Canon and the Ancient Christian Bible — Canon Development

Origen Distinguishes Recognized and Disputed Books

c. AD 230-250
A Visit With Jesus

Origen used the four Gospels and apostolic writings extensively while acknowledging questions surrounding several books.

Full Account

Origen's scholarship ranged across the Greek Scriptures and compared textual readings. He recognized the four Gospels, Acts, Paul's letters, First Peter, First John, and Revelation, while reporting debate about books such as Hebrews, Second Peter, Second and Third John, and James.

His famous comment that God alone knows who wrote Hebrews illustrates honesty about human authorship without rejecting the book's spiritual value.

Historical Significance

Origen documents both the stable canonical core and the limited, openly discussed questions that remained in the third century.

People, Places and Sources