Step-by-step explanation:
The canonization of the New Testament refers to the process by which the 27 books of the New Testament were recognized as the authoritative, inspired scriptures of the Christian faith. This process took place over several centuries and can be divided into three stages:
The first stage is the period of formation, during which the New Testament books were written. This stage lasted from approximately 50 to 100 AD and saw the composition of the gospels, the letters of Paul, and other New Testament books.
The second stage is the period of collection, in which local churches and communities began to gather together and preserve the books that were considered to be authoritative. During this stage, the books were copied and circulated, and a process of evaluation began to determine which books should be accepted as part of the canon.
The third stage is the period of recognition, in which the canon was officially recognized and declared to be the authoritative collection of scriptures for the Christian faith. This process took place over several centuries, with the canon being gradually recognized and accepted by different Christian communities and eventually being universally recognized by the end of the 4th century.
Each stage of the canonization process was important and contributed to the recognition of the New Testament as the authoritative scriptures of the Christian faith.