A Preface to a Primer

Primer on the Canonical Approach

What is this Series?

This series of posts will describe and reflect upon a canonical approach to biblical studies. The schedule of posts will include a discussion of definitions, an examination of each canonical sub-collection, a consideration of major objections to the canonical approach, an introduction to some of the major proponents of a canonical approach, a guided annotated bibliography of their significance works, and a reflection on the way a canonical approach might relate to the life of the local church. 

A good way to see what this series will be like is to reflect upon what this series will not be like. 

• It will Not Be Exhaustive: In a format like this, my aim is to provide an accessible introduction to the heart of a canonical approach. As a primer, it will aim to be consistently succinct and reasonably accessible. The target is an interesting introduction to this rich area of research that gives you a sense of the full scope of the field but leaves you wanting to explore the terrain that has been mapped out by the series. Consequently, many issues, themes, or exegetical connections will be examined and engaged but not with the full rigor of academic research. There are whole sub-fields that I will only mention and issues that I will only touch upon briefly. I do hope, however, to provide enough of a glimpse into each area I cover to give you an orientation and a few entryways into these particular aspects of the project.

• It will Not Be Idiosyncratic: While I have distinctive views in the area of canon studies and will make specific textual and theological arguments, the content of this series will not be idiosyncratic. For those who are unaware of these conversations, this series will be an introduction to a wide-ranging and exciting area of study. For those who are well-acquainted with canon studies, this series will hopefully provide a helpful review or a window into my take on some of these interdisciplinary discussions. 

• It will Not be Neutral: Even though the analysis here will not be idiosyncratic (specific to only me) it will also not be theological neutral. Some brands of biblical scholarship have as their goal “objective” interpretation and method that is not constrained in any way by theological commitments. This stance, however, rests upon an intellectual mirage. No interpreter is able to work apart from their beliefs, assumptions, and theological commitments. What’s more, oftentimes what this stance means is that the front door is closed to a particular set of beliefs, all the while the back door is left open to entire systems of unacknowledged assumptions and ideological commitments (either from the current zeitgeist or the residue of a different interpretive era’s framework). My understanding of the canonical approach to biblical studies is therefore both confessional and ecclesial.
  
  By confessional, I mean that there are a series of theological commitments that will inform my approach to the interpretive task. These commitments include a high view of Scripture’s inspiration and authority, the reality of God’s providential guidance of history, and the priority of viewing the biblical canon as a two-testament witness to the risen Christ. By ecclesial, I also mean that biblical studies should be done in relation to the believing community. As a believer in the Bible’s message, I am part of the textual community that is generated by just these texts gathered together in just this way. These factors affect the way I conceive of and practice a canonical approach to reading the Bible. This approach resonates with those who care about the meaning of individual texts, the message of the Bible as a whole, and the theological claims the Scriptures make upon readers.

• It will Not Be Polemical: In every area of academic study, there are always debates and discussions that inform the conclusions we reach and the way we go about our task. However, in this series, I will not argue directly against alternate views or overtly engage in any debates. Rather, I will strive to maintain the constructive task of introducing the field from my vantage point. To give one example, in the entry on the Pentateuch, I don’t describe and argue against the historical-critical program of examining the pre-history of supposed sources (like an early primitive strand or a late priestly redaction). I simply assume the starting point of the final form of these books and proceed with reflection.
  
  In the second part of the series, I will engage some of the most common objections to a canonical approach (as I’ve construed it), but I will still try to maintain a constructive mindset. Of course, any readers that are part of these conversations will recognize some of the positions that underlie my comments at various points (and I will often flag the significance of some of these decisions), but my aim for this series is to demonstrate that some of the “differences” that seem unduly divisive are in fact intramural. 

Why a Primer on the Canonical Approach?

Why would you want to work through a “primer” on the canonical approach? And, Why would I want to write one? There are at least three reasons that are personal, professional, and pedagogical. 

First, I just enjoy thinking about canon studies and so this is simply an extension of the type of reflection I have been doing for a while now. In my dissertation defense years ago, I was asked this question: “Why focus on the biblical canon?” My reply then is still my reply now: “Why not?” 

Second, though the “canonical approach” has been established in the academy for over half a century, there is still often confusion about the nature and scope of its claims. If you discuss the canonical context in relation to biblical theology at an academic conference, for example, you will likely get a question calling the entire enterprise into question because of a perceived lack of exegetical impact. In this series, I will try to point to some of the work that has been done and could be pursued along these lines. 

Finally, this series serves a pedagogical function for students I teach who have questions about the nature of a canonical approach to biblical studies and some of its practical implications for exegesis, biblical theology, and the life of the churches. In short, this is the type of resource I wish that I had when I was a student. This series will help answer a few basic questions about a “canonical approach,” namely, What is it? What would it look like? And, What should I read next?

Who am I? 

My previous work in canon studies began with my first monograph, Toward a Canon-Conscious Reading of the Bible: Exploring the History and Hermeneutics of the Canon (Sheffield-Phoenix, 2014). In this book, I try to connect an account of how the biblical canon formed in history with how the biblical canon functions for readers. One Holy Book: How the Bible Came to Be and Why It Matters (Codex Books, 2021) is an attempt to reflect on the former in an accessible way (how the canon  formed) and Invitation to Biblical Theology: Exploring the Bible’s Shape, Storyline, and Themes (Kregel, 2020) is an attempt to envision the discipline of biblical theology from this perspective (how the canon functions). Many of my other reviews, articles, and essays attempt to explore various aspects of textual interpretation and biblical theology informed by a canonical approach. 

What Can You Expect from this Series?

You can expect an entry in this series once a week during Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (August 2023—April 2024). Each post will usually be 1200–1500 words.

The entries that discuss a canonical sub-collection will include a succinct description of the issues involved in studying this section of Scripture, a sense of its shape and storyline, and a targeted annotated bibliography of particularly relevant works for this kind of study.

In the second half of the series, several “case studies” will be interspersed that give some examples of the possible exegetical implications that the canonical context might have for interpretation. This part of the series will also include biographical snapshots and bibliographies of scholars who have done work in this area.

Some posts will be more technical or theoretical; others will be mostly practical with textual and theological illustrations. The goal for the series as a whole, though, is an accessible blend of theory and practice. 

Each post will eventually include a link to the next entry in the series (so you’ll be able to work sequentially through the series once it’s complete). In the first post, you will also find a working list of the posts in this series for future reference. 

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