How was the Bible put together?
The Canon of Scripture
Inherent Canonicity: The books of the Bible were considered authoritative (canon) from the moment they were written because they were believed to be inspired by God. The Bible is self-authenticating since it is considered to be God's word (as mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:16). People and councils merely recognized and acknowledged what was already true; no church council determined the canonicity of a Bible book.
The process of putting together the Bible is known as the Canon of Scripture, and it involved the recognition of the authoritative books that make up the Bible. Here's a breakdown of how this process occurred:
Old Testament Canonization:
New Testament Canonization:
In summary, the canonization process involved recognizing the inherent authority of the Bible books, and the tests applied ensured that the selected writings were in line with apostolic authorship, agreement with established teachings, and widespread acceptance among the early Christian communities.
The process of putting together the Bible is known as the Canon of Scripture, and it involved the recognition of the authoritative books that make up the Bible. Here's a breakdown of how this process occurred:
Old Testament Canonization:
- Pentateuch: The first five books of the Bible (Pentateuch) were identified as authoritative (canonized) when Ezra read them in 444 BC (Nehemiah 8:1-10:39).
- Prophets' Writings: Acceptance of the writings of the prophets occurred between 200 and 300 BC as their predictions came true.
- Synod of Jamnia: The final recognition of the Old Testament canon occurred at a Synod of Jewish rabbis in Jamnia in AD 90.
New Testament Canonization:
- Authorship Test: The New Testament writings were subjected to tests to determine their authenticity. They had to be written or backed by an apostle of Jesus Christ, ensuring eyewitness evidence.
- Agreement Test: The content of the writings had to align with the revealed will of God, with the Old Testament serving as a source of comparison.
- Acceptance Test: The writings had to receive unanimous acceptance by the early churches, providing external evidence. The early Church surprisingly agreed on what was considered authentic.
- Council of Carthage (AD 397): The authority of all twenty-seven New Testament books was officially affirmed at the third Council of Carthage. This marked the closure of the canon of Scripture, signifying that the Bible was complete with no further additions.
In summary, the canonization process involved recognizing the inherent authority of the Bible books, and the tests applied ensured that the selected writings were in line with apostolic authorship, agreement with established teachings, and widespread acceptance among the early Christian communities.
Other Resources
- Watch No, the Church Didn't Create the Bible. (5:59) The Gospel Coalition
- Watch Did The Early Church Councils Decide What We Believe About Jesus? (3:57) J. Warner, Wallace
- Read How and When Was The Canon of the Bible Put Together? Got Questions
- Read What is the Canon of Scripture? Got Questions
- Charles Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular, Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Chicago: Moody, 1978) 119 Kindle.