Irenaeus of Lyons, a significant theologian of the second century AD, played an influential role in shaping the Christian understanding of the gospel, Scriptures, and church structure. While not a founder, his articulation provided an unparalleled scope that laid the groundwork for future church leaders. This volume, part of the Patristic Essentials series, situates Irenaeus in his historical context and emphasizes his contributions to second-century Christian doctrine. By including well-known passages and preserving their internal logic, it offers readers a clear understanding of his theology. Each chapter begins with an overview, supplemented by strategic headings, to guide readers through Irenaeus's arguments. Updated English translations are provided to aid contemporary readers. Through his careful curation and clear editorial guidance, Spellman introduces Irenaeus's vision of God's redemptive work to a new generation, reflecting the ancient theologian's comprehensive approach to Christian understanding.

Two distinct questions about the canon of the Bible can be raised: (1) How did the biblical canon come to be?, and (2) What effect does that canon have on its readers? The former is a historical question about the formation of the biblical canon; the latter is a hermeneutical question about the function of the biblical canon. Though these questions have often been pursued in virtual isolation from one another, Spellman argues that there are considerable gains from observing the interconnections between the two lines of inquiry.

On the historical question of the origin of the canon, Spellman asks, Is the shape of this collection an accident of history or a result of intelligent design? He concludes that canon-consciousness played an important role in the formation of the canon, even impinging on the work of the biblical authors themselves. On the hermeneutical question, the communities of readers of the Bible may also be shown to have been directed by their own canon-consciousness, using it as a guide in their interpretative task.

In this interdisciplinary work, Spellman marshals historical, theological and hermeneutical resources in order to paint a picture of how the concept of canon can enrich reading communities of today.

John Sailhamer (1946-2017) is known for his careful scholarship on the Hebrew Bible and his focus on the compositional strategies found in the text of Scripture. Perhaps less well-known is his comprehensive vision for theological education.

In part one of this volume, editors Ched Spellman and Jason K. Lee present a previously unpublished address from Sailhamer on The Nature, Purpose, and Tasks of a Theological Seminary and offer a reflection on the setting, substance, and significance of this new work. Part two includes a collection of Sailhamer's articles, essays, and reviews that are less-well known yet relate to some of the major topics he develops in his proposal for theological education. These writings focus on the use of history and hermeneutics with an eye toward the nature of biblical narratives. This section also includes some of Sailhamer's interaction with works from several different disciplines (from biblical exegesis to systematic theology) as well as his reflections on the state of Old Testament studies. The volume ends with a comprehensive bibliography of Sailhamer's writings and research.

Two distinct questions about the canon of the Bible can be raised: (1) How did the biblical canon come to be?, and (2) What effect does that canon have on its readers? The former is a historical question about the formation of the biblical canon; the latter is a hermeneutical question about the function of the biblical canon. Though these questions have often been pursued in virtual isolation from one another, Spellman argues that there are considerable gains from observing the interconnections between the two lines of inquiry. On the historical question of the origin of the canon, Spellman asks, Is the shape of this collection an accident of history or a result of intelligent design? He concludes that canon-consciousness played an important role in the formation of the canon, even impinging on the work of the biblical authors themselves. On the hermeneutical question, the communities of readers of the Bible may also be shown to have been directed by their own canon-consciousness, using it as a guide in their interpretative task. In this interdisciplinary work, Spellman marshals historical, theological and hermeneutical resources in order to paint a picture of how the concept of canon can enrich reading communities of today.