Despite the popularity of Christianity throughout the world, very few converts actually know and understand the heritage of their faith. When a certain historical event of that faith is called into question, the modern-day Christian has to research and refute any false claims. One such historical event often misinterpreted or flat out ignored is the Canonization of ancient Apostolic writings that we know today as the New Testament in our Bibles. Unfortunately, Christians today have a difficult time defending this essential conjuncture because they do not understand the process and history behind it. The goal of this post will be to share and educate others about the miraculous provision of God through the development of the Bible we have today, and equip fellow believers to cast down arguments and any high thing that exalts itself above God's truth.
Throughout the centuries, the NT writings have been attacked and brought into question by said "scholars" regarding whether or not they were authoritative inspired writ. The attack on scripture is nothing new: it began at the very beginning when the serpent questioned God’s word to Eve (Genesis 3:1) and continues today through acclaimed “scholarship”, media, and heritage of those determined to destroy Truth altogether. Results from such heinous attacks actually worked in favor of the early Christians: the New Testament Canon. I will give you in this brief sum-up, my beloved readers: 1.) A historical background to what stimulated the canonization 2.) Methods used to determine canonicity 3.) The amazing ramifications. I hope through this endeavor to present to you a clear vision of God’s gracious providence and sovereignty over the wiles of the devil and provision of His Word.
The grass whithers and the flower fades, but the word of God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8Numero uno: The early Christians already had the Old Testament writings from God through the Jewish heritage. During the early stages of the young church, Christ's appointed apostles began to write letters and epistles to the small growing churches during the years 45AD-140AD. These letters were considered written under the inspiration of God, with authoritative content, by all the Christian churches, and were to be read at their regular gatherings. None of the writers or members of the church were aware how these letters would eventually fit in the overall canon of Scripture, but were accepted on the various characteristics of an inspired text: Authoritative, consistency, prophecy, inerrency, etc. The proof that these letters were held in the same honor as the OT scriptures, were the public worship services modeling after services in Synagogues that always consisted of reading Scripture. The Synagogues had the OT read, and the early church read the letters alongside the OT readings. Having a set group of writings regarding Christ, His body, and eschatology were vital for the health and growth of the church. These letters provided a foundation of Christian doctrine for believers, written and handed down by the apostles, as Christianity moved throughout the Mediterranean world.
2.) God is even sovereign over heretics. The ongoing false teaching surrounding the early church caused the orthodox leaders to mark out and appoint which books and letters were truth. One such error was the canon of Marcion. In about the year 144 AD, a biblical critic named Marcion traveled to Rome sharing his gospel of the “god of love.” He brought with him his own assembled canon of what he considered Scripture. His teaching was that there were two separate God’s revealed in the Old and New Testaments: A god of “wrath” and a god of “love”. The Roman church quickly discredited Marcion’s message as heresy, but he had sparked a revolution among the frail Christian church. The apostolic writings, although already considered inspired Scripture, had to be officially canonized to protect the revealed doctrine from corruption. While mad heresy was invading the church and the rise of gnosticism (2nd century) grew chaotic at the time, debate of which letters were actual Scripture had to be finalized.
Another event instigating the accumulation of Holy Writ was the rapidly grown missions work. Looking at Jesus’ promise that he will build His church (Mt. 16:18) was evident in the spreading of the gospel to the surrounding regions. During this widespread evangelism, a need to translate the Bible into the native languages grew. People needed to learn, read, and hear God's truth. The Old Testament was already available for the missionaries, but the New Testament had not been put together yet thus forcing the church to finalize what was recognized as inspired writing.
Missions were growing and church plants were popping up everywhere. Yet where ever God is working, the enemy is sure to be tailing along. Roman leaders were weighing intense persecution on the church and at the start of the fourth century Emperor Diocletian issued that all Christian literature be burned. The Christians had to take close consideration which books to burn and which they considered had Divine authority and had to be protected, and sometimes, at the cost of their lives.
Finally, a more timid incentive to finalize the NT collection, was when the emperor Constantine asked early church historian Eusebius to make 50 copies of the New Testament for him in 313 AD.
Of course, much more went into canonizing the New Testament then just a group of Christians deciding what they liked and disliked. A major factor in the development was the already accepted books and letters. The NT did not come together by the church deciding what was Scripture, but rather a process of recognizing what was already written by God. In the Hebrew nation when God had given a book of inspiration to the people, they already recognized it as what it was and put it with the rest of the inspired texts.
Several tests were also given to the writings to confirm their authenticity and authority. One was the test of Authorship. All books were written by either apostles or those appointed by Christ. This excludes any writing independent of the apostles or disciples. Another test was that of universal Christian acceptance. If the book in question was widely accepted by the Christian church as the word of God than it was considered authoritative. Finally, the test of inspiration was the true and final test of canonicity. The Divine authority of the writing was relevant for the church now and future generations.
“Until heaven and earth pass away not one jot nor one tittle will by no means pass from the law until all is fulfilled” (Mt. 5:18). God has always in time pass and will always continue to preserve His word. Over the centuries, the NT that we have today has been preserved under the providence of God. Despite the overwhelming persecution the early church had to face, the way to preserve God’s word was to make countless copies of the original texts. Although the original manuscripts are no longer in existence today, copies of the originals are available. But how do we know if the copies we have today are still accurate? How do we know some cult didn't get their grubby hands on them and corrupted these "sacred texts"? Although minor inconsistencies have been spotted, the differences are minor to the original manuscripts. How do we know this? The discovery of the dead sea scrolls in the 1940's revealed the amazing accuracy of copied OT manuscripts, as well as other various textual criticism scholars use today.
All in all, the most important thing to understand in the canonization of the NT is the gracious providence of God. God’s promise that all may fade but His word will stand (Is. 40:8) is enough alone to stand firm in the preservation of His word. History, human reason, or what your "heart feels" are all inadequate "measuring rods" to discern if the Bible is indeed true. There is no other authority than that of God's word. Aside that, we can see through history the development, acceptance, and spreading of the early Bible. Translations through the means of monks, publicists, and modern copiers the Bible has been widely distributed. What was once a rare text to have and valued at the cost of life, is now available for many consisting in many different translations, styles, and formats. God is good.
I want you to try a thought exercise. Suppose a business school class on non-profit organizations assigns its students the task of building a successful church. And ssume all the students are non-Christians. Could they succeed?
