𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐂𝐇𝐔𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝐆𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐔𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓

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Unlike the Old Testament, which already had a canon listed in the Septuagint, the New Testament was still scattered—no single collection of writings had been gathered or officially recognized. Early Christians relied on oral teaching, letters, and scattered texts. It wasn’t until the 4th century that the New Testament, as we know it today, was officially recognized and declared by the Catholic Church.

𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧

As the Church grew, disputes arose. Not every book circulating among Christians was inspired, and many heretical groups were spreading false teachings.

Arians, who denied Christ’s full divinity, circulated gospels and letters that downplayed Jesus’ divine nature.

Gnostics, who believed salvation came through secret knowledge, used texts like the Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Mary, Gospel of Judas, the Apocryphon of John, and other esoteric writings.

It was the Catholic Church alone that had the authority and wisdom to discern which writings were inspired, and which were not.

𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐔𝐧𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬

The journey to the official New Testament canon is a fascinating historical story:

1. The Marcion Canon (140 AD): Marcion of Sinope, a heretic priest, recognized only 11 books, including just one Gospel—from Luke—which he called the “Gospel of Marcion.”

2. The Muratorian Canon (170 AD): Discovered in Italy by Lodovico Antonio Muratori in 1740, it contained 21 books, including the disputed “Apocalypse of Peter.”

3. The Irenaeus Canon (180 AD): St. Irenaeus, a Catholic bishop trained by St. Polycarp (a disciple of John the Apostle), acknowledged the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—and listed 21 books in total.

4. The Origen Canon (240 AD): Origen of Alexandria, a priest and theologian (later condemned as heretic), included 30 books, some disputed, like the Epistle of Barnabas, Shepherd of Hermas, and 1 Clement.

5. The Eusebius Canon (325 AD): Eusebius of Caesaria, historian and bishop, listed fewer than 27 books. Commissioned by Constantine the Great, he prepared 50 Greek Bibles—the famous “Fifty Bibles of Constantine”—from which survive the Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus.

6. The Athanasius Canon (367 AD): St. Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria, defender of the faith against Arianism, listed the 27 books in his 39th Festal Letter.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲

Early Church leaders applied consistent standards to discern which books truly belonged in the New Testament:

Apostolic origin: Linked to an apostle or their close associate (e.g., Mark’s Gospel tied to Peter; Luke-Acts to Paul’s companion Luke).

Orthodox content: Writings had to be consistent with the core teachings of Christ and the Church.

Universal acceptance: Books widely recognized across diverse Christian communities were given authority.

Liturgical use: Books regularly read in worship and instruction carried special weight.

It’s remarkable that many books have no named authors, yet the Church still recognized them as inspired. Some, like the Book of Revelation, were controversial, yet the Church included them. Others, like Luke, Acts, and Mark, were not directly written by apostles themselves, yet their apostolic connection and theological accuracy earned them inclusion.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧

To end the disputes, the Catholic Church officially declared the 27-book New Testament canon at the Council of Rome, later reaffirmed at the Councils of Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage (397 AD). This was not merely a historical formality—it was essential.

By this time, Arian heretics had spread across much of the Roman Empire, teaching that Jesus was made by God and not begotten. The Church responded decisively, teaching in the Nicene Creed: “Christ was begotten, not made.”

The Church also rejected heretical writings used by Gnostics, including the Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Mary, Gospel of Judas, Apocryphon of John, and Acts of Peter. Only the divinely inspired, apostolic, orthodox books were included.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧

Ironically, Protestants today accept the 27-book New Testament canon, which was canonized simultaneously at the Councils of Rome, Hippo, and Carthage, yet many reject the 46-book Old Testament canon, which was canonized by the same Church.

If they cannot accept the authority that canonized the Old Testament, then logically, they should also reject the New Testament, because both were given to us by the Catholic Church.

Moreover, Protestants had no contribution whatsoever in the selection or canonization process of the New Testament.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

When disputes arise among Christians, the Church settles the issue (Matthew 18:17). Christ gave the Church authority to bind and loose (Matthew 16:19). Just as the Apostles resolved disputes at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15), the Catholic Church settled the New Testament canon in the 4th century.

Since then, all Christians have used the 27 NT books. When Rome speaks, disputes are closed.

Important Questions for Protestants:

Where was your Protestant sect during the canonization of the New Testament in the 4th century?

Why did your pastor or founder have no contribution to the selection and canonization process of the NT?

If your church or sect is truly part of Christ’s Church, then you must have been present during the most important event in Christian history — the canonization of the Christian Bible.