Review: "40 Questions about the Text and Canon of the New Testament"

 

I have read a number of the “40 Questions” series, and, at this point, I can say that 40 Questions About the Text and Canon of the New Testament by Charles L. Quarles and L. Scott Kellum is my favorite.

As always in this series, the book is divided into headings with x number of questions under each heading.  The authors divide the questions into “the text of the New Testament,” and “the Canon of the New Testament.”

They begin by considering where we get the text of the canon and how we can consider it reliable.  From there, they question how the canon came to trust certain manuscripts over others.  Finally, in this heading, they consider the arguments for debated texts in the canon, such as the woman caught in adultery and the ending of the book of Mark.

I found it impressive and helpful that they presented (at least) the major views on each of the items in questions.  That way, the reader can come to his own conclusion within the presentation and arguments the authors provide.

In the second heading, the authors begin by explaining what a canon is, and how the Church in varying ages saw what the canon was – including differences on the acceptance of some books.

Next, they consider whether the who canon was travelling as a single volume in the early Church – if not, were the Gospels, Luke-Acts, and Paul’s letters available as bound sets?

Finally, they ask if the Apostles considered contemporaneous texts to themselves to be Scripte, how the Scripture is to be used in the Church, and what the theological meaning of having the canon is.

If you are interested in how the text of the New Testament became the canon, or the differing views on controversial issues, this book is excellent.  It is readable and covers a wide ground on the topic.  This is a book I will recommend for anyone having an interest or question about the Text and Canon of the New Testament.