The Expansion of Canon in the Early Church

The advent of Jesus necessitated the expansion of the Old Testament canon, as early believers recognized his teachings and actions as authoritative. This created a crucial debate for the early church regarding which texts would be classified as scripture amidst the emergence of new revelations. The teachings of Jesus were considered an essential source for understanding faith, and thus the question shifted from whether to add to the Old Testament to discerning which new writings held genuine authority. This led to the understanding that the New Testament canon was not just an addition but a necessary component to fully grasp the revolutionary message of Christ.