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which to reject? There were a series of tests they applied to each book to determine canonicity.

The first test was to answer the question, is it authoritative (“Thus saith the Lord”)? Does the writing
declare its own spiritual authority? Next, they asked this question: is it prophetic (“a man of God” 2
Peter 1:20)? Was the book written by a clearly acknowledged prophet of God? A book in the Bible must
have the authority of a spiritual leader of Israel (O.T. – prophet, king, judge, scribe) or an apostle of the
church (N.T. – It must be based on the testimony of an original apostle). Third, they asked, is it
authentic (consistent with other revelation of truth)? Does the book agree with all other recognized
Scripture? Did Jesus or the apostles consider the writings as Scripture? Is the book geographically and
historically accurate? Fourth, they asked, is it dynamic (life-changing)? Finally, they asked, is it received
(accepted, recognized, and used by believers)? Is the book universally recognized by common
conviction? (Norman L. Geisler & William Nix, A General Introduction to the Bible, pp. 137-144).
Basically, if a book was to be included in the canon of Scripture, the church recognized it and simply
validated it. It was a God directed process.

The Old Testament books were recognized first. How was this accomplished? It was accomplished the
same way as the New Testament Books. The New Testament refers to Old Testament books as
“scripture” (Matt.21:42, etc.). The Council of Jamnia in A.D. 90 recognized 39 books as the Old
Testament Scriptures. Josephus (A.D. 95) indicated that the 39 books were recognized as authoritative.

The New Testament books were then recognized in the same manner. The church identified the
apostles claiming authority for their writings (1 Thess.5:27). The apostle’s writings were equated with
O.T. Scriptures (2 Pet.3:2,15, 16). The Council of Athanasius (A.D. 367) and the Council of Carthage (A.D.
397) recognized the 27 books in our N.T. today as inspired. The Apocrypha (other books included in the
Catholic Bible) were not recognized as Scripture. The Apocrypha is never quoted as authoritative in
scriptures.

Canon determined immediately - The books of the Bible became canon the moment they were written.
They did not need to wait for the church’s sanction to become canon. They were canon the moment
they were written.

How the Bible Cannon Was Formed

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