Ultimately, when an individual asserts that the Catholic Church previously taught a certain doctrine, a useful follow-up question would be, “Provide me with written proof.” Many individuals put forth unfounded assertions, and the burden should not rest on having to counteract something that did not occur, but rather on them to clearly substantiate the validity of their accusation.

Gospel writers

Question: It appears reasonable that several individuals apart from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John chronicled the life of Jesus. Why were these four Gospels selected as the authoritative ones, particularly given that Mark and Luke were not among the apostles? When and in what manner was this decision reached?

— Robert McBride, Cheswick, Pennsylvania

Answer: Although there are indeed other well-known accounts of Jesus’ life, and a few of these are linked to the names of apostles (such as Thomas and James), the indications appear fairly compelling that these Gospels were composed significantly after the demise of these apostles.

Regarding Mark and Luke not being apostles while still possessing Gospels, St. Mark was probably an aide to St. Peter, which is why his Gospel is predominantly regarded as St. Peter’s narrative. Concerning St. Luke, he explicitly mentions that he thoroughly examined firsthand testimonies in crafting his Gospel.

The determination of which texts were included in the canon (a term meaning “list”) of sacred Scripture was a complicated process that unfolded during the formative years of the Church, directed by the Holy Spirit. Even in the late fourth century, there were disagreements among the faithful regarding which books should be part of the canon. The Book of Revelation and certain epistles were subjects of contention. Similarly, some others recommended additional inspirational writings from the early days, such as the Epistle of Pope St. Clement and the Didache, a book from the first or second century ascribed to the Twelve Apostles.

The determination of the ultimate list or canon of holy Scripture was mostly established through a succession of councils during the late fourth century: the Synod of Rome in 382, the Council of Hippo in 393, and the Council of Carthage in 397. These councils, in collaboration with Popes Damasus and Innocent, provided the enumeration of texts in the canon of holy Scripture that we currently possess in the Catholic Church. This canon remained largely unchallenged until the 16th century, when Martin Luther excluded several Old Testament Books, a decision that some other Protestant groups regrettably and without authorization adopted.

The main criteria employed by the council fathers and popes were liturgy and doctrine. Did a specific book enjoy widespread usage and recognition in the Church’s liturgy? Did a specific book align closely with the Church’s faith and accepted doctrine? These criteria, along with various details too many to enumerate here, resulted in the compilation we have today of sacred Scriptures. Certainly, through faith, we understand that the Holy Spirit guided this process as well.

Msgr. Charles Pope is the pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian in Washington, D.C., and writes for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. at blog.adw.org. Send questions to msgrpope@osv.com.