The Integrity of the Biblical Canon: Are Books Missing?

Upon completing my first reading of the Bible, I was struck by a mix of emotions: the joy of accomplishment and a subtle sadness that the journey through its pages had seemingly ended. However, my understanding of God's Word as inexhaustible soon replaced that sadness. Over the years, I've come to realize that the Bible is a treasure that continually unfolds, revealing deeper truths with each reading.

Yet, the question of whether there are missing books from the Bible often surfaces among believers. This concern was notably reignited with the publication of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, which suggested that certain texts were excluded from the Bible. So, do we possess the complete Bible, or are there indeed books that are missing?

Understanding the Formation of the Bible

The formation of the Bible involves understanding different perspectives:

• Roman Catholic View: Catholics include seven additional books, known as the Deuterocanonical or Apocryphal books, which Protestants do not consider inspired.
• Latter Day Saints' View: They regard the Book of Mormon as scripture, which is not part of the traditional Christian Bible.
• The Lost Books: Some believe that books were removed from the Bible during its early formation.

To address this, let's look at how the Bible came to be:

The New Testament Canon

Contrary to the popular narrative, the canonization of the New Testament wasn't a political act in the 4th century. By 100 AD, all 27 books were likely written, and they were widely accepted and used in the early church. The oldest list matching our current New Testament is from Athanasius in 367 AD, but this was a formal recognition of what was already in practice.

The church recognized the authority of these books based on three criteria:

1. Apostolic Connection: Was it written by or closely tied to an apostle?
2. Universal Acceptance: Was it widely recognized by the churches?
3. Orthodox Conformity: Did it align with the basic teachings of Christianity?

The Apocryphal Books

The Apocrypha includes texts like Tobit, Judith, and the Wisdom of Solomon, which are found in Catholic Bibles. These were written during the intertestamental period and were never considered authoritative by the Jewish community or Jesus and the New Testament authors. Their inclusion in the Latin Vulgate by Jerome was more as disputed literature, not as scripture, until the Council of Trent in 1546 officially recognized them.

The "Lost Books" and Gnostic Gospels

The so-called "Lost Books" or Gnostic gospels, like the Gospel of Peter, are often cited as being excluded from the Bible. However, these texts fail the tests of canonicity due to their late authorship, lack of apostolic connection, and often heretical content.

Confidence in the Complete Word of God

Despite the debates, we can trust in the completeness of the Bible because:

• Christ's Authority: Jesus affirmed the Old Testament as authoritative.
• God's Sovereignty: If God could orchestrate the birth of Christ at the right time, He could certainly ensure His Word's preservation.

The Scriptures are self-attesting, providing a unique experience when read compared to other writings. The Bible is not just literature; it is living and active, fulfilling its purpose in ways other texts cannot.

Conclusion: The Sufficiency of the 66 Books

The 66 books of the Protestant Bible are sufficient for understanding God's will and for spiritual growth. They are not lacking, and while other texts might provide historical or cultural insights, they do not carry the same divine authority. The Bible remains an inexhaustible source of wisdom and truth, continually revealing God's nature and plan for humanity.