Reggie Weems Blog

Once the individual gospels, letters, etc were written, the early church began to compile them into what could be considered, mini-collections.  By the end of the first century, Clement, the Bishop of Rome was quoting Matthew and Luke as authoritative.  Early church historian, Justin Martyr, wrote that the early biographies of the Lord, the gospels, had been combined into a single collection before A.D. 150.  He wrote, “On the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the wrings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits” (The First Apology of Justin).  Thus, we have historial evidence that the biographies of Jesus Christ were recognized by the early church as authoritative. 

As Paul wrote his letters the early church also compiled them and placed them in their own mini-collections, after which, the church gathered both collections and put them together into a single collection of authoritative writings recognized as inspired by God.  All of Paul’s writings were completed by the end of the first century, less than 70 years after the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection, making them timely historical records of Paul’s life and Jesus’ teachings. 

Since many of Paul’s letters were intended to be circulated among the churches, copies were made and the churches exchanged the letters amongst themselves.  Again, these copies created their own collections before being placed alongside the gospel accounts.  Eventually however, the Pauline books were placed in compilation with the gospels, Hebrews, John’s and Peter’s writings.  These 27 books were received by the church as authoritative, inspired and intended to be received as God’s Word.  Hence, they became known as the ‘canon’ or ‘rule’ of Scripture.

So what we know as the New Testament came into being by the end of the 2nd century.  They were signed, sealed by the church and delivered to the world as the New Testament Bible.  This is certainly a very early date and completely in disagreement with what many people falsely believe simply by rumor without fact.  Case in point, what Dan Brown claimed in The Davinci Code.        

Even earlier,