Overview

The Bible took shape over the course of centuries, and today Christian groups continue to disagree over details of its contents. The differences among these groups typically involve the Old Testament, as they mostly accept the same 27-book New Testament. An essential avenue for understanding the development of the Bible are the many early lists of canonical books drawn up by Christians and, occasionally, Jews. Despite the importance of these early lists of books, they have remained relatively inaccessible. This comprehensive volume redresses this unfortunate situation by presenting the early Christian canon lists all together in a single volume. The canon lists, in most cases, unambiguously report what the compilers of the lists considered to belong to the biblical canon. For this reason they bear an undeniable importance in the history of the Bible. The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity provides an accessible presentation of these early canon lists. With a focus on the first four centuries, the volume supplies the full text of the canon lists in English translation alongside the original text, usually Greek or Latin, occasionally Hebrew or Syriac. Edmon L. Gallagher and John D. Meade orient readers to each list with brief introductions and helpful notes, and they point readers to the most significant scholarly discussions. The book begins with a substantial overview of the history of the biblical canon, and an entire chapter is devoted to the evidence of biblical manuscripts from the first millennium. This authoritative work is an indispensable guide for students and scholars of biblical studies and church history.

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9780191834493

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Reviews

Gallagher and Meade have provided a useful and much-needed tool in the study of the biblical canon. No doubt it will be a key resource for anyone wishing to explore the reception history of either the Old or New Testament. --Michael Kruger, Journal of Theological Studies [Gallagher and Meade] have produced what I think may well remain the standard volume on canon lists that scholars and students alike will appreciate for years to come. I heartily recommend this impressive volume. --Lee Martin McDonald, Review of Biblical Literature [T]his book is a valuable compendium of sources and summaries of scholarship pertaining to the history of the formation of the biblical canons... [A] valuable reference to students and researchers at all levels. --J. Edward Walters, Reading Religion Readers interested in the history of the Christian canon will find a helpful resource in this single-volume compilation of the biblical canon lists from the first four Christian centuries... This is an excellent and detailed compilation of primary sources for the study of the Christian canon. -- John R. Barker, The Bible Today The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity is a unique, well-written, and clearly presented volume that provides both students and scholars with a valuable resource for the study of the canonical history of the biblical writings. Gallagher and Meade are to be commended for producing a definitive and up-to-date study of the early canon lists in an accessible format. -- Benjamin Laird, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

"""Gallagher and Meade have provided a useful and much-needed tool in the study of the biblical canon. No doubt it will be a key resource for anyone wishing to explore the reception history of either the Old or New Testament."" --Michael Kruger, Journal of Theological Studies ""[Gallagher and Meade] have produced what I think may well remain the standard volume on canon lists that scholars and students alike will appreciate for years to come. I heartily recommend this impressive volume."" --Lee Martin McDonald, Review of Biblical Literature ""[T]his book is a valuable compendium of sources and summaries of scholarship pertaining to the history of the formation of the biblical canons... [A] valuable reference to students and researchers at all levels."" --J. Edward Walters, Reading Religion ""Readers interested in the history of the Christian canon will find a helpful resource in this single-volume compilation of the biblical canon lists from the first four Christian centuries... This is an excellent and detailed compilation of primary sources for the study of the Christian canon."" -- John R. Barker, The Bible Today ""The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity is a unique, well-written, and clearly presented volume that provides both students and scholars with a valuable resource for the study of the canonical history of the biblical writings. Gallagher and Meade are to be commended for producing a definitive and up-to-date study of the early canon lists in an accessible format."" -- Benjamin Laird, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society"

""Gallagher and Meade have provided a useful and much-needed tool in the study of the biblical canon. No doubt it will be a key resource for anyone wishing to explore the reception history of either the Old or New Testament."" --Michael Kruger, Journal of Theological Studies ""[Gallagher and Meade] have produced what I think may well remain the standard volume on canon lists that scholars and students alike will appreciate for years to come. I heartily recommend this impressive volume."" --Lee Martin McDonald, Review of Biblical Literature ""[T]his book is a valuable compendium of sources and summaries of scholarship pertaining to the history of the formation of the biblical canons... [A] valuable reference to students and researchers at all levels."" --J. Edward Walters, Reading Religion ""Readers interested in the history of the Christian canon will find a helpful resource in this single-volume compilation of the biblical canon lists from the first four Christian centuries... This is an excellent and detailed compilation of primary sources for the study of the Christian canon."" -- John R. Barker, The Bible Today ""The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity is a unique, well-written, and clearly presented volume that provides both students and scholars with a valuable resource for the study of the canonical history of the biblical writings. Gallagher and Meade are to be commended for producing a definitive and up-to-date study of the early canon lists in an accessible format."" -- Benjamin Laird, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

Author Information

Edmon L. Gallagher, Associate Professor of Christian Scripture, Heritage Christian University in Florence, Alabama, John D. Meade, Associate Professor of Old Testament, Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona Edmon L. Gallagher is Associate Professor of Christian Scripture at Heritage Christian University in Florence, Alabama. He is the author of Hebrew Scripture in Patristic Biblical Theory (Brill, 2012). John D. Meade is Associate Professor at Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona.

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