New Catholic Course from Saint Benedict Press

The New Testament Canon: The Development of the Gospels from Oral Tradition to Sacred Scripture

You can purchase this set and see a preview here.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are arguably the most important works of literature to emerge after the Old Testament in human history. The other books of the New Testament witness to the effectiveness of the Gospels’ teachings and the reality that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God. But where and when, exactly, were the books of the New Testament written? Who really wrote them? And how do we know they are the authentic Word of God? Monica Migliorino Miller, Ph.D., answers these questions and more in this course on the fascinating history and content of the New Testament Canon.

Sacred scripture is sometimes thought of as being written by God himself, supernatural writings which mystically found their way onto paper. The reality, however, is that the New Testament is comprised of writings by ordinary people who had extraordinary experiences with God. Dr. Migliorino Miller draws on extensive historical research to reveal:

• The chronology of the books of the New Testament and their cultural influences
• Details of the relationships between the various New Testament writers
• How and why the 27 books were compiled to form the New Testament
• The legitimacy of the four Gospels as factual accounts of historical events

In this course, you will also learn about the Catholic Church’s integral role in the formulation of the New Testament Canon, and the various instances in which the Church defended the New Testament from heretical interpretations.

Studying and understanding the New Testament is crucial for the Christian who wishes to deepen their faith. When we take time to better understand the foundations of our faith, we take time to better understand ourselves in the process. Understanding the rich history of the New Testament can only strengthen our faith; it demystifies scripture by making it tangible. We can more confidently profess to believe in Jesus by getting to know those who first professed to believe in Him. Walk through the history of the Christian faith which began with New Testament and continues with us with Dr. Migliorino Miller as your guide.