Who were the person's who decided which books were to be in the NT canon?

Question

Who were the person's who decided which books were to be in the New Testament canon, and what were their differing belief's about Jesus and theology? Also, how many times has the new testament canon been changed since the council of Nicea, and for what reason?

What were the main arguments and disagreements?

Answer 1

The Old Testament canon entered into Christian use in the Greek Septuagint translations and original books, and their differing lists of texts.
Jerome produced a definitive Latin edition of the Bible (Vulgate), the canon of which, at the insistence of the Pope, was in accord with the earlier Synods.
A definitive list did not come from an Ecumenical Council until the Council of Trent (1545–63).

First Council of Nicea resulted in the first uniform Christian doctrine, called the Nicene Creed.


I'll try an date the many Bibles.........some of which are revised NT.

Latin Vulgate -9th century

The English Bible (Codex Amiatinus) "Lindisfarne Gospels"-10th century

Wycliffe Bible - 14th century

Tyndale Bible - NT- 1525 OT- 1530

Matthew Bible - 1537

Great Bible (Cromwell) - 1539

Geneva Bible - 1560

Biships Bible- 1606

Douai - Rheims Bible - 1582

KJV - 1611

Weymouth NT 1902

Moffat - 1913

20th Century Bible - 1898

Basic English Bible - 1949

New English - 1961

New American Standard - 1958

New International - 1978

New KJV - 1979

Roman Catholic Bible - 1815

Challoner - 1816

Westminister - 1936

Confraternity - 1941

New American - 1986

Knox -NT - 1945 OT - 1949

RSV Catholic NT - 1956/1966

Jerusalem Bible - 1966

Some of these were revised and either banned by Kings or Popes, etc.

Research Bibles on wikipedia.com. It should give a better understanding on all the translations . Search List of English Translations and I'm sure you will find even more than I have listed.

Answer 2

God decided which books were scripture. He inspired the Apostles to write them. All New Testament writers had the same beliefs about Jesus. The 27 books we use today are the same 27 used in the early church in the 1st century. 5 of the NT books were doubted by the leaders of a few churches for a short while, but that was solved early.
Now-there are many documents of a religious nature that were written in the 1st 4 centuries. Some were sound legitimate documents, but they were not scripture. There were some documents that were bogus. Some (very few) church leaders attempted to use these extra-biblical documents in their churches. This caused such an uproar that a council was called to settle this along with many other problems. This was the council of Nicea. In this council the original 27 books of the New Testament were canonized (tested, examined), and all other documents were proved to be not from God. The canon of scripture was officially closed-for good. No books were left out-no books were allowed in. The entire New Testament that we have today is the same one we had at the close of the canon. The Catholics did add books to their Bible at the council of Trent around 1565 or about 1300 years later. The only change that has ever been allowed to the Bible is only what the Catholics did to their Bible at Trent. This only affects the Catholic Bible and no other one.
The New Testament has never been changed. We have available 1st and 2nd century documents to prove this. The only difference you will see is the language, print vs. hand written, and chapter and verse numbering.

Answer 3

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.

Answer 4

Your first question is easy - the ones at the Council of Nicea, which you mention. The main difference of opinion as to Jesus was whether he was God or man, or both. I don't think the "canon" has changed much since Nicea, tho the Catholics have a handful of books that the Protestants could not and don't accept.

Answer 5

There is no simple way to answer your question. The who of the decisions is probably less important than why each decision was made and what were the effects of the choices.

Biblical scholars differ hugely on many aspects of questions like this, so my best advice is to start reading somewhere, see what makes sense to you and what sounds weird -- and then keep on reading!

One possible place to start is with "A Brief History of the New Testament" on this site
http://www.maplenet.net/~trowbridge/NT_Hist.htm.
This is just one of many sites that will come up if you search on "New Testament History" or "New Testament Canon" or "Apocryphal Canon." Have fun!

Answer 6

the 1st extant, ie frequently used of, New testomony canon lists date from the 2C. They point out that Paul's letters and the 4 gospels have been o.k. frequently used and utilized in church homes, as nicely as a million John and a million Peter. The settled canon in the 4C incorporates some that have been not so conventional in all church homes, yet cherished in some. Eg Hebrews demands dissimilar understand-how of Jewish issues, and maximum christians have been gentiles of path by way of the 2C. issues like the Didache and Shepherd of Hermas would have been coated, according to possibility they only weren't on an identical point. As for the previous testomony, they tended to apply the Septuagint Greek translation of the Tanach. yet in recent times they translate from the main historic Jewish manuscripts (masoretic texts), alongside with texts from the lifeless sea scrolls unearths.

Answer 7

The Catholic Church. The canon was assembled officially in the 4th century. It never changed until Protestants published the King James which was missing 7 books.

"If any one shall say, or shall believe, that other Scriptures, besides those which the Catholic Church has received, are to be esteemed of authority, or to be venerated, let him be anathema." Council of Toledo, Canon 12 A.D. 400

Answer 8

In Rome, the Council of Nicea.

Answer 9

Wasn't there so can't really answer your question. What I can tell you with absolute certainty is that the most important book was excluded and an all out effort was made to destroy all copies. This book is called the Apocryphon of John. The christian church hated this book because it does not support christianities fundamental doctrines. Jesus clearly says that He and the Holy Spirit were created and not equal to God. He further tells us that the god of Moses was satan and not God. Anyone who is serious about knowing the truth needs to read this book.

Answer 10

Jerome.
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1154