393 and 397

The Councils of Hippo and Carthage: the Confirmation of the New Testament Canon

Under Augustine's influence, the western councils at Hippo (393) and Carthage (397) confirmed a list of twenty-seven New Testament books. Augustine himself attended the council at Carthage. The councils held all books, including those of the Septuagint, to be of equal sanctity. The East was different: there, since Athanasius's 39th Festal Letter, canonical and secondary writings had been distinguished.

The Council of Nicaea in 325 had not addressed the question of the canon. The authors stress that the church thereby did not "create" the canon but recognized books of apostolic origin. It was guided by their authorship and agreement with apostolic teaching.