Creating the Canon

Composition, Controversy, and the Authority of the New Testament

By: Benjamin P. Laird

Narrated by: James R. Cheatham

Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Some questions about the New Testament canon are far from settled, either in the academy or the church—to say nothing of misconceptions and confusion. This is a crucial topic, given the importance of the canon's formation for our understanding of early Christianity and the nature of the Christian faith itself. In Creating the Canon, Benjamin P. Laird explores misunderstood, disputed, and overlooked matters tied to the composition, collection, and authority of the New Testament canon. His engaging study takes on questions such as:

- Was there a single “original autograph” of each New Testament book?

- Who exactly were the "original readers" or the "original audience" of the New Testament writings?

- Did theological controversies play a decisive role in prompting the canon's formation?

- How did such a diverse body of writings come together as a single canonical collection?

- Is there a basis for the canon's ongoing authority?

Wide-ranging yet accessible, Creating the Canon offers constructive insight on the composition, formation, and authority of the New Testament, while also serving as a helpful guide for those new to the study of canon.

©2023 Benjamin Paul Laird (P)2023 eChristian

Super content, narration, and production

“Benjamin Laird has written an insightful and helpful introduction to how we got the New Testament. Laird explains everything from ancient writing practices to book production and publication to letter writing in antiquity, as well as the origins and reception of Christian texts, and the importance of apostolic authority. A helpful read for anyone interested in the what and the how of the Bible.”
Michael F. Bird, academic dean and lecturer in New Testament at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia


“Creating the Canon is a dependable guide for the early formation of the New Testament. It not only introduces the major scholarly voices in the debate, it also is structured to answer several common questions regarding the composition, formation, and the authority of the New Testament. Though the questions are common, Laird does not merely offer simple answers; rather, his work engages insights from textual criticism and canon research to address the origin, extent, and authority of the canon. Accessible to the student, yet filled with insights for teachers and scholars, Laird’s volume will be a helpful reference tool for many and provide a gateway into deeper canon studies for others—highly recommended!”
Darian R. Lockett, professor of New Testament at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University


“For those who wrestle with the nature and significance of the scriptural canon in modern Christianity and wonder about its ancient origins, Benjamin Laird’s book cuts a lucid and engaging path through many aspects of the canon’s composition, formation, and authority. Laird writes both as a historian and as a Christian, combining critical attention to sources and hermeneutics with a personal sense of the importance of these questions today.”
Jane Heath, Durham University


“As one treks into the rugged terrain of New Testament canon studies, a daunting range of issues looms on the horizon. Benjamin Laird maps out the general contours of current scholarship and then proposes his own path forward. His study provides a panoramic view of canon-related considerations but also raises significant questions concerning the relationship between apostolicity and the ecclesial recognition of divinely inspired texts.”
Paul A. Hartog, professor of theology at Faith Baptist Seminary


“The wonderful thing about studying the origins of the New Testament canon is that there’s always more to discover. It seems like a well without a bottom. This new volume by Benjamin Laird exemplifies this reality. In this wide-ranging study, Laird not only revisits older questions but also explores newer ones, creating a fresh and helpful addition to the growing body of work on the origins of the canon.”
Michael J. Kruger, president and Samuel C. Patterson Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina




Laird, Benjamin P.. Creating the Canon (pp. 258-260). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

Helpful Review of the Canon's History

Laird expands the Bible student's interpretive context by tracing the history of the Canon's formation and by wrestling with the implications for the doctrine of scriptural authority. A conservative scholarly view providing a helpful contrast with people like Bart Ehrman and Elaine Pagels.