Can I Trust the Bible? The Truth About How the Books Were Chosen
So far in this series, we’ve discovered how God supernaturally breathed His Word into existence, and we’ve looked at the rock-solid manuscript evidence proving the text wasn't corrupted like a game of "telephone."
But this brings us to a third, incredibly common question that stops many skeptics—and believers—in their tracks: Who decided which books actually made it into the Bible?
If you’ve watched Hollywood movies or read popular fiction, you’ve probably heard the theory that a group of shady fourth-century bishops got together in a smoke-filled room, looked at hundreds of competing spiritual writings, and voted on which ones suited their political agenda. Pop culture loves to talk about the "lost gospels" (like the Gospel of Thomas or the Gospel of Judas) and claims they were banned by the church to hide the "real" truth about Jesus.
Did a human committee invent the Bible, or can we actually trust the collection of books we have today? To find out, we have to look at how the early Church recognized what we call the canon of Scripture.
What Does the "Canon of Scripture" Even Mean?
The word canon comes from a Greek word meaning "measuring rod" or "standard." In theology, the canon of scripture refers to the official list of books that are recognized as the authoritative, inspired Word of God.
Here is the most vital mindset shift we need to make: The early Church did not create the canon; they simply recognized the canon.
Think of it like an art museum. An art selection committee doesn't make a painting a masterpiece. The painting is already a masterpiece the moment the artist finishes it; the committee simply recognizes its inherent value and hangs it on the wall.
In the same way, a book of the Bible didn't become inspired because a church council voted on it. It was inspired by God the exact millisecond the author wrote it down. The early Church’s job was simply to look at the writings floating around and recognize which ones clearly carried the "God-breathed" signature of Yahweh.
The Three-Part Test for a Book to Enter the New Testament
The early Christians didn't just guess which books belonged in the Bible. They used a dynamic, strict standard to test every writing that claimed to be authoritative. To be recognized as part of the New Testament canon of scripture, a book had to pass three major tests:
1. Apostolic Origin (The Source Test)
The book had to be written by an apostle (an eyewitness who knew Jesus personally, like Matthew, John, or Peter) or a close associate of an apostle (like Mark, who wrote down Peter's eyewitness testimony, or Luke, who traveled with Paul). If a book was written too late in history to be connected to an apostle, it was instantly rejected.
2. Orthodoxy (The Truth Test)
The book had to align perfectly with the "rule of faith"—the core theological teachings that Jesus handed down to the apostles. If a book contradicted the Old Testament or the established teachings of Christ, it was immediately tossed out.
3. Catholicity (The Continuous Use Test)
Don't let the word "catholic" confuse you here—with a lowercase "c," it simply means "universal." The early Church asked: Is this book being read, preached, and recognized by the global, universal Church, or is it just a weird letter being used by a small cult in a corner of the empire?
Why the "Lost Gospels" Didn't Make the Cut
This three-part test is exactly why the so-called "lost gospels" were rejected. Take the Gospel of Thomas, for example. Skeptics love to point to it as a book that "almost made it into the Bible."
But when historians apply the test, the Gospel of Thomas fails miserably on every front:
It fails Apostolic Origin: It claims to be written by Thomas, but historical analysis shows it wasn't written until late in the second century—long after Thomas had died. It was a forgery.
It fails Orthodoxy: It contains bizarre teachings completely contrary to Jesus. The very last verse of the Gospel of Thomas actually claims that women cannot enter heaven unless they magically turn into men. The early Church read that and immediately knew it didn’t match the heart or character of Jesus!
The "lost gospels" weren't lost, and they weren't banned in a political conspiracy. They were simply exposed as later myths that didn't carry the divine breath of God.
Rest Your Faith on a Proven Foundation
The 66 books in your modern Bible aren't there by random chance or political manipulation. The early Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, carefully, prayerfully, and historically separated the wheat from the chaff.
When you open your Bible, you can have complete confidence that you are holding the exact, boundary-tested library of books that God intended you to have. Nothing has been hidden from you, and nothing has been left out.
What’s Coming Next...
Now that we know the right books made it into the Bible, it's time to test their accuracy against actual physical history. Next week, we are digging into archaeology! We're going to see how spades, dirt, and hidden inscriptions consistently back up the historical claims of the biblical text.
In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s post. Head over to social media and look up @BibleN3rd on your favorite platform. Let's keep this conversation rolling!
As you go about your week, may the Lord bless you and keep you; may He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
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