I have a KJV Prophesy Study Bible that was published by Tim LaHaye. In there there are several articles about various topics: Satan, The Future Roman Empire, Heaven, etc.. And from time to time I read the various articles just because I can! :) Well today I read the article titled "How We Got Our Bible" by James M. Kinnebrew and thought it was worthy enough to share with you all ;)

"The Bible relates many instances where God revealed His Word and His Will to man in an instant. As glorious and efficient as these revelations were in their situations, the Bible you hold in your hands came about through a slow, purposeful, and complex work of God Almighty.

     As finite creatures in a perplexing world, we have an inherent need for a word from heaven. As a loving Father with infinite wisdom, God has met that need. He has done this, in part, through "general revelation." We can know all the broad thruths of God's existance, power, benevolence, and wisdom when we take note of the universe around us (Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1:18-32). Likewise, we can discern His presence, holiness, and justice, as well as our own sinfulness, by our own conscience (Eccl. 3:11; Prov. 20:27; Rom. 2:14-16).

     Unfortunately, our reasoning powers are not always sufficient to interpret what we see in the world (ps. 14:1; Isa. 55:8-9), and our consciences can be either too scrupulous (1 Cor. 8:7; Rom. 14:14-23) or too numb (Titus 1:15). In addition, neither creation nor conscience conveys the truth that we need for our eternal salvation. That revelation is found in the inspired Scripture text of the Bible.

     The early Christians recognised the sixty-six books of the Bible as inspired Scripture. They recognised these books as scripture; however, they did not make them such. The Bible is the only collection of writings universally discerned to bear the marks of God's Word. We call the entire collection of books the "canon" (Gr. kanon, "measuring rod"). They alone are the rule, the unreserved sanction to the divine authority of the Scriptures of His day (Matt. 4:4; 5:17-18; Luke 24:25-27, 44; John 10:35). Those scriptures included only the thirty-nine books of our Old Testament(see the article entitled "The Apocryphal Literature" by Mal Couch).

     The New Testament canon likewise rests on the authority of Christ Himself. In John 14:24-26; 16:12-13, Jesus appointed the apostles as His duly authenticated messengers and promised that the Holy Spirit would remind them of His teachings (the Gospels), lead them into all truth (Acts and the Epistles), and teach them things to come (Revelation). They, in a unique sense, were Christ's ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20). Of them He said, "he that hears you hears me" (Luke 10:16). Only those books that are authentically apostolic (not forgeries as referred to in 2 Thess. 2:2) or have apostolic sanction (like Mark and Luke) can stand up under scrutiny as the very Word of God. So these sixty-six books (38 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament) comprise the written Word of God.

     When we think of how we got our Bible, we recognise the protecting hand of God in preserving His Word through the ages. The Bible has endured the oposition of pagan emperors, godless critics, and even misguided relinionists. It has been banned, burned, slandered, and ridiculed_all to no avail. Its survival through unparalleled persecution has been the source of universal amazement. The copy you hold in your hands right now is a testimony to what God will do to get His Word to mankind, to draw them into a saving, eternal relationship with Himself."