# Who decided which books belong in the Bible? Document: study/canon The church recognises God's Word; it does not give it authority. Topic: bible Keywords: council, Nicaea, books, apocrypha, authority ## Starting answer God gives Scripture its authority. The church receives and recognises the books he inspired; it does not make them divine by voting. The history of that recognition includes discussion and disagreement, and must be studied through actual witnesses. The canon was not invented at Nicaea. Basis: [John Calvin · Beveridge translation, CCEL — I.7.1–2](https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes/institutes.iii.viii.html); [Michael J. Kruger · Canon Fodder — Recognition, councils and Nicaea](https://michaeljkruger.com/ten-basic-facts-about-the-nt-canon-that-every-christian-should-memorize-8-the-nt-canon-was-not-decided-at-nicea-nor-any-other-church-council/) ## Reasoning 1 Scripture is God's gift, not merely a collection of texts a community finds useful. Basis: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ## Reasoning 2 Peter refers to Paul's letters alongside the other Scriptures. Basis: 2 Peter 3:15-16 ## Reasoning 3 Athanasius's Festal Letter 39 lists the 27 New Testament books we receive today. Basis: [Athanasius of Alexandria · New Advent edition — Festal Letter 39, section 5](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2806039.htm) ## Conclusion Historical lists document recognition. They do not create the authority that belongs to God's Word. Basis: [Michael J. Kruger · Canon Fodder — The church's recognition of authoritative books](https://michaeljkruger.com/ten-basic-facts-about-the-nt-canon-that-every-christian-should-memorize-8-the-nt-canon-was-not-decided-at-nicea-nor-any-other-church-council/); [Westminster Assembly · OPC text — 1.4](https://opc.org/wcf.html) ## Use a historical witness within its scope Athanasius distinguishes canonical books from other recommended reading. We cite his New Testament list as historical evidence, not as an endorsement of every detail of his Old Testament list or his theology. Basis: [Athanasius of Alexandria · New Advent edition — Sections 4–7](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2806039.htm) ## Be clear about our canon This library follows the 66-book Protestant canon expressed in Westminster. Its account of the Old Testament differs from the Roman Catholic canon. We do not describe that difference as a mere interface choice or imply that citing a Catholic writer removes it. Basis: [Westminster Assembly · OPC text — 1.2–3](https://opc.org/wcf.html) ## Objection Did a council simply choose the books that supported its power? ## Reply Name the council and examine the records. Kruger's account distinguishes the prior use of books from later ecclesiastical recognition and explains why attributing the New Testament canon to Nicaea fails. Basis: [Michael J. Kruger · Canon Fodder — The NT canon was not decided at Nicaea](https://michaeljkruger.com/ten-basic-facts-about-the-nt-canon-that-every-christian-should-memorize-8-the-nt-canon-was-not-decided-at-nicea-nor-any-other-church-council/) ## Scope and limits A short guide is not a complete history of every book's reception. Human testimony can help us, while the authority and ultimate assurance of Scripture rest in God and his Spirit. Basis: [John Calvin · Beveridge translation, CCEL — I.7.4–5](https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes/institutes.iii.viii.html) ## Conversation starter · editorial application Are you asking how the church recognised the books, or what gives those books authority? Basis: [John Calvin · Beveridge translation, CCEL — I.7.1–2](https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes/institutes.iii.viii.html) ## Read in Scripture - 2 Timothy 3:14-17: Scripture comes from God - 2 Peter 3:15-16: Paul's letters and the Scriptures Related studies: scripture, manuscripts, jesus ## Sources and their limits ### Festal Letter 39 [athanasius] Athanasius of Alexandria · New Advent edition · Historic Christian witness [Read source](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2806039.htm) A historical witness to the books Athanasius received, including the 27 books of the New Testament. One bishop's list is evidence within a wider history of reception. Used for the New Testament list in section 5, not as our standard for the Old Testament canon. ### Institutes I.7: Scripture and the Spirit [calvin-scripture] John Calvin · Beveridge translation, CCEL · Reformed exposition [Read source](https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes/institutes.iii.viii.html) Sections 1–5 locate Scripture's authority in God and assurance in the Spirit's witness. The church receives God's Word; it does not confer authority on it. ### The NT canon was not decided at Nicaea [kruger-canon] Michael J. Kruger · Canon Fodder · Reformed exposition [Read source](https://michaeljkruger.com/ten-basic-facts-about-the-nt-canon-that-every-christian-should-memorize-8-the-nt-canon-was-not-decided-at-nicea-nor-any-other-church-council/) For distinguishing the church's recognition of Scripture from a council creating its authority. Discusses the surviving evidence rather than attributing the canon to Nicaea. ### Westminster Confession of Faith [wcf] Westminster Assembly · OPC text · Reformed confession [Read source](https://opc.org/wcf.html) Our subordinate doctrinal standard for these guides. Citations specify chapter and paragraph. Scripture judges the confession itself (1.10); the confession does not replace Scripture. ## Connected documents - [editorial/library](editorial-library.md) - [source/athanasius](source-athanasius.md) - [source/calvin-scripture](source-calvin-scripture.md) - [source/kruger-canon](source-kruger-canon.md) - [source/wcf](source-wcf.md) - [study/jesus](study-jesus.md) - [study/manuscripts](study-manuscripts.md) - [study/scripture](study-scripture.md) - [topic/bible](topic-bible.md)