The Canon
Lists and Catalogues of New Testament Books

A conservative, bible believing perspective!

God's providence gave us the 27 book New Testament Canon, not the church. God, not men decided the canon. This providence does not mean that church leaders were inspired in their selecting the canon, only that God had his eye on the scriptures the whole time and brought about His will to form the Bible we see today!

Lists and Catalogues of New Testament Books

Go to: "Canon of the Bible" Home Page

 

Lists and Catalogues of New Testament Collections

 

Introduction:

1.      From: Lee Martin McDonald, James A. Sanders, Editors: The Canon Debate, Appendix C, D, p 585-597, 2002

2.      Appendix D Lists and Catalogues of New Testament Collections Lee Martin McDonald

 

Table D-1: Three Early New Testament Lists Based on Eusebius'

The following collections are modified somewhat from the collections found in A. Souter, G. M. Hahneman, B. M. Metzger, and F. F. Bruce

Irenaeus
Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 5.8.2-8 (ca. 320-330, Caesarea, Palestine). While Eusebius attributes this "canon" (peri ton endiathekon graphon) collection to Irenaeus (170-180), it is probably nothing more than Eusebius's listing of the references made by Irenaeus.

Clement of Alexandria
Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 6.14.1-7 (ca. 320-330, Caesarea, Palestine). While Eusebius attributes this "canon" (pases tes endiathekou graphes) collection to Clement (170), it is probably nothing more than Eusebius's listing of the references made by Clement.

Origen
Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 6.25.3-14. As we observed above, it is likely that this list is Eusebius's invention based on a compilation of references to literature that Origen (220-230) cited.

Matt

Jude

Matt

Mark

Barn.

Mark

Luke

Apoc. Pet.

Luke

John

Heb

John

Rev

Acts

1 Pet

1 John

Paul (nothing listed)

2 Pet?

1 Pet

 

Rev

Herm.

Gospels:

1 John

Wis

Matt

2-3 John ?

Paul (mentioned but epistles not listed)

Luke

Heb

 

Mark

Paul (mentioned but epistles not listed)

 

John

 

 

 

Table D-2: New Testament Lists from the Fourth Century

Eusebius
Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 3.25.1-7 (ca. 320-330, Caesarea, Palestine).

Cyril of Jerusalem
Cyril of Jerusalem, Catech. 4.33 (ca. 350, Jerusalem).

Athanasius
Athanasius, Ep. fest. 39 (ca. 367, Alexandria, Egypt).

Cheltenham
The Cheltenham Canon is also known as the Mommsen Catalogue (ca. 360-370, Northern Africa).

Recognized:

Gospels (4)

Gospels:

Gospels:

Gospels (4)

Acts

Matt

Matt

Acts

Mark

Mark

Paul's epistles (14?)

Catholic Epistles (7):

Luke

Luke

1 John

Jas

John

John

1 Pet

1-2 Pet

Rev (?)

1-3 John

Acts

Paul's epistles (13)

Jude?

Acts

Doubtful:

Catholic Epistles:

Rev

Jas

Paul's epistles (14)

Jas

1-3 John

Jude

1-2 Pet

1-2 Pet

2 Pet

Pseudepigrapha:

1-3 John

(no Heb)

2, 3 John

Gos. Thom.

Jude

Rejected:

Paul's Epistles (14):

Acts Paul

Rom

Herm.

1-2 Cor

Apoc. Pet.

Gal

Barn.

Eph

Did.

Phil

Rev (?)

Col

Gos. Heb. (?)

1-2 Thess

Heb

Cited by Heretics:

1-2 Tim

Gos. Pet.

Titus

Gos. Thom.

Phlm

Gos. Matt.

Acts Andr.

Rev

Acts John

Catechetical:

Did.

Herm.

 

Table D-2, continued: New Testament Lists from the Fourth Century

Epiphanius
Pan. 76.5 (ca. 374-377, Salamis, Western Syria).

Apostolic Canons
Can. ap. 85 (ca. 380, Western Syria).

Gregory of Nazianzus
Carm. 12.31 (ca. 390, Cappadocia, Asia Minor) and later ratified by the Trullan Synod in 692.

African Canons
(ca. 393-419, Northern Africa).

Jerome
Ep. 53, ca. 394 (Bethlehem, Palestine).

Nazianzus7

Gospels (4)

Gospels (4):

Matt

Gospels (4)

"Lord's Four":

Paul's epistles (13)

Matt

Mark

Acts

Matt

Acts

Mark

Luke

Paul's epistles (13)

Mark

Luke

John

Heb

Luke

Catholic Epistles:

John

Acts

1-2 Pet.

John

Jas

Jas

Paul's epistles (14)

1-3 John

Pet

Paul's epistles (14)
The number 14 indicates that Hebrews was included as one of Paul's letters.

1°

Jas

Paul's Epistles (14):

1-3 John

Peter's epistles (2)

Catholic Epistles (7):

Jude

Rom

Jude

1-3 John

Jas

Rev

1-2 Cor

Jas

1-2 Pet

Gal

Rev

Jude

1-3 John

OK to Read:

Eph .

Wis

1-2 Clem.

Jude

Acts of martyrs

Phil

Sir

Apost. Const.

1-2 Thess

Acts

Col

1-2 Tim

Titus

Phlm

Heb

1-2 Pet

1-3 John

Jude

Jas

Acts

Rev

 

Table D-2, continued: New Testament Lists from the Fourth Century 

Augustine
Augustine, Doct. chr. 2.8-9.12-14 (ca. 395-400, Hippo Regius, North Africa).

Amphilochius
12Amphilochius, Iambi ad Seleucum 289-319 (ca. 396, Iconium, Asia Minor). The list concludes by acknowledging that some have questions about 2 Pet, 2-3 John, Heb, Jude and Rev.

Rufinus
13Rufinus, Comm. in Symb. Apost. 36 (ca. 394, Rome, Italy).

Innocent
Pope Innocent, Ad Exsuper. Tol. (ca. 405, Rome, Italy).

Syrian Catalogue
Syrian catalogue of St. Catherine's (ca. 400, Eastern Syria).

Gospels (4):

Gospels (4):

Gospels (4):

Gospels (4)

Gospels (4):

Matt

Matt

Matt

Paul's epistles (13)
Some add Hebrews to this and make it 14. It is uncertain.

Matt

Mark

Mark

Mark

1-3 John

Mark

Luke

Luke

Luke

1-2 Pet

Luke

John

John

John

Jude

John

Jas

Paul's Epistles (14):

Acts

Acts

Acts

Acts

Rom

Paul's epistles (14)

Rev

Gal

1-2 Cor

Paul's Epistles (14):

1-2 Pet

Rom

Gal

Rom

Jas

Repudiated:

Heb

Eph

1-2 Cor

Jude

Matthias/

Col

Phil

Gal

1,2,3 John

James the less

Eph

1-2 Thess

Eph

Rev

Peter + John =

Phil

Col

Phil

Leucian

1-2 Thess

1-2 Tim

Col

Ecclesiastical:

(Andrew =

1-2 Tim

Titus

1-2 Thess

Herm.

Xenocharides

Titus

Phlm

1-2 Tim

Two Ways

& Leonidas)

Phlm

Heb

Titus

Pre. Pet.

Gos. Thom.

Phlm

1-2 Pet

Heb (?)

1-3 John

Jude

Catholic Epistles (7?):

Jas

Jas

Acts

Pet

Rev

John

Jude (?)

Rev (?)

 

Table D-2, continued: New Testament Lists from the Fourth Century

Muratorian Fragment
The Muratorian Fragment. While many scholars contend that this was a late second-century C.E. fragment originating in or around Rome, a growing number hold that it was produced around the middle of the fourth century (ca. 350-375) and that it originated somewhere in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, possibly in Syria.

Laodicea Synod
Synod of Laodicea, Canon 60 (ca. 363, Asia Minor).

Carthage Synod
Synod of Carthage, Canon 39 (397, North Africa). Revelation was added later in 419 at the subsequent synod at Carthage.

Gospels:

Gospels (4):

Gospels (4)

...

Matt

Acts

...

Mark

Paul (13)

Luke ("third book")

Luke

Heb

John ("fourth book)

John

1-2 Pet

1-3 John

John's epistles

Acts

Jas

Acts

Jude

Catholic Epistles (7):

Rev (later added)

Paul's Epistles to Churches:

Jas

Cor

1-2 Pet

Eph

1,2,3 John

Phil

Jude

Col

Gal

Paul's Epistles (14):

Thess

Rom

Rom

1-2 Cor

Gal

Epistles to Individuals:

Eph

Phlm

Phil

Titus

Col

1-2 Tim

1-2 Thess

Heb

Jude

1-2 Tim

1, 2 or 3 Jn (2 Eps.)

Titus

Wis

Phlm

Rev

Apoc. Pet.

(Rev missing)

Forged (rejected):

Ep. Lao.

Ep. Alex.

Others (? rejected):

Herm.

Works of Arsinous

Valentinus

Miltiades

Basilides

 

Table D-3: New Testament Lists from the Fifth and Sixth Centuries

Eucherius
Eucherius, Instructiones (ca. 424-55, Lyons).

Gelasius
Decretum gelasianum de libris recipiendis et non recipiendis (ca. sixth cent.). This canon list is attributed to Pope Gelasius 1 (492-496), but it is more likely from the sixth century.

Junilius
Junilius, Instituta regularia divinae legis, book I (ca. 551, North Africa).

Cassiodorus
Cassiodorus, Institutiones divinarum et saecularium litterarum (ca. 551-562, Rome).

Isidore
Isidore, bishop of Seville, In libros Veteris ac Novi Testamenti prooemia (ca. 600)

Matt

Gospels:

Gospels:

Gospels:

Gospels:

Mark

Matt

Matt

Matt

Matt

Luke

Mark

Mark

Mark

Mark

John

Luke

Luke

Luke

Luke

Rom

John

John

John

John

1 Cor

2 Cor

Acts

Acts

Acts

Paul's Epistles (14):

(Gal missing)

Rev

1 Pet

Rom

Eph

Paul's Epistles (14):

Jas

1-2 Cor

1 Thess

Rom

Paul's Epistles (14):

1 John

Gal

(2 Thess missing)

1-2 Cor

Rom

Eph

Col

Eph

1-2 Cor

Paul's Epistles (13):

Phil

1 Tim

1-2 Thess

Gal

Rom

1-2 Thess

2 Tim

Gal

Eph

1 Cor

Col

(Titus missing)

Phil

Phil

2 Cor

1-2 Tim

(Phlm missing)

Col

1-2 Thess

Gal

Titus

Heb

1-2 Tim

Col

Phil

Phlm

Acts

Titus

1-2 Tim

Col

Heb

Jas

Phlm

Titus

Eph

1 John

Heb

Phlm

1-2 Thess

1-3 John

(2-3 John missing)

Heb

1-2 Tim

1-2 Pet

(Jude missing)

Rev

Titus

Jude

Rev

1-2 Pet

Jas

Phlm

Jas

1 John

1-2 Pet

Rev

Acts

2-3 John

Jude

Rev

Jude

1-2 John

Omitted:

(2 Pet)

(2-3 John)

(Jude)

(Heb)

 

Table D-4: New Testament Lists from Biblical Manuscripts of the Fourth and Fifth Centuries

Vaticanus (B)

Sinaiticus (K)

Peshitta (SyrP)

Alexandrinus (A)

Claromantanus (D)

Matt

Matt

Matt

Matt

Matt

Mark

Mark

Mark

Mark

John

Luke

Luke

Luke

Luke

Mark

John

John

John

John

Luke

Acts

Rom

Acts

Acts

Rom

Jas

1 Cor

Jas

Jas

1-2 Cor

I Pet

2 Cor

1 Pet

I Pet

Gal

2 Pet

Gal

1 John

2 Pet

Eph

1 John

Eph

Rom

1 John

1-2 Tim

2 John

Phil

1 Cor

2 John

Titus

3 John

Col

2 Cor

3 John

Col

Jude

1 Thess

Gal

Jude

Phlm

Rom

2 Thess

Eph

Rom

1-2 Pet

1 Cor

Heb

Phil

1 Cor

Jas

2 Cor

1 Tim

Col

2 Cor

1-3 John

Gal

2 Tim

1 Thess

Gal

Jude

Eph

Titus

2 Thess

Eph

Barn.

Phil

Phlm

Heb

Phil

Rev

Col

Acts

1 Tim

Col

Acts

1 Thess

Jas

2 Tim

1 Thess

2 Thess

1 Pet

Titus

2 Thess

Others:

Heb

2 Pet

Phlm

Heb

Herm.

1 John

Heb

1 Tim

Acts Paul

Omitted:

2 John

2 Tim

Apoc. Pet.

(1 Tim)

3 John

Titus

(2 Tim)

Jude

Phlm

Omitted:

(Titus)

Rev

Rev

(Phil)

(Rev)

Barn.

1 Clem.

(1-2 Thess)

Herm.

2 Clem.

(Heb)

...

Pss. Sol.

 

 By Steve Rudd: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections.

 

 

Click Your Choice



Go To Start: WWW.BIBLE.CA