Are the books of the Bible the right ones?

Have you ever wondered if the books in the Bible are really the ones God intended us to have?

Maybe this thought has never crossed your mind because we often think of the Bible as one single book. But it wasn’t always this way. The Bible is actually a collection of 66 books, written by various authors over hundreds of years.

During that time, thousands of other books were also written. So, what made these 66 books so special that they were included? And what about other writings, like the Gospel of Thomas or the Gospel of Barnabas? These books claim to have been written by people close to Jesus—why were they left out?

If we believe the Bible is God’s Word—the message He wants to share with us—it’s vital to know we have the right collection of books. Otherwise, we might be missing something God is trying to say.

In this article, we’ll explore clear reasons why you can trust the content of the Bible, why the right books were chosen, and how God is speaking to you through them.

The selection process was careful

The Bible didn’t just come together randomly; the process of deciding which books to include was thoughtful and deliberate. This process is known as the formation of the “canon of Scripture.” The word “canon” simply means a standard or rule, and it refers to the collection of books recognized as inspired by God.

But how did the early church decide which books belonged in the Bible? Here are three key criteria they used:

The authority of the apostles

The first question they asked was, “Was this book written by one of Jesus’ apostles or someone closely associated with them?”

Since the apostles were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and they were specially chosen by Him to spread His message, books like Matthew, John, and Peter’s letters clearly meet this standard.

For books written by others, such as Mark or Luke, their connection to apostles (Peter for Mark, and Paul for Luke) gave them credibility. Peter even recognised Paul’s letters as Scripture when he wrote:

This shows that even during the apostles’ time, certain writings were recognised as inspired and authoritative. 

Consistency with God’s teachings

Next, they asked, “Does this book agree with the teachings of God found in other parts of Scripture?” God doesn’t contradict Himself. If a book’s message went against what God had already revealed, it was not included.

For example, some books like the Gospel of Thomas contained teachings that didn’t align with Jesus’ message. On further inspection, experts today can clearly see that these books were not written by the authors they were claimed to be written by. The Gospel of Thomas, for instance, clearly originated from Egypt in the 2nd century, long after Thomas the disciple had died. Leaders of sects wishing to push their own teachings often attempted to use the disciples' names to validate their ideas. This made it clear they were not inspired by God.

The Bible itself emphasises the importance of it's own unity

This verse reminds us that Scripture—the books God inspired—is meant to guide us and equip us for living according to His will.

Widespread use and acceptance

Finally, they considered, “Has this book been used by churches everywhere over time?” The early Christians were already reading and sharing many of these books in their worship and teaching. Books that were universally recognised and valued by the church were included in the canon.

Church leaders like Tertullian (AD 200) defended the widespread use of these books:

The process was deliberate and careful to ensure only God’s inspired Word was included. 

Historical context of the canonisation process

The formation of the Bible as we know it today wasn’t an overnight decision. It was a process that spanned centuries, involving prayerful discernment and deep respect for God’s Word.

The Old Testament Canon

The Old Testament was already well-established by the time of Jesus. Jewish communities recognised the authority of books like the Law of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy), the Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc.), and the Writings (Psalms, Proverbs, etc.). Jesus Himself affirmed this canon when He said:

By the first century, Jewish communities had a clear understanding of what constituted Scripture, and Jesus and His followers recognised these books as authoritative.

The New Testament Canon

The New Testament canon took shape over time as the early church identified which writings were inspired. While the process began as early as the first century, it was formally recognised in the fourth century at councils like Hippo (AD 393) and Carthage (AD 397). These councils didn’t decide the canon but confirmed the books that had already been widely accepted by the church.

Athanasius, a key church leader, wrote in AD 367:

This quote highlights how the early church viewed the canon as essential for teaching and living out the faith.

Addressing common misconceptions

Some people believe the canon of Scripture was decided by political agendas or figures like Constantine at the Council of Nicaea (AD 325). However, this is a common misconception. The Council of Nicaea primarily dealt with the nature of Christ and the Trinity, not the canon of Scripture.

The reality is that the church recognised the canon through careful discernment of what God had already inspired. Books like the Gospel of Barnabas or the Shepherd of Hermas, while popular in some circles, were not included because they didn’t meet the criteria of apostolic authority, consistency with Scripture, and widespread acceptance.

Why this matters today

The process wasn’t rushed or random—it was careful and prayerful. The early church sought to discern what God had inspired. They weren’t just picking their favourite books; they were ensuring that only the books God intended were included in the Bible.

Because of this careful process, you can trust that the Bible you hold in your hands today contains the exact message God wants to share with you. As Jesus affirmed about Scripture in Luke 24:44:

Even Jesus affirmed the authority of God’s Word, which guided the church in forming the Bible we have today.

For believers today, this means we can confidently rely on Scripture to guide our faith and lives. The Bible isn’t just an ancient book—it’s God’s living Word, meant to speak to every generation, including ours.