Who put the new testament together
The New Testament of the Bible was compiled by early Christian scholars and theologians over a period of several centuries. The process of compiling the New Testament was a gradual one, and it involved the collection and verification of various texts, including letters, gospels, and other writings.
The earliest Christian communities, which were established in the 1st century AD, likely had their own collections of writings that were considered authoritative and sacred. These writings would have included letters from the apostles, such as Paul's epistles, as well as accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
As Christianity spread throughout the Mediterranean world, different Christian communities developed their own collections of writings, which often included different texts and versions of the same texts. This led to a situation where there were multiple versions of the New Testament, each with its own unique characteristics and emphases.
The process of compiling the New Testament as we know it today began in the 2nd century AD, when Christian scholars and theologians sought to create a standardized collection of texts that would be accepted by all Christians. This process was facilitated by the development of the canon, which is the list of books that are considered authoritative and sacred by a particular religious tradition.
The canon of the New Testament was established by the early Christian Church, and it was based on a combination of factors, including the authority of the texts, their consistency with the teachings of Jesus Christ, and their ability to inspire and edify believers. The process of establishing the canon was a gradual one, and it involved the work of many different scholars and theologians over a period of several centuries.
Some of the key figures involved in the compilation of the New Testament include:
- Tatian (c. 120-172 AD): A Syrian Christian scholar who is believed to have written the Diatessaron, a harmony of the four Gospels.
- Origen (c. 185-254 AD): A Greek Christian scholar who is believed to have written commentaries on many of the books of the New Testament.
- Eusebius (c. 260-340 AD): A Greek Christian scholar who is believed to have written the Church History, which provides valuable information about the early Christian Church and the compilation of the New Testament.
- Athanasius (c. 296-373 AD): A Greek Christian scholar who is believed to have written the Festal Letter, which lists the books of the New Testament that are considered authoritative and sacred.
- Jerome (c. 347-420 AD): A Latin Christian scholar who is believed to have translated the Bible into Latin, including the New Testament.
These scholars, along with many others, played important roles in the compilation of the New Testament, and their work helped to establish the canon of the New Testament as we know it today.