How the Biblical Canon Was Assembled[1]
The Bible as we know it was assembled over several centuries through a process of debate, correspondence, and council decisions. Understanding how it was put together, and what was left out, is essential context for reading what remains. All claims on this page are cited.
50+
Gospels, epistles, and texts circulating in early Christian communities
27
Books in the New Testament canon, fixed in 397 AD
0
Women present at the councils that decided the canon (all attendees were male bishops)
300+
Years after Jesus before the canon was formally fixed
The canon was fixed by human councils, at specific moments in history, under particular political and theological pressures. That does not make every text in it false or unreliable. But it does mean the process of selection is a legitimate subject of historical enquiry. You are allowed to ask what was left out, and why.[2]
Sources & References
- [1]On the formation of the biblical canon, see McDonald, L.M. (2007), The Biblical Canon: Its Origin, Transmission, and Authority, Hendrickson. See also Metzger, B.M. (1987), The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance, Oxford University Press. Source
- [2]On the political context of canon formation, see Ehrman, B.D. (2003), Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew, Oxford University Press. On the Council of Carthage (397 AD), see Metzger, B.M. (1987), The Canon of the New Testament, Oxford University Press, pp. 237-238. Source
The history of the biblical canon and its formation are explored in these scholarly works:
Metzger, Bruce M.. The Canon of the New Testament (1987)
Authoritative scholarly study of how the New Testament canon was formed and which texts were included or excluded.
Ehrman, Bart D.. Lost Christianities (2003)
Explores the political context of canon formation and the diverse early Christian communities whose texts were excluded.
McDonald, Lee M.. The Biblical Canon (2007)
Comprehensive study of the origin, transmission, and authority of the biblical canon across Jewish and Christian traditions.