Did the Jews Establish the Old Testament Canon?

Did Judaism possess a universally established canon of Scripture before or during the time of Christ? In Part 1 of Who Determined the Biblical Canon?, Dr. Stephen Boyce is joined by Gary Michuta and David Szaraz to examine the historical evidence surrounding the formation of the Jewish Scriptures. Together, they discuss Josephus and his count of twenty-two books, the traditional twenty-four-book Jewish collection, the Sadducees and Samaritans, Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the influence of the Septuagint among Greek-speaking Jews. They also consider the biblical collections associated with Aquila, Theodotion, and Symmachus; rabbinic debates surrounding Esther, Ecclesiastes, Ezekiel, and Sirach; and whether the Council of Jamnia ever actually “closed” the Jewish canon. Was there a single, universally recognized Old Testament canon in the time of Christ, or does the surviving evidence reveal a much more complicated history? This four-part series will be released to FACTS members first and later made available to the public. If you have not joined the membership yet, now is the perfect time! 🔔 Subscribe to FACTS with Stephen Boyce New episodes weekly on Scripture, Church history, and theology. 🎁 Support our ministry: If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7 #theFACTSpodcast #StephenBoyce #ChurchHistory #EarlyChurchHistory