The Discursive Fight over Religious Texts in Antiquity

As indicated in the title, this volume focuses on an area of conflict that became decisive for the development of Christianity, i.e. which group of texts should be regarded as normative for the preaching of the Christian faith, and how these texts should  be interpreted. Several centuries were to pass however before there was consensus in the Church on this matter. There were no foregone conclusions and a great number of disputes arose. The most viable opinions therefore are reflected in the texts that, together, form the New Testament canon.