What is the Biblical Canon?
Quick Summary
The biblical canon refers to the collection of writings recognized by the Jewish and Christian communities as Scripture. It did not appear all at once, nor was it imposed by a single council. Instead, the canon formed gradually through centuries of worship, use, debate, preservation, and discernment within living communities of faith.
Introduction
The word canon comes from a Greek term meaning rule, measure, or standard. When applied to Scripture, it refers to the books that came to be received as authoritative for faith, teaching, and communal life. The canon was not created in a vacuum, and it was not decided by a secret meeting behind closed doors. It emerged through use. Texts were read aloud in worship, copied carefully, taught to new generations, and preserved because communities believed these writings bore witness to God’s activity in history.
Understanding the biblical canon means letting go of the idea that the Bible dropped from heaven fully formed. Instead, it requires attention to history, practice, and patience. The canon tells a story not only about the texts themselves, but about the communities that trusted them enough to carry them forward.
What Does “Canon” Mean?
In its simplest sense, canon refers to a recognized collection. In Jewish and Christian contexts, it came to describe those writings considered authoritative for instruction, worship, and identity. A canonical book was not merely popular or inspiring. It was trusted. It was read repeatedly. It shaped belief and behavior.
Importantly, canonization was not primarily about exclusion. It was about recognition. Communities did not invent authority for these texts; they acknowledged authority they already experienced in them. Over time, boundaries formed as some writings were consistently used and others were not. The canon names those boundaries. (Brevard Childs, Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture)
The Formation of the Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible, often referred to as the Tanakh, developed over many centuries. The Torah, or Law, was the earliest and most firmly established section. By the time of the Babylonian exile, these five books functioned as the foundational narrative and legal core of Israel’s faith.
The Prophets followed, including both historical narratives and prophetic writings. These texts were preserved because they interpreted Israel’s history through the lens of covenant and calling. The Writings, a diverse collection of poetry, wisdom, and later historical works, reached a more settled shape somewhat later.
Rather than a single closing moment, the Hebrew canon reflects a process of stabilization. By the first century, most Jewish communities shared a common core of Scriptures, even if questions about some writings lingered at the edges. (John J. Collins, Introduction to the Hebrew Bible)
The Old Testament and Christian Communities
Early Christians inherited Israel’s Scriptures and read them through the lens of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. These texts were not discarded. They were reread. Psalms, prophets, and narratives were interpreted as bearing witness to God’s purposes fulfilled in Christ.
Differences in Old Testament canons between Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions arise largely from language and usage. Greek-speaking Jewish communities used the Septuagint, which included additional writings later known as the Deuterocanonical books. These texts shaped early Christian theology and worship and remain canonical in Catholic and Orthodox traditions.
These differences reflect history rather than conspiracy. They show how Scripture functioned in real communities shaped by language, geography, and practice. (Lee Martin McDonald, The Biblical Canon)
The Emergence of the New Testament
The New Testament canon developed within the first few centuries of the church. Early Christian communities circulated letters from apostles, accounts of Jesus’ life, and writings used for instruction and worship. These texts were copied, shared, and read aloud long before they were collected into a single volume.
Four criteria consistently guided recognition: apostolic connection, consistency with the rule of faith, widespread usage, and spiritual fruitfulness. No single criterion stood alone. Together, they reflected how communities discerned whether a text truly bore witness to the gospel.
The four Gospels achieved early and widespread recognition. Paul’s letters circulated as a collection by the early second century. Other writings were debated longer, not because they were considered dangerous, but because their usage was more limited. (Bruce Metzger, The Canon of the New Testament)
Councils and Clarification
Church councils did not invent the canon. They clarified what was already widely practiced. Lists of canonical books appear in the late fourth century, reflecting consensus rather than coercion. These gatherings responded to questions raised by disputed texts and regional differences.
By the time formal lists were recorded, most of the New Testament had long functioned as Scripture in worship and teaching. Councils served to confirm shared recognition, not to impose novelty. (Larry Hurtado, The Earliest Christian Artifacts)
Why Some Books Were Excluded
Many ancient religious writings circulated alongside biblical texts. Some were edifying, others speculative, and some deeply tied to particular communities or theological agendas. Exclusion from the canon does not imply suppression or fear. It reflects discernment.
Books that lacked consistent usage, apostolic grounding, or theological coherence were not received as Scripture. They may still be valuable for historical study, but they did not shape the shared faith of the church across generations. (Bart D. Ehrman, Lost Christianities)
Canon as a Living Reality
The canon is not merely a list. It is a lived practice. These texts continue to be read, proclaimed, studied, and wrestled with. Their authority is not abstract. It is experienced in communities shaped by their words.
Understanding the canon invites humility. It reminds readers that Scripture emerged through faithfulness across centuries. The canon is a testimony to trust, transmission, and the conviction that God speaks through human words carried carefully across time. (N. T. Wright, Scripture and the Authority of God)
FAQs
Who decided what books belong in the Bible?
No single individual or council decided the canon. It developed gradually as Jewish and Christian communities consistently used certain texts in worship, teaching, and formation.
Was the canon fixed early or late?
Core sections of both Testaments were recognized early, while a small number of books were debated longer. By the fourth century, broad consensus existed across most Christian communities.
Why do different Christian traditions have different canons?
Differences arise from historical usage, language traditions, and the role of the Septuagint in early Christianity. These differences reflect development rather than contradiction.
Are excluded books hidden or dangerous?
No. Many non-canonical writings survive and are studied today. They were excluded because they lacked consistent authority or usage, not because they threatened the church.
Does canon mean the Bible cannot be questioned?
Canon establishes authority, not silence. Questioning, interpretation, and debate have always been part of faithful engagement with Scripture.
Works Consulted
Brevard S. Childs, Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture
Bruce M. Metzger, The Canon of the New Testament
Lee Martin McDonald, The Biblical Canon
John J. Collins, Introduction to the Hebrew Bible
Larry Hurtado, The Earliest Christian Artifacts
N. T. Wright, Scripture and the Authority of God
