The process of forming the canon of the Bible — the collection of books recognized as authoritative Scripture — was a gradual one that occurred over several centuries. It involved the discernment of both the Jewish and Christian communities regarding which writings were inspired by God and thus fit for teaching, worship, and guidance.
### Formation of the Old Testament Canon
1. **Early Recognized Scriptures**: The core of the Old Testament canon was formed around the Torah (the first five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), which was traditionally attributed to Moses. References to this authoritative role of the Torah can be seen in the Bible itself:
– **Joshua 1:8**: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night.”
– **Nehemiah 8:8**: During the post-exilic period, Ezra read the Law to the people and explained its meaning, suggesting that these texts were already viewed as authoritative.
2. **The Prophets and Writings**: Over time, other books, including the Prophets (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah) and later the Writings (e.g., Psalms, Proverbs, Job), came to be regarded as Scripture by the Jewish community. By the 1st century AD, many of these books were already recognized as sacred.
– **Luke 24:44**: Jesus references the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms, a tripartite division resembling the Jewish Scriptures.
3. **The Hebrew Canon (Tanakh)**: By the late 1st century AD, Jewish leaders formalized the Hebrew canon, notably at the Council of Jamnia (c. AD 90), though this council may have reviewed a pre-existing consensus rather than making new decisions. The 24 books of the Hebrew Bible correspond to the 39 books of the Protestant Old Testament (organized differently).
### Formation of the New Testament Canon
1. **Apostolic Authority**: The writing and recognition of New Testament books began with the Apostles and their close companions. The letters of Paul, for example, were circulated among early churches and regarded as inspired Scripture:
– **2 Peter 3:15-16**: Peter refers to Paul’s letters, comparing them to “the other Scriptures,” indicating their early recognition as authoritative.
2. **Gospels and Early Christian Writings**: The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) were recognized early in Christian communities due to their apostolic origin and consistent message. Other books, such as Acts and Revelation, were likewise revered.
3. **Controversy and Consensus**: Disputes arose in the early church about certain books, such as Hebrews, James, and Revelation. The criteria for canonicity included apostolic authorship, consistency with recognized doctrine, and widespread use in worship.
4. **Church Councils and the Canon**: By the 4th century, the church had largely settled the question of which books were canonical.
– The 27 books of the New Testament were formally recognized at councils such as the Synod of Hippo (AD 393) and the Council of Carthage (AD 397).
– **Revelation 22:18-19**: John’s closing warning against adding to or taking from “the book of this prophecy” reflects an early sense of the authority of written Scripture.
### Key Principles in Canon Formation
Throughout the process, the acceptance of books into the Bible was based on principles such as:
– **Divine Inspiration**: Writings had to be inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16).
– **Apostolic Authority**: New Testament books needed to be written by apostles or their close associates (Acts 1:21-22; Ephesians 2:20).
– **General Acceptance**: Texts that were widely acknowledged and used by the community of faith were more likely to be included.
The Bible as we know it today — with 66 books in Protestant Bibles, 73 books in Catholic Bibles (including the Deuterocanonical books), and additional texts in Orthodox traditions — reflects the enduring influence of this historical process.