How the New Testament Canon was Decided

[URA]

Came across an interesting 10-page pdf on the topic; thought I'd share. It brings up a lot of good points we tend not to hear, and looks at it from a historical standpoint.

https://www.churchhistory101.com/docs/New-Testament-Canon.pdf

 

[Resha Caner]

Which point is most interesting to you?

 

[Bob Crowley]

Considering the long period of oral transmission, the differing opinions of the Church fathers, and all the confusion engendered by the Gnostic texts, Christ had a lot of confidence, and knew precisely who He was, in order to be able to say "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Matthew 24:35)

Which raises the question - "Just when did Christ become aware of who and what He was?". No doubt His mother Mary had something to do with it, as she would have told Him about the events related to His birth. But He would have needed more affirmation than just the words of His mother, and a Jewish mother at that! (just kidding).

So somewhere along the line, He must have become aware of His Godhood. Certainly by the age of twelve, when he astonished the Jewish leaders with His wisdom and His reply to his worried parents, who themselves didn't realise what He meant by "His father's house".

Luke 2:41-52 New International Version (NIV)

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.