Canonization Process

In the above video, Tovia Singer discusses how the Church Fathers who decided which books would be included in the Christian Bible were all Gentiles who did not know Hebrew. He points out that only two Church Fathers, Origen (third century) and Jerome (fourth/fifth century), were fluent in Hebrew but were not involved in the canonization of the New Testament. This linguistic gap among the Church Fathers raises questions about the authenticity and accuracy of their decisions.

[2:78] Among them are gentiles who do not know the scripture, except through hearsay, then assume that they know it. [2:79] Therefore, woe to those who distort the scripture with their own hands, then say, “This is what GOD has revealed,” seeking a cheap material gain. Woe to them for such distortion, and woe to them for their illicit gains.

وَمِنْهُمْ أُمِّيُّونَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّآ أَمَانِىَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَـٰذَا مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ لِيَشْتَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا كَتَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ

Singer further elaborates that Athanasius, a Church Father and Bishop of Alexandria in 367, made the first list of the 27 books in the Christian Bible. This list has significantly influenced the Christian canon as we know it today. Additionally, Singer explains that the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were not originally attributed to their respective authors. The Bishop of Lyon, Irenaeus, later made the attributions in the second century, highlighting the evolving nature of the New Testament canon and the role of Church authorities in shaping its development. Additionally, none of the books in the Testament were the actual writings of Jesus. At the same time, most of the New Testament consisted of the writings of Paul or his followers, who were not authorized by God to have their work in God’s scripture.

[6:93] Who is more evil than one who fabricates lies and attributes them to GOD, or says, “I have received divine inspiration,” when no such inspiration was given to him, or says, “I can write the same as GOD’s revelations”? If only you could see the transgressors at the time of death! The angels extend their hands to them, saying, “Let go of your souls. Today, you have incurred a shameful retribution for saying about GOD other than the truth, and for being too arrogant to accept His revelations.

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ قَالَ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ وَلَمْ يُوحَ إِلَيْهِ شَىْءٌ وَمَن قَالَ سَأُنزِلُ مِثْلَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ فِى غَمَرَٰتِ ٱلْمَوْتِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ بَاسِطُوٓا۟ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ ٱلْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ غَيْرَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ