Development of the Christian biblical canon
Origins and Development
The development of the Christian biblical canon is the process that the Christian Church used to establish the books of the Bible. It was a complex process that took several centuries, and involved many different individuals, communities, and theological debates.
The Christian biblical canon as we know it today did not exist in the early years of Christianity. The first Christians, who were Jews, used the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, as their scriptures. Over time, however, as Christianity spread among the Gentiles, there was a need for a distinctively Christian canon.
New Testament Canon
The development of the New Testament canon began in the 1st century AD with the writings of the apostles. These writings, known as the Apostolic Fathers, were highly regarded by the early Christians, but they were not yet considered canonical.
The process of canonization was gradual and took several centuries. The first list of New Testament books that resembles our current canon is the Muratorian fragment, dated to the late 2nd century. However, it was not until the 4th century that the canon was officially recognized by the Church at the Council of Carthage.
Old Testament Canon
The Old Testament canon of the Christian Bible differs from the Jewish canon. The Christian Old Testament includes the books of the Septuagint, which were not included in the Jewish canon. These additional books, known as the Deuterocanonical books, were accepted by some early Christian communities but rejected by others.
The final decision on the Old Testament canon was made at the Council of Carthage, which affirmed the inclusion of the Deuterocanonical books.
Controversies and Debates
Throughout the process of canonization, there were many controversies and debates. Some books, such as the Book of Revelation, were disputed by some Christian communities. Other books, such as the Gospel of Thomas, were popular in some communities but ultimately excluded from the canon.
These controversies reflect the diversity of early Christianity and the complex process of establishing a unified canon.
Conclusion
The development of the Christian biblical canon was a complex process that took several centuries. It involved many different individuals, communities, and theological debates. The canon as we know it today is the result of this long and complex process.
