The Path the Bible Took Toward Canonization (4): Hippo, the Reformation, and the 66-Book Canon

By the late 4th century, significant milestones were reached. The Synod of Hippo (393 AD) and the Council of Carthage (397 AD) were instrumental in bringing clarity and unity to the rapidly expanding faith community.

The Role of the Septuagint and Apocrypha

One major question was whether to include the additional writings found in the Septuagint—the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. These included books like Tobit, Judith, and the Wisdom of Solomon. While these were cherished for their spiritual insight, they were not found in the Hebrew canon. The bishops at Hippo included them due to their long-standing use in worship, and they became known as the "Deuterocanonical" (second canon) books.

Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation

Over 1,000 years later, the Protestant Reformation reshaped the Western view of Scripture. In 1517, Martin Luther reexamined the biblical canon. While translating the Bible into German, he separated the Deuterocanonical books into a section called the "Apocrypha." Luther’s reasons included:

• These books were not part of the Hebrew Bible.
• The New Testament never cited them as authoritative Scripture.
• Some contained teachings that conflicted with core doctrines like justification by faith alone.

The Protestant Bible was thus reduced to 66 books (39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament), aligning closely with the Hebrew canon and early Christian recognition.

Trusting the 66-Book Bible

The story of how the Bible was chosen is ultimately a story of divine preservation. God guided His people—from the ancient prophets to the apostles—to recognize His inspired Word. Despite persecution and cultural shifts, the message has remained intact. As 1 Peter 1:25 declares: "The word of the Lord endures forever."

Next Up: Understanding Language & Genre—how God uses the beauty of language to speak to us.