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Church Government - Coggle Diagram

- - - - writing to approx. AD 200 when had been collected and aquired position of authority
        
        NT was written in approx 100 years- most epistles written to specific place about particular issue
        
        Didn't take well to anything written- preferred oral tradition
        AD120- Papias- "I do not think I could profit so much from contents as from... living and abiding voice"
        
        First 2 generations disciples passed away=oral tradition less reliable
        People turned to written sources as oral no longer available (writings used in worship as were available and edifying- not because held position of authority)
        
        Early 2nd century- Pauline corpus (Paul's collection of writings) gathered into separate collection & circulated within generation of death
        
        Mid 2nd century- gospels grouped together
        Church began to construct Canon (due to apostolic tradition & threat of heresy)
        
        Marcion= prime cause of canon due to his own canon, consisted of: no OT
        edited version of Luke's Gospel
        10 Pauline Epistle's
        Included different gospels, acts & apocalypses with Apostolic names attached to give them credence- Book about Thomas, Book about Judas
        Sub-canonical literature used in teaching, but wasn't fitting criteria
        
        Irenaeus quoted from 23 of 27 canonical books in "Against Heresies"- 2nd century
        
        Muratorian Fragment- key document in development of Canon
        Published 1740 by LudovicoMuratori, represents oldest list of canonical books recognized by Rome & include the following:
        4 Gospels
        all Paul's epistles except Hebrews- (wasn't accepted as Pauline until 4th century AD) Not Included:
        Apocalypse of John 1 & 2 Peter
        Jude 3 John
        2 epistles of John Hebrews
        Wisdom of Solomon James
        Apocalypse of Peter
        
        AD 180- Scillitan martyrs, asked what was contained in box brought into enquiry. They replied, "Books and the writings of Paul, a just man"
        
        close of 2nd century- general acceptance in the church of:
        4 gospels
        13 Pauline epistles
        no Shepherd of Hermas (too recent)
        James, Jude and 2 & 3 John not in general circulation
        Hebrews & 2 Peter- questioned authorship
        Revelation not accepted by eastern churches
      - further 200 years when bounds of NT fixed with general agreement at Council of Carthage in AD 397
        Council of Carthage end of 4th century general agreement of what in canon
        
        Cyprian (mid 3rd century) NT compromised of- 4 gospels, Acts, Paul's letters to 7 churches, Timothy & Titus, 1 Peter, 2 John & Apocalypse
        didn't mention some different books- like other western chhurches probable knew it but didn't rate it as scripture (FF Bruce)
        
        Origen didn't leave distinct NT list comparable to OT list, however Eusebius built up picture of what Origen thought as canonical from writings
        Origen distinguished certain books from doubtful books- accepted:
        4 gospels
        Paul's epistles
        Acts
        1 Peter
        1 John
        Revelation
        James and Jude= Accepted
        2 & 3 John, Hebrews = disputed by some
        2 Peter= doubtful
        21 books= genuine, 2= accepted, 3= disputed by some and 1= doubtful
        
        AD 363- Council of Laodicea in canon 60 listed books except Revelation
        
        AD 367- presented list of NT books as we have them but in a different order
        
        AD 397- Council of Carthage, general agreement of canon of NT