are considered "a" rather than "the" perspective. This qualification is important because even within the various faith persuasions, there are different perspectives. This enables the individual contributors to express their views as freely as possible without the pressure of trying to nuance other positions among their denominational adherents. Each contributor describes the historical, theological, and hermeneutical aspects of the formation of the canon. They also write about the authority and inspiration of New Testament books. On the canon, Lockett makes a strong case for the conservative camp, arguing that the texts themselves, not the canon nor canonization process, be the overarching authority. Nienhuis shows us that a balanced theological approach should inform our perception of the canon, and not the constant squabble over what is "from above" and "from below." Jason David BeDuhn promotes the intention behind the texts and the original contexts as a way to inform our understanding. That means trying to find an equivalent meaning as we traverse each generation. Ian Boxall takes us back to the Council of Trent in 1442 as the historical source of the authority of the canon. He reminds us that the Trent declaration is not to pronounce something brand new but to restate the place and authority of the Holy Scriptures as canonized. George L. Parsenios declares that the canon was not based on some Church council decision but simply a record of the established beliefs and practices of the ancient Church. These essays cover the historical basis of the canonization process, the role of theological application, and the way we should understand it for our times and beyond. 

My Thoughts

The main benefit of reading this book is not about discovering the best way to see the NT canon. It is about having a clearer understanding of the many different issues. The purpose is to clarify rather than to convict; to describe rather than to prescribe; to show us instead of telling us. The essays might be too academic for the lay reader but for those who are passionate about the canon and its history, they provide lots of insights into the formation of the canon. These insights clarify and with the various responses of the scholars on all the essays written, readers get a helpful birds-eye view of the differences. Insights pertaining to the different interpretations of the canonization process. Some base it more on history while others prefer the theological approach as a first choice. It is another take on the questions pertaining to whether canonization is something "from above" or "from below." Other nuances involve the interpretations of secondary sources which tend to make the issues far more complex. That said, that's exactly what scholars do: To push the envelope as far as possible and to push back if needed. It is fascinating to see how the different scholars interact by arguing their positions and providing both affirmations and critiques in their responses. If the first part of the book allows each contributor to showcase their positions, the second part dives into the differences of opinions. This book thus becomes a window to see the multiple perspectives on each issue. Not only that, we see how the discussions and opinions are communicated truthfully and respectfully. By doing so, not only are they challenging others to examine their views, but they also push them constructively in their academic pursuits. These are increasingly essential in a world that is quick to speak and slow to listen. 

I find it curious that some of the contributors find more agreement with those whose theological roots are furthest from theirs. For instance, Nienhuis finds more agreement with his Roman Catholic and Orthodox counterparts than his own evangelical scholars. How his Protestant brothers respond makes for a particularly interesting read. The diversity of opinions from these five contributors is just a snapshot of the diversity of the larger theological family. As noted by the editors, this multiple-view approach captures only some of the most important viewpoints. There are other perspectives that have not been mentioned but suffice it to say, this book does not purport to have the last word on the issue. For the contributors, the benefit is to be able to sharpen one another in the pursuit of truth. For readers, it is to have the privilege to listen in on five competent scholars from diverse backgrounds. Even for those of us who might find it challenging to understand the answers from these five theologians, at the least, we learn about the questions that could be asked on matters pertaining to the New Testament canon. If we take time to reflect, these questions might very well be the ones we will be asking sooner, if not later.

Stanley E. Porter (PhD, University of Sheffield) is president, dean, professor of New Testament, and Roy A. Hope Chair in Christian Worldview at McMaster Divinity College. Porter is the editor of more than eighty volumes and author of twenty-eight books on various topics in New Testament and related subjects, including How We Got the New Testament: Text, Transmission, Translation and The Gospel of John in Modern Interpretation. Porter has published more than three hundred articles, chapters, and related writings, and he speaks regularly at major conferences and other venues globally. Visit his blog at domainthirtythree.com.

Benjamin Laird (PhD, University of Aberdeen) serves as Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, Liberty University. He is the author of the forthcoming volume The Formation, Publication, and Circulation of the Pauline Corpus in Early Christianity (Hendrickson). 

 

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Kregel Academic without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.