Easter letter
Encyclopedia
In AD 367
, Athanasius of Alexandria
authored the 39th Festal Letter, or Easter letter, which was approved at the Quinisext Council
. In it, he listed the same 27 books of the New Testament
that are in use today. The Letter to the Hebrews is missing from some later lists, but the canon defined dogmatically at the Council of Trent
matches Athanasius's list and includes the epistle.
The New Testament writings founded in the Codex Vaticanus Graecus 1209 (AD 340) and Athanasius' 39th Festal Letter were the first compilations of the present list of Roman Catholic
New Testament writings said to be determined at the Council of Rome
(AD 382) (claims about this council are disputed), under Pope Damasus. This determination was then confirmed by the Third Council of Carthage (AD 397).
367
Year 367 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lupicinus and Iovanus...
, Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria [b. ca. – d. 2 May 373] is also given the titles St. Athanasius the Great, St. Athanasius I of Alexandria, St Athanasius the Confessor and St Athanasius the Apostolic. He was the 20th bishop of Alexandria. His long episcopate lasted 45 years Athanasius of Alexandria [b....
authored the 39th Festal Letter, or Easter letter, which was approved at the Quinisext Council
Quinisext Council
The Quinisext Council was a church council held in 692 at Constantinople under Justinian II. It is often known as the Council in Trullo, because it was held in the same domed hall where the Sixth Ecumenical Council had met...
. In it, he listed the same 27 books of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
that are in use today. The Letter to the Hebrews is missing from some later lists, but the canon defined dogmatically at the Council of Trent
Canon of Trent
Though many canons or canon laws were formulated as a result of the 16th century Ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church known as the Council of Trent, the phrase Canon of Trent usually refers to the list of biblical books that were from then on to be considered canonical...
matches Athanasius's list and includes the epistle.
The New Testament writings founded in the Codex Vaticanus Graecus 1209 (AD 340) and Athanasius' 39th Festal Letter were the first compilations of the present list of Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
New Testament writings said to be determined at the Council of Rome
Council of Rome
The Council of Rome was a meeting of Christian Church officials and theologians which took place in 382 under the authority of the bishop of Rome, Damasus I. The previous year, the Emperor Theodosius I had appointed the "dark horse" candidate Nectarius Archbishop of Constantinople...
(AD 382) (claims about this council are disputed), under Pope Damasus. This determination was then confirmed by the Third Council of Carthage (AD 397).