The books of the law (also known as the Torah or Pentateuch—Genesis-Deuteronomy) were acknowledged as early as 2 Kings 22. The prophets were identified as Scripture by the end of the second century BC. The Psalms were accepted, but the remaining books varied depending on Jewish sect. The rabbinical school of the Pharisees in Jamnia arrived at a list of twenty-four books, which equate to the thirty-nine books of the Protestant OT.
The Jews in Egypt translated their choices of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek in the second century before Christ. This translation of 46 books, called the Septuagint, had wide use in the Roman world because most Jews lived far from Palestine in Greek cities. Many of these Jews spoke only Greek.
The early Christian Church was born into this world. The Church, with its bilingual Jews and more and more Greek-speaking Gentiles, used the books of the Septuagint as its Bible. Remember the early Christians were just writing the documents what would become the NT. After the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, with increasing persecution from the Romans and competition from the fledgling Christian Church, the Jewish leaders came together and declared its official canon of Scripture, eliminating seven books from the Septuagint.
The process for recognizing and collecting the books of the NT began in the first centuries of the Christian church. Very early on, some of the NT books were recognized as inspired. Paul considered Luke’s writings to be as authoritative as the OT (1 Timothy 5:18; see also Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7). Peter referred to Paul’s writings as Scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16). Clement of Rome mentioned at least eight NT books (A.D. 95). Ignatius of Antioch acknowledged about seven books (A.D. 115). Polycarp, a disciple of John the apostle, acknowledged 15 books (A.D. 108). Later, Irenaeus mentioned 21 books (A.D. 185). Hippolytus recognized 22 books (A.D. 170-235).
The first “canon” was the Muratorian Canon, compiled in A.D. 170, which included all of the NT books except Hebrews, James, and 3 John. The Council of Laodicea (A.D. 363) concluded that only the OT (along with the Apocrypha) and the 27 books of the NT were to be read in the churches. The Councils of Hippo (A.D. 393) and Carthage (A.D. 397) reaffirmed the same 27 books as authoritative.
The principles used by the councils to determine whether a NT book was truly inspired by the Holy Spirit were fourfold.** First**, the author must be an apostle or have a close connection with an apostle.
Second, the book must have been accepted by the body of Christ at large.
Third, the book had to contain consistency of doctrine and orthodox teaching.
Finally, the book had to bear evidence of high moral and spiritual values that would reflect a work of the Holy Spirit as the divine Author. Most importantly, however, it must be recognized that it was God, and God alone, who determined which books belonged in the Bible.
This is how you got your bible. From the Catholic Church.