Criterias used to canonised the new testament

The criteria used to canonize the New Testament are rooted in the early Christian Church's understanding of Scripture and its authority. Here are some of the key criteria:

  1. Apostolic origin: The writings were attributed to the apostles or their close associates, such as Paul, Peter, and John. This was seen as a guarantee of their authenticity and authority.
  2. Widespread acceptance: The writings were widely accepted and used by early Christian communities, indicating their importance and relevance to the Christian faith.
  3. Consistency with the Old Testament: The New Testament writings were seen as consistent with the Old Testament, which was already considered authoritative by the early Christians.
  4. Consistency with the teachings of Jesus: The writings were evaluated for their consistency with the teachings and life of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospels.
  5. Inspiration by the Holy Spirit: The early Christians believed that the writings were inspired by the Holy Spirit, which was seen as the author of Scripture.
  6. Use in worship and teaching: The writings were used in Christian worship and teaching, indicating their importance and relevance to the Christian community.
  7. Early manuscript evidence: The earliest manuscripts of the New Testament writings were carefully preserved and transmitted, providing a reliable basis for their text.
  8. Synoptic Gospels: The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) were seen as a unified witness to the life and teachings of Jesus, providing a reliable foundation for the Christian faith.
  9. Pauline Epistles: The Epistles of Paul (letters) were considered authoritative because of their connection to the apostle Paul, who was seen as a key figure in the early Christian Church.
  10. Catholic Epistles: The Catholic Epistles (James, Peter, John, and Jude) were considered authoritative because of their connection to the apostles and their importance in the early Christian Church.
  11. Apocryphal writings: The early Christians rejected certain writings that were considered apocryphal (non-canonical), such as the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary, because they were not widely accepted or did not meet the above criteria.
  12. Councils and synods: The early Christian Church convened councils and synods to discuss and settle questions of doctrine and canonization. The Council of Nicaea (325 CE) and the Council of Trent (1545-1563 CE) were significant in this regard.
  13. Patristic testimony: The writings of early Christian Fathers, such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen, provided important testimony to the authority and acceptance of the New Testament writings.
  14. Textual criticism: The textual criticism of the New Testament manuscripts, which began in the 16th century, helped to establish the reliability and accuracy of the text.

These criteria were not rigidly applied, and there was some variation in the process of canonization across different regions and Christian traditions. However, they provide a general outline of the principles that guided the early Christian Church in its recognition of the New Testament as authoritative Scripture.