O presente trabalho pretende traçar o percurso diacrônico da formação e da fixação do cânon da Bíblia Hebraica, dando especial atenção às teorias e hipóteses que, no passado, foram aventadas e, modernamente, rechaçadas e substituídas por outras. A hipótese tradicional acerca da formação do cânon da Bíblia Hebraica de acordo com a qual três estágios diferentes poderiam ser destacados ao longo do processo que culminou na formação da antologia sagrada dos judeus, de forma que cada um deles equivaleria ao momento de canonização de uma das três seções em que se divide a Bíblia Hebraica (Lei, Profetas e Escritos) será apresentada, assim como as críticas modernas que diversos pesquisadores têm dirigido contra ela, propondo novas formas de entendermos a gênese do cânon bíblico. Esta dissertação trata, pois, dos escritos que viriam a compor o corpo canônico de textos que ficaria conhecido, na tradição judaica, como Tanakh ou, na cristã, como Antigo (Primeiro) Testamento. Não faz parte de nosso escopo o estudo de outros cânones sagrados, mesmo aqueles que, de maneira evidente, tenham se originado a partir do cânon judaico. O processo através do qual certos livros, em detrimento de outros, foram incorporados à compilação de escritos sagrados será evidenciado, e a existência de variações entre os cânones de diferentes grupos religiosos não será discutida, embora a sua menção seja necessária. Dado o crescente desenvolvimento dos estudos bíblicos, faz-se necessário que, de maneira semelhante, os estudos de base adolesçam, isto é, que também se desenvolvam os metaestudos da Bíblia, cujo objetivo precípuo não é lê-la ou interpretá-la, mas se debruçar sobre a sua forma final e explicitar os processos e os mecanismos que a fizeram ter a configuração com que chegou a nós. Por fim, as consequências hermenêuticas advindas do fechamento do cânon da Bíblia Hebraica serão apresentadas. / The present work intends to trace the diachronic process of formation and fixation of the Hebrew Bibles canon, giving special attention to the theories e hypotheses that, in the past, have been proposed and, nowadays, denied and replaced by another ones. The traditional hypothesis about the formation of the Hebrew Bibles canon according to which three stages can be highlighted along the process that culminated in the formation of the Jewish sacred anthology, in such a way that each one of these stages would match the respective moment in which one of the three Hebrew Bibles section (Law, Prophets and Writings) was canonized will be presented, as well as the modern critics that several researchers have raised against it, while they propose new ways to understand the biblical canons genesis. This dissertation, therefore, deals with the writings that would be included in the canonical textual corpus, which would afterwards be called Tanakh, in the Jewish tradition, or Old (First) Testament, according to the Christian heritage. It is not the scope of this work to study another sacred canons, even those that clearly originated from the Jewish canon. The process through which certain books, in lieu of other ones, have been incorporated to the compilation of sacred writings will be demonstrated, and the variations among the canons recognized by different religious groups will not be dealt with, although it will be necessary at least to mention it. Given the growing development of the biblical studies, it is imperative, equally, that the underlying studies flourish, this is, that the biblical meta-studies also evolve, whose main goal is not to read the Bible or interpret it, but to analyse its final shape and exhibit the processes and the mechanisms that originated its configuration with which it came to us. Finally, the hermeneutical consequences due to the closing of the biblical canon will be presented.

O presente trabalho pretende traçar o percurso diacrônico da formação e da fixação do cânon da Bíblia Hebraica, dando especial atenção às teorias e hipóteses que, no passado, foram aventadas e, modernamente, rechaçadas e substituídas por outras. A hipótese tradicional acerca da formação do cânon da Bíblia Hebraica de acordo com a qual três estágios diferentes poderiam ser destacados ao longo do processo que culminou na formação da antologia sagrada dos judeus, de forma que cada um deles equivaleria ao momento de canonização de uma das três seções em que se divide a Bíblia Hebraica (Lei, Profetas e Escritos) será apresentada, assim como as críticas modernas que diversos pesquisadores têm dirigido contra ela, propondo novas formas de entendermos a gênese do cânon bíblico. Esta dissertação trata, pois, dos escritos que viriam a compor o corpo canônico de textos que ficaria conhecido, na tradição judaica, como Tanakh ou, na cristã, como Antigo (Primeiro) Testamento. Não faz parte de nosso escopo o estudo de outros cânones sagrados, mesmo aqueles que, de maneira evidente, tenham se originado a partir do cânon judaico. O processo através do qual certos livros, em detrimento de outros, foram incorporados à compilação de escritos sagrados será evidenciado, e a existência de variações entre os cânones de diferentes grupos religiosos não será discutida, embora a sua menção seja necessária. Dado o crescente desenvolvimento dos estudos bíblicos, faz-se necessário que, de maneira semelhante, os estudos de base adolesçam, isto é, que também se desenvolvam os metaestudos da Bíblia, cujo objetivo precípuo não é lê-la ou interpretá-la, mas se debruçar sobre a sua forma final e explicitar os processos e os mecanismos que a fizeram ter a configuração com que chegou a nós. Por fim, as consequências hermenêuticas advindas do fechamento do cânon da Bíblia Hebraica serão apresentadas. / The present work intends to trace the diachronic process of formation and fixation of the Hebrew Bibles canon, giving special attention to the theories e hypotheses that, in the past, have been proposed and, nowadays, denied and replaced by another ones. The traditional hypothesis about the formation of the Hebrew Bibles canon according to which three stages can be highlighted along the process that culminated in the formation of the Jewish sacred anthology, in such a way that each one of these stages would match the respective moment in which one of the three Hebrew Bibles section (Law, Prophets and Writings) was canonized will be presented, as well as the modern critics that several researchers have raised against it, while they propose new ways to understand the biblical canons genesis. This dissertation, therefore, deals with the writings that would be included in the canonical textual corpus, which would afterwards be called Tanakh, in the Jewish tradition, or Old (First) Testament, according to the Christian heritage. It is not the scope of this work to study another sacred canons, even those that clearly originated from the Jewish canon. The process through which certain books, in lieu of other ones, have been incorporated to the compilation of sacred writings will be demonstrated, and the variations among the canons recognized by different religious groups will not be dealt with, although it will be necessary at least to mention it. Given the growing development of the biblical studies, it is imperative, equally, that the underlying studies flourish, this is, that the biblical meta-studies also evolve, whose main goal is not to read the Bible or interpret it, but to analyse its final shape and exhibit the processes and the mechanisms that originated its configuration with which it came to us. Finally, the hermeneutical consequences due to the closing of the biblical canon will be presented.

Theological divisions are threatening the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s unity and focus on mission. Some Adventist theologians suggest that the cause of these divisions is a departure by other Adventist theologians from adhering to and applying the sola Scriptura principle. This study analyzes this problem. Chapter one presents reasons for a call during the 16th century, to reform the church to its apostolic purity. Martin Luther and other Protestant Reformers argued against the medieval church, popes, and church councils’ claim for authority to properly interpret and teach Scripture and Tradition. Differing views of reforming the church sparked divisions among the Protestant Reformers, creating two main streams, the magisterial and the radical Reformers. The Roman Catholic Church responded to the Protestant Reformations with a Counter-Reformation. Chapter two discusses Seventh-day Adventism’s application of the sola Scriptura principle. Although Adventism claims to descend from the radical wing of the Protestant Reformations, its acceptance of Ellen G. White’s prophetic ministry and her non-canonical inspired writings departs from a radical application of the sola Scriptura principle. Chapter three presents Biblical evidences for God’s use of multiple media of communication beside the Bible. Therefore Adventism needs to clearly define its understanding and application of the sola Scriptura principle to accommodate other theological sources in addition to the Bible. Chapter four presents Scripture in Zambian Adventist context, tracing Adventism’s use of the Bible in evangelization. Adventism’s responses to changing socio-political and religiopluralistic trends which threatened to marginalize Bible Instructions, and the development of, but failed attempt to implement an Adventist Bible-based Religious Education syllabus at Rusangu Secondary School are presented. Chapter five gives the general summary, conclusion and recommendations. / Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics / D.Th. (Systematic Theology)

Theological divisions are threatening the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s unity and focus on mission. Some Adventist theologians suggest that the cause of these divisions is a departure by other Adventist theologians from adhering to and applying the sola Scriptura principle. This study analyzes this problem. Chapter one presents reasons for a call during the 16th century, to reform the church to its apostolic purity. Martin Luther and other Protestant Reformers argued against the medieval church, popes, and church councils’ claim for authority to properly interpret and teach Scripture and Tradition. Differing views of reforming the church sparked divisions among the Protestant Reformers, creating two main streams, the magisterial and the radical Reformers. The Roman Catholic Church responded to the Protestant Reformations with a Counter-Reformation. Chapter two discusses Seventh-day Adventism’s application of the sola Scriptura principle. Although Adventism claims to descend from the radical wing of the Protestant Reformations, its acceptance of Ellen G. White’s prophetic ministry and her non-canonical inspired writings departs from a radical application of the sola Scriptura principle. Chapter three presents Biblical evidences for God’s use of multiple media of communication beside the Bible. Therefore Adventism needs to clearly define its understanding and application of the sola Scriptura principle to accommodate other theological sources in addition to the Bible. Chapter four presents Scripture in Zambian Adventist context, tracing Adventism’s use of the Bible in evangelization. Adventism’s responses to changing socio-political and religiopluralistic trends which threatened to marginalize Bible Instructions, and the development of, but failed attempt to implement an Adventist Bible-based Religious Education syllabus at Rusangu Secondary School are presented. Chapter five gives the general summary, conclusion and recommendations. / Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics / D.Th. (Systematic Theology)