Many assume the New Testament canon was the product of centuries of debate and formalization, but what if the need for new scripture was as natural to early Christians as the New Covenant itself? In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Levi Baker, Assistant Professor of New Testament at William Tennant Seminary, to explore the formation of the New Testament canon. Together, they challenge the popular scholarly narrative that suggests the canon was a late development, instead uncovering the deep historical and theological connections between covenant and scripture.How did early Christians understand the role of new writings in light of the Old Testament? Why do we assume the canon wasn’t in place long before the fourth century councils? And what can the Dead Sea Scrolls tell us about the natural emergence of new sacred texts within a covenant community?Join us for a deep dive into a topic that not only impacts biblical scholarship but also how we understand the reliability and divine orchestration of scripture itself.

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Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
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