Have you ever wondered, “Why are there only 66 books in the Bible? Who decided that?” or “Are there other books that were rejected? And if so, why?” These questions are very important because they concern the foundation of our faith. If the Bible is the Word of God, then how can we be sure that the books inside it truly come from God?
To answer that, we need to understand what the canon of the Bible is and how the early church, with the help of the Holy Spirit, recognized which books were truly inspired by God.
1. What Is the Canon?
The word canon comes from the Greek word kanลn, which means “measuring rod” or “standard.” In the context of the Bible, canon means the list of books recognized as authoritative and inspired by God. These books become the standard of faith and teaching for believers.
So, the Bible canon is not a list made arbitrarily by humans, but the result of a careful process based on the recognition of God’s people regarding the spiritual authority of those books.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
2. How Was the Old Testament Canon Compiled?
The Old Testament canon was widely recognized by the Jews long before the time of Jesus. Books such as the Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy), the books of the prophets, and writings like Psalms and Proverbs were widely used in synagogues and in the religious life of the people of Israel.
Jesus Himself often quoted the Old Testament and never questioned its validity.
“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” (Luke 24:44)
This shows that Jesus acknowledged the three main parts of the Hebrew canon which correspond to our Old Testament today.
3. How Was the New Testament Canon Formed?
The New Testament canon was not formed overnight, but through a process spanning several centuries. The early church accepted the writings of the apostles because they personally knew Christ or were ministry companions of the apostles.
Some main criteria in recognizing the New Testament canon:
- Apostolic: Written by an apostle or someone close to an apostle (such as Mark and Luke)
- Orthodox: Its teaching aligns with the teachings of Jesus and the early church tradition
- General Acceptance: Widely accepted by churches in various regions
- Presence of the Holy Spirit: Recognized as having spiritual power and transforming lives
This process culminated at the end of the 4th century, when church councils such as the Council of Carthage (397 AD) affirmed the list of books that we now know as the 27 books of the New Testament.
4. Were There Books Left Out?
Yes, there were many spiritual writings from the early church era, such as the Gospel of Thomas or the Gospel of Judas, but these books were not included in the canon because they did not meet the criteria of apostleship and orthodoxy. Many of these writings also contained teachings that contradicted the core of the Gospel.
This means that the church did not create the canon, but recognized which books truly came from God.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
5. The Bible Is an Inspired Unity
Although written by more than 40 authors over more than 1,500 years, the Bible has one main message: the redemption of humanity by God’s grace through Jesus Christ. This unity is strong evidence that the Holy Spirit was involved throughout the entire process of forming the canon.
Conclusion: God’s Word Never Fails
The Biblical canon is not the result of political manipulation or secret agreements. It is the work of the Holy Spirit who preserves God’s Word pure and intact for generation after generation.
Today, we can open the Bible with confidence that what we read is not merely human writing, but the living and active Word.
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)
