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  • Formation of the Bible: The Story of the Church’s Canon by Lee Martin McDonald
  • Brenda Llewellyn Ihssen
Lee Martin McDonald. Formation of the Bible: The Story of the Church’s Canon. Peabody, ma: Hendrickson, 2012. Pp. v + 192. Paper, $18.70. isbn 978-1598568387.

Lee McDonald, president and professor emeritus of New Testament Studies, Acadia Divinity School, Nova Scotia, provides a fitting summary of his extensive scholarly contribution to the history of canon formation in his Formation of the Bible. Presupposing a particular understanding of the Christian Scriptures and with a gentle pastoral tone that in no way diminishes the work, this most recent contribution provides a thorough and articulate introduction to the subject for the interested lay person. While there are many treatments of the origins of Jewish and Christian Scripture, the brevity and affordability of this text should contribute substantially to its attractiveness for individuals and congregations, both those already familiar with the biblical texts and those approaching the texts or the religions of Christianity and Judaism for the first time (8). The inclusion of tables, charts, and images help the reader visually confront the world that shaped the versions of the Bible in Christian congregations today.

The book is organized chronologically. After an introduction that places canonical history in the context of recent media interest, and defines ‘‘Bible,’’ ‘‘canon’’ and ‘‘Scripture’’ within the context and vocabulary of the ancient world, McDonald traces our need for firm canon closure against the more fluid understanding of sacred texts of the past. McDonald devotes two chapters to the origins and development of Jewish Scriptures, noting the difficulty of distinguishing what, precisely, was included in two-part or three-part collections of Jewish Scriptures. Factors such as the sacral quality of texts, the tendency to gather writings together to be counted as ‘‘one’’ rather than several, and the diversity of attitudes from various rabbinic Jews lead McDonald to agree with recent scholarship that suggests that it is unlikely that in the lifetimes of Jesus there was a known Jewish canon (59) other than the Torah. For both Jewish and early Jewish/ Christian communities, McDonald suggests, canon formation meant more than the search for a specific number, and more texts rather than fewer would ultimately be necessary; while Jews would clarify their faith through the development of the Mishnah and Gemara (66), Christian communities would seek to incorporate new writings into their worship settings to clarify their religious mission (66–67), leading to the development of the New Testament.

This very development of the New Testament occupies his next two chapters, in which McDonald argues that although Christian communities used the (later) canonical gospels and Pauline letters, the process of canonization was not as dependant on mere reference by an ancient writer as has been previously claimed (25–27). Rather, he demonstrates through analysis of the ancient sources that the process of canon formation is complex. He appropriately stresses the role of Constantine in codex production, and also notes that codex production does not equal canonization. Especially valuable for lay readers is his stress on the importance and value of non-canonical writings such as Clement and The Shepherd of Hermas, as well as lesser known Acts, and Apocryphal and Apocalyptic texts. In his Epilogue he extends an invitation for Christians and interested parties to read and learn from texts that might not be ‘‘canonical’’ but were once considered ‘‘scripture,’’ for they provide the opportunity to find ‘‘gems that are useful and helpful in explaining other passages of canonical Scripture’’ (166).

McDonald’s study of the history canonization concludes with two chapters that provide helpful additional materials: a seventh chapter traces the conversation about canonization as it primarily occurred in the Western churches, and a sixth titled ‘‘The Ancient Manuscripts,’’ contains a variety of small sections that found their home in this chapter. My only criticism of this book, in fact, is that this sixth chapter might have been more appropriately [End Page 145] broken up and distributed in areas more chronologically appropriate. But this is a small critique, in an otherwise informative and appealing treatment that presents the reader with a well-written account of the history of...

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