Exploring the Origins of the Bible

How did the Bible we have come to be? What do biblical scholars mean when they talk about canon, the Septuagint, the Apocrypha, or the Masoretic Text? All this biblical study is interesting, but does it really matter? Leading international scholars explain that it does. This thought-provoking and cutting-edge collection will help you go deeper in your understanding of the biblical writings, how those writings became canonical Scripture, and why canon matters. Beginning with an explanation of the different versions of the Hebrew Bible, scholars in different areas of expertise explore the complexities and issues related to the Old and New Testament canons, why different Jewish and Christian communities have different collections, and the importance of canon to theology.

Introduction (Craig A. Evans)
1. The Septuagint as a Source for the Literary Analysis of Hebrew Scripture (Emanuel Tov)
2. Writings Ostensibly outside the Canon (James H. Charlesworth)
3. Torah, Torah, Torah: The Emergence of the Tripartite Canon (Stephen G. Dempster )
4. The Role of "the Septuagint" in the Formation of the Biblical Canons (R. Glenn Wooden)
5. The Apocryphal Jesus: Assessing the Possibilities and Problems (Craig A. Evans)
6. Paul and the Process of Canonization (Stanley E. Porter)
7. Wherein Lies Authority? A Discussion of Books, Texts, and Translations (Lee Martin McDonald)
8. Canon and Theology: What Is at Stake? (Jonathan R. Wilson)
Index