Bible History
How the Canon Was Formed
Which books made it in, which did not, and who decided.
One of the biggest questions people have about the Bible is: "Who decided which books were in and which were out?" There is a fair amount of conspiracy-theory energy around this topic, so it is worth setting the record straight.
It Was Not One Meeting
Contrary to what some people believe (and what certain novels have claimed), the biblical was not decided by one dramatic vote at a secret meeting. It was a gradual process that happened over centuries, and it was more about recognizing what was already accepted than deciding from scratch.
The Criteria Were Clear
The early used several tests to evaluate whether a writing was :
1. Apostolic Authority — Was it written by an or someone in their inner circle? , , , and wrote directly. was Peter's close associate. traveled with Paul.