I
have enjoyed reading books that show a variety of views on a subject. In so doing, one can get a good understanding
of what other views are on the subject – where they agree and where they
disagree. Five Views on the New
Testament Canon edited by Stanley F. Porter and Benjamin P. Laird is a book
of this type.
Five
different authors present their argument for their understanding of the New
Testament Canon. This includes: 1. The conservative evangelical view – which argues
the documents were written early, God-breathed, and self-confirming. 2. The progressive
evangelical view – which argues that the canon is “wild and messy” and what
matters is the Sprit’s use of the text.
3. The liberal protestant view – which argues from the historical critical
perspective – which argues that the texts are contradictory, but what is
important is what the text says to the reader today. 4. The Roman Catholic view – which argues that
the Church closed the Canon at the Council of Trent, and the Church interprets
the Canon. 5. The Orthodox view – which argues
there is no codified Canon, and the texts are interpreted through the Church
and tradition.
After
this, each author is given the opportunity to respond to the other four authors. This is followed by a name and a Scripture
index.
This
type of book is enlightening and instructive.
But I have come to have a problem with them:
The
views are presented as being equally valid; there is no final stand for what is
actually true. And you may argue that
such a conclusion is not made because this is merely a book explaining different
views and showing the pros and cons of them.
If that is true, then what is this type of book for? If there is no conclusion as to which is the
correct view, how can one know the truth?
If you say that the reader can make up his or her mind, how can there be
any certainty that the reader is able to biblically do so?
It
is good to understand the views that are being held, but if the views
contradict each other – they do here – and there is no one to conclude what is
the true view – even with the variety of biblical positions – I am concerned
that someone will embrace an unbiblical view.
I
received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
[This
review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, Kregel.com, and Goodreads.com.]
