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17. The word God, which is the power of God for the salvation of
all who believe (see Rom. 1:16), is set forth and shows its
power in a most excellent way in the writings of the New Testament.
For when the fullness of time arrived (see Gal. 4:4), the Word
was made flesh and dwelt among us in His fullness of graces and truth
(see John 1:14). Christ established the kingdom of God on
earth, manifested His Father and Himself by deeds and words, and
completed His work by His death, resurrection and glorious Ascension
and by the sending of the Holy Spirit. Having been lifted up from
the earth, He draws all men to Himself (see John 12:32,
Greek text), He who alone has the words of eternal life (see John
6:68). This mystery had not been manifested to other generations
as it was now revealed to His holy Apostles and prophets in the Holy
Spirit (see Eph. 3:4-6, Greek text), so that they might
preach the Gospel, stir up faith in Jesus, Christ and Lord, and
gather together the Church. Now the writings of the New Testament
stand as a perpetual and divine witness to these realities.
18. It is common knowledge that among all the Scriptures, even
those of the New Testament, the Gospels have a special preeminence,
and rightly so, for they are the principal witness for the life and
teaching of the incarnate Word, our savior.
The Church has always and everywhere held and continues to hold that
the four Gospels are of apostolic origin. For what the Apostles
preached in fulfillment of the commission of Christ, afterwards they
themselves and apostolic men, under the inspiration of the divine
Spirit, handed on to us in writing: the foundation of faith,
namely, the fourfold Gospel, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John.[31]
19. Holy Mother Church has firmly and with absolute constancy
held, and continues to hold, that the four Gospels just named, whose
historical character the Church unhesitatingly asserts, faithfully
hand on what Jesus Christ, while living among men, really did and
taught for their eternal salvation until the day He was taken up into
heaven (see Acts 1:1). Indeed, after the Ascension of the
Lord the Apostles handed on to their hearers what He had said and
done. This they did with that clearer understanding which they enjoyed
[32] after they had been instructed by the glorious events of
Christ's life and taught by the light of the Spirit of truth. [33]
The sacred authors wrote the four Gospels, selecting some things from
the many which had been handed on by word of mouth or in writing,
reducing some of them to a synthesis, explaining some things in view of
the situation of their churches and preserving the form of proclamation
but always in such fashion that they told us the honest truth about
Jesus.[34] For their intention in writing was that either from
their own memory and recollections, or from the witness of those who
"themselves from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the
Word" we might know "the truth" concerning those matters about which
we have been instructed (see Luke 1:2-4).
20. Besides the four Gospels, the canon of the New Testament
also contains the epistles of St. Paul and other apostolic writings,
composed under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, by which,
according to the wise plan of God, those matters which concern Christ
the Lord are confirmed, His true teaching is more and more fully
stated, the saving power of the divine work of Christ is preached,
the story is told of the beginnings of the Church and its marvelous
growth, and its glorious fulfillment is foretold.
For the Lord Jesus was with His apostles as He had promised (see
Matt. 28:20) and sent them the advocate Spirit who would lead
them into the fullness of truth (see John 16:13).
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