Concerning the bible, It is my understanding that there were several councils beginning the year 350-380 (these were councils of the Catholic Church) which tried to compile the bible. However there was not an official decision, not until the year 382, council of Rome. It should be noted that there were 300 different books/epistles/writings which were put on the table so to speak, which had to be determined if they were going to be in the bible or not. It is said, there were over 50 different versions of the gospels. Some books like revelation were rejected the first 200 years of Christianity. Other, Like the Epistle of Clement (4th Pope) or the Shepherd of Hermas were so accepted, that they were even read in Mass. But in the year 382, the Damasus list was proclaimed. Its called “Damusus” list or “Damasine” in honor of Pope Damasus I. This is a list, of the 73 books that all Catholic Bibles have Today. It also includes the same 27 books of the New testament, that all Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox have. The council went as follows:
“It is likewise decreed: Now, indeed, we must treat of the divine Scriptures: what the universal Catholic Church accepts and what she must shun. The list of the Old Testament begins: Genesis, one book; Exodus, one book: Leviticus, one book;Numbers, one book; Deuteronomy, one book; Jesus Nave, one book; of Judges, one book; Ruth, one book; of Kings, four books [First and Second Books of Kings, Third and Fourth Books of Kings]; Paralipomenon, two books; One Hundred and Fifty Psalms, one book; of Solomon, three books: Proverbs, one book; Ecclesiastes, one book; Canticle of Canticles, one book; likewise, Wisdom, one book; Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), one book;”
“Likewise, the list of the Prophets: Isaiah, one book; Jeremias, one book; along with Cinoth, that is, his Lamentations; Ezechiel, one book; Daniel, one book; Osee, one book; Amos, one book; Micheas, one book; Joel, one book; Abdias, one book; Jonas, one book; Nahum, one book; Habacuc, one book; Sophonias, one book; Aggeus, one book; Zacharias, one book; Malachias, one book.”
“Likewise, the list of histories: Job, one book; Tobias, one book; Esdras, two books; Esther, one book; Judith, one book; of Maccabees, two books.”
“Likewise, the list of the Scriptures of the New and Eternal Testament, which the holy and Catholic Church receives: of the Gospels, one book according to Matthew, one book according to Mark, one book according to Luke, one book according to John. The Epistles of the Apostle Paul, fourteen in number: one to the Romans, two to the Corinthians [First Epistle to the Corinthians and Second Epistle to the Corinthians], one to the Ephesians, two to the Thessalonians [First Epistle to the Thessalonians and Second Epistle to the Thessalonians], one to the Galatians, one to the Philippians, one to the Colossians, two to Timothy [First Epistle to Timothy and Second Epistle to Timothy], one to Titus, one to Philemon, one to the Hebrews.”
“Likewise, one book of the Apocalypse of John. And the Acts of the Apostles, one book.”
“Likewise, the canonical Epistles, seven in number: of the Apostle Peter, two Epistles [First Epistle of Peter and Second Epistle of Peter]; of the Apostle James, one Epistle; of the Apostle John, one Epistle; of the other John, a Presbyter, two Epistles [Second Epistle of John and Third Epistle of John]; of the Apostle Jude the Zealot, one Epistle. Thus concludes the canon of the New Testament.”
Likewise it is decreed: After the announcement of all of these prophetic and evangelic or as well as apostolic writings which we have listed above as Scriptures, on which, by the grace of God, the Catholic Church is founded, we have considered that it ought to be announced that although all the Catholic Churches spread abroad through the world comprise but one bridal chamber of Christ, nevertheless, the holy Roman Church has been placed at the forefront not by the conciliar decisions of other Churches, but has received the primacy by the evangelic voice of our Lord and Savior, who says: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it; and I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you shall have bound on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall have loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Decree of Pope Damasus [A.D. 382]).
-Council of Rome
The books on this list make up the Roman Catholic Bible. This exact list is confirmed at the following councils: Hippo 393 AD, Carthage 397 AD, Carthage 419 AD, Florence 1442, and Trent 1546.
It should be noted that many apocrypha were left out. Examples:
- Apocalypse of Peter
- Protoevangelium of James
- Acts of Paul and Thecla
- Gospel of Peter
- The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
- Acts of Peter and Paul
- Gospel of Thomas
- Acts of Thomas
- Acts of Thaddaeus
- Acts of Andrew
- Acts of Xanthippe and Polyxena
- Acts of John
- Acts of Philip
- Apocalypse of Paul
- Gospel of Nicodemus
- The Doctrine of Addai – This is a Syriac version of the earlier Acts of Thaddaeus
- History of Joseph the Carpenter
- Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew
- Acts of Barnabas
- Acts of Bartholomew
- Acts and Martyrdom of St. Matthew the Apostle
- Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Saviour
- Avenging of the Saviour
- Apocalypse of John
- Apocalypse of Moses
- Apocalypse of Esdras
- Testament of Abraham
- Narrative of Zosimus
- Gospel of the Nativity of Mary
- Narrative of Joseph of Arimathea
- Report of Pontius Pilate
- Letter of Pontius Pilate
- Giving Up of Pontius Pilate
- Death of Pilate
- Apocalypse of the Virgin
- Apocalypse of Sedrach
- Acts of Andrew and Matthias
- Acts of Peter and Andrew
- Consummation of Thomas the Apostle