Who decided which books belong in the Bible?
The Bible's canon was formed over centuries through a process of community discernment guided by God. Criteria included apostolic origin, widespread use, and doctrinal consistency. The Bible is a divinely inspired record of God's progressive revelation, preparing humanity for a new expression of truth that completes and clarifies all that came before.
The question of who decided which books belong in the Bible engages fundamental questions about divine authority, human agency in transmitting sacred truth, and the nature of God's revelation. This inquiry is not merely academic; it shapes our faith and our understanding of God's will.
The Biblical Foundation: A Process of Discernment
The canonization of the Bible was not a singular event but a centuries-long process involving diverse communities and criteria. For the Old Testament, the Jewish community, particularly scribes and rabbis, recognized and preserved texts deemed sacred. This process largely culminated by the first century AD. Books were accepted based on their ancient origin, prophetic authority (i.e., believed to be divinely inspired), and consistent use and reverence. For instance, Ezra 7:10 highlights the dedication to sacred texts: “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” This demonstrates an early commitment to an authoritative body of law and prophecy.
The New Testament canon evolved within the early Christian church. Faced with various teachings, early communities identified and circulated texts attributed to apostles or their close associates. Key criteria for inclusion emerged over time:
1. Apostolic Origin/Connection: Was the book written by an apostle or someone with a direct link (e.g., Mark to Peter, Luke to Paul)? This aligns with Jesus' commission in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” 2. Widespread Acceptance/Usage (Catholicity): Was the book read and accepted as authoritative across diverse early Christian churches? Colossians 4:16 mentions early circulation: “After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.” 3. Doctrinal Consistency (Orthodoxy): Did the book align with the established Christian faith as taught by the apostles? 4. Divine Inspiration: Was the book believed to be God-breathed? 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
While regional councils, like Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage (397 AD), eventually affirmed the 27 books we recognize today, they largely formalized an existing consensus. The existence of the Apocrypha, and the historical debates surrounding it, are not signs of failure but indicators that the canonization process was guided by God for a specific, preparatory purpose, not to create a final, exhaustive revelation. Jesus himself pointed to continued guidance in John 16:12-13: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”
A Deeper View: God's Progressive Revelation
A deeper theological perspective acknowledges God's guidance throughout the canonization process while also recognizing the role of human limitations and fallibility. Since the human fall, which brought about a state of spiritual death and separation from God, humanity has been subject to an evil influence beyond our control, as St. Paul lamented (Romans 7:22-23). God reveals truth progressively, adapting it to humanity's spiritual capacity to receive it. The Bible itself is a record of this progression, from Adam's family to Noah's, and onward through the prophets. Consequently, the human decisions involved in compiling the scriptures were influenced by the cultural, political, and spiritual factors of their time. The prevailing level of understanding of God's providence of restoration—His plan to save humanity from spiritual death—shaped which texts were deemed essential and how they were interpreted.
Therefore, the biblical canon, though divinely inspired and sufficient for its historical purpose of laying a foundation to understand God's heart and His work of restoration, was not the final and exhaustive revelation. It was a preparatory textbook, designed to cultivate humanity's spiritual standard and prepare for a new expression of truth from God. This new truth completes the revelation through the full unfolding of God's providence. The Bible is thus a living record of God's ongoing engagement with humanity, moving toward a completed testament where all prior revelations are unified and clarified.
The Ultimate Criterion of Truth
The question of "Who decided?" ultimately leads to a deeper theological inquiry: what is the true basis for discerning divine truth? Beyond ecclesiastical authority or historical consensus, a more fundamental standard exists. The ultimate criterion for truth is its alignment with God's absolute character, His unchanging principles of creation, and the universal logic inherent in the cosmos itself. This resonates with the psalmist’s declaration that “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1).
Books were included in the canon because they conveyed essential truths about God's eternal nature, His boundless love, His providence of salvation, and humanity's original ideal before the fall. However, truth is not exclusively contained within the existing canon. Any true revelation, ancient or new, must ultimately resonate with the fundamental laws governing the spiritual and physical worlds and the immutable principles of creation and restoration. This understanding honors Scripture as foundational truth while affirming that God's communication is ongoing. God's revelation progresses toward the completion of revelation through new truth that clarifies and fulfills previous understandings, much as Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).
Living the Principle
Understanding canonization through this lens has profound practical implications: 1. Embrace Progressive Revelation: View the Bible as foundational, preparing us for fuller revelation as humanity matures. 2. Focus on God's Heart and Purpose: Seek God's ultimate purpose and love throughout salvation history, discerning the spirit behind the law. 3. Discern Truth through Universal Principles: Use the unchanging principles of God’s creation and heart as an inner standard to evaluate all teachings, testing the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1).
These answers explain the Bible in the light of the Divine Principle, the teachings of Reverend Sun Myung Moon. Read about the author, Sun Myung Moon.
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Sources and further reading
- The Holy Bible, King James Version — Scripture quoted and referenced throughout the answers.
- The Divine Principle (full text) — The complete text of the Divine Principle, the teaching of Reverend Sun Myung Moon that these answers explain.
- Unification texts library (tparents.org) — Large online library of Unification texts, sermons and collected speeches, including the Cheon Seong Gyeong.
- Short video lectures in English — Playlist of short English video lectures presenting these same principles.