Truth & The Da Vinci Code Review What were the forces that prompted church leaders to seek consensus on a Canon? What were the criteria for the Canon? Apostolic Origin General acceptance by the churches Orthodoxy of content consistent with Apostolic Teaching By what time period were the New Testament Books Written? The end of the 1st Century

Truth & The Da Vinci Code Creation of the NT Canon Marcion AD 140 Luke Romans 1 & 2 Cor Galatians Ephesians Colossians 1 & 2 Thess Philemon Muratorian Canon AD 170 Matthew Mark Luke John Romans 1 & 2 Cor Galatians Ephesians Colossians 1 & 2 Thess 1 & 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 & 2 Peter 1, 2, 3 John Jude Revelation Irenaeus AD 170 Matthew Mark Luke John Romans 1 & 2 Cor Galatians Ephesians Colossians 1 & 2 Thess 1 & 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 & 2 Peter 1, 2, 3 John Jude Revelation Origen AD 240 Matthew Mark Luke John Romans 1 & 2 Cor Galatians Ephesians Colossians 1 & 2 Thess 1 & 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 & 2 Peter 1, 2, 3 John Jude Revelation

Truth & The Da Vinci Code Creation of the NT Canon Matthew to be sure and Mark and john as well as Luke only four Gospels are recognized. From these the doctrines concerning the person of our Lord and Savior are to be derived. I know a certain gospel which is called The Gospel according to Thomas and a Gospel according to Matthias, and many others have we read - lest we should in any way be considered ignorant because of those who imagine that they posses some knowledge if they are acquainted with these. Nevertheless, among all these we have approved solely what the church has recognized, which is that only the four Gospels should be accepted. From Origen’s Homily on Luke

Truth & The Da Vinci Code Creation of the NT Canon Marcion AD 140 Luke Romans 1 & 2 Cor Galatians Ephesians Colossians 1 & 2 Thess Philemon Muratorian Canon AD 170 Matthew Mark Luke John Romans 1 & 2 Cor Galatians Ephesians Colossians 1 & 2 Thess 1 & 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 & 2 Peter 1, 2, 3 John Jude Revelation Irenaeus AD 170 Matthew Mark Luke John Romans 1 & 2 Cor Galatians Ephesians Colossians 1 & 2 Thess 1 & 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 & 2 Peter 1, 2, 3 John Jude Revelation Origen AD 240 Matthew Mark Luke John Romans 1 & 2 Cor Galatians Ephesians Colossians 1 & 2 Thess 1 & 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 & 2 Peter 1, 2, 3 John Jude Revelation

Truth & The Da Vinci Code Creation of the NT Canon Marcion AD 140 Luke Romans 1 & 2 Cor Galatians Ephesians Colossians 1 & 2 Thess Philemon Muratorian Canon AD 170 Matthew Mark Luke John Romans 1 & 2 Cor Galatians Ephesians Colossians 1 & 2 Thess 1 & 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 & 2 Peter 1, 2, 3 John Jude Revelation Irenaeus AD 170 Matthew Mark Luke John Romans 1 & 2 Cor Galatians Ephesians Colossians 1 & 2 Thess 1 & 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 & 2 Peter 1, 2, 3 John Jude Revelation Origen/Eusebius AD 240/ AD 325 Matthew Mark Luke John Romans 1 & 2 Cor Galatians Ephesians Colossians 1 & 2 Thess 1 & 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 & 2 Peter 1, 2, 3 John Jude Revelation Athanasius AD 367 Matthew Mark Luke John Romans 1 & 2 Cor Galatians Ephesians Colossians 1 & 2 Thess 1 & 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 & 2 Peter 1, 2, 3 John Jude Revelation

Truth & The Da Vinci Code Creation of the NT Canon These are the fountains of salvation, that he who thirsts may be satisfied with the living words they contain. In these alone the teaching of godliness is proclaimed. Let no one add to these; let nothing be taken away from them. For concerning these the Lord put to shame the Sadducees, and said, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures.

Truth & The Da Vinci Code Creation of the NT Canon The Third Council of Carthage AD 397 Canon 24. Besides the canonical Scriptures, nothing shall be read in church under the name of divine Scriptures. Moreover, the canonical Scriptures are these: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, the four books of the Kings, the two books of Chronicles, Job, the Psalms of David, five books of Solomon, the book of the Twelve [minor] Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Tobias, Judith, Esther, the two books of Ezra, and the two books of the Maccabees. The books of the New Testament: the Gospels, four books; the Acts of the Apostles, one book; the epistles of the apostle Paul, thirteen; of the same to the Hebrews, one epistle; of Peter, two; of John the apostle, three; of James, one; of Jude, one; the Revelation of John.

Truth & The Da Vinci Code Creation of the NT Canon The canon is amplified and expounded on, not created by, the councils of the 4 th century. It is simply the final outcome of the early collection and preservation of authoritative and apostolic documents.

Truth & The Da Vinci Code Constantine and the Council of Nicea Constantine ruled as Emperor from AD

Truth & The Da Vinci Code Constantine and the Council of Nicea “He said that about noon, when the day was already beginning to decline, he saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun, and bearing the inscription, CONQUER BY THIS. At this sight he himself was struck with amazement, and his whole army also, which followed him on this expedition, and witnessed the miracle.” Eusebius, The Life of the Blessed Emperor Constantine

Truth & The Da Vinci Code Constantine and the Council of Nicea

Truth & The Da Vinci Code Arian Controversy Constantine and the Council of Nicea There was a time when [the Son] was not. The Council of Nicea AD 325 I believe... in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Truth & The Da Vinci Code “The fact that the New Testament writings were preserved is itself a testimony to the de facto canonical authority which they exercised more or less from the first. In short, the New Testament canon was not so much decreed as acknowledged. The New Testament writings were hailed as canonical in recognition of the authority they had been exercising from the first and in steadily widening circles since then. It is not the church that determines the gospel, but the gospel which determines the church.” James Dunn, “Has the Canon a Continuing Function” in The Canon Debate Constantine and the Council of Nicea