Introduction
The make-up of the canon of the New Testament (NT) was influenced by numerous factors. People should understand that the formation of the NT canon did not take place abruptly. Instead, the development of the NT canon was a lengthy process, which comprises of hundreds of years towards its development. For a long period, there has been a misconception that a council come together and made decisions concerning the books that will be included in the Bible and those that will be left out. Contrariwise, the formation and development of the NT canon were an evolutionary process that constituted of a series of essential events, ancient church events, and documents that led to the development of the NT canon (Allert 144). It is important to remember that the Orthodox Church was the first institution to approve the use of the NT at the Council of Hippo that took place in AD393. Before this event, early Christians had come in contact with the 27 books. The paper will provide a candid analysis of the key events and movements that were influential in the recognition of the canonical books. It will also shed light in the methodology employed by the applicable individuals and councils that deemed books as the inspired word of God.
In a well-researched and stimulating volume, Michael Kruger discusses the complex issues that emanate from the NT canon. The author argues that each writing of the NT represent specific qualities illustrated by the canon itself. It is important for Christians to have a satisfactory explanation on why the 27 books of the NT should be trusted. As Kruger explains, “If Christians cannot adequately answer these questions about the canonical boundaries of the New Testament, then on what grounds could they ever appeal to the content of the New Testament?” (187). Kruger asserts that the recognition of the canonical books of the NT started with the theological urgings of a prominent and influential segment of the Christian movement. The movement played a significant role in the canon-shaping process.
Several events and movements were influential in the recognition of the canonical books. The process was gradual and was motivated by definite wants. Movements such as Marcionites, Judaisers, Gnoists, Mandaens and Manichaens were influential in the recognitions of the writings. Marcionites were the first movements to declare the God of the Old Testament as the God of Jews which seemed like an insult. Marcion, who was the founder of the Marcionites, were expelled from the church, and he tried to open a new church. Marcion denounced all the disciples of Jesus expected Pauline apostles.
On the other hand, the acceptance of these biblical sources was made formal in the period of second Council of Trulllan of 692. Moreover, the Catholics defined the Biblical Canon at the Council of Trent in 1946. Church father Athanasius is recognized as the person who gave the full merit of 66 books belonging to the canon. Although in his era there were many books available, Athanasius was able to select the 66 books that he viewed that they were recognized. Therefore, the formation of the canon and Orthodox was a series of events of reflection. Doucets (756) views that these movements were spreading false works. Judaisers are the gnoist movements that are viewed the adherence to the Mosaic Law as a necessity for salvation. They published writings that people should worship only on the Sabbath rather than on the Lords day.
Kruger (208) gives his opinion on the ignoist groups in the old testamentMandaens are another gnoists group that relied on the holistic powers between the soul and the proper destination in the land of light. Their earliest writings included rituals, prayers, and priestly speeches. These groups received strong criticisms from the council of Arthnage that viewed the mandaens are against the Old Testament.
Manichaens were a certain helectual group that created its own doctrines and strictness in its institutions. Mani, who was their leader, viewed himself as the final successor in the lineage of Adam, JESUS, AND Budda. He asserted that the earliest religions were limited in their impact because of use of a single language. He wrote his teachings and offered the scriptures to people to remember him. .
Each of the gnoists movements were driven by different agendas and leaders. The movements wrote literary sources to establish their dominance where they published writing that included the Apostles identities. The earlier biblical writings were against these heretical movement’s doctrines. These groups created false works such as Gospel of Thomas, and this allowed more room for confusion as the Christianity religion became prevalent. These quench among Christians for an authoritative list of books rather than fallacious works laid a platform for the formation of canon and orthodox in the contemporary Christian world.
Missionary movements were influential in agitating for the formation of biblical canons. Over the period, the Christians demanded for books that possessed the apostolic power. The missionary teachings in writing influenced the formation of the canons.
Events such as persecution of the church led to the creation of the canon. Sometimes the Christians were forced to surrender the scriptures. The majority of the people were ready to die for the sake of the scripture. Several writings such as Eusebius illustrate the prevalent Christian persecution at that period
Methodology employed by the applicable individuals and councils
Eusebius
Through Eusebius (270-340 AD) we learn that canon also existed during his time. Even though Eusebius does not mention the term canon in his works, he undertakes a journal to examine the historical inquiry into the dogmas and beliefs of early generations (Allert 145). Eusebius classified the NT conical books in the event of anonymity and ostensible contradictions associated with the criteria used. To classify the books, Eusebius used the authenticity and apostolicity to acknowledge and list the books of Gospels, Acts, and the epistles of Paul. He disputed Jas, Jude, and 2nd Peter and was unsure on the apocalypse (Kruger 189). Other scholars went ahead to eliminate the uncertainty in the 4th century.
According to Kruger (189), apart from internal evidence, it is also important to consider the apostolic origins of the canonical texts. Various factors should be considered in determining the authorship of inspiration of a particular text. An event that took place in Rome indicated that some Christians opposed the epistle of Hebrews after concluding that the author of the book was not Paul, the Epistle. The rejection was based on the apostolic origin rather than the self-authenticating qualities (ibid).
Athanasius
In his pastoral letters, Athanasius gives an account of the books that contained in the scripture. He notes the entire 27 books of the NT that are fully recognized as NT canonical books. Athanasius recognizes these books as the wells of salvation, and claims that the people in need will receive divine power by believing in the books. He condemns any intention of people to add or take away the content of the books listed and published in connection to the ecclesiastical calendar (Cosin 48). Different individuals had different opinions regarding the procedure to determine the canonical books. For instance, Gregory of Nazianzen (died 390 AD) and Cyril of Jerusalem (died 386) composed their lists and omitted the book of Revelation. As long as we can remember, the Palestinians and the Syrian churches opposed the Apocalypse. Athanasius helped to create a culture of acceptance and people started to believe in the book. Despite his efforts, there still existed resistance from the Syrian church because the congregation did not agree with the some of the Catholic Epistles.
The Council of Carthage, Jerome, and Augustine
The Council of Carthage in 397 provided a list of NT books. The council argued that nothing was supposed to be read in church under the banner of divine scriptures if it was not categorized in canonical scriptures. During this era, the apocalypse and the five minor Catholic Epistles experienced a cold treatment. Emperor Constantine played a crucial role towards the acceptance of the set of divine scriptures. The emperor ordered Eusebius to compile a list of fifty copies of the Divine Scriptures that will be duly recognized within the society. On the other hand, Jerome and Augustine determined the settlement of the canon in the East and this lead to the publication of the Vulgate (Cosin 351).
It is undoubted that the human process was involved in the formation of the canonical books. It should also be remembered that the title of the origins of these books are not clear as long as the history of their confirmation is put into consideration. Starting from the time the Gospels, the Acts, and the Pauline epistles were composed, canonical books have always been judging from their clarity, whole content, and anonymity.
Work cited
Allert, Craig D. A High View of Scripture?: The Authority of the Bible and the Formation of the New Testament Canon. Baker Academic, 2007.
Cosin, J. A scholastical history of the canon of the Holy Scripture: or, The certain and indubitate books thereof as they are received in the Church of England. Printed by E. Tyler and R. Holt for R. Pawlett, 1977
Doucet, Delphine CM. "Questioning Authorities: Scepticism and Anti-Christian Arguments in the Colloquium Heptaplomeres." History of European Ideas 39.6 (2013): 755-775.
Kruger, Michael J. Canon revisited: establishing the origins and authority of the New Testament books. Crossway, 2012.
Kruger, Michael J. Canon revisited: establishing the origins and authority of the New Testament books. Crossway, 2012.
