Every Christian should know why certain books were included in the Bible and why others were left out. There are many resources that I recommend you study such as The Biblical Canon: Its Origin, Transmission, and Authority by Dr. Lee Martin McDonald, Believing Bible Study by Dr. Edward F. Hills, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Those are valuable resources to learn about how the Bible was compiled, archaeological evidences supporting the Bible, and the history of the various books of the Bible.
Due to the vast amount of resources that are available, this lesson will take a different approach and solely focus on God's Word to justify the books within God's Word.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." - 2 Timothy 3:16
Our final authority should ALWAYS be the Bible and God Himself tells us which books He approves of in His Word.
The Bible Confirming the Bible
Throughout the New Testament are passages confirming which books belong in the Old Testament. In the following passage, we learn that Jesus confirmed the book of Isaiah:
"And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him. And He began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." - Luke 4:16-21
Jesus confirmed the book of Jonah:
"Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here." - Matthew 12:38-41
Jesus confirmed the book of Daniel:
"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)" - Matthew 24:15
Jesus confirmed the book of Deuteronomy:
"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Deut. 8:3) Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time thou dash Thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (Deut. 6:16) Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." (Deut. 6:13)" - Matthew 4:1-10
"It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true." (Deut. 17:6) - John 8:17
Jesus confirmed the book of Zechariah:
"And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." (Zech. 13:7) - Mark 14:27
Jesus confirmed Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus:
"Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man." (Gen. 17:10-14, Ex. 4:24-26, Lev. 12:3) - John 7:22
"But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female." (Gen. 1 and 2) - Mark 10:6
Jesus confirmed the Genesis through Deuteronomy, the Major and Minor Prophets, and the Psalms:
"And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." - Luke 24:44
Jesus confirmed the book of Genesis through 2 Chronicles:
"That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar." (Gen. 4:8, 2 Chron. 24:20-21) - Matthew 23:35
What is very important to realize is that the Hebrew layout of the Old Testament is different from the Christian layout. That is why Jesus covered Jewish history in this manner.
In our King James Bible, we see that the order is laid out differently, but contains the exact same books:
According to God's Word, God Himself confirms the layout of the Old Testament.
But what about the books of the New Testament? In these passages, Jesus tells His Disciples that they would write Scripture:
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." - John 14:26
"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come." - John 16:13
List of Apostles with their Various Names (Matt. 10:2-3, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, Jn. 14:22, Acts 1:13, Rom. 1:1):
Peter/Simon/Cephas - Wrote 1 and 2 Peter
James the Brother of John - Wrote James
John - Wrote John, 1-3 John, and Revelation
Andrew
Bartholomew/Nathanael
James the Lesser
Judas Iscariot
Jude/Judas (Not Iscariot)/Thaddeus - Wrote Jude
Matthew/Levi - Wrote Matthew
Philip
Simon
Thomas/Didymus
Paul/Saul - Wrote Romans through Hebrews
In these verses, the Apostle Peter confirms the writings of Paul as Scripture:
"And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." - 2 Peter 3:15-16
The Early Jews and Gentiles Had Access to God's Word
Today, we have the complete Word of God and can search the Scriptures to look for contradictions, validations of our faith, various topics, etc. The Jews and Gentiles had access to God's Word as well and searched the Scriptures to verify if what the Apostles were saying was true (Acts 17:11).
The Word of God was read to the nation of Israel prior to Babylonian captivity (2 Kings 22 and 23)
The Word of God was read to the nation of Israel after the Babylonian captivity (Neh. 8)
Jesus read the Word of God in a synagogue (Lk. 4:16-21)
Philip read the Word of God to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:34-39)
The Word of God was "published throughout the region" (Acts 13:49)
The early Church also had the ability to refute heretical books as well because they had access to God's Word.
The "Lost Books of the Bible" or Gnostic Books
One of the most famous books that is not considered canon, but is often disputed, is the book of Enoch. Jude quoted a prophecy given by Enoch as evidence to support this book being official cannon.
"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." - Jude 14-15
Since God's ways are perfect (Ps.18:30) and He exalts His Word above His own name (Ps. 138:2), we know that there are no contradictions in the Bible.
Does the book of Enoch contradict the Bible?
In Enoch 40:1-10, the writer stated that he saw four angels with different purposes. The first angel blessed the Lord (v4), the second angel blesses the Elect One and the Elect (v5), the third angel intercedes for those that dwell on the Earth (v6), the fourth angel fends off the Satans (v7).
Already we can see two contradictions. Enoch 40:6 stated that an angel acts as an intermediary. However, the Bible says that it is God the Son and God the Holy Spirit that intercede.
"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." - Hebrews 7:25
"Who is He that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." - Romans 8:34
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." - Romans 8:26,27
Remember that God is the Father, God is the Son, and God is the Holy Spirit (1 Jn. 5:7). We are to pray to the Father (Matt. 6:6-13) in the name of the Son (Jn. 16:23-24) through the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:26). God hears our prayers, gives us the authority to pray to Him, and He intercedes on our behalf. The book of Enoch contradicts the Bible by claiming that an angel, not God Himself, makes intercession for our prayers.
Enoch 40:7 states that "the fourth voice I heard driving away the Satans and not allowing them to come in front of the Lord of Spirits to accuse those who dwell on the high ground". This contradicts the Bible in multiple areas as well.
Satan is one person - not many. Also, Satan accuses us before God to this very day.
"Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." - Job 1:6,7
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." - Revelation 12:9-11
In these two passages, we can see two important facts:
Satan is singular and not plural
Satan does not lose access to the throne of God until the Tribulation period
What is perhaps the most blasphemous statement in this book is found in Enoch 40:9 which states "... And the fourth, who is in charge of repentance and hope of those who will inherit eternal life, is Phanuel".
It is God that leads people to repent (Acts 17:30, Rom. 2:4) and it is God alone who saves (Jn. 3:16, Rom. 10:9, 1 Cor. 15:1-4). The book of Enoch claims that angels replace God in both intercession AND salvation! The Apostle Paul warned believers to beware of those that exalt angels above God:
"Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." - Colossians 2:18
Again, in Enoch 39:5, this book teaches that angels do the intercession: "Here mine eyes saw their dwellings with His righteous angels, And their resting-places with the holy. And they petitioned and interceded and prayed for the children of men, And righteousness flowed before them as water, And mercy like dew upon the earth: Thus it is amongst them for ever and ever."
The book of Enoch teaches that angels and those that are saved will descend from Heaven and marry those that dwell on Earth.
"And it shall come to pass in those days that elect and holy children will descend from the high heaven, and their seed will become one with the children of men." - 39:1
This, verse, contradicts the Bible as well. Jesus said that we will neither marry or be given in marriage (Matt. 22:30).
Given that sex outside of the marriage bed is a sin (Heb. 13:4). Enoch 39:1 is stating that either we will marry people on Earth when we return with Christ which contradicts Matthew 22:30 or that we will sin upon our return to Earth!
The Apocrypha
Similar to the Gnostic books, there are other books that groups have tried to include as part of the Biblical canon. The Catholic Church officially recognized the Apocrypha (meaning “hidden”), also known as Deuterocanonical (meaning “second canon”), in 1546 A.D. and added additional works to the Bible:
Tobit
Judith
Wisdom of Solomon
Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)
Baruch
1st & 2nd Maccabees
Chapters 10-16 of Esther
Daniel 3:24-90 (Song of the Three Young Men)
Daniel 13 (the story of Susannah)
Daniel 14 (Bel & the Dragon)
Let’s take a look at few of the writings to see if they contradict Scripture or not.
Remember that understanding the Dispensations is key to understanding the Word of God. During the Old Testament, salvation was by works and not grace.
“Whoso honoureth his father maketh an atonement for his sins...Water will quench a flaming fire; and alms maketh an atonement for sin.” - Sirach 3:3, 30
However, in the Law of Moses, it is stated that the atonement for sins is only through blood. We have a contradiction because “the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Lev. 17:11).
Similarly, Tobit 12:9 states that “alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin.” Again, this contradicts the Bible because “… without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:22).
There are contradictions within the Apocrypha as well. Sirach 38:21-23 teaches that we are not to remember the dead, however, 2 Maccabees 12:43-45 tells us to pray for the dead. The act of praying for the dead contradicts what Jesus said in Luke 16:19-31 about the rich man waking up in Hell (which shows that there is no purgatory) and that Hell is eternal.
Baruch 1:1,2 states that he was in Babylon. This contradicts the book of Jeremiah which states that he went to Egypt (Jer. 43:5-7).
Just as with the Gnostic books, these are but a few of the many passages that contradict the Word of God.
Conclusion
There are many people that desire to dispute God's perfect Word. We live in a day that the Apostle Paul told us about:
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron." - 1 Timothy 4:1-2