Why did early Christians feel a need to establish an authoritative list of Scripture?

Discussion: Contexts of Hermeneutics

Read Introduction to Biblical Interpretation by Wm. Klein, Craig Blomberg, and Robert Hubbard, Jr.  Chapters 4 and 7. Read Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O’Brien chapters 8, 9, and conclusion. Using Turabian format and discuss the following using 400-words for each discussion prompt. REstate the question in your response. Support your assertions with 3 scholarly citations from 2 sources in Turabian format. Sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable sources include the Bible, textbooks, scholarly articles.

1. Give a definition of “canon.” Where does the word come from and what does it mean with relationship to the study of the Bible? Discuss the development of the New Testament and the criteria of canonicity used by the early church. Why did early Christians feel a need to establish an authoritative list of Scripture? What element in the criteria of canonicity is most important in your opinion? Which element is least important in your opinion? Be sure to give reasons why you chose these particular elements. How would you respond to a person who claimed that the canon of the Bible should still be open?

2.List the 5 characteristics of words. Which one was new to you? Which one do you think is most important? Why? Define “connotative” and “denotative” meanings. What are the steps for performing a word study? How important are word studies in understanding Scripture? Why is it important to do word studies in the original languages instead of in English alone?