The development of the New Testament canon Essay

Introduction
There were several contributing factors to the development of the New Testament canon. The development of the New Testament canon did not happen over-night. It was in fact, a rather a long process, which spanned over a period of several hundred years.
The quantity of the New Testament was written during the first century over a period of approximately 40-50 years, from AD50/60100. The original texts were written by Apostles or an associate such as in the case of some letters of the Apostle Paul who were at times dictating while in prison. Some prominent figures also played a role in the development of the New Testament such as Marcion, Montanus, and Athanasius.
Marcion/marcionism
Marcion was born in AD100 and was the son of a church leader. He became known as the founder of Marcionism. His teachings were rejected as heresy when the church, after examining them, found that they diverted from the orthodox Christian message that had been handed down to them from the apostles. This rejection of his teachings by the church caused him to move on with his gospel and start his own church, which lasted for several centuries. Marcion's gospel omitted some details from Luke's gospel as well as some details from the letters of the Apostle Paul. According to Vinzent, Markus. "Marcion's Gospel and the beginnings of early Christianity" Marcion's gospel [1] "omitted the story of Jesus birth, and the Jewish scriptures wherein Jesus claims his father to be the creator." He also omitted from Paul's letters references to his "foretold coming as well as his relationship to the father."
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Vinzent, Markus. "Marcion's Gospel and the beginnings of early Christianity." Annali Di Storia Dell'esegesi 32, no. 1 (January 2015) 56-87. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed June 6, 2016).
Montanus/montanism
Montanus lived in Asia Minor at the closing of the 2nd Century AD. "He affirmed that the Holy Spirit was giving new revelations to the church" thus naming himself, a prophet along with two women referring to this affirmation as the "New Prophecy." Montanus' gospel of the New Prophecy emphasized resisting persecution, fasting, and shunning remarriage. Eventually Montanism was condemned by the bishop of Rome, and the Montanists were pushed out. They remained on in Asia Minor for some centuries, some growing definitely heretical. Later fathers of the church wrote an occasional polemic against them. As a result of the Montanist heresy the Church developed a mistrust of all recent writings of a prophetical nature. Even the Revelation of John was often conveyed under a cloud of distrust because of its usefulness in supporting the "New Prophecy" due to its prophetic nature.
Manuscripts, the Codex and the Canon
By the time the fourth century came around, the decision was reached as to what books would make up the New Testament canon. [2] "The books that were accepted as canon were those that had apostolic authority and had universally been accepted by Christians." Those books that did not have apostolic authority were not accepted as canon.