The canon was recognized over centuries through use, apostolic association, and conciliar confirmation — not invented at a single meeting.
A popular myth holds that the Bible was 'chosen' at one council. Historically, the four Gospels and Paul's letters were already widely used by the mid-second century. Athanasius's 367 CE festal letter lists the 27 New Testament books, and regional councils confirmed the consensus. Criteria included apostolic association, broad usage, and consistency with the rule of faith. Recognizing this messy, gradual process is more honest — and more interesting — than either a conspiracy story or a frictionless miracle.
Investigate with the AI detective