- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: Clarendon Press; Reprint edition (Mar 1 1997)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0198269544
- ISBN-13: 978-0198269540
- Product Dimensions: 21.7 x 14 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 431 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#348,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #86 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Church History > Early Church
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
`He combines the sureness of touch and the courtesy for which he is renowned with an awesome breadth of learning deeply assimilated. Master of his evidence, he leaves no loose ends and never needs to overstate his case, but allows the true situation to speak for itself ... In Dr Metzger's hands it becomes not only the catalyst for a fascinating tapestry of church history, but also the occasion of important theological reflection.' The Tablet
`distinguished by its author's sober judgement and legendary commmand of secondary literature ... The book will be valuable ... as an updating of earlier historical treatments of the New Testament Canon.' The Expository Times
`Metzger's opinions throughout are judicious and moderate. ... The richly detailed factual information carefully organized here, and the bibliographical footnotes will make this a volume of continuing benefit and lasting value.' J.K. Elliott, Journal of Theological Studies, Vol 39, 2, 1988
`Concerning each topic, the author gives us a clear formulation of the question and a sober and balanced treatment, avoiding extremes which are being defended even in recent publications. As a conclusion of the trilogy ... M.'s book on the canon is a valuable contribution to a ever-open discussion.' Joel Delobel, Louvain Studies
`as a history of canon formation, this gracefully written and thoroughly documented book will surely become our classic reference work.' Pheme Perkins, Boston College. The Catholic Biblical Quarterly
`This is unquestionably the best book on the subject available today and one of the best of all times. The debt of both the scholarly world and the church to Bruce M. Metzger is exceedingly great. The reviewer will always be grateful for the privilege of studying under him.' James A. Brooks, Southwestern Journal of Theology
`Throughout the book a balanced, restrained judgment is exercised.' B.T. Viviano, O.P., Revue Biblique
`splendid book ... The author is so well-read, both in ancient and in modern literature, that he constantly adds to the reader's knowledge.' Roger Beckwith, Churchman
`Metzger's discussions are thorough and fair, keeping basically to what seems to be a legitimate reading of the historical evidence.' Interpretation, A Journal of Bible and Theology
`An unusual aspect of Metzger's book is that ... Metzger has two chapters of literature on canon, the most complete bibliography on the canon I know.' Albert C. Sundberg, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Journal of American Academy of Religion
`distinguished by its author's sober judgement and legendary commmand of secondary literature ... The book will be valuable ... as an updating of earlier historical treatments of the New Testament Canon.' The Expository Times
`Metzger's opinions throughout are judicious and moderate. ... The richly detailed factual information carefully organized here, and the bibliographical footnotes will make this a volume of continuing benefit and lasting value.' J.K. Elliott, Journal of Theological Studies, Vol 39, 2, 1988
`Concerning each topic, the author gives us a clear formulation of the question and a sober and balanced treatment, avoiding extremes which are being defended even in recent publications. As a conclusion of the trilogy ... M.'s book on the canon is a valuable contribution to a ever-open discussion.' Joel Delobel, Louvain Studies
`as a history of canon formation, this gracefully written and thoroughly documented book will surely become our classic reference work.' Pheme Perkins, Boston College. The Catholic Biblical Quarterly
`This is unquestionably the best book on the subject available today and one of the best of all times. The debt of both the scholarly world and the church to Bruce M. Metzger is exceedingly great. The reviewer will always be grateful for the privilege of studying under him.' James A. Brooks, Southwestern Journal of Theology
`Throughout the book a balanced, restrained judgment is exercised.' B.T. Viviano, O.P., Revue Biblique
`splendid book ... The author is so well-read, both in ancient and in modern literature, that he constantly adds to the reader's knowledge.' Roger Beckwith, Churchman
`Metzger's discussions are thorough and fair, keeping basically to what seems to be a legitimate reading of the historical evidence.' Interpretation, A Journal of Bible and Theology
`An unusual aspect of Metzger's book is that ... Metzger has two chapters of literature on canon, the most complete bibliography on the canon I know.' Albert C. Sundberg, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Journal of American Academy of Religion
Book Description
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; and whether the canon is a collection of authoritative books or an authoritative collection of books.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
THROUGHOUT the Middle Ages questions were seldom raised as to the number and identity of the books comprising the canon of the New Testament. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
THROUGHOUT the Middle Ages questions were seldom raised as to the number and identity of the books comprising the canon of the New Testament. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Book-- Great Author!!!,
By Eric Campell (Rapid City, SD United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance (Paperback)
Metzger is one of the most (if not THEE most) knowledgable men in his field. If you're interested in which books were almost immediately recognized as canonical, and which books kind of hung around on the fringe for the first three centuries, this will be a good book to read. He also covers some good info on books that did not make it in the canon (i.e. epistle of Barnabus, Diadache, Shepard of Hermas, among others...) Two of the above mentioned were found in Aleph (4th century complete NT mss discovered in the mid 1800's).....very interesting!! You definitly don't have to question this author's credentials, he's top of the line!!! He's got some very thought provoking questions at the end of the book on whether or not the Canon is closed or open: "One may speculate what the Church should do if a hitherto unknown document were to turn up, than on unimpeachable external and internal grounds, could be proved to have been written, let us say, by the Apostle Paul." This is a good buy! I still pull it off the shelf from time to time and reread parts of it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Church Father citations and book summaries are valuable,
By
This review is from: The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance (Paperback)
Some critical reviews associated with this title mention Metzger's approach to Mark on "page 92" of this book. However, page 92 of this book is part of the section discussing the heretic Marcion -- and has nothing to do at all with the Gospel of Mark. Perhaps these reviewers have confused this title (Canon of the New Testament) with another title from Metzger (Text of the New Testament). With that out of the way, the strengths of this book from Metzger are in the tracing of authoritative citations used by church fathers from the New Testament books prior to canonization. This information alone is valuable. In addition, Metzger's survey of the works of NT Apocrypha (books that weren't canonized, but were in circulation, at least amongst some groups) along with his clear and concise summaries of the contents of these books is quite valuable. These two items alone make the book a handy reference guide. The information on the process of canonization is good -- typical of Metzger's work, bringing the technical down to a level that is accessible by the non-expert.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very informative, gives clear view of the early canon,
By Hal A. Kramer (Summerville, South Carolina United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance (Paperback)
This is an excellent book. The book demonstrates that the majority of the current canon of the New Testament has been standard from the start while at the same time telling about books which were strongly considered and rejected by the early church (as well as why) along with books in the current canon which were questioned by the early church. Great read for anyone who has an interest in early Christianity or any interest at all in the Bible.
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