We believe the Bible is the very foundation of the Christian faith. It is described as the mind of God revealed to humanity—a revelation that informs us about our origins, our path through history and our eternal destiny. Covering a span of over 1,600 years and crafted by more than 40 different authors, the Bible communicates profound truths about God’s plan, the nature of sin and the contrast between light and darkness. Although the Bible is celebrated for its wisdom, historical narrative and prophetic insight, questions persist concerning its authenticity, the process of its compilation and the reasons behind numerous translations and occasional disagreements over its message.
We recommend listening to this podcast episode that goes into the historical detail of how the 66 books were decided to be canon and why it is understood to be accurate:
Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #1151: “Has the Bible Been Mistranslated and Misunderstood? (Part I)”
Discovering and authenticating how the Bible came to be
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes
The Concept of the Biblical Canon A central theme of the podcast episode is the definition and formation of the “canon” of Scripture. The term “canon” comes from both Hebrew and Greek roots—it originally referred to a “reed” or “stalk” used as a measuring rod. This metaphor underscores the idea that the accepted books of the Bible serve as the standard or “measuring stick” for faith, behavior and truth. To determine what would be considered inspired Scripture, early religious communities applied a set of informal, yet high standards based on three principles:
Authorship: The writings needed to be authored by a recognized prophet, apostle or someone closely associated with them.
Consistency: The new writings could not contradict previously accepted texts; the truth of God’s message must remain self-consistent.
Church Approval: Over time, the Christian community—its leaders and teachers—recognized and accepted certain texts as divinely inspired, solidifying their place in the canon.
These criteria ensured that the collection of Scriptures reflected a coherent standard of faith despite being written over many centuries and cultural contexts.
Formation of the Old and New Testaments By the time of Jesus, the canon for what Christians call the Old Testament (or, more properly, the Hebrew Scriptures) was already established. Jesus himself frequently referenced these texts using phrases such as “It is written” to underscore their authority during his ministry. In contrast, the New Testament writings—comprising the four Gospels, Acts, various epistles and Revelation—were developed later, yet they had an equally rigorous process of recognition among early Christians.
The accepted New Testament books are supported by a wealth of manuscript evidence. For instance, the Gospels are attested by thousands of manuscripts, and although minor variations exist among later copies, the earliest manuscripts show remarkable fidelity to the original texts. This consistency across time is taken as evidence of divine preservation at work.
Exclusion of the Apocrypha A significant portion of the podcast episode is dedicated to explaining why certain writings, known collectively as the apocryphal books, were excluded from the canon. These texts appear in the Greek translation of the Scriptures (the Septuagint) but were not part of the original Hebrew writings accepted by Jewish authorities.
Several factors underscore their exclusion:
Language and Origin: Apocryphal books were written in Greek rather than the Hebrew language that characterizes the authentic Scriptures. Their composition date—after the last of the inspired Hebrew prophets—also raises questions about their divine origin.
Lack of Proven Inspired Authorship: The authors of these texts did not present themselves as prophets or messengers of God.
Internal Inconsistencies and Doctrinal Issues: Many apocryphal writings contain ideas and details that contradict established biblical teachings. For example, passages may propose doctrines (such as a different origin of sin or ideas of purgatory) that run counter to the clear messages found in the canonical texts.
Absence of Quotation by New Testament Writers: None of these extra-biblical works are quoted or referenced by New Testament authors, who consistently drew from what later became the recognized canon.
Because of these reasons, the apocryphal books are set aside—they are seen as historically interesting but not divinely inspired.
Other Non?Canonical Texts: Enoch and Jasher Besides the apocryphal books, other ancient writings such as the Book of Enoch and the Book of Jasher also appear in discussions of biblical authenticity. Although the figure of Enoch is mentioned in the Bible (for example, in the Epistle of Jude), the full text known as the Book of Enoch is not accepted as canonical by mainstream Judaism or Christianity. Only parts of it seem to have credibility, while other sections (like Enoch’s journeys or intercessions for fallen angels) are viewed with skepticism. Similarly, the Book of Jasher, which is quoted in passages from Joshua and 2 Samuel, does not have early manuscript support, and subsequent attempts to recreate or forge such a text have failed to gain credibility within either early or modern church traditions.
Reliability of the Biblical Text Despite questions raised by critics, the Bible has withstood intense historical and textual scrutiny. With over 3,300 New Testament manuscripts available—and with detailed comparisons revealing only a handful of significant variations—the text of the Bible is demonstrated to be remarkably reliable. Comparisons with other ancient writings show that the biblical texts have been preserved with an astonishing degree of fidelity. The document attributes this preservation to divine providence, ensuring that the core message and truth of God’s Word remain intact over time.
Bible Translation and the Spread of the Gospel Another major topic addressed is the necessity and challenge of Bible translation. Since God’s message must be preached to all nations (as pointed out in Matthew 24:14), the transcultural and multilingual translation of Scripture is essential. The historical process began in a context where for centuries the Bible was only available in Latin—limiting its accessibility to the common people. The Reformation sparked a movement to translate the Scriptures into local languages, democratizing access to God’s word. Today, the Bible is the most translated book in the world, available in nearly 700 complete language translations and countless additional partial translations.
Translator bias, idiomatic language and changes in modern English all play roles in the variety of translations. Modern scholarship, benefiting from thousands of manuscripts and improved language tools, can produce versions that are closer to the original texts. Yet, debates continue among scholars and believers regarding which translations offer the most accurate rendering of the ancient manuscripts.
Final Reflections In conclusion, the review of evidence discussed reaffirms the reliability and divine guidance behind the Bible. The careful development of the canon—guided by criteria of apostolic authority, consistency and communal recognition—ensured that the biblical texts retained their divine inspiration. The exclusion of the apocryphal, non?canonical and later writings further substantiates the high standard applied to Scripture. Coupled with the extensive manuscript evidence and the ongoing efforts to translate God’s Word into every language, these factors build a strong case for the Bible as an enduring, divinely preserved source of truth for all believers.
