What determines canonicity or that a particular book is considered scriptural? How do we decide which books belong in the Bible since the Bible doesn't tell us?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The books of the Old Testament were affirmed as authoritative by the Jewish community by around 400 BC and were recognized as inspired Scripture by Jesus and the New Testament writers. Jesus affirmed the Law and the Prophets as God's Word, and both He and His followers frequently quoted them as authoritative. The New Testament books were written by apostles or close associates of apostles, and the early church recognized these writings as inspired and trustworthy. Over time, the church confirmed which books belonged in the canon through consistent use, apostolic origin, and agreement with core Christian doctrine. This recognition assures us that the Bible is a divinely guided and reliable foundation for faith and life.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The thirty-nine books of the Old Testament were collected together by about 400 BC in the time of Ezra the priest and scribe. These were affirmed as authoritative writings of the Jewish people inspired by God and used in their worship from ancient times. They included the Torah, revealed by God to Moses during the wilderness journey; Joshua and the books of history to follow; the wisdom books (mostly written during the times of David and his son Solomon); and the prophets. They were classified as the Torah, the Writings, and the Prophets or sometimes simply as the Law and the Prophets.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In the New Testament, Jesus spoke of the inspired nature of the Old Testament writings, saying, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished" (Matthew 5:17-18). He elsewhere referred to these writings as the Scriptures (Matthew 21:42; 22:29; 26:54). This reveals the canonicity of the Law and Prophets (Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; Prophets: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets—Hosea through Malachi).
• Further support of the divine nature of the Old Testament writings is found in the abundance of quotations from and allusions to these writings in the New Testament. Both Jesus and the writers of the New Testament frequently refer to the Old Testament as authoritative, inspired writing (e.g., Matthew 4:4, 7, 10; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 2:16–21; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1–2).
• Each book of the New Testament was written by either an apostle or a close associate of an apostle. These included three apostles of Jesus—Matthew (Matthew 9:9), John (John 21:24), and Peter (1 Peter 1:1); the half-brothers of Jesus—James (Galatians 1:19) and Jude (Jude 1); and the writings of the apostle Paul (Romans 1:1; 2 Peter 3:15–16).
• The other books were written by Mark (an associate of Peter—1 Peter 5:13—and Paul—Acts 12:25), Luke (a companion of Paul—Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11), and the author of Hebrews, whose identity is uncertain but is traditionally linked to Paul or one of his associates (Hebrews 13:23).
• Every New Testament book can be shown as directly from the family and followers of Jesus or a direct associate of them (Luke 1:1–3; 2 Peter 1:16; 1 John 1:1–3).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The New Testament writings were accepted by the earliest churches as authoritative, inspired writings and were later compiled as the New Testament along with the writings of the Old Testament. Some of the later letters were sometimes disputed, usually because they were not as widely known, yet they were ultimately affirmed by the early church and its leaders as authoritative. Certain other works were included in some early New Testament collections at times merely because they were well-regarded and binding a book was expensive, so they included such books, but didn’t elevate them to holy Scripture (such as the Shepherd of Hermas or the Didache). By the early second century, most of the New Testament books were listed together as a collection. Entire New Testaments and Bibles featuring both testaments date to the early fourth century.

Understanding what determines canonicity reminds us that the Bible is not a random collection of ancient writings but a carefully recognized record of God’s revealed truth. The fact that each book was affirmed by God's people and rooted in apostolic witness builds confidence that what we read is trustworthy and inspired. In a world filled with competing voices and distorted interpretations, we need the assurance that our foundation is not based on opinion but on Scripture with divine authority. This helps us study, apply, and teach God's Word with conviction, knowing it has been preserved faithfully through history. Trusting the canon of Scripture calls us to take the Bible seriously—not just as a religious text but as God's message to guide our lives today.

UNDERSTAND

• Divine inspiration determines canonicity: A book must be recognized as inspired by God, showing consistency with His character and truth.
• Recognized Authorship determines canonicity: The author must have been recognized as legitimate and having spiritual authority.
• Orthodox doctrine determines canonicity: The content must agree with the rest of the content of the Bible, upholding sound doctrine.

REFLECT

• How does knowing the Bible was carefully recognized and affirmed by God’s people deepen your trust in its message?
• When you read Scripture, how do you approach it as God’s authoritative word rather than just inspirational literature?
• How can understanding the process of canonicity help you stay grounded in truth when confronted with conflicting beliefs?

ENGAGE

• Why is it important that the canon was recognized by councils as opposed to being created by them?
• Why is it important for Christians to understand the historical process behind the formation of the Bible?
• How might misunderstanding the canon of Scripture impact how people interpret or apply the Bible today?