What is the New Testament (NT)?

　In your Textbook, read carefully and consider seriously:

Study these Major Themes:

The Diversity of Early Christianity, pp. 3-7

Focus on the Early Christian Sects

The Canon of Scripture, pp. 7-13; Boxes 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5

Study my Powerpoint NT Canon (will be previewed in class)

Consider the Major Problem before us and its implications for the use of the NT in the modern churches

    • our modern 27-book canon was not in existence from the earliest times
    • the canonical books were only 27 among numerous similar, but non-canonical, books
    • the canon developed over several centuries, was not finalized until the late 4th century
    • Given the above facts:
      • who was ultimately responsible for selecting the 27?
      • what criteria did they use and?
      • on what authority?

Learn the Key Terms on p. 16 with special reference to their original context in the chapter