From Reformation to Trent: Who Had Authority to Define the Canon?

Part 4 of our canon series brings the discussion into the Reformation and the Council of Trent. Stephen and Gary look at how earlier distinctions surrounding the Old Testament books were revived, especially through appeals to Jerome and the Hebrew canon. We examine Nicholas of Lyra, Cardinal Cajetan, Cardinal Ximénez and the Complutensian Polyglot, Luther’s treatment of both the Old and New Testament books, and the way Protestant and Catholic arguments began to move in very different directions. We also look at the Council of Florence in 1442 and the significance of its biblical list before Luther, before the Reformation, and more than a century before Trent. Finally, we turn to the Council of Trent in 1546 and the question that had become impossible to avoid: Who actually has the authority to define the canon of Scripture? Was the Church simply receiving a canon that was already obvious, or did competing historical traditions require an authoritative judgment? This episode traces that debate from the late medieval period through Luther and finally to Trent. Stephen's newest article on the subject: https://www.academia.edu/172562474/Jerome_and_Canonical_Authority 🔔 Subscribe to FACTS with Stephen Boyce New episodes weekly on Scripture, Church history, and theology. 🎁 Support our ministry: If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7 #theFACTSpodcast #StephenBoyce #ChurchHistory #EarlyChurchHistory