How was the Bible
put together?
The 66 books that make up what we call the Bible started out as individual writings, letters, and literary works. While historically these books were individual from each other, it is important for us to know that God had already decided what to include in the Bible.
Even though it is really sixty-six individual books, written on three continents, in three different languages, over a period of approximately 1500 years, by more than 40 authors who came from many walks of life, the Bible remains one unified book from beginning to end without contradiction. This unity is unique from all other books and is evidence of the divine origin of the words which God moved men to record.
Since God in His sovereignty knew exactly what He wanted to be included in the Bible, His Holy Spirit inspired (God breathed) the writings that are now included at the moment they were writing them.
Historically the different books may seem random and disconnected, however they were determined before time began and already woven together with redemption,
wisdom, and the authority of God.
The process by which many literary works become a part of one larger work, group, or class is called canonization.
When literary works are canonized there is typically an authoritative group that decides which works should be included in the greater body of work and they have certain standards that act as a litmus test to determine which writings are worthy of being included.
The OT prophetic books were canonized around 200 BC and the remaining OT books were added after that. The OT was probably not canonized fully until closer to the birth of Christ.
The canonization of the Bible was a gradual process conducted first by Jewish rabbis and scholars and later by early Christians. Here is an example of questions that those tasked with canonizing the NT would ask:
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Was the author an apostle or have a close connection with an apostle?
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Is the book being accepted by the body of Christ at large?
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Did the book contain consistency of doctrine and orthodox teaching?
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Did the book bear evidence of high moral and spiritual values that would reflect a work of the Holy Spirit?
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​​​​​​​​​The first cannon of OT & NT Scripture was around 170 AD and was called the Muratorian Cannon. It included the 39 OT books but only had 22 NT books. It did not include Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, and 3 John.
There were other cannons of the next couple hundred years, and in 370 AD early church father Athanasius provided the listing of the 66 books that we use today as the authoritative cannon of Scripture.
*The fact that formation of the canon did not come all at once like a thunderbolt, but was the product of centuries of reflection is hard for some to deal with. This process was simply a matter of God imparting to His followers what He had already decided. The human process of collecting the books of the Bible was flawed, but God, in His sovereignty, and despite our ignorance and stubbornness, brought the early church to the recognition of the books He had inspired.