My Daily Walk in Christ

The 66 Books (Canonical)

The debates involved in determining

canonicity

Br.Musaazi Dennis PART 3

The determination of the canon of the Bible involved several key debates and considerations among early

Christian communities, church leaders, and theologians. The main debates centred around:

1. Authority and Inspiration:

Which writings were genuinely inspired by God and are authoritative for faith and practice?

Disputes existed over whether certain texts, like the letters of Paul, with varying authenticity, or broader

writings should be included.

2. Apostolic Origin:

A significant criterion was whether a text could be directly linked to an apostle or a close associate of the

apostles. This was crucial for establishing the authority of writings and avoiding heretical or false

teachings.

3. Orthodoxy and Doctrinal Soundness:

The texts were examined for consistency with accepted Christian doctrine.

Writings containing teachings deemed heretical or divergent from orthodoxy were excluded.

4. Use in Worship and Teaching:

Writings that were widely used in liturgical contexts and church teaching gained prominence and were

more likely to be canonised.

5. Geographical and Cultural Factors:

Different regions had varying lists of authoritative texts, leading to debates over regional vs. universal

canons.

Key moments in canon formation include:

The Council of Laodicea (c. 363 AD) recognised certain New Testament books but did not definitively

establish the canon.

The Easter Letter of Athanasius (367 AD) lists the 27 books of the New Testament as we know them

today.

The Councils of Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage (397 AD) ratified the current canon in the Western

Church.

Overall, these debates reflected not only theological questions about divine inspiration but also practical

concerns about maintaining doctrinal unity and addressing diverse Christian communities.

Stauros Ministries International

1. Religion