Understanding the Canon of Scripture

When Christians open the Bible, they encounter a collection of sixty-six books written over centuries by many human authors, yet unified in message and authority. This naturally raises an important question: how do we know which books belong in the Bible and which do not? The answer lies in the doctrine of the canon of Scripture. The canon is not a human invention that gave authority to certain books. It is the recognition of books that already carried divine authority (John 10:35).

The word canon comes from a term meaning rule or standard. In theology, it refers to the list of writings that God has given as His authoritative Word. From the earliest days of God’s people, there has been a clear distinction between writings that were inspired by God and those that were merely helpful or religious (Deuteronomy 31:24–26). The issue was never whether God had spoken, but whether a particular writing truly carried His voice.

The Old Testament canon was recognized within the community of Israel long before the time of Christ. Scripture itself refers to an established body of sacred writings known as “the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings” (Luke 24:44). Jesus and the apostles consistently treated these Scriptures as authoritative and final, appealing to them without hesitation (Matthew 5:17–18). There is no evidence that Jesus or His apostles questioned the boundaries of the Old Testament canon. This shows that the people of God recognized God’s Word before the church ever existed.

The New Testament canon developed in a different historical context, yet according to the same theological principles. After Christ’s resurrection and ascension, God continued to speak through the apostles, whom Christ had personally appointed and authorized (John 14:26; Acts 1:8). These apostles either wrote the New Testament books themselves or affirmed writings produced under their authority. Apostolic origin was not about reputation alone. It was about divine commissioning. A book carried authority because it came from those Christ appointed to speak in His name (Ephesians 2:20).

Another key factor in recognizing the canon was doctrinal consistency. Scripture does not contradict itself because God does not contradict Himself (Numbers 23:19). Any writing claiming divine authority had to align with previously revealed truth. Books that introduced teachings contrary to the gospel or distorted the nature of Christ were rejected, not suppressed, because they failed the test of truth (Galatians 1:8). The church did not create doctrine and then select books to match it. Rather, doctrine flowed from the books God had already given.

The early church also recognized the canon through widespread and consistent usage. Books that were read publicly in churches across diverse regions were acknowledged as Scripture because believers recognized the voice of God in them (Colossians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:27). This was not the result of centralized control, but of shared conviction. The same Spirit who inspired the Word bore witness to it in the hearts of God’s people (1 Corinthians 2:12).

Importantly, church councils did not invent the canon. They confirmed it. By the time formal lists appeared in the fourth century, the vast majority of New Testament books had already been accepted and used for generations. Councils functioned as witnesses, not authorities. The church recognized the canon because the canon had already proven itself (John 7:17). Authority rested in God’s Word, not in ecclesiastical decree.

The question of excluded books, often called the Apocrypha or other religious writings, deserves careful attention. These texts may contain historical value or moral insight, but they lack the marks of Scripture. They were not accepted by the Jewish community as Scripture, were not treated as Scripture by Jesus or the apostles, and do not claim divine authority in the same way (Romans 3:2). Some contain historical errors or theological inconsistencies that conflict with the rest of Scripture. For these reasons, they were never received as part of the biblical canon.

Understanding the canon of Scripture protects believers from two dangers. The first is skepticism, which treats the Bible as a random or politically motivated collection. The second is expansion, which opens the door to adding new revelations that rival Scripture. The Bible itself warns against both (Proverbs 30:5–6; Revelation 22:18–19). God has spoken sufficiently and finally through the Scriptures He has given.

The doctrine of the canon also reinforces confidence in the Bible’s reliability. Christians do not believe the Bible because a council told them to. They believe it because God speaks through it. Historical evidence supports this recognition, but faith ultimately rests on God’s self-authenticating Word (John 17:17). The same God who inspired Scripture also preserved it and guided His people to recognize it.

There is no hidden book that will change the gospel. There is no lost text that will redefine salvation. God has given His Word fully and faithfully for the instruction, correction, and hope of His people (2 Timothy 3:16–17). To receive the Bible as canon is to trust that God has spoken clearly and that He has not left His church without a sure foundation.

The question of which books belong in the Bible leads to a deeper truth. The canon exists because God desired to be known. He spoke. He preserved His Word. And He ensured that His people could recognize His voice. The Bible we hold today is not the product of chance, but of divine faithfulness, standing as a trustworthy witness to God’s truth and Christ’s saving work (Psalm 119:89).