HISTORY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

The New Testament was finalized in the 4th century C.E. when there was a proliferation of Christian works abetting the growth of a number of dissident Christian sects. The spread of this often pious but 'unattested' literature since the 2nd century increased the need for the church fathers like Bishop Tatian in Syria and Bishop Irenaeus in Lyons to agree on a 'canon.' This canon or collection of writings would, in their view, accurately convey the authorized theology of Jesus, the Christ.

In selecting books for the authorized canon, the church fathers dismissed many other documents, including worked entitled 'the Gospel of Peter,' 'the Gospel of St. Thomas' and the Didache or 'Teachings of the Twelve Apostles;' these are henceforth known as 'apocryphal.' Recent biblical scholarship has initiated a revision of some of these books as possibly authentic Gospel literature, particularly after a hoard of extra-canonical books were found in Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in 1947.

The New Testament is not in chronological order. The oldest Christian documents are believed to be the letters of St. Paul (including those by other authors but written under his name); followed by the Gospel of Mark; the Gospels of Matthew and Luke; the Gospel of John, and the Book of Revelations.

To see the complete online text of the New Testament, click here and view the Christianity section of 'Helpful Links.'