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The books of the Holy Bible were not always in book form so familiar to us today. In fact, they were originally independent compositions and letters written by apostles and disciples of Christ to help them pass on some of the work of Christ in a concise and accurate way. It is reported in some anthologies that Saint Matthew the Apostle's Gospel was written to the Greeks whom he was working with at the time he was converting them. Saint Matthew was a tax collector when Jesus called him to join His disciples. He was apparently very well educated, so it is quite possible that he did his own writing.
A Brief History of the New Testament Canon
Explanation of Symbols: Symbols used in this tabulation
* Book accepted (or quoted) - - - ? Book personally disputed or mentioned as disputed - - - x Book rejected, unknown, or not citedNew Testament Period and Apostolic Fathers(30-160)
Summary: The New Testament is not clearly distinguished from other Christian writings. | Gospels Generally accepted by 130
Justin Martyr's "Gospels" contain apocryphal material
Polycarp first uses all four Gospels now in Scripture
Acts Scarcely known or quoted
Pauline Corpus Generally accepted by 130, yet quotations are rarely introduced as scriptural
Phillipians, 1 Timothy: x Justin Martyr
2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon: x Polycarp, Justin Martyr
Hebrews Not considered canonical
? Clement of Rome, x Polycarp, Justin Martyr | James Not considered canonical; not even quoted
x Polycarp, Justin Martyr
1 Peter Not considered canonical
2 Peter Not considered canonical, nor cited
1, 2, 3 John Not considered canonical
x Justin Martyr 1 John ? Polycarp / 3 John x Polycarp
Jude Not considered canonical
x Polycarp, Justin Martyr
Revelation Not canonical
x Polycarp |
| Irenæus to Origen (160-250)
Summary: Awareness of a Canon begins towards the end of the 2nd century.
Tertullian and Clement of Alexandria first use phrase "New Testament."
| Gospels Accepted
Acts Gradually accepted
Pauline Corpus Accepted with some exceptions:
2 Timothy: x Clement of Alexandria
Philemon: x Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria
Hebrews Not canonical before the 4th century in the West.
? Origen, * First accepted by Clement of Alexandria
James Not canonical, ? First mentioned by Origen
x Irenæus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria
1 Peter Gradual acceptance
* First accepted by Irenæus, Clement of Alexandria
2 Peter Not canonical
? First mentioned by Origen
x Irenæus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria
1 John Gradual acceptance
* First accepted by Irenæus, x Origen
2 John Not canonical
? Origen, x Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria | 3 John Not canonical
? Origen
x Irenæus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria
Jude Gradual acceptance
* Clement of Alexandria
x Origen
Revelation Gradual acceptance
* First accepted by Clement of Alexandria
x Barococcio Canon, c.206
Epistle of Barnabas* Clement of Alexandria, Origen
Shepherd of Hermas* Irenæus, Tertullian, Origen, Clement of Alexandria
The Didache* Clement of Alexandria, Origen
The Apocalypse of Peter* Clement of Alexandria
The Acts of Paul* Origen
* Appears in Greek, Latin (5), Syriac, Armenian, and Arabic translations
Gospel of Hebrews* Clement of Alexandria |
| | Muratorian Canon (c.190) | | Excludes Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter | Includes The Apocalypse of Peter, Wisdom of Solomon |
| Origen to Nicæa(250-325)
Summary: The "Catholic epistles" and Revelation are still being disputed. | Gospels, Acts, Pauline Corpus Accepted
Hebrews* Accepted in the East, x, ?Still disputed in the West
James ?Still disputed in the East, x Not accepted in the West
1 Peter Fairly well accepted
| 2 Peter Still disputed
1 John Fairly well accepted
2, 3 John, Jude Still disputed
Revelation Disputed, especially in the East, x Dionysius |
| | Council of Nicæa (325) | Questions canonicity of
James, 2 Peter, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude |
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| From 325 to the Council of Carthage (397)
Summary: St. Athanasius first lists our present 27 New Testament books as such in 367. Disputes still persist concerning several books, almost right up until 397, when the Canon is authoritatively closed. | Gospels, Acts, Pauline Corpus, 1 Peter, 1 John Accepted
Hebrews Eventually accepted in the West
James Slow acceptance
Not even quoted in the West until around 350!
2 Peter Eventually accepted
2, 3 John, Jude Eventually accepted | Revelation Eventually accepted
x Cyril of Jerusalem, John Chrysostom, Gregory Nazianz
Epistle of Barnabas* Codex Sinaiticus - late 4th century
Shepherd of Hermas* Codex Sinaiticus - late 4th century
Used as a textbook for catechumens according to Athanasius
1 Clement, 2 Clement* Codex Alexandrinus - early 5th century
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