Which criteria were used to determine the canon of Scripture?

The criteria that were used to determine the canon of Scripture include Acceptance, Authorship, and Content, which are foundational elements in the process of recognizing which texts would be considered sacred and authoritative.

Acceptance refers to the recognition and usage of a text within the early Christian community. For a book to be included in the canon, it needed to have widespread acceptance among early believers and church leaders, indicating its value and spiritual significance.

Authorship pertains to the origin of the text. Books that were believed to be written by apostles or their close associates were granted higher authority and credibility. This criterion helped ensure that the teachings reflected the apostolic tradition and were authentically connected to the teachings of Jesus.

Content relates to the theological coherence and alignment of a text with established doctrines and the teachings of the early Church. Texts needed to be consistent with the core beliefs of Christianity to be considered authoritative and appropriate for inclusion in the Bible.

These three criteria worked together to create a framework for discerning which writings were divinely inspired and worthy of being part of the canon, leading to the formation of the Bible as recognized today.