The New Testament As Canon: An Introduction

by Brevard S. Childs

Brevard S. Childs, Professor of Old Testament at the Divinity School, Yale University is renowned for his innovative approach to biblical study. In this book, he presents an introduction to the New Testament as Canon. He addresses the role of the canon with the New Testament, the canon as an historical and theological problem, the rationale of a canonical approach and the methodology of canonical exegesis. He then moves on the individual books of the New Testament explicating the canonical approach to the exegesis of each book.

572 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1985

About the author

Brevard Springs Childs was Professor of Old Testament at Yale University from 1958 until 1999 (and Sterling Professor after 1992), and one of the most influential biblical scholars of the 20th century. Childs is particularly noted for pioneering canonical criticism, a way of interpreting the Bible that focuses on the text of the biblical canon itself as a finished product. In fact, Childs disliked the term, believing his work to represent an entirely new departure, replacing the entire historical-critical method. Childs set out his canonical approach in his Biblical Theology in Crisis (1970) and applied it in Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture (1979). This latter book has been described as "one of the most discussed books of the 1980s".

Reviews

[Caleb Rolling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was highly complimentary of Childs’ OT introduction and presentation of his canonical approach. His NT introduction maintains all the strength of the former while refining and clarifying his approach.

Again, the age of the book is unfortunate (published in 1984) and the extensive bibliographies are less helpful today; his engagement with current interpretation is no longer current. It cannot take into consideration the many developments in the field of NT studies in recent decades (e.g. the enormous mass of contributions to Pauline studies).

There are other weaknesses. For instance, he only devotes a single chapter to the Pastoral Epistles and a single chapter to the Johannine Epistles. It seems to me that each book ought to receive separate treatment or at least a more exhaustive treatment in the present chapters.

Reading this NT introduction is vital for understanding and appropriating Childs’ canonical approach. It should be treated as an introduction to and illustration of the method rather than a full blown traditional NT introduction.

I am a thorough going advocate of Childs’ canonical approach and highly commented his NT introduction. Hopefully younger generations will continue to develop and clarify and popularize such an approach.

[A.J. Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would say this is an important book. Childs isn't an easy read but he has a good handle on the canonical text, which is something the critics have missed. I would say this is a must read for anyone interested in text critical studies. Some of what he has to say I would disagree with, but other things he says I believe are on point and need to be furthered by contemporary thinkers.