Missing Bible Books? Hidden Agendas?
Series: Can We Still Trust the Bible? (Part 2)
In Part 1 of this series, we saw that the integrity of the Bible matters because the Gospel matters. We also used our three-step apologetics method to demonstrate that the very challenge presupposes the truth of the Bible.
Now we move into the question of the Bible’s composition:
Have books been added? Were some removed? Can we trust the list of books we have today?
📚 Has the Bible Been Corrupted in Its Composition?
When we ask whether the Bible has been corrupted in its composition, we’re talking about the canon of Scripture.
“Canon” refers to the official list of books that make up the Bible.
For Protestants, the canon consists of:
39 books of the Old Testament
27 books of the New Testament
66 books total
The canon is a frequent target for critics who want to undermine Scripture’s authority. But when we look into the facts, we find that both the Old and New Testament canons are exactly what they should be.
How Were the Books of the Old Testament Chosen?
In Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Josh and Sean McDowell explain that there was never a council or elite group that selected which books would be in the Old Testament. Instead:
The books were recognized, not chosen, over years of usage, as being “breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Here are the tests used to determine whether a book belonged in the canon:
It had to have been written by a prophet of God.
God must have shown His approval of the prophet by performing miracles through him.
Its teaching about God had to be true.
It had to come with the power of God.
It must have been accepted by the people of God.
All of the 39 books in today’s Old Testament passed those tests. Their arrangement in ancient times may have been different—but the content was exactly the same.
What About the “Missing” Books?
When I talk about the integrity of the Bible, I often get asked about:
The Apocrypha
The Book of 1 Enoch
Let’s look at each.
The Apocrypha
The Apocrypha is a collection of books written between the Old and New Testaments.
In Scripture Alone (Chapter 5), James R. White gives several reasons why the Apocrypha isn’t part of Scripture:
The writers themselves didn’t consider their work to be Scripture.
Jesus never treated them as Scripture. He referred instead to “the Law and the Prophets” and the Psalms, covering the full Old Testament canon (Genesis to Malachi) but excluding the Apocrypha.
The Apocrypha contains historical errors, which God-breathed books do not.
1 Enoch
1 Enoch is a fascinating ancient text claiming to have been written by Enoch, the man who “walked with God” before the Flood (Genesis 5:18–24). But:
It was not recognized by the ancient Jewish community as God-breathed.
It was never included in the Hebrew Scriptures.
It fails the same canonical tests listed above.
These books may be interesting—and even beneficial—but they are not missing Scripture.
The New Testament Canon: Reliable and Recognized
Just like with the Old Testament, there were clear criteria for which books belonged in the New Testament:
Apostolicity
Written by an apostle (e.g., Matthew, John)
Or by an associate of an apostle (e.g., Mark, Luke)
Paul would sometimes sign his letters (Galatians 6:11) to prove authenticity.
Universal Recognition
The church recognized these books across the known world.
This wasn’t “top-down” authority—it was “bottom-up,” among believers.
Doctrinal Consistency
Its message had to align with the Gospel and previously revealed truth.
Timeline of New Testament Canon Recognition
Contrary to myths, the Bible was not decided at the Council of Nicea, nor declared official by the Pope. The process was organic and Spirit-led.
Key moments:
100–165 AD: Justin Martyr refers to the Gospels as Scripture.
115–200 AD: Polycarp, Clement of Alexandria, and others refer to both Old and New Testaments as “Scriptures.”
~155–191 AD: Irenaeus recognizes the Gospels, Acts, and Paul’s letters as Scripture.
200s AD: Origen lists nearly all of the 27 New Testament books we have today.
367 AD: Athanasius publishes a list of the exact 27 books we still have.
The canon didn’t drop from the sky—it was revealed and confirmed over time by the Spirit through God’s people.
🧩 What About “Missing Books” of the New Testament?
Some critics say the Church removed books from the New Testament. But there are only two real categories:
Pseudepigraphal Books
Falsely attributed to apostles
Examples: Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Peter, Gospel of Judas
These contain false teachings and were never considered Scripture.
Helpful, But Not Canonical
Recognized as useful, but not inspired
Examples: Epistle of (Pseudo-)Barnabas, Shepherd of Hermas, Didache
Never met all the tests of apostolicity and universal acceptance.
🙌 We Can Trust the Canon
The 66 books of your Bible—Genesis to Revelation—are exactly the ones God intended you to have.
There are no missing books. None were falsely included. The Church didn’t invent the canon—it recognized it.
That settles the question of corruption through composition.
Next, we’ll answer the second part of the challenge:
Has the Bible been corrupted through copying and translation?
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