The Church and the Formation of the Biblical Canon

This explainer shows us that the Bible did not appear as a finished volume but was gradually identified by the early Church through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It highlights that Jesus Christ established a living Church and an oral tradition well before the New Testament was officially compiled into a single canon. Facing various heresies and conflicting writings, ecclesiastical councils between the fourth and fifth centuries formally recognised the inspired books that were already being used in apostolic worship. This historical process suggests that Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium are interdependent components of a single divine revelation. Ultimately, the source asserts that the biblical canon serves as a testament to God’s providence, ensuring the unity and doctrinal integrity of the Christian faith across generations.