Question: "How and when was the canon of the Bible put together?"
Answer: The term "canon" is used to describe the books that are divinely inspired and therefore belong in the Bible. The difficult aspect of determining the Biblical canon is that the Bible does not give us a list of the books that belong in the Bible. Determining the canon was a process, first by Jewish rabbis and scholars, and then later by early Christians. Ultimately, it was God who decided what books belonged in the Biblical canon. A book of Scripture belonged in the canon from the moment God inspired its writing. It was simply a matter of God convincing His human followers which books should be included in the Bible.
Compared to the New Testament, there was very little controversy over the canon of the Old Testament. Hebrew believers recognized God’s messengers, and accepted their writings as inspired of God. There was undeniably some debate in regards to the Old Testament canon. However, by 250 A.D. there was nearly universal agreement on the canon of Hebrew Scripture. The only issue that remained was the Apocrypha…with some debate and discussion continuing today. The vast majority of Hebrew scholars considered the Apocrypha to be good historical and religious documents, but not on the same level as the Hebrew Scriptures.
For the New Testament, the process of the recognition and collection began in the first centuries of the Christian church. Very early on, some of the New Testament books were being recognized. Paul considered Luke’s writings to be as authoritative as the Old Testament (1 Timothy 5:18; see also Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7). Peter recognized Paul’s writings as Scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16). Some of the books of the New Testament were being circulated among the churches (Colossians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:27). Clement of Rome mentioned at least eight New Testament books (A.D. 95). Ignatius of Antioch acknowledged about seven books (A.D. 115). Polycarp, a disciple of John the Apostle, acknowledged 15 books (A.D. 108). Later, Irenaeus mentioned 21 books (A.D. 185). Hippolytus recognized 22 books (A.D. 170-235). The New Testament books receiving the most controversy were Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 John, and 3 John. The first “canon” was the Muratorian Canon, which was compiled in (A.D. 170). The Muratorian Canon included all of the New Testament books except Hebrews, James, and 3 John. In A.D. 363, the Council of Laodicea stated that only the Old Testament (along with the Apocrypha) and the 27 books of the New Testament were to be read in the churches. The Council of Hippo (A.D. 393) and the Council of Carthage (A.D. 397) also affirmed the same 27 books as authoritative.
The councils followed something similar to the following principles to determine whether a New Testament book was truly inspired by the Holy Spirit: 1) Was the author an apostle or have a close connection with an apostle? 2) Is the book being accepted by the Body of Christ at large? 3) Did the book contain consistency of doctrine and orthodox teaching? 4) Did the book bear evidence of high moral and spiritual values that would reflect a work of the Holy Spirit? Again, it is crucial to remember that the church did not determine the canon. No early church council decided on the canon. It was God, and God alone, who determined which books belonged in the Bible. It was simply a matter of God convincing His followers of what He had already decided upon. The human process of collecting the books of the Bible was flawed, but God, in His sovereignty, despite our ignorance and stubbornness, brought the early church to the recognition of the books He had inspired.
2007-02-03 13:49:12
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answer #1
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answered by Freedom 7
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1) Internal consistency - the books of the Bible carry a common theme - about Mankind's sinfulness and God's plan for redemption and restoration
2) Earliest manuscripts complemented each other with very little errors
3) Church Fathers were circulating many manuscripts of Scripture which were copied and handed down by scribes...the whole Bible as we know of today was'nt compiled together into a single book (the manuscripts put together) until around AD 325
4) God wrote the Bible through several different people - Moses, Ezra, some Prophets, King David, King Solomon, the Four Evangelists (Gospel writers), Apostles Paul and Peter, etc
PS:Check out the sources I've listed
2007-02-03 21:57:39
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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No one knows if the bible is true or not, it could well have been written by many writers through the centuries adding on their own tales, because they found a popular thing and wanted to contribute to it, like a lot of authors do with different book series today.
Who found the bible, no one did, it has always been a readily available piece of literature, since it is supposedly about god, then it stands to reason people would not have hidden it away from the world thinking "Perhaps in 1,000 years, some moron will stumble on this and make me famous!"
2007-02-03 21:48:05
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answer #3
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answered by Lief Tanner 5
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Each book of the bible was written by a different people (although included are more than one book by the same author). The bible in it's current form was put together by committee in the 300's. What is written was likely passed on from verbal stories and legends until it was put to paper. There is no concrete way of knowing the complete truth of what is written.
2007-02-03 21:46:24
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answer #4
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answered by genaddt 7
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Many different people all worte a part of it, but the truth in it is found in that we can find many of the people and places listed in the bible today. From the recently discovered sodom and gomorah to the ancient egyptian documents of the hebrew people living and leaving the land of goshen.
2007-02-03 21:46:10
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answer #5
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answered by anamaradancer 3
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No one found it. It was written by Jews (the old testament) and Christians (the new testament) and then compiled by the Catholic Church. We have ancient manuscripts that prove that the modern Bible is no different than the ancient Bible.
2007-02-03 21:50:41
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answer #6
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answered by Dysthymia 6
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it was writted over the course of 1500+ years, leading up to revalations, in 95 AD, had over 40 human authors.
we believe it is true because
1) Scripture is inspired by God's Holy Spirit and He hasn't contradicted it
2) the righteous live by faith
and it's spelt B-i-b-l-e, not b-i-b-i-l-e
2007-02-03 21:48:58
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answer #7
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answered by Hey, Ray 6
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the Bible was written by many different men over many different times. The only thing they had in common is that they were all divinely in touch with the lord.
2007-02-03 21:45:58
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answer #8
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answered by SS4 Elby 5
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its not true and no we don't know who wrote it.inspired word of god my foot.it amassing how every Jew in the bible heard the voice of god---but no Jew now ah days ,for the last 2000 years has heard the voice of god.
eather ther god is dead or ,we know More about life now that we aren't swayed by [SUPERSTITION]
2007-02-04 00:49:31
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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Each book of the bible indicates who wrote it.
2007-02-03 21:49:51
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answer #10
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answered by Do_As_Infinity 5
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