How did the canon of the New Testament come into being? To what extent can we also speak of a history of the already existing canon? What functions were and are assigned to it in different historical contexts? What is the relationship between canonical writings and extra-canonical writings? What is the relationship between Christian apocrypha and the texts of the Bible from the Old and New Testaments? The number of questions surrounding the canon of New Testament writings and the lasting significance of apocryphal writings and traditions in relation to the canon is almost inexhaustible. This volume brings together contributions by Tobias Nicklas on these topics from the past twenty years. A particular focus is on the reassessment of Christian apocrypha and their relationship to image and rite and on understanding of canon as a dynamic entity.

Born 1967; 2000 Dr. theol.; 2004 Habilitation Universität Regensburg; 2005-07 New Testament Professor, Radboud Universität Nijmegen; Chair of New Testament Studies, Universität Regensburg; Director of the Centre for Advanced Studies "Beyond Canon" at the Universität Regensburg.