Marcion

Marcion published the earliest extant fixed collection of New Testament books.

The church Marcion founded expanded throughout the known world during his lifetime, and was a serious rival to what became Roman Catholic church. Its adherents were strong enough in their convictions to have the church retain its expansive power for more than a century.

One way to promote ones own view is to accuse others of something that is generally not understood but is accepted off hand as incorrect. In doing away with the dualist Marcion it was common to label him a Gnostic. We see the same practice with the Founding Fathers Of the United States who are often accused of being Deists.

Besides Tacitus others like Philo of Alexandria, and Josephus also speak of Pontius Pilate as well as the four canonical gospels; along with the Gospel of Nicodemus; the Gospel of Marcion; and other apocryphal works.