This course will entail a study of the process of the formation of the Canon of Scripture in the context of the study of the major epochs of salvation history.
The course will examine ‘canon’ (kanōn) understood both as ‘the rule of faith’ for Christians and as the ‘list of books’ (katalogos) that came to be approved as the ‘official canon’ of the (R.C.) Church. It will examine topics such as i) the role of the Holy Spirit in the process of discerning the list; ii) criteria for the selection of books; iii) the Bible, truth and inerrancy; and, iv) the authority of the writings listed as canonical and thus fundamental for the understanding of the Christian faith.
The course will also include a survey approach to reviewing the history of salvation. For each period under review, the student will learn about major figures, movements and writings and their respective influence on biblical tradition.