The NT was put together in 313 AD and the Romans made it mandatory. In 12 the Roman Catholic church continued this practice so of course there are many copies printed!? Appeal to authority or majority doesn't make things true?
There are more people who are a combination of other belief systems and that fact doesn't make them right either.
Please pay attention. You're arguing a totally different point. However, your 313 AD date is absolute nonsense. See below:
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1C. TESTS FOR INCLUDING A BOOK IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON
The basic factor for determining New Testament canonicity was inspiration by God, and its chief test, apostolicity. 32/181 Geisler and Nix amplify the above:
"In New Testament terminology, the church was 'built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets' (Eph. 2:20) whom Christ had promised to guide into 'all the truth' (John 16:13) by the Holy Spirit. The church at Jerusalem was said to have continued in the 'apostles' teaching and fellowship' (Acts 2:42). The term 'apostolic' as used for the test of canonicity does not necessarily mean'apostolic authorship,' or 'that which was prepared under the direction of the apostles....'
"It seems much better to agree with Gaussen, Warfield, Charles Hodge, and most Protestants that it is apostolic authority, or apostolic approval, that was the primary test for canonicity and not merely apostolic authorship." 32/183
N.B. Stonehouse writes that the apostolic authority "which speaks forth in the New Testament is never detached from the authority of the Lord. In the Epistles there is consistent recognition that in the church there is only one absolute authority, the authority of the Lord himself. Wherever the apostles speak with authority, they do so as exercising the Lord's authority. Thus, for example, where Paul defends his authority as an apostle, he bases his claim solely and directly upon his commission by the Lord (Gal. 1 and 2); where he assumes the right to regulate the life of the church, he claims for his word the Lord's authority, even when no direct word of the Lord has been handed down (I Cor. 14:37; cf. I Cor. 7 : 1 0 ) . . . ." 88/117,118 "
The only one who speaks in the New Testament with an authority that is underived and self-authenticating is the Lord." 67/18
2C. THE NEW TESTAMENT CANONICAL BOOKS
1D. Three reasons for a need to determine a New Testament canon: 23/41
--IE. A heretic, Marcion (ca 140 A.D.), developed his own canon and began to propagate it. The church needed to offset his influence by determining what was the real canon of New Testament Scripture.
--2E. Many Eastern churches were using books in services that were definitely spurious. It called for a decision concerning the canon.
--3E. Edict of Diocletian (A.D. 303) declared the destruction of the sacred books of the Christians. Who wanted to die for just a religious book? They needed to know!
2D. Athanasius of Alexandria (A.D. 367) gives us the earliest list of New Testament books which is exactly like our present New Testament. This list was in a festal letter to the churches.
3D. Shortly after Athanasius, two writers, Jerome and Augustine, define the canon of 27 books. 15/112
4D. Polycarp (A.D. 115), Clement and others refer to the Old and New Testament books with the phrase "as it is said in these scriptures."
5D. Justin Martyr (A.D. 100-165), referring to the Eucharist, writes in his First Apology 1.67: "And on the day called Sunday there is a gathering together to one place of all those who live in cities or in the country, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits. Then when the reader has ceased the president presents admonition and invitation to the imitation of these good things." He adds in his Dialogue with Trypho (pp. 49,103,105,107) the formula "It is written," to quote from the Gospels. Both he and Trypho must have known to what "It is written" refers.
6D. Irenaeus (A.D. 180)
F. F. Bruce writes of the significance of Irenaeus:
"The importance of evidence lies in his link with the apostolic age and in his ecumenical associations. Brought up in Asia Minor at the feet of Polycarp, the disciple of John, he became Bishop of Lyons in Gaul, A.D. 180. His writings attest the canonical recognition of the fourfold Gospel and Acts, of Rom., 1 and 2 Cor., Gal., Eph., Phil., Col., 1 and 2 Thess., 1 and 2 Tim., and Titus, of I Peter and I John and of the Revelation. In his treatise, Against Heresies, III, ii, 8, it is evident that by A.D. 180 the idea of the fourfold Gospel had become so axiomatic throughout Christendom that it could be referred to as an established fact as obvious and inevitable and natural as the four cardinal points of the compass (as we call them) or the four winds." 15/109
7D. Ignatius (A.D. 50-115): "I do not wish to command you as Peter and Paul; they were apostles...." Trail. 3.3.
8D. The Church Councils. It is much the same situation as the Old Testament (see Chapter 3,6C, The Council of Jamnia).
F. F. Bruce states that "when at last a Church CouncilThe Synod of Hippo in A.D. 393 listed the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, it did not confer upon them any authority which they did not already possess, but simply recorded their previously established canonicity. (The ruling of the Synod of Hippo was re-promulgated four years later by the Third Synod of Carthage.)" 15/113
Since this time, there has been no serious questioning of the 27 accepted books of the New Testament by either Roman Catholics or Protestants.
McDowell, Josh (1992-09-01). Evidence That Demands a Verdict, 1: 001 (pp. 36-38). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
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I firmly believe that when God wants to emphasize a matter in his written word such as in John 1:3, Colossians 1:15-17, and 1 John 4:8, He so inspires it that it is difficult, if not impossible to mistranslate.
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