The Origins of the New Testament

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In the context of early Christianity around 180 AD, the necessity for a biblical canon emerged due to Gnostic threats. Alfred Loisy, a knowledgeable Roman Catholic priest and leader of "Catholic Modernism," explores the compilation and evolution of the New Testament, arguing that its formation was influenced by the development of Christian propaganda. He critiques the portrayal of miracles as historical events and emphasizes that later additions to the texts were responses to contemporary needs. This scholarly work complements his earlier writings on the origins of Christianity.