Final answer:
The Church's determination of canonical books was influenced by theological debates, the establishment of orthodoxy, and regional differences. The established canon was a result of centuries of discussion and was solidified in the Western Church by the 15th century. Language, technological advancements in printing, and ecumenical councils also played critical roles in the formation of the canon.
Step-by-step explanation:
The determination of which books were canon within the Church was a prolonged and complex process influenced by theological discourse, religious authority, and historical contexts. Early Christian leaders engaged in vigorous debates about what texts should be considered authoritative and reflective of orthodox Christian doctrine.
Over time, a set of texts emerged that the Church deemed sacred and authoritatively inspirational, a process that was intimately tied to the establishment of orthodoxy within the Church. Moreover, canonical texts were also influenced by practical matters, such as language and regional differences within the Church. The Western Church, speaking Latin, and the Eastern Church, speaking Greek, both played roles in the shaping of the Bible.
In 410, the monk Jerome translated the Christian Bible into Latin, known as the Vulgate, which became the main edition in Europe for centuries. Despite Jerome's work, it was not until 1442, during the Renaissance, that the Western Church definitively established which Old Testament books were to be included in the Bible. This canonization included only those writings deemed to be in line with the prescribed orthodoxy of the time and to authentically portray the Christian faith.
Variations in texts of Western religions have raised questions regarding the official and truthful versions of 'holy books', influencing the Church's decisions on canonization. Through various ecumenical councils, such as the Council of Nicaea in 325, the Church addressed and rejected certain theological interpretations, creating a platform for establishing dogmatic conformity, which shaped the Christian canon.
Common vernacular and the invention of the printing press later played significant roles in disseminating these canonical texts to a broader literate public, diminishing the Church's exclusive control over religious knowledge.