Toward a Canon-Conscious Reading of the Bible: Exploring the History and Hermeneutics of the Canon

by Ched Spellman

Two distinct questions about the canon of the Bible can be (1) How did the biblical canon come to be?, and (2) What effect does that canon have on its readers? The former is a historical question about the formation of the biblical canon; the latter is a hermeneutical question about the function of the biblical canon. Though these questions have often been pursued in virtual isolation from one another, Spellman argues that there are considerable gains from observing the interconnections between the two lines of inquiry. On the historical question of the origin of the canon, Spellman asks, Is the shape of this collection an accident of history or a result of intelligent design? He concludes that canon-consciousness played an important role in the formation of the canon, even impinging on the work of the biblical authors themselves. On the hermeneutical question, the communities of readers of the Bible may also be shown to have been directed by their own canon-consciousness, using it as a guide in their interpretative task. In this interdisciplinary work, Spellman marshals historical, theological and hermeneutical resources in order to paint a picture of how the concept of canon can enrich reading communities of today.

294 pages, Hardcover

First published June 3, 2014

About the author

I am no prophet—and here's no great matter. I'm Ched. This is about as social as I get now. I'm a pathological 5-star giver.

Reviews

[Ched Spellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took the words right out of my mouth, tbh.

[Josiah Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I caught 0 spelling errors in this book.

[Greg Mathis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-argued and presented thesis. I am sure this must have been Spellman’s dissertation. However, it is not encumbered by the pretensions of overly jargonistic prose. It sets forth a positive vision of canon-consciousness by exposing the weaknesses of dissenting views and recasting the understanding of canon in a clever and stimulating system. Chapter 5 is perhaps the most rewarding and rich. Full of footnotes, it only took me 7:45 to read the average 10-page group of body with light highlighting / note taking.

[Eddie Hertel · Rating 5 out of 5]

In terms of thinking about the canon and how it influences how I read Scripture, this book has greatly shaped my thinking. A wonderful introduction to, development of, and application of a canonical hermeneutic. An essential read for canon studies.