Theology
The Biblical Canon A Theological Account Matthew Y. Emerson
While most modern canon studies focus on the historical and empirical processes that produced Scripture’s final form, this innovative work argues that the canon must be understood first as a theological reality. Far from being a merely historical artifact, the canon is a living witness that shapes, and is shaped by, the doc- trines of the Christian faith. Matthew Emerson offers a fresh approach that situates the question of canon within its proper dogmatic context. Surveying the history of scholarship on the canon, he shows how prevailing approaches have overlooked the theological dimension of Scrip- ture’s unity and authority. By recovering this dimension, Emerson il- luminates how the canonical form of Scripture informs the church’s understanding of key doctrines. Professors and seminary students as well as pastors and lay readers seeking a deeper understanding of canon, doctrine, and hermeneutics will benefit from this volume. “Scholars have frequently pursued quests for the historical canon, attempting to understand the process of its formation, literary composition, and ideological function. Emerson paves the road less taken, drawing systematically on a wide range of doctrines to provide a theological account of the canon’s divine origin, uni- fied christological content, and ecclesial function. The result: a valuable account of both what the canon is (a theological rule) and how it should be read (in a theologically ruled manner).” —Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Litfin Divinity School, Wheaton College “Stephen Chapman has rightly noted that ‘the church’s concept of a canon lay precisely at the fault line between history and theology.’ Emerson explores this fault line by testing the implications of bringing together what canon is (theology) and how the canon was formed (history). His synthesis, a form of ruled reading beholden to Scripture’s ontology, should be considered in its own right as a positive contribution. I can think of fewer more pressing issues than the need for a dogmatic account of canon and its implica- tions for Christian reading of the Bible. I am grateful to Emerson for moving the conversation toward a more rigorously dogmatic account of canon.” —Darian R. Lockett, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University “In this timely volume, Emerson reminds the people of God that they hold in their hands a precious canon given by the triune God as the rule for all matters of faith and practice. His compelling theological account of what canon is and how it is formed offers a needed framework for understanding Scripture rightly. An import- ant and engaging book that deserves a wide readership.” —Stephen Presley, Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy; Southern Seminary
OCTOBER 2026 • 224 pp. • $24.99p • 9781540963017
Matthew Y. Emerson (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is vice president of academic operations and partner- ships at Oklahoma Baptist University. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including The Story of Scripture: An Introduction to Biblical Theology and Beholding the Triune God: The Inseparable Work of Father, Son, and Spirit. Emerson also serves as one of the executive directors of the Center for Baptist Renewal.
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