New testament canon
The New Testament canon refers to the collection of books that are widely accepted as authoritative and divinely inspired by Christians. The New Testament is the second part of the Christian Bible, and it tells the story of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the early Christian church.
The New Testament canon consists of 27 books, which are divided into four categories:
- Gospels (4 books): Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
- Acts of the Apostles (1 book): Acts
- Epistles (letters) of Paul (13 books): Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and Hebrews
- General Epistles (7 books): James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude
The process of establishing the New Testament canon was a gradual one that took place over several centuries. Here's a brief overview:
- Early Christianity (1st century): The earliest Christian communities recognized the importance of oral traditions and written accounts of Jesus' life and teachings. The Gospels and Epistles of Paul were likely written during this period.
- Early Church Fathers (2nd-3rd centuries): The early Church Fathers, such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen, played a significant role in establishing the New Testament canon. They recognized the authority of certain books and rejected others as apocryphal (non-canonical).
- Council of Nicaea (325 CE): The Council of Nicaea, convened by Emperor Constantine, recognized the importance of the New Testament canon, but did not formally establish it.
- Council of Trent (1546 CE): The Council of Trent, convened by the Catholic Church, formally established the New Testament canon, which included the 27 books recognized today.
- Protestant Reformation (16th century): During the Protestant Reformation, some Protestant denominations, such as Lutherans and Calvinists, rejected certain books (such as Hebrews and James) as non-canonical. However, the majority of Protestant denominations recognized the same 27-book canon as the Catholic Church.
Today, the New Testament canon is widely accepted by Christians across denominational lines, and is considered authoritative and divinely inspired by many.