为什么有66卷书被收入圣经正典？是教会决定的吗？
Why are there 66 books in the biblical canon? Did the church decide this?
简答 Short Answer
教会不是赋予这些书权威，而是认出了它们已有的权威。正典的形成是圣灵引导的过程，教会只是确认了哪些书具有使徒权威和上帝默示的特征。
The church didn't give these books authority but recognized authority they already possessed. Canon formation was a Spirit-guided process; the church simply confirmed which books bore the marks of apostolic authority and divine inspiration.
详细解答 Detailed Answer
一个常见的误解是教会在某次会议上「选定」了哪些书入选圣经。实际上，这些书从写成之日起就被早期教会视为上帝的话语。正典的形成不是发明，而是确认。
早期教会使用几个标准来辨别正典：使徒性（是否由使徒或使徒的同伴写成？）、正统性（是否与已知的使徒教导一致？）、普世性（是否被各地教会广泛接受？）、默示性（是否具有上帝话语的能力和特征？）。
到主后200年左右，新约27卷书中的大部分已经被教会普遍接受。后来的会议（如主后397年迦太基会议）不过是正式确认了教会已经在实践中认可的清单。上帝通过圣灵引导祂的教会认出了祂的话语，正如耶稣所说：「我的羊听我的声音」（约10:27）。
A common misconception is that the church 'selected' which books to include at some council. In reality, these books were recognized as God's Word from the moment they were written. Canon formation was not invention but recognition.
The early church used several criteria to identify canonical books: apostolicity (written by an apostle or apostolic companion?), orthodoxy (consistent with known apostolic teaching?), catholicity (widely accepted across churches?), and inspiration (does it bear the power and characteristics of God's Word?).
By around AD 200, most of the 27 New Testament books were universally accepted. Later councils (like Carthage in AD 397) merely formally confirmed what the church had already recognized in practice. God guided His church through the Holy Spirit to recognize His Word, just as Jesus said: 'My sheep hear my voice' (John 10:27).
📖 经文引用 Bible Verses
📚 推荐阅读 Related Readings
- •The Canon of Scripture (F.F. Bruce)
- •Question of Canon (Michael Kruger)