📜📖 WHEN AND WHY WAS THE BIBLE CANONIZED?

📖 WHY WAS THE BIBLE CANONIZED?

The early Church wanted to preserve the teachings of Jesus and the apostles as false teachings began to arise.
Oral tradition was widespread, but the Church saw a need for written, reliable documents to maintain doctrinal integrity.

Heretical groups like Marcionites and Gnostics began producing or promoting alternate “scriptures.”
- Example: Marcion created his own canon (rejecting the Old Testament and parts of the New).
The Church responded by clarifying which writings were genuinely apostolic and aligned with the faith handed down.

As Christianity spread, various regions used different texts in worship and teaching.
A unified canon helped create doctrinal consistency across the growing Christian world.

During Roman persecutions (especially under Diocletian, 303–311), Christians were forced to hand over their sacred texts.
The question arose: Which books are worth dying for?
- This increased the urgency to identify the truly authoritative Scriptures.

Local churches used certain texts in worship, teaching, and discipleship.
Usage by the major centers of Christianity (Jerusalem, Rome, Antioch, Alexandria, Ephesus) carried great weight.

Figures like Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, and Athanasius affirmed and defended specific books.
Their writings reflect what was widely accepted and challenged what was not.
Athanasius (367 AD) was the first to list all 27 New Testament books we use today—and only those.

Council of Laodicea (c. 363 AD): Gave a list of canonical books (though some debate surrounds it).
Synod of Hippo (393 AD) and Council of Carthage (397 & 419 AD):
- These officially recognized the New Testament canon as we know it.
- Their lists matched the modern 27-book New Testament.

The early Church believed that the Holy Spirit guided the Church to recognize—not invent—the canon.
Canonization was seen more as recognition of what God had already inspired rather than a human decree.

Hebrew Bible (Tanakh): Largely settled by the 2nd century BC.
- Though debates continued (especially on books like Esther, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs), the core books were widely accepted.
Septuagint (Greek OT): Included additional books (the Deuterocanon or Apocrypha).
- Early Christians, especially Greek-speaking ones, used these in the Church.
- These were later disputed during the Reformation.

1st century (50–100 AD): The New Testament books were written.
2nd century (100–200 AD): Core texts like the Gospels and Pauline letters were widely recognized.
- Muratorian Fragment (~170 AD) gives the earliest known partial list.
3rd century (200–300 AD): Writings by Origen and others show growing consensus, though debates continued over some books.
4th century (300–400 AD): Final recognition solidified through councils and Athanasius’s Festal Letter.
By the early 5th century, the 27-book New Testament was universally accepted in both East and West.

Apostolic Origin – Written by an apostle or someone closely connected.
Orthodox Content – In line with the rule of faith (early apostolic teaching).
Widespread Usage – Used in liturgy and teaching across the churches.
Inspiration & Spiritual Power – Recognized for its divine authority and ability to edify the Church.

Century	Key Events
1st	NT books written, circulated informally
2nd	Early lists, church fathers defending against heresies
3rd	More uniform usage, still some disputed books
4th	Canon lists emerge (Athanasius, Synods of Hippo/Carthage)
5th	Canon recognized and affirmed universally in Church