ABSTRACT
The canonical meaning cannot be discovered from how the text was read in the New Testament or any other period, but only by examining the text itself. Rex Mason's approach to the prophets has been redaction-critical in the same way. The obsession with a textual heritage which animated the founders of Judaism and Christianity at the turn of the era thus has its origins in the later layers of the Bible itself. As such it is no different in principle from the historical-critical methods which Child's regards as theologically inadequate. Thus one can certainly annexe traditio-historical criticism of the Twelve to a theological programme concerned with the canon; but it will be in the mould of Sanders rather than of Child's. To some extent it is a matter of convention whether we describe study of the various recensions through which the Book of the Twelve passed as traditio-historical criticism or redaction criticism.
