We should not imagine a committee of church Fathers with a large pile of books and these five guiding principles before them when we speak of the process of canonization. The process was far more natural and dynamic. Some principles are only implicit in the process. Although all five characteristics are present in each inspired writing, not all of the rules of recognition are apparent in the decision on each canonical book. In any event, all five characteristics were involved in discovering each canonical book, although some were used only implicitly.
Some principles operate negatively in the process.
Some of the rules for recognition operate more negatively than others. For instance, the principles of authenticity would more readily eliminate noncanonical books than indicate which books are canonical. There are no false teachings which are canonical, but there are many true writings which are not inspired. Likewise many books which edify or have a dynamic are not canonic, even though no canonical book is without significance in the saving plan of God. Similarly, a book may claim to be authoritative without being inspired, as may of the apocryphal writings indicate, but no book can be canonical unless it is really authoritative.