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God determined the Canon, period. It's not the Protestant Canon. It isn't the Catholic Canon. It's God's Canon. It would have existed had nobody "declared" its existence in any particular form. Humans are led by the Holy Spirit as to what the Canon is. This does not mean that humans are infallible in their discernment of the Holy Spirit's leadership at all times. We do not claim human infallibility. We claim God's infallibility. By faith, I believe that the Canon of Scripture as shown in Protestant Bibles is the correct Canon. I do this based upon specific scriptural statements concerning God, salvation, life after death, etc. and knowing that God will not contradict Himself. Do I believe that I as a human am infallible? No. But I do believe that God has infallibly given and established what was Scripture and that there are a lot of pretenders out there that are NOT Scripture.

To summarize

Jesus -->Holy Spirit ----> Truth---->Scripture ---->Church

The Church does not have the claim that IT determined the Canon. They may have agreed with God's Canon, they may not have. There was not universal agreement. Yet, we believe God faithfully gave us His Word and see the markings of the divine in the harmony of the books we have as well as the testimony of Scripture itself concerning those things.

Daniel speaks of Jeremiah as Scripture.

Jesus, speaking of the Old Testament, spoke of the things written about Himself in the law, the prophets (which included the Historical books per Jewish Sources), and the Psalms. Peter spoke of the epistles of Paul being Scripture. Paul calls Genesis, 1 Kings, Deuteronomy Scripture. James calles Leviticus, Proverbs and Genesis Scripture. All of this indicates one thing - that such a thing as "Scripture" was in existence and recognized as such long before any council put together their lists and before even the Septuagint was translated (witness Daniel).

I'm sorry, I'm still confused.

I believe that the Canon of Scripture as shown in Protestant Bibles is the correct Canon.

Ok for you the Protestant Bible is God's canon. Catholics differ; hence, I'm naming them Catholic and Protestant canon in order to communicate.

By faith, I believe that the Canon of Scripture as shown in Protestant Bibles is the correct Canon.

So part of faith to you is faith in the Protestant canon as correct.

I do this based upon specific scriptural statements concerning God, salvation, life after death, etc. and knowing that God will not contradict Himself.

But this is different. If I'm understanding you, this is saying it's NOT taken solely on faith but upon an examination of the contents of possible books measured against the theology/teachings that you take on faith?

This would get back to my 3) before. Is every Christian then to revisit the history and translations, in light of their faith, to determine for themselves that the Protestant canon is God's canon? Or do they take it on faith when they join their respective churches, or on authority of those churches?

Thanks for your reply.

It's kind of fascinating . . .

when folks are sort of formally forced to be conscious of doing something in GOD'S PRESENCE . . . such as maybe ordinations or some such . . .

mention is sometimes to often made of man CONFIRMING formally and in ceremony what God has already done Spiritually and from His perspective.

Yet . . . at other times . . .

YEA VERILY, IT IS THE MAGICSTERICAL--WE OURSELVES--WHO HAVE MIGHTILY AND WISELY DONE IT BY OUR OWN WISDOM, LOFTY TRADITIONAL DISCERNMENT AND FORESIGHT (uhem--and no small amount of political cleverness and skill)!