Editing Bible (section)

== Apostolic Scriptures ==

**Apostolic Scriptures** refers to the writings that form the New Testament of the Christian Bible—the collection of books produced by the apostles of Jesus Christ or by individuals closely associated with them in the first century AD.

The term highlights their origin in the apostolic witness and teaching. In some traditions, particularly within Messianic Judaism, it is preferred to “New Testament” in order to emphasize continuity with the Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures / Old Testament) rather than a sharp division between “old” and “new.”

### Composition
The standard canon comprises 27 books, generally grouped as follows:

- **Gospels** (accounts of the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus): Matthew (by the apostle Matthew), Mark (by Mark, associate of Peter), Luke (by Luke, associate of Paul), and John (by the apostle John).
- **Historical narrative**: Acts of the Apostles (by Luke).
- **Pauline letters** (13 epistles by or attributed to the apostle Paul): Romans, 1–2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1–2 Thessalonians, 1–2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
- **General (Catholic) epistles**: Hebrews (author unknown but associated with the apostolic circle), James (half-brother of Jesus), 1–2 Peter (by the apostle Peter), 1–3 John (by the apostle John), and Jude (half-brother of Jesus).
- **Apocalyptic**: Revelation (by the apostle John).

These books were written primarily in Koine Greek during the first century and circulated individually or in collections before being recognized as a unified canon.

### Historical Recognition
Early Christians accepted writings on the basis of apostolic authorship or close association with the apostles, consistency with apostolic teaching, and widespread use in the churches. By the late second century a core of books was widely received; the full 27-book list appears in sources such as Athanasius of Alexandria’s Festal Letter of 367 AD and was affirmed by subsequent councils. The process reflected the church’s recognition of books already functioning as authoritative rather than the creation of authority by later decree.

### Distinction from the Apostolic Fathers
The Apostolic Fathers (writings such as 1 Clement, the letters of Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp’s letter to the Philippians, and the Didache, dated roughly 70–150 AD) are valuable early Christian texts by leaders who knew the apostles or their immediate disciples. They are not part of the canonical Apostolic Scriptures, though they illustrate the early reception and use of apostolic writings.

In short, the Apostolic Scriptures preserve the teaching and witness of the apostles as the foundational record of the Christian faith, commonly identified with the New Testament canon. If you would like an overview of a particular book, the criteria of canonicity, an age-appropriate summary, or information from a specific tradition, please indicate.