Sesboüé, Bernard

The Canonization of the Scriptures and the Recognition of Their Inspiration - 2004.


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The concepts of inspiration and canonization/canonicity have between them a circuitry that is but the consequence of the fundamental circuitry that exists between the Church and the Scriptures. The Christian Church precedes the N.T. On the other hand, Scripture precedes the Church because the N. T. was written in the light of the Old, and because this N.T. attests to the founding event from which it receives its authority. The face to face between Scripture and Church cannot be resolved. Inspiration precedes and establishes the canon, which becomes the first criterion of inspiration. There is something that cannot be overcome in this circuitry, made up of an original and reciprocal solidarity between the two givens. It has a dialectical aspect. After a brief history of this dialectic, B. Sesboüe presents a number of theological propositions on inspiration and the canon.