Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 175:700 (Oct 2018)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Matthew S. DeMoss

BSac 175:700 (October-December 2018) p. 474

Book Reviews

By The Faculty And Staff Of Dallas Theological Seminary

Matthew S. DeMoss

Editor

Canonical Theology: The Biblical Canon, Sola Scriptura, and Theological Method. By John C. Peckham. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2016. xiv + 295 pp. $35.00.

Peckham is professor of theology and Christian philosophy at Seventh-Day Adventist Theological Seminary of Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. In this book, he proposes and illustrates a canonical approach to a systematic biblical theology, after defending the canon of Scripture and the Bible’s authority rooted in the doctrine of sola Scriptura.

Peckham argues that “the books of Scripture are not canonical based on the determination of the community, but in virtue of the intrinsic nature of the books as divinely commissioned” (5). This view is rooted in the testimony of the writings themselves and is confirmed by “three mutually reinforcing traits intrinsic to canonical books . . . as criteria of recognition: divine commission as prophetic or apostolic, consistency with past revelation, and self-authentication by divine purpose” (47). Application of these criteria supports the Protestant canon of sixty-six books.

Rather than identifying a “rule of faith” in the creeds or Christian tradition, Peckham defends the canon as that rule. “Why, then, should any who view the Scriptures as infallible (as I do) appeal to any extracanonical authority or arbiter that lacks the quality of being infallibly inspired by the Holy Spirit?” (135). “The common canonical core is by far the most attested; it has achieved the most attention by interpreters and enjoys nearly universal reverence and primacy among Christians. It appears, then, to be the most ‘consensually’ recognized rule” (136).

Turning to a discussion of sola Scriptura, he proposes that this doctrine affirms “(1) Scripture is the uniquely infallible source of divine revelation that is available to contemporary humans collectively; (2) Scripture alone provides a sufficient and trustworthy basis of theology; and (3) Scripture is the uniquely authoritative and final norm of theological interpretation that norms all others” (141). Later he notes that this doctrine does not deny divine revelation outside the Bible, since “Scripture itself recognizes general revelation (Rom 1:18–23), extracanonical prophecy (Acts 2:17; 1 Cor 14:29), and the apostolic tradition of the first generation (2 Thess 3:6)” (142). H...