Who decided which writings would be part of the New Testament Canon? What criteria was used in that determination? When was the list of New Testament books compiled? The truth might surprise you, as many of the classical answers conflict with history and with Scripture itself. A singular post cannot adequately address those questions, and honestly… neither can the totality of my understanding on the subject.
Our church’s expository study of 1 Timothy shed light on the answers. In 1 Timothy 5:18, Paul quotes two texts of Scripture, the latter of which is most pertinent to this subject:
“For the scripture saith… The labourer is worthy of his reward.”
The quote is from Luke 10:7, which was likely penned just 2 years before Paul wrote 1 Timothy. By defining Luke’s gospel as “scripture,” Paul demonstrates a remarkable truth – the apostles and the early church discerned (by Divine power) which writings were given by inspiration. This truth is verified by Peter recognizing Paul’s epistles as “scripture” (2 Peter 3:15-16) and is illustrated by the churches being ordered to pass epistles to other churches (Colossians 4:16. 1 Thessalonians 5:27).
The truth is substantiated by documents like the Muratorian Fragment (a list of the writings observed by an early church, including all the New Testament besides Hebrews, James, 1, Peter, 2 Peter, and 3 John and dated just 75 years from the writing of Revelation) and the Peshitta (Syriac Bible produced less than 100 years from the writing of Revelation includes all but 2 Peter, 2 John 3 John, Jude, Revelation).
In short, it is undeniably clear that God gave His Word by inspiration and that He preserved His Word clearly. The more one studies the New Testament Canon, the more conspicuous God’s hand is in the velocity and precision of the acceptance of the Scriptures. You have every reason to trust that ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God and that EVERY word of God is pure. Read it. Study it. Meditate on it. Love it. Obey it. Rejoice in it. Teach it.