The Writings and Canon

This chapter provides a summary of the Writings, describing the contribution this division makes to the Hebrew canon and to subsequent biblical interpretation. Acknowledging that the Writings are often perceived as amorphous, filled with diversity and difference that prevents a perception of order and purpose, the chapter asks whether these very characteristics witness to other intentions: (1) that diversity and difference are necessary for living out biblical faith; (2) that all biblical praxis (worship, discernment of wisdom, governance, envisioning the future, etc.) requires a relationship with both Torah and Prophets of the biblical canon. The Writings are seen to be a generator of questions and relationships with scripture, and to represent the first instance of canonical reception history, that is, the history of the impact and shaping of scripture in the subsequent history and faith of the community.