The Canonization of the New Testament

We know that, at the time of the Savior's earthly ministry, the "scriptures" were "the law and the prophets" - the Old Testament. Those of us familiar with it also know that the New Testament contains the writings and words of the Savior and of His apostles and prophets of that time - words that also went on to become scripture.


Those Heretical Christians

The New Testament tells of the great persecution which the early Christians bore because of their faith in Christ and because of their treasuring up the words of His prophets and apostles. They were persecuted because they had the nerve to believe that their scriptures were indeed fulfillment of the law and the prophets, that their Jesus was in fact the Jewish Messiah which was promised and prophesied in the Old Testament. 

In Paul's second epistle to Timothy, Paul testifies of the truthfulness and divine origin of both the Old Testament and of what went on to become the New Testament:

"But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:10-17)

We know from studies about the origins of the New Testament that early Christians collected the writings of contemporary prophets and apostles. As the faith grew, so also did a need for a canon of sorts, a rigorous record of the events of Christ's life and resurrection, as also a collection of the teachings of the prophets and apostles thereafter. They sought to have not only the Old Testament, but another Testament - one that would record and testify of the divinity of Jesus Christ and of the fulfillment of then-ancient prophecy.

The result was the compilation of what we now call the Bible, containing the law and the prophets - the Old Testament, the gospels, the epistles of Peter and Paul, and the writings of John the Revelator - the New Testament.

The Importance of the New Testament

Those of us willing to study it know that the New Testament is important because it represents the fulfillment of hundreds of prophecies of the Old Testament. In it we see the fulfillment of hundreds of prophecies concerning the Savior. To name a few: 

• the Father sending angels to announce the birth of His Son
• the Messiah being called a "Nazarene"
• Christ restoring His ancient church with apostles and seventy (see Mark 3:14-21)
• the birth of "a sceptre out of Bethlehem"
• Isaiah's prophecy concerning the suffering and death of Christ to atone for our sins fulfilled (Isaiah 22, 53) even to the point of describing crucifixion - a practice that wasn't invented until more than six hundred years later. 
• Isaiah's prophesy that the Savior would be buried "with the rich". In the New Testament, we see Joseph of Arimithea - a rich Pharisee - offer his family tomb as the eventual burial place of the Savior. (Isaiah 53:9, John 19:38-40)
• the Savior entering Jerusalem days before His death, amid the waving of palms, just as Zehcariah had foreseen. (Zechariah 9:9, John 12:12-16)
• the Savior rising again the third day, as prophesied for hundreds of years.  (Isaiah 25:8, Matthew 28:5-7)

For reference, see the following articles:

What's in the Bible? Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive (Old Testament prophecies about the birth of Christ)
Offices of the Priesthood in the ancient Church

There are hundreds of other examples of prophecies of the Old Testament fulfilled in the form and personage of Jesus Christ in the pages of the New Testament.

The New Testament turned out to be the ultimate yet unfinished vindication of the prophets of the Old.