How do we know which books belong in the Bible?
The church did not invent the Bible's contents by vote; it recognized the books God had already given and the apostles had already used. The Old Testament Jesus quoted was settled in its shape, and the New Testament books were written and circulated by apostles and their close associates, read aloud in the churches from the first. The canon is a matter of testimony: books the Spirit-breathed witness of the apostles stamped with authority before any council ever met.
This question arose from studying Can I trust the Bible? and Is the whole Bible about Jesus?.
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The study
What the Scripture says
The Old Testament: the Bible Jesus received
Jesus spoke of 'the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms,' the threefold shape of the Hebrew Scriptures, and said the things written there concerning Him must be fulfilled. He could say, 'Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill,' for not one pen stroke passes from the law until all is accomplished. The books Israel treasured as Scripture were settled before Jesus came, and He never once questioned their authority; He quoted them as the living word of God.
He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.”And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
“Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letteror one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.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.
The New Testament books came from the apostles themselves
The Gospels and letters carry apostolic authority from the start: Paul wrote as an apostle by the command of God and solemnly charged that his letters 'be read to all the holy brothers,' and he had churches exchange them so the word was gathered and shared. Paul could quote the Gospel of Luke as Scripture ('the laborer is worthy of his wages'), and Peter already classed all of Paul's letters with 'the other Scriptures.' The books came bearing the apostles' own stamp; the church simply received what it had been given.
I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and Christ Jesus our hope;Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you; as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
The church recognized what the Spirit had already given
As letters and gospels circulated, the churches recognized books with apostolic origin, universal acceptance, and doctrine consistent with the faith delivered once for all. Paul's test was blunt: even if an angel from heaven should preach a different gospel, 'let him be cursed.' Luke wrote 'that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed,' and John blessed the one who reads and hears the words of the prophecy. Books without apostolic authority, however edifying, were not received as canon; the rule was simple, the Spirit wrote through the apostles, and the church could recognize His voice.
But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand.Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word, or by letter.Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
The canon was recognized, then confirmed
The core of the New Testament, four Gospels, Acts, the letters of Paul, and the works of his associates, was in use across the churches long before any council. Later lists and councils, from Athanasius onward, did not add or subtract by vote; they confirmed what the churches had already been reading from the beginning. History does not show a council choosing the books of the Bible; it shows churches everywhere recognizing the books that had always carried the apostles' voice, and rejecting the rest.
Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you; as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
We can trust that God has given His people His book
Paul says every Scripture is 'God-breathed,' profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work. Peter says prophecy never came by the will of man, but men spoke 'being moved by the Holy Spirit.' If God could breathe His word through prophets and apostles, He could also preserve and gather the books that carry it, and He has: the Bible in your hands is the book the church has always received, able to make you 'wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus' and living and active by the Spirit who wrote it.
Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.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.
knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.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.
For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.”The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
As you read, you may wonder…
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We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
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Verses to meditate on
Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.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.
knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.”And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you; as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
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