Examining the rationale and canonical significance of Catholic Christian scriptures

Canonical Scriptures: Development of Christianity

There were a number of decisions that were made in the forming of the canonical scriptures as they appear today. These decisions were largely based on the events that took place in the first four centuries of the development of Christianity (Noll, 2012, p.66). Additionally, since it was during this time period that the administration, circumscription, and focus of Christianity was actually developing, concerns related to these matters played a profound impact upon the selection of scriptures which reinforced this religion. In this way, the role of the canonical scriptures was designed specifically to reinforce and, in many cases, actually prove some of the key points of Christianity. Thus, the reason and rationale for the canonical scriptures was to both solidify and buttress important ecclesiastical and pragmatic concerns regarding the way Christianity is practiced.

In terms of the ecclesiastic or spiritual elements of Christianity, certain texts were included in the canonical scriptures due to their ability to propagate some of the core principle of Christianity related to God and his ways. Certain texts illustrate God's beneficence, power, and compassion better than others, and therefore possess a great utility in not only establishing the foundation upon which this religion is based but also for converting others to this belief. These scriptures are best described as "truly the Word of God" and "have always exercised, and still exercise, an unparalleled power upon the lives of men" (Noll, 2012, p.61). Therefore, the books that can best convey the spirit of Christianity and of the God that governs this religion were integral to the development of the canonical scriptures because they best perpetuate the true spirit of Christianity.

There were also several practical concerns that provided the rationale for the canonical scriptures and which directly correlate to how Christianity is practiced. In terms of worship, then, a number of texts that were regularly read and utilized in church settings that simply became a part of those proceedings and of how Christians worshiped. The most cogent of these texts inevitably pertained to their relationship with the apostles, since Jesus had a close relationship with these followers who, after the death of Christ, were instrumental in evangelizing his word and works, and in spreading the Christian faith in its early stages. Subsequently, there was a preeminence associated with the writings of the apostles that were influential in including them in the scriptural canon -- especially those that were regularly read during various stages of worship. These were the writings that, "had made their authority felt in the churches. The shape of the New Testament shows that the early churches' primary aim was to submit fully to the teachings of the apostles…that… shaped the character of Christianity" (Noll, 2012 p. 66). Worship was one of the primary practical concerns that impacted the reason and rational for the canonical scriptures.

Of the many important events in the first four centuries of Christianity that lent itself to both ecclesiastical and pragmatic concerns regarding the rationale for the scriptures, one of the most important was the council at Nicaea in which the conception of the trinity was not only fully formed, but also administered as one of the fundamental aspects of Christianity. This council preceded the completion of the Old Testament, and involved significant challenge from Arius who asserted that Jesus was not synonymous with God and was inherently lesser than God. At this council this viewpoint was overruled (due partly to the citation of scriptures that disproved Arius) (Shelly, 2008, THE FIRST PAGE, CAN'T SEE THE PAGE NUMBER). However, after the council, it became a priority to reinforce the conception of the trinity and of the innate holiness of Jesus. One of the best ways to do so was to compile works of scriptures that supported this perspective -- specifically with the creation of the New Testament and the inclusion of this principle as one of the chief aspects of it.