The Extent of the Bible

•34 of the 39 OT books fit into this category starting with the Law.

• Once accepted as divinely inspired, always accepted.

• 20 of the 27 NT books were not questioned.

• All the church Fathers spoke in favor of their canonicity.

(antilegomena - spoken against)

Hebrews: no clear author made the distant Western church suspicious.
James: Western church not certain James was the apostle; doctrinal conflict (justification).
2 Peter: highly debated because of style difference but this is due to the lack of a scribe (1 Pe 5:12).
2,3 John: was doubted because of vagueness of who the ‘elder' was and limited circulation.
Jude: questioned because of reference to Book of Enoch (14-5) which was not inspired.
Revelation:Debated longest because of doctrinal issue of chapter 20 and Montanists misuse of the book. Interestingly, it was one of first books recognized by church Fathers.
• Philemon, 1 Peter and 1 John at times lacked recognition but considered more omitted than disputed.

(apocrypha - hidden or doubtful)

• The acceptance of the apocrypha is largely due to the inclusion of it by Greek scholars in the Septuagint. Certain church fathers like Augustine accepted them. They have historical value.

• The apocrypha, however, was never accepted authoritative by the Jewish community nor does it claim to be so. Jerome rejected its inspiration.

OT Examples:
1, 2 Maccabees
Tobit
Ecclesiasticus
Prayer of Manasseh

• The acceptance of these books by some show their devotional value.

• These books, though, were never accepted as canonical nor did they claim or have the authority of the New Testament books.

NT Examples:
Epistle to Corinthians
Shepherd of Hermas
Ancient Homily
The Didache Teachings

(pseudepigrapha - false writings)

• These 17+ books were written between 200 BC and 200 AD.

• Although thy often claim to be written by biblical authors, they have been treated as spurious and even heretical at points.

OT Examples:
The Book of Adam and Eve,
Psalm 151,
The Assumption of Moses

• By 9th century there were said to be 280 such books all of which are nearly unanimously rejected.

• They are heretical and most often books of cultic movements such as the Gnostics, Docetists, etc.

NT Examples:
Gospel of Thomas
Gospel of Peter
Gospel of Nicodemus
Acts of Paul
Lost Epistle to Corinthians