The Church's Criteria for Including and Rejecting Gnostic Books in the Bible

The formation of the Christian canon, particularly the New Testament, was a multifaceted and complex process. One significant area of contention centered on the inclusion or rejection of Gnostic Gospels and writings. This article explores the criteria the Church used to determine which texts would be included and which would be rejected, with a particular focus on the role of the four Biblical Gospels in this decision-making process.

Introduction to the Formation of the Christian Canon

The process of canonization, or the selection of texts that would be considered authoritative Christian scripture, was not a sudden or finalized event. It was an organic, community-driven process that extended over several centuries. While the early Church accepted certain texts from the beginning, the definitive list of books included in the canon of the New Testament was not definitively established until the 4th and 5th centuries.

The Criteria for Inclusion and Rejection

The Church employed several criteria to determine the inclusion or rejection of texts, which can be broadly categorized into doctrinal, historical, and contextual factors.

Doctrinal Factors

The primary reason for the rejection of many Gnostic texts was their doctrinal deficiency or outright contradiction of the core beliefs of the early Church, particularly in relation to the nature of salvation, the person of Christ, and the role of the Holy Spirit. The earliest and most influential texts, the four Canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), agreed on key doctrines, such as the divine nature of Christ, the trinity, and the salvific work of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. These texts were seen as authoritative, making it difficult for Gnostic texts to be included when they diverged significantly from these teachings.

Historical Factors

Another important criterion was the historical and community acceptance of a text. The Church often looked for texts that had been used and accepted in the early Christian communities, particularly those that could be traced back to the apostles or their immediate followers. Many Gnostic texts lacked this historical precedent and were therefore discredited.

Contextual Factors

The final criterion involved examining the context and content of each text. The Church was wary of texts that promoted dualism, fatalism, or overly mystical understandings of the divine that could lead to heretical beliefs. These texts, often considered to be sectarian in nature, were seen as dangerous and were thus rejected.

Importance of the Four Canonical Gospels

A key factor in the Church's decision-making process was the acceptance and guidance provided by the four Canonical Gospels. These texts not only agreed on essential doctrines but also provided a robust framework for understanding Christian theology. The agreements between these Gospels on significant theological points made it difficult for divergent texts to be accepted as authoritative.

Role of Vaticanum

During the Council of Vaticanum (431 AD), the Church reaffirmed the importance of the four Canonical Gospels and established a broader canon, including the letters of Paul and other New Testament writings. This council was a pivotal moment in the tightening of the canonical boundaries and the rejection of non-canonical texts.

Conclusion

The process of determining which books to include in the Bible was a long and complex one. The Church's rejection of many Gnostic books was primarily based on their doctrinal and historical consistency with the core Christian teachings laid out in the four Canonical Gospels. This process helped solidify the foundational Christian beliefs that remain central to Christian doctrine today.

References

1. Kümmel, Georg W. The New Testament: The Crusial Writings and TheirajorityWorld. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1975.

2. Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Acts of the Apostles. New York: Doubleday, 1998.

3. Pagels, Elaine. The Gnostic Gospels. New York: Random House, 1979.