The Canon of the Bible

"The Canon of the Bible" by Samuel Davidson is a deep investigation into how the Bible's list of accepted books was created, changed, and viewed throughout history. Written in the late 1800s, the book aims to give a fair and complete look at both the Old and New Testaments, focusing on how the choices about which books belonged were made over time. The author stresses that it's important to understand the different situations and meanings that molded the scriptures. Starting with a detailed introduction, Davidson shares his goals and methods for talking about the Bible's canon, and critiques past writings that were too defensive or traditional, pushing for a more fact-based approach. Davidson clarifies the important words related to the canon, noting that their meanings have shifted among different writers. He builds a base for discussing the Old and New Testament canons, pointing towards a story that highlights shifts in how biblical texts were seen and accepted throughout Jewish and early Christian times, establishing grounds for a detailed exploration into how the canon took shape and gained recognition across the ages.