But so were many other documents, writings, etc. The New Testament wasn't officially declared to be Holy Scripture until the late 4th century. The Church went through over 300 documents, letters, writing, etc., praying to the Holy Spirit for guidance, and came up with the 27 books out of the 300+ that we agree on is the New Testament today. Some of the documents that many were sure would make the cut didn't. For example, the Shepherd of Hermas and the Didacha were thought to be sure bets, but didn't make the cut.
With regard to liturgical worship, the focus was always the "breaking of the bread" (the Eucharist), which makes sense because true worship always involves a sacrifice. If all you're doing is reading Scriptures and talking about them, where's the sacrificial part?
Historical Context and Development of the New Testament Canon
Early Circulation and Use:
In the early Christian communities, many writings were circulated, including letters from apostles, gospels, and other documents like the Shepherd of Hermas and the Didache. These writings were read in various churches and used for teaching and worship.
Criteria for Canonization:
The early church used several criteria to discern which writings were to be considered canonical (authoritative scripture):
Apostolic Origin: Writings attributed to the apostles or their close associates.
Orthodoxy: Consistency with the accepted teaching and doctrine of the church.
Catholicity: Widespread usage and acceptance among the early Christian communities.
Liturgical Use: Regular reading in the context of worship services.
Early Lists and Church Fathers:
Various early church fathers and councils provided lists of authoritative books. Some of the most notable contributions include:
Marcion of Sinope (mid-2nd century): Compiled a canon that excluded the Old Testament and some New Testament writings. His efforts prompted the church to clarify its own canon.
Muratorian Fragment (late 2nd century): An early list of New Testament books, though incomplete and somewhat different from the final canon.
Origen (early 3rd century): A church father who provided lists of accepted books and noted disagreements.
Eusebius of Caesarea (early 4th century): Classified books into recognized, disputed, and spurious categories in his "Ecclesiastical History."
Official Recognition:
The process of formal recognition culminated in the late 4th century:
Council of Laodicea (363 AD): An early regional council that provided a list of canonical books, excluding Revelation.
Council of Hippo (393 AD) and Council of Carthage (397 AD): These North African councils provided lists that match the current 27-book New Testament canon.
Athanasius of Alexandria: In his Festal Letter of 367 AD, Athanasius provided a list identical to the current New Testament canon.
Excluded Writings:
Some early Christian writings, like the Shepherd of Hermas and the Didache, were highly regarded and used by some communities but were ultimately not included in the canon. Reasons for exclusion included:
Lack of apostolic authorship.
Limited or regional usage.
Theological content that was seen as less authoritative or secondary compared to canonical writings.
Conclusion
The New Testament canon was not officially closed until the late 4th century after extensive discussion, prayer, and discernment by the early church. The church considered numerous writings and, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, recognized the 27 books that now constitute the New Testament. This process ensured that the canon reflected writings that were apostolic, orthodox, widely accepted, and used in liturgical practice.
