The Bible was not assembled all at once. In this episode of The Rooted Podcast, we explore how the Old and New Testament writings were gradually recognised as Scripture and the criteria ancient Jewish and Christian communities used to identify authoritative writings. We unpack what “canon” means, the role of prophetic and apostolic authority, and why theological consistency and widespread use mattered.

Understanding how the Bible was formed offers a deeper appreciation for the history behind the Scriptures we read today—and for the generations of believers who carefully recognised, preserved, and passed them on.

Topics we’ll cover:

• What “canon” means and how ancient communities recognised authoritative Scripture
• How the Old Testament was gradually recognised as Scripture
• The role of prophetic and apostolic authority in recognising biblical books
• Why theological consistency and widespread use mattered
• The difference between Scripture, the Apocrypha, and the Pseudepigrapha
• How the early Christian community recognised and circulated New Testament writings
• Why understanding the formation of Scripture can deepen our appreciation for the Bible

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: How Did We Get the Bible?
01:38 – Prophets, Eyewitnesses, and the Word of God
01:56 – The Human and Divine Nature of Scripture
03:15 – What Does “Canon” Mean?
04:17 – How the Old Testament Canon Came Together
05:10 – The Torah: The Foundation of the Hebrew Scriptures
06:23 – When Were the Books of Moses Recognised?
06:53 – Why Scripture Needed to Be Recognised
07:18 – The Prophets and the Writings
07:56 – The Septuagint and the Hebrew Scriptures
09:24 – Why the New Testament Quotes the Septuagint
10:19 – How Were Books Recognised as Scripture?
11:36 – Prophetic Authorship and the Story of Jeremiah
12:55 – The Importance of Theological Consistency
13:44 – Widespread Use and Recognition
14:58 – The Books That Didn’t Make the Canon
15:17 – The Pseudepigrapha and Apocrypha
17:51 – How the New Testament Canon Came Together
19:08 – Manuscripts, Copies, and the Early Church
20:04 – Eyewitnesses and the Reliability of the New Testament
20:54 – When New Testament Writers Recognised Other Scripture
21:35 – The Three Criteria for New Testament Books
22:47 – Luke, Acts, and Eyewitness Accounts
24:02 – Apostolic Authority
24:34 – Orthodoxy and the Early Church
25:49 – Acceptance Among the Body of Christ
26:52 – The 27 Books of the New Testament
28:11 – Scrolls, Codices, and the Technology of the Ancient World
29:20 – Why the Process Took Time
30:51 – Preserving the Word of God
31:20 – The Care of the Scribes
32:29 – Why the Story of Canonization Matters
32:54 – What’s Next: The Authority of Scripture

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The Bible is more than a single book or a collection of instructions. It’s a library of 66 books written across different cultures, languages, time periods, and literary genres, all contributing to a larger story about God, humanity, and His work of redemption and restoration.

In the first episode of The Rooted Podcast, we explore how understanding that bigger story can change the way you approach Scripture. By paying attention to context, culture, genre, and the connections between the Old and New Testaments, you can move beyond simply asking, “What does this passage tell me to do?” and begin asking, “What is this telling me about God, His people, and the bigger story I’m part of?”

Topics we’ll cover:

• Why the Bible is better understood as a library of 66 books than as a single book
• How cultural assumptions can shape the way we read and interpret Scripture
• Why understanding the Old Testament is essential to understanding the New Testament
• How different literary genres help us understand what biblical passages are communicating
• The major themes that connect the Bible’s many books into one larger story
• How going deeper into Scripture can lead to a deeper relationship with God

Resources from this episode:

• The Bible Project - How the Bible Was Formed
• The Bible Project - Learn How to Read the Bible
• “How We Got the Bible” by Neil R. Lightfoot

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: What Is the Bible?

00:50 – The Bible as a Library of 66 Books

02:13 – Understanding the Old Testament

03:26 – Oral Tradition and the Eastern Perspective

06:59 – Eastern and Western Ways of Reading the Bible

08:58 – The Original Languages of the Old Testament

09:54 – How the Old Testament Came Together

10:43 – Understanding the New Testament in Context

13:08 – The Lord of the Rings and the Importance of Backstory

15:15 – Why the Old Testament Matters

16:58 – How the New Testament Was Written and Preserved

18:55 – The Bible’s Different Literary Genres

20:15 – How the Bible Was Written: Divine and Human Partnership

21:42 – The New Testament: Authors, Languages, and Canon

22:55 – Why Literary Genre Matters

24:21 – The Bible Is More Than a Rulebook

25:50 – Understanding Apocalyptic Literature

27:39 – Exploring the Bible’s Major Literary Genres

30:22 – The Major Themes of the Bible

31:24 – Creation, Humanity, and the Image of God

32:34 – Sin, Redemption, and Restoration

34:59 – The Kingdom of God

37:05 – Image-Bearing and Covenant

39:23 – God’s Faithfulness and the Theme of Redemption

40:14 – Going Deeper with God Through Scripture

42:03 – Discovering the Bible’s Cross-References

44:08 – Seeing Scripture as a Connected Story

45:15 – Recommended Resources for Going Deeper

46:32 – How We Got the Bible and The Bible Project

46:59 – What’s Next: How the Bible Was Written and Canonized

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The Rooted Podcast is a new weekly podcast from the Jax Church designed to help you grow deeper in your understanding of the Bible, your relationship with God, and your everyday walk with Jesus. Each episode explores Scripture while offering practical tools and resources to help you continue growing and maturing in Christ throughout the week.

Our first series, How to Read the Bible, starts with foundational questions about what the Bible is, how it came together, and how we can faithfully understand and use Scripture today. We’ll also put these ideas into practice, exploring how context and the right tools can help us engage with the Bible on a deeper level.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore Scripture or have been reading the Bible for years, the Rooted Podcast is an invitation to keep learning, asking questions, and going deeper with God.

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