Who decided what went into the Bible?

Question

I know that contents were decided by a committee hundreds of years after Christ's death, appointed by a non-Christian emperor who decided to impose Christianity on his people, and that dozens of books were discarded and many of those that remained were edited.

What I'd like to know is exactly who these people were, how they were selected, and what their political and religious affiliations were. I'd also like to know how Christians can be so absolutely certain that none of these individuals were subject to either outside influences or their own inbred prejudices. Did God himself tell them what to include, and if so, why didn't he edit out the stuff that Christians now say that Jesus disavowed- like all of Leviticus except the prohibition on homosexuality?

(P.S. Knew I'd get a couple "god wrote it its all true jesus saves" responses. It's a pity so many people know so little about the book that they hold so precious and sacred and absolutely right... it's a safe bet that most have never even read it cover to cover, but I have.)

Answer 1

Picture this... The year is 325 C.E. and you're in a crowded Roman building with about 350 guys that you don't know very well. You're screaming and yelling back and forth, calling each other every word in the book and yet, miraculoulsy, inerrantly, the Bible emerges from your midst, complete and infallible... Likely? Baloney.

As to your other questions, Constantine I, the Emperor of the day, invited all 1800 Christian "Bishops" or "Episcopos" (Where Episcopal gets its name) to attend a conference about unifying all of Christendom. Although 1800 get invites, only about 350 people (all men) attend the conference, for whatever reason... Maybe they got sick... Maybe a house fell on them, I don't know... But 350... Okay. Next.

Everyone gathers with the little task of deciding what is Canonical and what isn't and giving us a short statement of our beliefs... drum roll... the NICENE CREED!!!

SO!!! After cuss fuss and discuss sessions are concluded, we arrive at the Bible, complete with the Apocrypha.

Many people believe that this process was God-inspired... If so, why did Protestants later remove the God-inspired Apocrypha???

Answer 2

It was NOT a committe that decided.

From the time that the books (letters and history of Jesus ) were written in the first century, these books were copied and distributed thoughout the world of Christians.
Many of the Christian leaders and scholars during the second century wrote about was should be included in the NT canon (the OT was pretty well set in Jesus time on earth).
Over the next century , these conclusions were agreed upon by the whole Christian church. Various "committees" only confirmed what the church was saying.

Constantine had no say in the matter. That is a myth made up by those who don't want to accept the Bible as God's word. To assure yourself of that, you will have to do some study into the history of the early church and the writings of the Ante-Nicene "Fathers" of the church.(Before the Council of Nicea)

Answer 3

The Old Testament comes from Judaism. The first 5 books of the OT come from the Torah and the first to be accepted as cannon. Around 200 BC the prophets writings were brought together. The other books of the OT were brought together shortly before the arrival of Christ.

During the 1st and 2nd century of Christianity there were many writings floating around - and different groups were using different writings. Thus the need for clearly accepted and genuine writings. A tradition of use, authority within the communities, antiquity or apostolicity, and orthodoxy were factors in deciding which books were "in" and which were "out." This was a process that took place over a long period of time.

Criteria for Canonicity:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_canon
1. Apostolic Origin — attributed to and based on the preaching/teaching of the first-generation apostles (or their close companions).
2. Universal Acceptance — acknowledged by all major Christian communities in the ancient world (by the end of the fourth century).
3. Liturgical Use — read publicly when early Christian communities gathered for the Lord's Supper (their weekly worship services).
4. Consistent Message — containing a theological outlook similar or complementary to other accepted Christian writings.

Answer 4

The Romans did. The first printings of the Bible as we know it came after Constantine converted the Empire to Christianity. This was some 140 years after the death of Christ.
The stories you see, many were converted from the Legends of the Roman Gods as to not offend the Current regime of priests.
It was kind of a religious compromise.

Answer 5

The Council of Nicaea. Constantine a Roman emperor and pagan converted to Christianity decided that Christianity was growing and he wanted to be part of it. So he called the Church leaders from all over the world to come and be part of the development of the Catholic church, meaning general or universal. They argued for hours about which books were relevant and would be used as doctrines. Those who refused the outcome of this council were declared heretics and put to death. Constantine himself was not there. He did not accept Jesus baptism until he was on his death bed.

Answer 6

strange we were talking about it yesterday and I forget but it was in the 300s and I presume a group of church elders that would have been before the catholic faith I presume. but they read all or most of the available literature which had been shared among Christians and with pray and consideration took what seemed the best records of Jesus life. some of the old testament is the Torah of the Jews and others I think is made up of books Jesus refered to. accept it becouse it speaks to me God can speak through it. I am sure he could use any thing but it seems the bible is a good saurce for understanding his plan for us.

Answer 7

Unfortunately, it is not possible to answer your specific question in the way you'd like. A myth has arisen that Roman Emperor Constantine's council of Nicaea in 325 CE fixed the canon of the Bible. However, the historical record does not show that in fact it did. The composition of the Bible was not one of the matters dealt with at this council.

No council of bishops dealt with the issue of which books should officially constitute the bible until the Council of Trent, more than a millennium later.

http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/nicaea.html

Here is a history of the Bible and its canon:

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/a/canon.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_canon

Answer 8

I've always believed that the bible was divinely inspired, but that much of the book has been lost.
There are so many biblical-type texts out there, that there's no way to know which one's right.
So many things have been lost in translation (from Aramaic to Hebrew, from Hebrew to Latin and Greek, and from those two to hudreds of languages.) we don't know what's what!

for instance:
Moses parting the RED sea was most likely God telling Moses where he could cross the REED sea, which is more of a marsh (when the tide goes out it's pretty well dry, but when the tide comes in, it's bout like quicksand mixed with patches of swamp, hence the Egyptians getting stuck.)
I could go on for hours, but I won't.

that's where faith comes in.

Answer 9

Fantastic question!

They will likely tell you that the veracity of the Bible has been affirmed through discoveries like the Dead Sea Scrolls, without knowing that those discoveries only covered a fraction of the Bible books. Or they will simply cop-out and say that God made all the council members do everything perfectly.

Edit: And I will get Thumbs Down for saying this. Hehe.

Answer 10

those references are to the Council of Nicea, a amassing of bishops, in 325 CE. you could debate what that council desperate relating to the Bible. enable's say they did not vote. Then how do Christians be responsive to they have the main appropriate books? they don't. No e book says which books would desire to be in, and whether one did how could you be responsive to that one exchange into actual? you're taking your denomination's canon on faith and the authority of your paaaashtuuuh or pedophile bishop. that's probably the aspects the place "Christian Apologetics" falls flattest, and that's announcing some thing.