Early Church Perspectives on the Canon

The debate surrounding the biblical canon focuses on the contrast between Protestant and Catholic views, specifically regarding the inclusion of certain books known as the Deuterocanonical. Early church scholars indicated significant discrepancies in the acceptance of these books; for instance, it is argued that the 66-book canon used by Protestants lacks historical precedent in the first 1,500 years of church history. Only a few early church fathers seem to mention this canon, and much of the early church had more uncertainty regarding the New Testament than the Old. This historical backdrop raises questions about how and why the Protestant canon diverged from other traditions, with the early church largely disputing aspects of the New Testament rather than the Old Testament, where agreement was more widespread.