The Canon of Scripture

"Who decided which books are in the Bible?"

3 Scripture passages2 objections answered2 Church Father quotes

The Short Answer

The Catholic Church determined which books belong in the Bible. The 73-book canon was settled by Church councils in the 4th century, guided by the Holy Spirit.

Quick Overview

Where did the Bible come from? The Church. For the first 300+ years of Christianity, there was no agreed 'Bible.' Various churches used different books. It was the Catholic Church that officially declared which books were inspired Scripture. You can't trust the Bible without trusting the Church that gave it to you.

Biblical Evidence

What the Scriptures say

2 Peter 3:15-16

"Our beloved brother Paul... in his epistles... in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures."

Why This Matters

Peter acknowledges Paul's letters as Scripture—but the Church had to determine which letters were authentic and inspired.

1 Timothy 3:15

"The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

Why This Matters

The Church, not the Bible, is called the pillar of truth. The Church gave us the Bible, not vice versa.

John 21:25

"There are also many other things which Jesus did... the world itself would not be able to contain the books."

Why This Matters

Not everything Jesus did was written. The Church discerned which writings were inspired.

What the Church Teaches

Official Catholic doctrine

The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, recognized and declared which books constitute Sacred Scripture. The canon was affirmed at the Councils of Rome (382), Hippo (393), and Carthage (397) (CCC 120).

Common Objections

Questions answered

Early Church Fathers

What the first Christians believed

St. Augustine

c. 397 AD

"I would not believe in the Gospel, had not the authority of the Catholic Church moved me."

— Against the Epistle of Manichaeus, 5:6

Council of Carthage

397 AD

"[Listed all 73 books] Nothing shall be read in church under the name of divine Scripture except the canonical writings."

— Canon 24

Magisterium

Doctrine Development

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