Comparative Theology · Textual History & Manuscripts
Canonisation & Missing Scriptures
In short
- 1.The **27-book canon** was first listed by **Athanasius of Alexandria in 367 CE** — over **300 years** after Jesus.
- 2.Dozens of early gospels (**Thomas**, **Mary**, the **Didache**, and others) were **suppressed or destroyed** in proto-orthodox heresy hunts.
- 3.Selection followed **political alignment** with the Roman imperial church, not an unbroken chain of transmission (**Isnad**).
The claim being examined
The 27-book New Testament was received intact from the apostles.
The Islamic position
The canon list appears first in 367 CE, and dozens of rival gospels were suppressed to produce it.
Analysis
The Nag Hammadi library and Muratorian fragment show a plural, contested Christian literature for centuries. There is no chain of named transmitters for the Gospels; all four are anonymous and were titled later. Islam's isnad system of named, verified transmission has no counterpart in the New Testament canon.
From the Qur'an
Qur'an 15:9
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ
Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an, and indeed, We will be its guardian.
From the Bible
Luke 1:1
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us.
Read it in their BibleAthanasius, Festal Letter 39 (367 CE)
The first surviving list naming exactly the 27 books of the New Testament.
Read it in their BibleSources
Bart Ehrman — Lost Christianities · Nag Hammadi library
The spoken script for this entry is inside the app.
Members get the word-for-word delivery guide — how to open, what to say, the likely replies and how to close warmly — plus notes, a dawah journal and the study assistant.
Open the app