Dive into the intriguing history of the New Testament canon and discover who first listed its 27 books. Uncover the differences between canonical gospels and apocryphal texts, highlighting the self-authenticating nature of scripture. Explore the early church's criteria, such as apostolicity and orthodoxy, and how these influenced the recognition of sacred texts. This discussion sheds light on how early Christians identified inspired writings, revealing a fascinating journey of faith and textual integrity.
Athanasius of Alexandria was pivotal in formalizing the New Testament canon by officially listing its 27 books in 367 AD.
The early recognition of texts as inspired was guided by divine qualities rather than arbitrary human decisions, emphasizing their inherent authority.
Deep dives
Athanasius and the New Testament Canon
Athanasius of Alexandria was the first to list the 27 books of the New Testament in 367 AD, marking an important milestone in the formation of the biblical canon. Although some argue that Origen created a similar list earlier, it raises the question of whether early Christians lacked clarity regarding the New Testament's contents before the fourth century. The concept of canon, meaning a standard or rule for sacred texts, highlights the process through which certain writings were recognized as genuinely inspired by God. By examining the historical context, it's clear that even prior to the church councils, believers had distinct ideas about the authoritative texts, differentiating between canonical gospels and apocryphal writings like the Gospel of Thomas.
The Role of Church Authority and Historical Context
Two primary theories surround the establishment of the New Testament canon: one proposing that the church and its councils dictated the list through political means, and another suggesting a divinely guided process through early church practices. While some argue that political decisions by figures like Constantine shaped the canon, much evidence contradicts this idea by showing early distinctions in text usage among believers. Ancient manuscript data reveals that canonical texts were far more prevalent and maintained in worship than non-canonical writings, emphasizing that early Christians were recognizing and using specific texts long before any formal council. Thus, the notion that a singular group arbitrarily selected the books is challenged by the significant historical support for the existence and acceptance of these texts.
The Essence of Self-Authenticating Scripture
The recognition of the New Testament canon did not arise from mere human decisions but was informed by the divine nature of the texts themselves, suggesting a self-authenticating quality. Criteria such as apostolicity, orthodoxy, antiquity, and use were considered significant but not necessarily defining in the canonization process. Ultimately, the core argument is that the scriptures inherently testify to their inspiration from God, which was understood early on by believers drawn to their message. This perspective aligns with theological insights that assert the church's role was not to create the canon but rather to receive and affirm what was divinely revealed, a concept supported by early Christian leaders who emphasized the uniqueness of God's message in the scriptures.
Who was the first person to list the 27 books of the New Testament in the biblical canon? And how did the early Christians know which books were inspired and which weren't? Pastor Adriel Sanchez answers these questions and more about how we got our bibles. ——— JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER - https://solamedia.org/newsletter/ ——— FOLLOW US - Instagram - X/Twitter - Facebook ——— WHO WE ARE - Sola is home to White Horse Inn, Core Christianity, Modern Reformation, and Theo Global. Our mission is to serve today’s global church by producing resources for reformation grounded in the historic Christian faith. Our vision is to see reformation in hearts, homes, and churches
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