The Question of the Biblical Canon: Why Were Some Books Left Out?
The question of why certain books were not included in the Bible is a common and important topic for anyone seeking to understand the authority and integrity of Scripture. The formation of the biblical canon—the list of books recognized as Holy Scripture—was not arbitrary, but guided by careful criteria under the providence of God.
Understanding the Canon
The word "canon" refers to the standard or rule by which books were measured and recognized as inspired by God. The Old and New Testament canons were recognized over time by the people of God, based on specific criteria. These included apostolic authorship or endorsement, consistency with known Scripture, and acceptance by the early church.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
Old Testament: The Hebrew Bible
The books of the Old Testament were recognized by the Jewish community long before the time of Christ. Jesus Himself affirmed the Old Testament canon as it was known in His day:
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” - Luke 24:44 NIV
Some books, known as the Apocrypha, were written in the intertestamental period. While these are historically valuable, they were not accepted into the Hebrew canon, nor did Jesus or the apostles quote them as Scripture.
New Testament: Apostolic Authority
The early church faced the challenge of discerning which writings were truly inspired. The primary criterion was apostolic authority—books had to be written by an apostle or a close associate. Additionally, their teachings had to be consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ and widely accepted among the churches.
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. - Jude 1:3 NIV
Books that did not meet these standards—such as the so-called "Gnostic gospels" or other writings—were excluded because they either lacked apostolic origin, contradicted established doctrine, or were not recognized by the early church as inspired.
The Role of God’s Providence
From a biblical perspective, God sovereignly oversaw the process of canonization. The included books bear unmistakable marks of inspiration, and God’s Spirit guided the church to recognize His Word.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. - John 16:13 NIV
Why Were Other Books Left Out?
Several reasons account for the exclusion of certain books:
- Lack of Apostolic Authority: Many excluded writings were not from apostles or their close associates.
- Doctrinal Inconsistency: Some books contained teachings contrary to the gospel as revealed in the recognized Scriptures.
- Lack of Widespread Acceptance: The early church did not accept these books as inspired across the broader Christian community.
- No Evidence of Divine Inspiration: The writings did not bear the marks of God’s hand as the included Scriptures did.
Trusting the Bible We Have
Ultimately, the process of canonization reflects God’s faithfulness to preserve His Word. Believers can have confidence that the Bible is complete and fully sufficient for faith and life:
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. - 2 Peter 1:3 NIV
Conclusion
God did not allow certain books to be included in the Bible because they did not meet the inspired, apostolic, and doctrinal standards established by God Himself. The Bible as we have it today is trustworthy, authoritative, and sufficient for salvation and godly living.