New Testament Canon

New Testament Canon

Various early Christian fathers attest to the broad knowledge of various NT documents late in the first century and early in the second century.

Clement, writing in about 96 AD, identifies the following NT books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, 1 Timothy, Titus, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter

Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, writing in approximately 108 AD, alludes to the following NT books: Matthew, Luke, John, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, and 1 & 2 Timothy.

Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna (c. 70-160) writing in approximately 110 AD, identifies 16 NT books as canonical. He does not mention Matthew, Luke (?), Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, Titus, James, 2 Peter, Jude, Philemon, 1, 2 & 3 John, Revelation.

Justin Martyr was aware of the following NT books: Matthew, Mark ?), Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians, Hebrews, and 1 Peter.

Irenaeus (c. 150-202) became bishop of Lyon, Gaul (France) about 180 AD. He identified the following books as canonical: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thess, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1 & 2 John and Revelation. He does not mention Philemon, Hebrews, James and 3 John. Jude is questionable and he also listed the Shepherd of Hermas.

The early Christian church met for the public reading of the Scriptures (Acts 2:42). As the writings of the apostles, the epistles and gospels came into use, multiple copies were made so that the various churches had their copy to read on their day of worship. Thus, there are in existence today over 5000 manuscripts of the NT or portions of the NT. As well, there are various translation – not English translations, but Coptic, Latin, Syrian, etc. There was no Zondervan, InterVarsity, or Baker Books to copy the NT for people. The church and correspondingly, the copies of the NT spread in a fairly sporadic manner, wherever people copied the manuscripts of the Scriptures.
(Paul Barnett, Is the New Testament Reliable? Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1986, pp. 44-45). churches.

The following NT books were questioned as to their canonical status:

Hebrews – was questioned in the West because of uncertainty of apostolic authority. However, in the East it was believed to be Pauline in some sense – either he wrote it or a close associate of his wrote it – and thus it became classified as a Pauline letter and thus canonical.
James – the author of James was also uncertain and the doctrine of works being part of faith in the book were the two main reasons this was questioned. Again, however, it eventually gained concensus among the church as canonical.
2 Peter – was quite different than 1 Peter and also had a very limited circulation.
2 & 3 John – were both very short, personal letters with limited "theology."
Jude – was questioned due to lack of certainty of its author’s authority.
Revelation – was widely accepted in the earlier patristic period. Only one sect (Alogi) initially questioned its inclusion in the canon. Later in the 4^th century certain influence in the East lead to its questioning again.

In the 3^rd and 4^th centuries various church writers and councils began to convene to decide the final canonical list. In 367 AD Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, cited the 27 books of the New Testament. The Third Council of Carthage (397 AD) declared these 27 books and only these books to be received as canonical. Again, it is important to emphasize that these people and councils decided the canon. This is not the case. Rather, they certified or approved the canon that was already accepted and in use by the Christian church.

The Muratorian Canon provides a fairly good understanding of what the church in the Western part of the Mediterranean believed to be the New Testament canon before the end of the second century (c. 190). This document was written around 170 AD, a Latin copy from the 8^th century was discovered by Cardinal L. A. Muratori in the 1700’s. In this document only Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter and 3 John are absent (also included Wisdom of Solomon and Revelation of Peter).
(Paul D. Wegner, The Journey from Texts to Translations, 140)

There is one final class of New Testament literature we will mention just briefly. These are the agrapha or the "unwritten records." The NT tells us that there are other accounts but we do not have access to these today.
See John 21:25; Luke 1:4; Colossians 4:16; 2 Corinthians 7:8]

Is the canon open or closed?