THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON WAS CREATED IN 393 and 397 DURING THE COUNCIL OF HIPPO AND CARTHAGE RESPECTIVELY.


If we took good note of what we have discussed earlier, the New Testament documents were known to be sacred in the lifetime of the writers, but the book wasn't completed yet, not until around 90AD when the last book was written by John, almost all previous writers had died by the time. In conclusion, within the life time of the witnesses the New Testament were completed (45 -90AD). So, New testament was completed before the first century and witnesses were alive during the time. As time goes on, a variety of documents are going to appear, especially from the heretics. Around 146, Marcion sprang up, He selected only 11 documents,10 from Paul and edited Luke, which He considered sacred. He rejected God of Israel and all old testament writings. He misled many. This is one of the reasons the Church had to separate canonical writings from other documents, to avoid later corruption, and confusion in the Churches of God.
"Let no one add to these or take anything from them…. No mention is to be made of the apocryphal works. They are the invention of heretics, who write according to their own will, and gratuitously assign and add to them dates so that, offering them as ancient writings, they may have an excuse for leading the simple astray. -Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria 367 AD
The church applied canon to the collection of documents which are recognised Scripture. The main concept behind the Canonization of the scriptures is to avoid other writings to be read in religion settings as a divine authority. This is a wording from the council,
Besides the canonical. Scriptures, nothing shall be read in the church under the title of 'divine writings.' The canonical books are. ..."(both Old and New Testament books are listed).
Now it is clear that this council did not in any sense create the canon. Rather, the statement assumes that the canon already existed and was recognized, and the council merely confirmed the prevailing judgment of the Churches.
MORE EVIDENCE.
Clement of Rome wrote a letter to the Church in Corinthians, 96AD (300 years before the council of Hippo), in which he cited Pauline epistles, Matthew and some others to reinforce his arguments. This clearly shows the canonical writings are recognised by the churches. 367 AD, Athanasius the Bishop of Alexandria, listed the 27 books of the New Testament we know today. Prior to any official Council, the Canon was recognised. From his Thirty-Ninth Festal Epistle, A.D. 367.
Topic: Concerning the Divine Scriptures 3. In proceeding to make mention of these things, I shall adopt, to commend my undertaking, the pattern of Luke the evangelist, saying on my own account, Forasmuch as some have taken in hand to reduce into order for themselves the books termed Apocryphal, and to mix them up with the divinely inspired Scripture, concerning which we have been fully persuaded, as they who from the beginning were eye-witnesses and ministers of the Word, delivered to the Fathers; it seemed good to me also, having been urged thereto by true brethren, and having learned from the beginning, to set before you the books included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as divine; to the end that anyone who has fallen into error may condemn those who have led them astray; and that he who has continued steadfast in purity may again rejoice, having these things brought to his remembrance. (Old Testament is listed in chapter four) 5. Again, it is not tedious to speak of the books of the New Testament. These are: the four Gospels, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. After these, The Acts of the Apostles, and the seven epistles called Catholic: of James, one; of Peter, two, of John, three; after these, one of Jude. In addition, there are fourteen epistles of Paul the apostle, written in this order: the first, to the Romans; then, two to the Corinthians; after these, to the Galatians; next, to the Ephesians, then, to the Philippians; then, to the Colossians; after these, two of the Thessalonians; and that to the Hebrews; and again, two to Timothy; one to Titus; and lastly, that to Philemon. And besides, the Revelation of John.
In conclusion, the recognition of the Canon was the experience of the church as a whole, not later work as claimed by the critics.
  • HOW DID THE CHURCH RECOGNISED THE CANON?
Apostolic Authority, many of the writings belongs to the Apostles, and others were written by their companions. All the writings were recognised by the Apostles. Apostolic authority was a valid test is assured from the statements of Christ Himself who said to the Twelve:
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you" (John 14:26). "Ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning" (John 15:27). "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. ..And he will show you things to come" (John 16:13).
So, any writings that's not known as sacred by the witnesses weren't considered part of the Scripture. Second important criteria was the use of the scripture in all geographical areas of the Church. Thirdly, the book shouldn't contradict the previous books, especially the Old Testament and other New Testament writings.

  WHAT ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES IN THE MANUSCRIPTS.

It should be recognized that the vast majority of variants in the manuscripts have to do with such things as spelling differences, word order and other minor matters. With the wealth of documentary evidence at our disposal for determining the true text, biblical scholars are in a lot better position than being textual scholars of any other ancient literature. It is highly unlikely that the true text has been lost at any point. No Manuscript was burned or destroyed because of any differences like it was done in the Quran, which shows God preserved the Book himself. Assuming, we have only Byzantine texts and all other manuscripts were destroyed like it was done to the Quran. It will be just mere assumption, claiming we have our book intact. We are glad to say the Bible is well preserved.
MORE INFORMATION
First, Papyrus was the oldest New Testament documents A.D. 125. Secondly, Early Bible Translations e.g. the Coptic, Latin and Syriac. Thirdly, The writings of the ancient early fathers. Fourth, Manuscripts were classified into families. We have Alexanderian, Western and Byzantine. Vaticanus and Sinaiticus are widely known to be the most accurate Manuscripts ( The duo belongs to Alexandrian family). In conclusion, Christians are in possessed of the books that has a remarkable history, as promised by Christ, who promised to empower the Apostles to be his witnesses. We are more than a conqueror.