Answer · confidence: partial
How was the Bible's book list picked, who picked it, and when?
Research question: How did the Bible's canon get decided, by whom, and when?
The records show that the Muratorian Fragment, dated to about 170, is the oldest known list of New Testament books 58. A canon listing was also issued at the third Council of Carthage, which Augustine attended, in 390-419 CE 18. Earlier, the Synod of Jamnia was once thought to have closed the canon, but that view has been abandoned, and information about its proceedings is sparse 1619. The facts do not clearly establish a single decider or date for the whole canon, and the newest fact is from 1970, so the evidence is decades old as of October 2026 17.
Checked 2026-10-21. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] supported
The Muratorian fragment is a fragment of a list of works that the churches known to its original compiler accepted as canonical.
"The fragment consists of all that remains of a section of a list of all the works that were accepted as canonical by the churches known to its original compiler."Muratorian fragment
[2] supported
The fragment likely originated as a Greek text from the late 2nd century, around 170 to 200 CE.
"it contains features suggesting it is a translation from a Greek original written in the late 2nd century ( c. 170 – 200 )."Muratorian fragment
[3] supported
Some scholars argue the fragment may have been written as late as the 4th century, though this is not the consensus view.
"Other scholars suggest it might have been originally written as late as the 4th century , although this is not the consensus opinion."Muratorian fragment
[4] supported
If it dates to the 2nd century, the Muratorian fragment is evidence of the first attempts to systematize a group of approved writings, though it was probably not intended strictly as a canon list.
"While likely not intended strictly as a canon list, the fragment is evidence of the first attempts to systemize such a group of approved writings, at least if it indeed dates to the 2nd century."Muratorian fragment
[5] supported
The Muratorian Fragment is the oldest known list of New Testament books.
"The Muratorian Fragment is the oldest known list of New Testament books."Muratorian fragment (muratorian-metzger), part 1 [Muratorian fragment]
[6] supported
The books of the Old and New Testament listed here were the ones the Fathers included within the Canon, from which proofs of faith were to be drawn.
"These are the books which the Fathers have comprised within the Canon, and from which they would have us deduce the proofs of our faith ."Commentary on the Apostles' Creed (Rufinus), part 56 [Church Fathers: Commentary on the Apostles' Creed (Rufinus)]
[7] supported
The source's section on the formation of the New Testament canon covers the period 140–200, per its heading.
"§ 35. Die Entstehung des Kanons 140—200 (1934)"§ 35. Die Entstehung des Kanons 140—200 (1934)
[8] supported
The list in the Muratorian Fragment is dated to about 170, based on its author calling the episcopate of Pius I of Rome recent.
"the list itself is dated to about 170 because its author refers to the episcopate of Pius I of Rome (died 157) as recent."Muratorian fragment (muratorian-metzger), part 1 [Muratorian fragment]
[9] documented
Some other books were called Ecclesiastical rather than Canonical by the fathers, including the Wisdom of Solomon, the Wisdom of the Son of Sirach, Tobit, Judith, and the Maccabees.
"But it should be known that there are also other books which our fathers call not Canonical but Ecclesiastical"Commentary on the Apostles' Creed (Rufinus), part 56 [Church Fathers: Commentary on the Apostles' Creed (Rufinus)]
[10] supported
Ecclesiastical books were read in the churches but were not used to confirm doctrine, while the remaining writings were called Apocrypha and were not read in churches.
"all of which they would have read in the Churches , but not appealed to for the confirmation of doctrine. The other writings they have named Apocrypha. These they would not have read in the Churches."Commentary on the Apostles' Creed (Rufinus), part 56 [Church Fathers: Commentary on the Apostles' Creed (Rufinus)]
[11] supported
Solomon is credited with giving three books to the Churches: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles.
"Solomon gave three books to the Churches , Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles."Commentary on the Apostles' Creed (Rufinus), part 56 [Church Fathers: Commentary on the Apostles' Creed (Rufinus)]
[12] supported
Mishnah Yadayim 3:5 records disputes over whether Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) and Song of Songs belong in the biblical canon.
"In this mishnah there are some disputes as to whether Kohelet and Song of Songs belong in the canon."Daf Shevui to Megillah 7a:8 [Daf Shevui]
[13] supported
The Council of Trent addressed the canon of scripture in March 1546.
"at the Council of Trent on the canon of scripture (March, 1546)"The Old Testament of the early church, page 214
[14] supported
Calvin wrote a reply to the Council of Trent's decision on the biblical canon in 1546.
"Calvin's Reply to the Decision of the Council of Trent on the Canon (1546)"The Apocrypha in ecumenical perspective, page 244
[15] supported
Some books were discussed at Jamnia and possibly were not yet firmly fixed in the canon before that discussion.
"was discussed at Jamnia, possibly were not firmly fixed in the canon before"The Old Testament of the early church, page 214
[16] supported
Scholars in technical discussions have abandoned the mid-century view that the biblical canon was closed at the Council/Synod of Jamnia.
"Though technical discussions of the canon of Scripture have abandoned the view widely held at mid-century that the canon was closed at the Council/Synod of Jamnia"Book, page 466
[17] supported
George W. Anderson wrote that the assembly probably responsible for the last major stage in defining the Canon was the so-called Synod of Jamnia, though he admitted the evidence was circumstantial.
"The assembly which probably was responsible for the last major stage in the definition of the Canon was the so-called Synod of Jamnia"Book, page 466
[18] supported
Augustine was present at the third Council of Carthage, which issued a canon listing the books of the Canon of Holy Scripture.
"Among the Canons of the third Council of Carthage, at which Augustine was present, is one which contains a list of the books of"A general survey of the history of the canon of the New Testament : during the first four centuries (1855)
[19] supported
Our information about proceedings at Jamnia (Yavneh) is quite sparse.
"It now is more frequently acknowledged that our information about proceedings at Jamnia [Hebrew: Yavneh] is quite sparse."Book, page 466
[20] supported
The Laodicene Canons, which accompany an early catalogue of books, were ratified at the Quinisextine Council of Constantinople, but that ratification does not show the catalogue was part of the original text.
"they were afterwards ratified by the Eastern Church at the Quinisextine Council of Constantinople."A general survey of the history of the canon of the New Testament : during the first four centuries (1855)
[21] supported
Moses Segal argued that because the synod of Jamnia did not deal with the canon as such, there can be no talk of fixing a standard text at Jabneh as a result of closing the canon.
"Segal, pointing out that the synod of Jamnia did not deal with the question of the canon as such, stated, “There can be no talk of the fixation of a standard text at Jabneh as a result of a fixing and a closing of the canon"Book, page 466
[22] supported
According to Westcott, the Canon was fixed during a period of strife and controversy, yet was generally received on all sides.
"that the Canon as we receive it now was fixed in a period of strife and controversy :— that it was generally received on all sides :—"A general survey of the history of the canon of the New Testament : during the first four centuries (1855)