The Canon of the New Testament Its Origin, Development, and Significance

by Metzger, Bruce M.

Edition: Reprint

ISBN13: 9780198269540

ISBN10: 0198269544

Format: Paperback

Pub. Date: 1997-04-10

Publisher(s): Clarendon Press

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Summary

This book provides information from Church history concerning the recognition of the canonical status of the several books of the New Testament. Canonization was a long and gradual process of sifting among scores of gospels, epistles, and other books that enjoyed local and temporary authority- some of which have only recently come to light among the discoveries of Nag Hammadi. After discussing the external pressures that led to the fixing of the limits of the canon, the author gives sustained attention to Patristic evidence that bears on the development of the canon not only in the West but also among the Eastern Churches, including the Syrian, Armenian, Georgian,Coptic, and Ethiopian. Besides considering differences as to the sequence of the books in the New Testament, Dr Metzger takes up such questions as which form of text is to be regarded as canonical; whether the canon is open or closed; to what extent a canon should be sought within the canon; andwhether the canon is a collection of authoritative books or an authoritative collection of books.

Introduction

(10)

PART ONE SURVEY OF LITERATURE ON THE CANON

(28)

I. Literature on the Canon Published Prior to the Twentieth Century

(14)

II. Literature on the Canon Published During the Twentieth Century

(14)

PART TWO FORMATION OF THE CANON

(212)

III. Period of Preparation: The Apostolic Fathers

(36)

I. CLEMENT OF ROME

(3)

II. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH

(6)

III. THE DIDACHE

(2)

IV. PAPIAS OF HIERAPOLIS

(5)

V. THE EPISTLE OF BARNABAS

(3)

VI. POLYCARP OF SMYRNA

(4)

VII. HERMAS OF ROME

(4)

VIII. THE SO-CALLED SECOND EPISTLE OF CLEMENT

(5)

IX. SUMMARY

(3)

IV. Influences Bearing on the Development of the Canon

(38)

I. GNOSTICISM

(15)

(1) Basilides, pp. 78-9

(2) Carpocrates, p. 80

(3) Valentinus and his Followers, pp. 80-84

(4) Nag Hammadi Tractates, pp. 84-90

II. MARCION

(9)

(1) Marcion's Ideas, pp. 91-4

(2) The `Marcionite' Prologues, pp. 94-7

(3) Marcion's Influence, pp. 97-9

III. MONTANISM

(7)

IV. PERSECUTIONS AND THE SCRIPTURES

106

(2)

V. OTHER POSSIBLE INFLUENCES

108

(5)

V. Development of the Canon in the East

113

(30)

I. SYRIA

113

(7)

(1) Tatian, pp. 114-17

(2) Theophilus of Antioch, pp. 117-19

(3) Serapion of Antioch, pp. 119-20

II. ASIA MINOR

120

(3)

(1) The Martyrdom of Polycarp, pp. 120-22

(2) Melito of Sardis, pp. 122-3

III. GREECE

123

(6)

(1) Dionysius of Corinth, pp. 123-5

(2) Athenagoras, pp. 125-7

(3) Aristides, pp. 127-8

IV. EGYPT

129

(14)

(1) Pantaenus, pp. 129-30

(2) Clement of Alexandria, pp. 130-5

(3) Origen, pp. 135-41

VI. Development of the Canon in the West

143

(22)

I. ROME

143

(8)

(1) Justin Martyr, pp. 143-8

(2) Hippolytus of Rome, pp. 149-51

II. GAUL

151

(5)

(1) The Epistle of the Churches at Lyons and Vienne, pp. 151-3

(2) Irenaeus of Lyons, pp. 153-6

III. NORTH AFRICA

156

(9)

(1) The Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs, pp. 156-7

(2) Tertullian, pp. 157-60

(3) Cyprian of Carthage, pp. 160-63

(4) `Against Dice-Players', pp. 163-4

VII. Books of Temporary and Local Canonicity: Apocryphal Literature

165

(26)

I. APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS

166

(8)

(1) Fragments of an Unknown Gospel (Egerton Papyrus 2), pp. 167-9

(2) The Gospel of the Hebrews, pp. 169-70

(3) The Gospel of the Egyptians, p. 171

(4) The Gospel of Peter, pp. 171-4

II. APOCRYPHAL ACTS

174

(6)

(1) The Acts of Paul, pp. 174-6

(2) The Acts of John, pp. 176-8

(3) The Acts of Peter, pp. 178-80

III. APOCRYPHAL EPISTLES

180

(4)

(1) The Epistle of the Apostle, pp. 180-82

(2) The Third Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, p. 182

(3) The Epistle to the Laodiceans, pp. 182-3

(4) The Correspondence Between Paul and Seneca, pp. 183-4

IV. APOCRYPHAL APOCALYPSES

184

(3)

(1) The Apocalypse of Peter, pp. 184-6

(2) The Apocalypse of Paul, pp. 186-7

V. MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS

187

(4)

VIII. Two Early Lists of the Books of the New Testament

191

(18)

I. THE MURATORIAN CANON

191

(10)

(1) Contents of the Muratorian Canon, pp. 194-9

(2) Significance of the Muratorian Canon, pp. 199-201

II. EUSEBIUS' CLASSIFICATION OF NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS

201

(8)

IX. Attempts at Closing the Canon in the East

209

(20)

I. FROM CYRIL OF JERUSALEM TO THE TRULLAN SYNOD

209

(9)

II. THE CANON IN THE NATIONAL EASTERN CHURCHES

218

(11)

(1) The Syrian Churches, pp. 218-33

(2) The Armenian Church, pp. 223-4

(3) The Georgian Church p. 224;

(4) The Coptic Church, pp. 224-5

(5) The Ethiopian (Abyssinian) Church, pp. 225-8

X. Attempts at Closing the Canon in the West

229

(22)

I. FROM DIOCLETIAN TO THE END OF ANTIQUITY

229

(10)

II. THE MIDDLE AGES, THE REFORMERS, AND THE COUNCIL OF TRENT

239

(12)

PART THREE HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE CANON

251

(38)

XI. Problems Confronting the Early Church Concerning the Canon

251

(16)

I. CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING CANONICITY

251

(3)

II. INSPIRATION AND THE CANON

254

(3)

III. WHICH PART OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS FIRST RECOGNIZED AS AUTHORITATIVE?

257

(5)

IV. THE PLURALITY OF THE GOSPELS

262

(2)

V. THE PARTICULARITY OF THE PAULINE EPISTLES

264

(3)

XII. Questions Concerning the Canon Today

267

(22)

I. WHICH FORM OF THE TEXT IS CANONICAL?

267

(4)

II. IS THE CANON OPEN OR CLOSED?

271

(4)

III. IS THERE A CANON WITHIN THE CANON?

275

(7)

IV. THE CANON: COLLECTION OF AUTHORITATIVE BOOKS OR AUTHORITATIVE COLLECTION OF BOOKS?

282

(7)

APPENDIXES

289

(27)

I. History of the Word Kavwv

289

(6)

II. Variations in the Sequence of the Books of the New Testament

295

(6)

III. Titles of the Books of the New Testament

301

(4)

IV. Early Lists of the Books of the New Testament

305

(11)

INDEX

316

The Canon of the New Testament Its Origin, Development, and Significance

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