The Determination of Holy Scriptures in the Catholic Church

Introduction

The process of canonization, or the determination of which books are considered part of the Holy Scriptures, is a significant and complex task within the Catholic Church. This decision-making process occurred predominantly between the first and fourth centuries, with the final canon being largely established by the end of the fourth century. The Catholic Church's approach to choosing the books that would become part of the New Testament and the Old Testament is rooted in the teachings and traditions from which it emerged.

Canonization of the New Testament

The New Testament was first recognized by the early Church primarily based on two criteria: apostolic authorship and widespread acceptance within the community of faith. The criterion of apostolic authorship originally played a prominent role, but over time, it has been realized that many of the New Testament books were not written by the apostles themselves. Instead, these books were written by disciples who were associated with or mentioned by the apostles, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of the teachings being preserved.

The process of canonization for the New Testament was not a single, instantaneous event. It occurred gradually over several centuries, during which the community of believers examined and debated the authenticity and relevance of each text. The texts that were consistently embraced by the Church, particularly by the Apostolic churches, were eventually recognized as part of the biblical canon. For instance, the book of Hebrews, although written anonymously, was accepted because of its close connection to the teachings of the Apostle Paul.

Canonization of the Old Testament

The Old Testament canon of the Catholic Church is somewhat different from that of Protestant churches. While the Protestant movement favored the Jewish canon, which is limited to the books included in the Hebrew Bible, the Catholic Church includes books that are not part of the Jewish canon but are in the Septuagint. The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, was used by early Christians, especially in the Eastern churches, and was recognized as part of the Scribal Tradition.

For the Old Testament, the Catholic Church adheres to the Jewish scriptures used by Jesus and the Apostles, particularly the Septuagint. This edition of the scripture was embraced by the early Church for its comprehensive and authoritative representation of the Hebrew Scriptures. The primary Jewish canon, found in the Hebrew Bible, was also widely used by the early Church as part of its liturgical and theological practices.

Historical Context and Criteria

The criteria for canonization in the Catholic Church include fidelity to the existing teaching tradition and regular usage in worship. The apostles and the early Church provided a living example of faith and practice, which became the gold standard for determining the authenticity and usefulness of a text. The books that were deemed faithful to the apostolic teachings and were consistently used in liturgical and pastoral contexts were included in the canon.

It's important to note that the process of canonization was not a top-down decision made by ecclesiastical authorities but rather a consensus formed by the entire community of believers. This consensus was reached through a combination of scholarly analysis, pastoral experience, and communal acceptance. The final decision about which books would be included in the canon was made in the context of the early Church's understanding of apostolic tradition and the needs of the Church community.

Famous Reformation Controversies

Martin Luther's challenges to the canon of the Catholic Church in the 16th century laid the groundwork for the Protestant understanding of the Bible. Luther doubted the inclusion of certain books that were not part of the Hebrew canon but were included in the Septuagint, such as the deuterocanonical books of the Catholic Bible. His critique was primarily based on his belief that these books conflicted with his own theological interpretations and the reforms he was advocating for the Protestant movement.

These controversies surrounding the canon of the Bible illustrate the dynamic and evolving nature of Christian traditions. While the Catholic Church and the Protestant Reformation have different interpretations of which books should be considered canonical, both movements relied on the same primary sources, namely the teachings of the apostles and the early Church.

Conclusion

The canon of the Holy Scriptures in the Catholic Church was a gradual and deeply theological process that took place over several centuries. The criteria for inclusion in the canon were based on apostolic authorship, fidelity to the apostolic tradition, and widespread usage in worship. While the process of canonization in the early Church was not instantaneous, it was guided by a deep respect for the apostolic teachings and the practical needs of the Church community. The Catholic Church's canonization process has shaped the understanding and usage of the Bible to this day and remains a central factor in Christian theology and practice.

References

For further reading:

Bigg, C. (2008). The “Hexapla” of Origen and the Textual History of the Septuagint. New York: T T Clark. Little, F. (1958). The Making of the New Testament Canon. London: SPCK. Collins, J. J. (2004). Introduction to the Septuagint. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Keywords

catholic church, bible canonization, apostolic authorship