The New Testament As It Gained Acceptance by the Early Church

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400

[All the] different parts of our New Testament were written by this time, but not collected and defined as "Scripture." Early Christian Writers (for example Polycarp and Ignatius) quote from the Gospels and Paul's letters, as well as from other Christian writing and oral sources.

Paul's letters were collected late in the first century. Matthew, Mark, and Luke were brought together by 150.

New Testament used in the church at Rome (the "Muratorian Canon")

Four Gospels
Acts
Paul's letters:
  • Romans
  • 1 & 2 Corinthians
  • Galatians
  • Ephesians
  • Philippians
  • Colossians
  • 1 & 2 Thessalonians
  • 1 & 2 Timothy
  • Titus
  • Philemon
  • James
    1 & 2 John
    Jude
    Revelation of John
    Revelation of Peter
    Wisdom of Solomon

    To be used in private, but not public, worship

    The Shepherd of Hermes

    New Testament used by Origen

    Four Gospels
    Acts
    Paul's letters:
  • Romans
  • 1 & 2 Corinthians
  • Galatians
  • Ephesians
  • Philippians
  • Colossians
  • 1 & 2 Thessalonians
  • 1 & 2 Timothy
  • Titus
  • Philemon
  • 1 Peter
    1 John
    Revelation of John

    Disputed

    Hebrews
    James
    2 Peter
    2 & 3 John
    Jude
    The Shepherd of Hermes
    Letter of Barnabus
    Teaching of Twelve Apostles
    Gospel of the Hebrews

    New testament used by Eusebius

    Four Gospels
    Acts
    Paul's letters:
  • Romans
  • 1 & 2 Corinthians
  • Galatians
  • Ephesians
  • Philippians
  • Colossians
  • 1 & 2 Thessalonians
  • 1 & 2 Timothy
  • Titus
  • Philemon
  • 1 Peter
    1 John
    Revelation of John
    (authorship in doubt)

    Disputed but well known

    James
    2 Peter
    2 & 3 John
    Jude

    New Testament fixed for the West by the Council of Cathage

    Four Gospels
    Acts
    Paul's letters:
  • Romans
  • 1 & 2 Corinthians
  • Galatians
  • Ephesians
  • Philippians
  • Colossians
  • 1 & 2 Thessalonians
  • 1 & 2 Timothy
  • Titus
  • Philemon
  • Hebrews
    James
    1 & 2 Peter
    1, 2, & 3 John
    Jude

    Revelation of John

    To be excluded

    The Shepherd of Hermes
    Letter of Barnabus
    Gospel of the Hebrews
    Revelation of Peter
    Acts of Peter
    Didache

    Chart from Bruce L. Shelley, 1995, Church History in Plain Language, 2nd ed., Nashville: TN, Thomas Nelson Publishers, p. 67.

     

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