The Canon: How God Gave His Word to the Church

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By David G. Dunbar on October 4, 2009 ,

How God Gave His Word to the Church

Not since the birth of the church has the uniqueness of Christian Scripture been so questioned. Discoveries of Essene Judaism at Qumran and gnostic Christian­ity at Nag Hammadi have uncovered ancient religious literature that, some believe, challenge traditional views of Scripture. When such discoveries are made, do we consider adding them to our Canon—that final list of sacred books in the Bible? The Christianity Today Institute invited five scholars to present differing viewpoints on the origin and nature of the Canon.

David G. Dunbar, Ph.D.
Dr. Dunbar is president and associate professor of theology at Biblical Theological Seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. He contributed a chapter on the biblical Canon in Hermeneutics, Authority and Canon, ed. by D. A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986) . . .

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David G. Dunbar

Professor

David G. Dunbar, Professor, served as president and associate professor of theology at Biblical Theological Seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania for 27 years until 2013. His interest in refocusing the church on its missional role in the world has led him to launch the Catalyst for Missional Leadership, which trains leaders to think in missional ways that cross cultures nationally and internationally. Dr. Dunbar received a Master of Divinity degree from Biblical Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology from Westminster Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Philosophy from Drew University. He taught at Northeastern Bible College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School before coming to Biblical Seminary in 1986.

 

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