Table of Contents

Introduction 1. Judaism and Early Christianity 2. Primary Authorities in Early Christianity 3. Other Essential Authorities: Tradition, Creeds, Hymns 4. Major Challenges for the Early Christians: Persecution and Heresy 5. The Church’s Scriptures and Biblical Canons 6. The Biblical Manuscripts and their Texts 7. Additional Ancient Artifacts: The Codex, Nomina Sacra, Translations, Councils 8. Early Christianity and the Apocryphal and Pseudonymous Writings 9. Summary and Conclusion Bibliography Indexes

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The world's leading expert on canon explains how authority functioned in the church before the notion of a fixed bible.

About the Author

Lee Martin McDonald is President Emeritus and Professor of New Testament at Acadia Divinity College, Acadia University, Canada. He is also President of the Institute for Biblical Research.