Canon of the Bible, Councils, Freewill (quora)

Q

Do Christians believe that the councils that determined biblical canon were guided by God?
https://www.quora.com/Do-Christians-believe-that-the-councils-that-determined-biblical-canon-were-guided-by-God/answer/Hans-Georg-Lundahl

Quora Question Details Bot

Aug 8

The Council of Nicea and the Council of Trent largely determined what was to be considered "canon" when it came to the books of the New Testament and Jesus' relationship with God the Father.

Since many of these issues were resolved by debate and a voting process between fallible humans, it would seem that much of the most important elements of the religion were being determined by mere humans with free will, their own agendas, and susceptibility to errors.

If the Holy Bible is to hold merit as an infallible document, must we believe that God had a hand in the outcome of these councils, thus nullifying the free will of those involved in the process?

Hans-Georg Lundahl

Studied religions as curious parallels and contrasts to Xtian faith since 9, 10?

Answered just now

"The Council of Nicea"

probably not, however Council of Carthage, of Rome and some other perhaps early local ones

"and the Council of Trent"

much later, yes, at least verbally going back to Councils of Rome and Carthage

"largely determined what was to be considered "canon" when it came to the books of the New Testament and Jesus' relationship with God the Father.

"Since many of these issues were resolved by debate and a voting process between fallible humans, it would seem that much of the most important elements of the religion were being determined by mere humans with free will, their own agendas, and susceptibility to errors.

"If the Holy Bible is to hold merit as an infallible document, must we believe that God had a hand in the outcome of these councils, thus nullifying the free will of those involved in the process?"

• 1) Neither being a hagiographer, nor being a Pope, nor being a Council Father of Trent or even of a local council needs your free will to be cancelled or nullified by God for God to direct the outcome.
  
  A hagiographer as well as a devout Pope or a devout bishop at a Council (whether local or universal, whether Carthage or Trent) certainly intended to bring forth the truth of God and intended to pary to God for guidance, and God providing this guidance is not a nullification of their free will.
  
  If a writer had wilfully wanted to impose his view over what God wanted a hagiographer to write, God would have let him, but would not have allowed his work to be part of canon.
  
  If a bishop or even Pope wilfully had preferred his personal opinion and this an erroneous one over the truth as God knew it, God would have allowed him, but made sure he was not the majority of a universal council, and if a local one (Laodicea has a divergent canon, only Protestant version of OT but also Apocalypse lacking from NT), if a local one failed, God would make sure another council was available (e g, Laodicea correctable by Rome and Carthage). Or God could give him reasons to reconsider in time.
  
  
• 2) For a Protestant it is problematic to say God guided these early councils, but on Bible canon questions only, but not the Church in other respects in 397 (date or relevant council of Carthage, there were other ones).
  
  It is also problematic for them to claim that the Church in general was guided in those days, but the Catholic Church apostasised later than 397.
  
  Because, for one thing, “after 397” would be a very arbitrary “year” (as well as an imprecise one) for the Church to lose a guidance, especially if it was promised to the end of time.
  
  Also, because some of the things Protestants reject, like Mass being a Sacrifice, like Real Presence of Christ in the Mass, like Seven sacraments, not just two, like several degrees of clergy (councils of Carthage!) can definitely be traced to before 397.
  
  
• 3) For a Catholic it is not the least problematic that God guided the Church in 397 as every other day from Ascension Day to present and past into the End or Consummation of all times. This general guiding of the Church during a council or any other occasion taking any kind of degree, from informal personal in a hierarch to definite solemn at Trent of including Gospel of St John, or of excluding explicitly (in a Church Father) “Gospel of Thomas” from the canon. If the Pope this very day or if all bishops this very day - within the boundaries already set by the Church - define a dogma, the Church is bound by it and God has guided the decision. This is within clearly pronounced NT promises by Christ to the disciples (twelve or eleven or 70 or St Peter singled out), for instance in Matthew 28.