Roger Beckwith (1929–2023)

In 1892, the publication of H E Ryle's "The Canon of the Old Testament," was the most detailed work gathering together much of earlier authors' works. Beckwith's work supersedes Ryle's work in a much needed analysis. Beckwith expands on the previous work including the now discovered Dead Sea Scrolls & subsequent findings of various Old Testament works. In this work, endnotes provide a more specific focus on the discussion on each topic or particular OT book in question. His conclusions remain open to discussion but are based on solid ground. His main point is that the Old Testament canon was already a settled question by the 2nd century BC which the Council of Jamnia in AD 90 only confirmed. He provides numerous supporting examples including the Dead Sea Scrolls, Mishnah, New Testament, & the Talmud to defend his view. Whether he succeeds on this point, the reader can decide that question. This work includes 5 appendices & 3 indexes.… (meer)