How Was The Bible formed?

When someone asks, “How do we know the Bible is trustworthy?” one of the most common follow-up questions is: How was the Bible even formed in the first place? Was it just a bunch of old religious leaders picking their favorite books? Did politics or conspiracy play a role? Or did God sovereignly guide a process that gives us confidence in what we read today?

Let’s explore how the Bible came together—and why it matters.

What Is the Bible?

The Bible isn’t a single book—it’s a collection of 66 books, written over 1,500 years, in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek), by more than 40 human authors from various backgrounds: shepherds, kings, prophets, fishermen, and doctors. And yet, its unified story points to one central theme: God redeeming His people through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The formation of this unique book happened in two main stages: the Old Testament canon and the New Testament canon.

The Formation of the Old Testament

The Old Testament (or Hebrew Scriptures) was already well-established long before the time of Jesus.

• The Law (Torah): The first five books, written by Moses, were accepted as authoritative from the start (see Joshua 1:8).

• The Prophets and Writings: Books like Isaiah, Psalms, and Proverbs were recognized as God's Word by the Jewish community and used in worship, teaching, and civil law.

By the time of Jesus, the Old Testament canon was essentially complete and closed. Jesus affirmed the Hebrew Scriptures as authoritative, often quoting from them (see Luke 24:44, Matthew 5:17–18).

The Formation of the New Testament

After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, His apostles began teaching, preaching, and writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 2 Peter 1:21).

As the early church grew, so did the need to preserve accurate, Spirit-inspired teaching. Here's how the New Testament books were recognized:

1. Apostolic Authority

Was it written by an apostle or a close companion of one (like Luke or Mark)? This was crucial. The early church wanted first-hand testimony of Jesus’ life and teaching.

2. Doctrinal Consistency

Did the teaching align with what Jesus and the apostles had passed down? False gospels and heretical ideas were quickly rejected when they contradicted the gospel message.

3. Widespread Use

Was the book already being read and used in churches around the known world? Books like Romans, 1 Corinthians, and the Gospels were already in circulation and regularly read in worship gatherings.

What About Church Councils?

Contrary to popular myths, no council “created” the Bible. Instead, councils like Hippo (AD 393) and Carthage (AD 397) simply recognized and affirmed the books that were already widely accepted by the global church.

In other words, the early church didn’t choose the canon; they confirmed it. These were the books already proven to be authentic, apostolic, and authoritative.

Why This Matters Today

Understanding how the Bible was formed helps us answer a key question: Can we trust it?

Yes—we can. The Bible wasn't casually thrown together. It was recognized through careful testing, historical credibility, and spiritual discernment. God didn’t leave the formation of His Word to chance. He used His Spirit to guide His people to preserve the truth.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”— 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

Final Thought

The formation of the Bible is not a story of politics or manipulation. It’s a story of God’s faithfulness to speak, His people’s devotion to listen, and His sovereign plan to preserve His Word so that generation after generation could know the truth.

So the next time someone asks, “How do we know the Bible is real?”—you can answer with confidence: Because God saw to it that we would have His Word, formed, preserved, and powerful.