3 Questions for Protestants from a Catholic

By Unscripted · 5 min

The early church never voted a book into authority. It recognized authority already inherent in the book. The councils that produced lists (Hippo 393, Carthage 397) were ratifying what the churches had already been reading for generations. That distinction matters, and it is the hinge of the whole discussion. The tests the churches applied, whether stated formally or operating informally, come down to four, with a fifth running underneath them all. 1. Apostolicity. Written by an apostle or by a close associate of an apostle writing with apostolic sanction. This is the primary test. It is why Mark (Peter’s interpreter) and Luke (Paul’s companion) were never seriously questioned. 2. Antiquity. The book must belong to the apostolic age. The Muratorian Fragment rejects the Shepherd of Hermas on exactly this ground: it was written “very recently, in our times,” and so may be read privately but not publicly among the prophets or apostles. 3. Orthodoxy, that is, conformity to the rule of faith. The book must agree with the doctrine already received. Serapion of Antioch is the model case. He first allowed the Gospel of Peter, then actually read it, found docetism in it, and withdrew it, saying that they receive Peter and the other apostles as Christ, but reject writings that falsely bear their names. 4. Catholicity. Received, used, and read publicly across the churches rather than in one region or one sect. Augustine states the rule plainly: prefer what is received by all the catholic churches to what some do not receive.