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?.
Begin by reading
Go into the Word
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
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.”
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,
“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.
From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for 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.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and Christ Jesus 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.
For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
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.
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.
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 'so 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.
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.
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.
So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word, or by letter.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for 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.
The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.”
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
Studying the Word naturally opens more of it. Follow what you just read: it leads somewhere.
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.
Hold onto these
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
Worth visiting