Early Church Timeline
Timeline: New Testament Canonization Assignment
James Brown Jr
CHHI 300: Survey of the History of Christianity 9B02) August
21, 2025
The questions the author begins with are ones I have pondered many times. “An
interesting question to ponder: When did Christianity begin? In other words, when did
people first become Christian?” 1 The best method for answering these questions is to
look through the timeline of the early Church. For this assignment, we will start in 140
A.D.
Date:
c. 140 – 144 A.D. – Marcion’s Canon
Marcion rejected the Old Testament yet produced one of the earliest known “canons.”
He compiled a shortened version of Luke and ten of Paul’s epistles. His work forced the Church
to clarify and defend the broader apostolic writings as authoritative. 2
c. 170 A.D. – Montanus and the Montanist Movement
Montanus and prophetesses Prisca and Maximilla emphasized new prophecies and
ecstatic experiences. Montanus provoked the Church’s apostolic tradition, triggering debates
about whether ongoing prophecy played a role in establishing the canon. 2
c. 170–200 A.D. – The Muratorian Fragment
The Muratorian Canon is the earliest surviving list of the accepted New Testament
books. It includes four Gospels, Acts, Paul’s letters, and several others, though it omits Hebrews,
James, and Peter’s letters. 3
1 Mark Nickens, A Survey of the History of Global Christianity, Second Edition (Nashville, TN: B&H
Academic, 2020),
22 F. F. Bruce, The Canon of Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 133–35.
23 Justo L. Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity, Vol. 1 (New York: HarperOne, 2010), 61–62.
34 Bruce M. Metzger, The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance (Oxford:
Clarendon Press, 1987), 191–92.
c. 200–250 A.D. – Origen’s List
Origen distinguished between universally accepted books (e.g., the four Gospels, Acts,
Paul’s epistles, 1 Peter, 1 John, Revelation) and disputed ones (Hebrews, 2 Peter, 2–3 John). His
writings show the canon largely fixed but not yet closed. 4
c. 300–325 A.D. – Eusebius of Caesarea’s
Eusebius, known as the “father of church history,” categorized writings to acknowledge,
dispute, and falsify. Eusebius’ organization of the writings led to a consensus by the early 4th
century, but disagreement remained.5
c. 303–311 A.D. – Diocletian Persecution
Emperor Diocletian ordered the destruction of Christian scriptures, prompting believers
to guard authoritative writings. The order also exposed the urgency of learning which books
were sacred and worth dying for, accelerating canon formation.6
c. 367 A.D. – Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria
The Canon: 27 books of the New Testament recorded exactly as they stand today. His list
marked the New Testament canon’s first recognition in writing.7
c. 393–397 A.D. – Synod of Hippo and the Council of Carthage
Hippo in 393 A.D. and Carthage in 397 A.D. affirmed the 27-book canon, effectively
ending the debate. While not universal councils, their influence established the canonical
consensus across the Western Church. 8
44 Origen, Homilies on Joshua, in Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 9, ed. Philip Schaff (Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson, 1994), 340–41.
55 Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, trans. C. F. Cruse (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1998), 45–46.
66 Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity, 125.
77 Athanasius, Festal Letter 39, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, vol. 4, ed. Philip Schaff (Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson, 1994), 552.
88 Metzger, The Canon of the New Testament, 237.
New Testament Apocrypha
“New Testament Apocrypha” refers to any of a number of heretical or misleading
books written between the ascension of Jesus and approximately 150. 9 Thomas’ writings (c.
2nd century)
Thomas’ writings resemble the Gospels but have a Gnostic feel. The early Church rejected them
because they “focused on dualism—spiritual was good and physical was evil—and a secret
knowledge only obtainable through the community; such books include the Gospel of Thomas
and the Gospel of Philip.” 1010
The Acts of Peter (c. 2nd century)
The Acts of Peter, which included miracles and the story of Peter’s death, were excluded
from the canon because the early Church excluded other writings. Embellishments and the lack
of apostolic authorship were factors.
Current Day
The Bible’s consistent message has lasted and greatly impacted society and individuals.
However, many still dismiss the Bible and call it outdated, and argue for its actual apostolic
authorship. Church history proves that the process of getting what we know as the Bible was
rigorous and involved the recordings of eyewitnesses. The early church believers endured great
persecution to achieve what we now have and understand as the inerrant Word of God. It
documents the truth of God’s Son taking on the world’s sins and giving His life so that none
should perish, but all come to repentance. (John 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 3:9).
9 Mark Nickens, A Survey of the History of Global Christianity, Second Edition (Nashville, TN: B&H
Academic, 2020), 24.
1010 Ibid., 25.
Bibliography
Mark Nickens, A Survey of the History of Global Christianity, Second Edition (Nashville, TN: B&H
Academic, 2020.
Athanasius. Festal Letter 39. In Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 4. Edited by Philip Schaff.
Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994.
Bruce, F. F. The Canon of Scripture. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988.
Ehrman, Bart D. Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It into the New Testament. Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 2003.
Eusebius. Ecclesiastical History. Translated by C. F. Cruse. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1998.
Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity, Vol. 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the
Reformation. New York: HarperOne, 2010.
Metzger, Bruce M. The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance.
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1987.
Origen. Homilies on Joshua. In Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 9. Edited by Philip Schaff. Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson, 1994.
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