Canon of the Bible, Council of Carthage (quora)

Q

What books were rejected by the councils of Hippo and Carthage for inclusion into the canon of scripture?
https://www.quora.com/What-books-were-rejected-by-the-councils-of-Hippo-and-Carthage-for-inclusion-into-the-canon-of-scripture

Giving

the best answers, including one unduly downvoted by Quora moderation, with my comments under that one.

A I

Matt Herman

Former Atheist, now a minister. (also owns Fitmart Health and Resource Center)

Answered Aug 17, 2016

There were dozens of books not included in the Bible.

A list of them can be found at the Wesley Center for Applied Theology. In addition, you can also read them at the same site.

Noncanonical Literature
http://wesley.nnu.edu/sermons-essays-books/noncanonical-literature/

Matt

A II

Stephen Frantz

Love to read books.

Answered Aug 6, 2015

The decision was effectively made by the consensus of the churches before the councils. The closest to be almost included were probably the Shepherd of Hermas and The Didache. They have some value and are worth reading.

A III

Answers collapsed by moderation

Answer is a joke answer [sic]

John Peyton

just a Christian

Answered Aug 4, 2015

Short answer: All the ones that weren’t accepted.

First of all, there is no record that the biblical canon was discussed at the Council of Nicaea. So they certainly did not take a list of books and decide to reject some of them and keep the rest.

Still, even if the biblical canon had been one of the topics under consideration, it still remains true that they’re deciding what books to include – not exclude. In effect, they excluded every single piece of writing that they didn’t decide to include. There probably wasn’t a list of books under consideration that they voted on and ended up choosing from.

Hans-Georg Lundahl

7m ago

The answer is not at all a joke answer.

While “all the ones that weren’t accepted” could by itself be a joke, it is explicitated why this statement is factually correct:

“it still remains true that they’re deciding what books to include – not exclude.”

Note very well, the Council of Nicea, as probably original version of question, was not involved, though answer is here given on that one, now this remains equally applicable as to council of Carthage (one of the local ones after Nicea that were involved).

“There probably wasn’t a list of books under consideration that they voted on and ended up choosing from.”

Probably very correct. Canon was reaffirmed as full list, probably, against someone taking a lesser list. St Augustine who was at Carthage also gives - at another point - his reasons for not including Henoch.

However, we do not know if the case of Henoch was brought before Council of Carthage or if St Augustine heard of it only later in some other context. The fact is, it was a local tradition of Ethiopia and Ethiopian Copts to this day consider it as canonical, while the rest of the Church, including presumably Ethiopian Uniate Catholics, if any, but not sure has not received it as a tradition, more like heard of it, at times, as a rumour from Ethiopia.

Hans-Georg Lundahl

Just now

“However, we do not know if the case of Henoch was brought before Council of Carthage” - or, at least I do not know myself.

It can be noted that while quora moderation was probably very fine with downvoting any answers expressing what is now usually listed as cpnspiracy theories, it was in 2015 very fine with collapsing an answer which very briefly refuted a conspiracy theory on how Christianity was founded, as we know it./HGL