Who Really Chose the Books of the New Testament?
Summary
Bart Ehrman addresses listener questions regarding the formation of the New Testament canon, discussing the impact of the Temple’s destruction, Marcion’s influence, and the criteria for apostolic authority. He clarifies that no council voted on the canon, which solidified through usage and consensus. The episode concludes with a bonus segment where Ehrman responds to critics who misrepresent his views on textual criticism.
Topics discussed
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Introduction and Bart Ehrman's early views on the canon
Impact of the Second Temple destruction on early Christianity
Marcion's canon and the rejection of the Old Testament
Why the Old Testament was retained in the Christian canon
Marcion's exclusion of the Pastoral Epistles
The timeline of the New Testament canon's formation
Debunking the myth of the Council of Nicaea deciding the canon
Variations in biblical canons among early church groups
Apostolic authority as the criterion for canonicity
Early New Testament writings quoting other texts as Scripture
Modern scholarship and Martin Luther's view on Revelation
Manuscript evidence vs. canonical status of non-canonical books
Why the New Testament canon closed earlier than the Hebrew Bible
Bonus segment: Misquoting Bart Ehrman on textual criticism
Conclusion and preview of next episode
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