The Second Writings

haBrit haḤadasha

“Canon” = Greek kanon, meaning “reed” or measuring rod

All scripture is from YLT unless otherwise noted.

All references in the New Testament/Second Writings refers to Hebrew Scriptures / Old Testament

The Old Testament is referred to as the Word of God which can not be put aside

• Peter - Acts 1:16
• Stephen - Acts 7:38
• Paul - Romans 3:2
• James - James 4:5
• Jesus - he referred to the Old Testament/Torah throughout his teachings

The Early Church Fathers saw Jesus as the highest authority:

• His teachings brought the true meaning to what was written in the Old Testament
• and revealed the man made laws which were not from scripture.

Criteria to be included in canon:

• apostolic authorship
• apostolic association
• general harmony
• continuous acceptance

The Original Protestant’s did not include Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation

All throughout the early years, 2 & 3 John, James, 2 Peter, Jude, Hebrews, and Revelation remained disputed books for Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox believers.

Throughout most of the early years, The Shepherd of Hermas was recommended reading.

Canonization History

• 170 AD Muratorian Fragment - this was the first published canon:
  • Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, 1 John, 2 John, Jude, Revelation -
  • plus it includes the book of Wisdom of Solomon and Apocalypse of Peter.
  • It also states, the Shepherd of Hermas is helpful for Christians.
  • Does not include Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, and 3 John
• 180 AD Irenaeus
  • includes all the current canon
  • except Philemon, 2 Peter, 3 John, and Jude,
  • plus he cites the Shepherd of Hermas as Scripture
• 200 AD Tertullian
  • includes current canon
  • except Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, and 2 and 3 John.
• 200 AD Clement of Alexandria
  • uses all
  • except James, 2 Peter, and 3 John,
  • plus he also quotes the Shepherd of Hermas and the Didache.
  • But he only recognizes our four Gospels as Scripture
• 300-350 AD Codex Claromontanus:
  • Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, 1-2 Peter, James, 1-3 John, Jude, Revelation, Epistle of Barnabas, Shepherd of Hermas, Acts of Paul, Revelation of Peter.
  • Does not include 1-2 Cronicles, Philippians, 1-2 Thessalonians, Hebrews
• ~325 AD - Eusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History
  • Generally acknowledged to be canonical, the four Gospels, Acts, the letters of Paul (including Hebrews), I John, I Peter,
  • widely accepted, though disputed by some James, Jude, II Peter (earlier regarded by Eusebius as spurious), II and III John;
  • spurious, namely the Acts of Paul, Hermas, Apocalypse of Peter, Barnabas, and the Didache; Eusebius continues, “To these perhaps the Revelation of John should be added, as some reject it while others count it among the accepted books.”
• 330-360 AD Codex Sinaiticus:
  • Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude, Revelation, Epistle of Barnabas, Shepherd of Hermas
• 363 Synod of Laodicea:
  • All our current canon
  • except Revelation.
• 367 AD Athanasius
  • lists the 27 books currently canonized. Jerome and Augustine followed shortly there after.
  • Revelation was still disputed but was included. This list pretty much becomes the canon we have today.
  • Also recommended to be read in assembly: Wisdom of Solom, Sirach, Esther, Judith, Tobit, The Didache, The Shepherd of Hermas
• 393 AD Synod of Hippo Regius
  • included all current canon books
• 395 AD Jerome’s List
  • included all current canon books.
  • Recommended for reading: Wisdom, Sirach, Judith, Tobit, Shepherd of Hermas, 1-2 Maccabees
• 397 AD Augustine of Hipp - one of the most recongized theologians of early Christianity.
  • Included all current canon.
  • Including Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, Judith, Tobit, 1-2 Maccabees
• 397 at Carthage, the council classified canonical books
• 400-440 AD Codex Alexandrinus:
  • Current canon
  • plus 1 Clement, 2 Clement
• 508 AD 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Jude and Revelation were included in a version of the Syriac Bible
• 1534 AD - Luther Bible:
  • Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John.
  • Included by criticized and had a low view of them: Hebrews, James, Jude, Revelation
• 1546 AD Council of Trent
  • Current canon
• ~1740 in Italy, Cardinal LA Muratori:
  • Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, 9 of Pauls to churches, Philemon, Titus, 1 and 2 Timonthy, Jude, 1 & 2 John, Revelation and Peter.
  • Mentioned also the Shepherd of Hermas

Gospel According to Matthew

• ~100 AD Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John came together very early on as one collection known as “The Gospel”
• 115 AD, Ignatious, bishop of Antioch calls “The Gospel,” (did he mean the collection of all four?) an authoritative writing.
• 170 AD, Assyrian Christian, Tatian, calls the four books, “Harmony of the Gospels”

Gospel According to Mark

• ~100 AD Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John came together very early on as one collection known as “The Gospel”
• 115 AD, Ignatious, bishop of Antioch calls “The Gospel,” (did he mean the collection of all four?) an authoritative writing.
• 170 AD, Assyrian Christian, Tatian, calls the four books, “Harmony of the Gospels”

Gospel According to Luke

• ~100 AD Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John came together very early on as one collection known as “The Gospel”
• 115 AD, Ignatious, bishop of Antioch calls “The Gospel,” (did he mean the collection of all four?) an authoritative writing.
• 170 AD, Assyrian Christian, Tatian, calls the four books, “Harmony of the Gospels”
• The end of Luke was edited when it was split from Acts, “and was carried up into heaven” was added. The beginning of Acts was edited, “Was taken up” was added.

Gospel According to John

• ~100 AD Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John came together very early on as one collection known as “The Gospel”
• 115 AD, Ignatious, bishop of Antioch calls “The Gospel,” (did he mean the collection of all four?) an authoritative writing.
• 170 AD, Assyrian Christian, Tatian, calls the four books, “Harmony of the Gospels”

Acts of the Apostles

• Although most accepted Acts, Marcion did not
• The end of Luke was edited when it was split from Acts, “and was carried up into heaven” was added. The beginning of Acts was edited, “Was taken up” was added.
• Acts Eventually got bound to the “General Epistles”” Peter, James, John, and Jude

Letter of Paul to the Romans

• Corpus Paulinum - Combined together Paul’s writings, at about the same time as “The Gospel.” Called Euangelion, Apstolos, originally did not include Hebrews.

Letters of Paul to the Corinthians

I Corinthians

II Corinthians

• Corpus Paulinum - Combined together Paul’s writings, at about the same time as “The Gospel.” Called Euangelion, Apstolos, originally did not include Hebrews.

Letter of Paul to the Galatians

• Corpus Paulinum - Combined together Paul’s writings, at about the same time as “The Gospel.” Called Euangelion, Apstolos, originally did not include Hebrews.

Letter of Paul to the Ephesians

• Corpus Paulinum - Combined together Paul’s writings, at about the same time as “The Gospel.” Called Euangelion, Apstolos, originally did not include Hebrews.

Letter of Paul to the Philippians

• Corpus Paulinum - Combined together Paul’s writings, at about the same time as “The Gospel.” Called Euangelion, Apstolos, originally did not include Hebrews.

Letter of Paul to the Colossians

• Corpus Paulinum - Combined together Paul’s writings, at about the same time as “The Gospel.” Called Euangelion, Apstolos, originally did not include Hebrews.
• The Colossians are told to read the letter Paul wrote to the Laodiceans

Letters of Paul to the Thessalonians

I Thessalonians

II Thessalonians

• Corpus Paulinum - Combined together Paul’s writings, at about the same time as “The Gospel.” Called Euangelion, Apstolos, originally did not include Hebrews.

Letters of Paul to Timothy

I Timothy

II Timothy

Letter of Paul to Titus

Letter of Paul to Philemon

Letter to the Hebrews

• Corpus Paulinum - Combined together Paul’s writings, at about the same time as “The Gospel.” Called Euangelion, Apstolos, originally did not include Hebrews.
• 185-254 AD Hebrews, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, James and Jude, with the “Epistle of Barnabas,” the Shepherd of Hermas, the Didache, and the “Gospel according to the Hebrews,” were disputed by some.

Letter of James

• Acts Eventually got bound to the “General Epistles”” Peter, James, John, and Jude
• 185-254 AD Hebrews, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, James and Jude, with the “Epistle of Barnabas,” the Shepherd of Hermas, the Didache, and the “Gospel according to the Hebrews,” were disputed by some.
• 265-340 AD generally acknowledged all the books of our New Testament except James, Jude, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, disputed by some, but recognised by the majority.

Letters of Peter

I Peter

II Peter

• Acts Eventually got bound to the “General Epistles”” Peter, James, John, and Jude
• 185-254 AD Hebrews, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, James and Jude, with the “Epistle of Barnabas,” the Shepherd of Hermas, the Didache, and the “Gospel according to the Hebrews,” were disputed by some.
• 265-340 AD generally acknowledged all the books of our New Testament except James, Jude, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, disputed by some, but recognised by the majority.

Letters of John

I John

II John

III John

• Acts Eventually got bound to the “General Epistles”” Peter, James, John, and Jude
• 185-254 AD Hebrews, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, James and Jude, with the “Epistle of Barnabas,” the Shepherd of Hermas, the Didache, and the “Gospel according to the Hebrews,” were disputed by some.
• 265-340 AD generally acknowledged all the books of our New Testament except James, Jude, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, disputed by some, but recognised by the majority.

Letter of Jude

• Acts Eventually got bound to the “General Epistles”” Peter, James, John, and Jude
• 185-254 AD Hebrews, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, James and Jude, with the “Epistle of Barnabas,” the Shepherd of Hermas, the Didache, and the “Gospel according to the Hebrews,” were disputed by some.
• 265-340 AD generally acknowledged all the books of our New Testament except James, Jude, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, disputed by some, but recognised by the majority.

Revelation to John

First letter of Clement

• First and Second Epistles of Clement included in Codex Alexandrinus
• Later judged to be of devotional value, but not authoritative because of the lack of connection to an apostle.

The letter of Barnabas

• Epistle of Barnabas, Shepherd of Hermas - included in Codex Sinaiticus

The Shepherd of Hermas

• Epistle of Barnabas, Shepherd of Hermas - included in Codex Sinaiticus
• Later judged to be of devotional value, but not authoritative because of the lack of connection to an apostle.

The Didache

• also known as: “Teaching of the Twelve Apostles”
• Were accepted as scriptural by several ecclesiastical writers, though rejected by the majority
• Later judged to be of devotional value, but not authoritative because of the lack of connection to an apostle.

Sources:

• Bible Canon Lists - The Process of Canonization