Who Decided What Books Belong in the Bible? Canon, Authority, and Preservation

In this episode of The Apostolic Classroom, Steven Gill and Andrew Herbst turn to one of the most foundational questions in Christian apologetics: Who decided what books belong in the Bible?

Rather than beginning with church councils or popular internet theories, the discussion starts where it must—with theology. The hosts explore the meaning of “canon,” clarifying the difference between recognizing Scripture and creating it. They address common misconceptions about the Council of Nicaea, the role of church authority, and the claim that the Bible was assembled cafeteria-style by powerful leaders centuries after the apostles.

Key themes include apostolic authority, internal biblical evidence for canonicity, the early church’s recognition of Scripture, and why quotations from books like Enoch or references to extra-biblical writings do not automatically grant them scriptural status. The conversation also examines how forged gospels and pseudonymous writings were identified and rejected in the early centuries, demonstrating that early Christians were neither naïve nor careless in handling sacred texts.

Far from being a product of ecclesiastical politics, the canon emerges as something received, preserved, and defended—grounded in apostolic witness and affirmed by the church rather than invented by it.

This episode advances the apologetics framework of Season 2, equipping believers to respond thoughtfully to questions about the Bible’s formation and to articulate why the sixty-six books of Scripture stand with enduring authority.

This episode of The Apostolic Classroom was sponsored by Liv Hill Nutrition. Visit them at livhillnutrition.net