Those 4 gospels were chosen as it was orthodox and had apostolic
roots. Thats why Gospel of Truth (heretic) and Gospel of Judas(
heretic) were rejected while Pope Clement letters were not
considered heretical (not apostle) but authoritative still.
The Catholic list of inspired books did not change from
382AD.
The Decree of Pope St. Damasus I, Synod of Rome. 382
A.D....
ST. DAMASUS 1, POPE, THE DECREE OF DAMASUS:
It is likewise decreed: Now, indeed, we must treat of the divine
Scriptures: what the universal Catholic Church accepts and what she
must shun.
The list of the Old Testament begins: Genesis, one book; Exodus,
one book: Leviticus, one book; Numbers, one book; Deuteronomy, one
book; Jesus Nave, one book; of Judges, one book; Ruth, one book; of
Kings, four books; Paralipomenon, two books; One Hundred and Fifty
Psalms, one book; of Solomon, three books: Proverbs, one book;
Ecclesiastes, one book; Canticle of Canticles, one book; likewise,
Wisdom, one book; Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), one book; Likewise, the
list of the Prophets: Isaiah, one book; Jeremias, one book; along
with Cinoth, that is, his Lamentations; Ezechiel, one book; Daniel,
one book; Osee, one book; Amos, one book; Micheas, one book; Joel,
one book; Abdias, one book; Jonas, one book; Nahum, one book;
Habacuc, one book; Sophonias, one book; Aggeus, one book;
Zacharias, one book; Malachias, one book. Likewise, the list of
histories: Job, one book; Tobias, one book; Esdras, two books;
Esther, one book; Judith, one book; of Maccabees, two books.
Likewise, the list of the Scriptures of the New and Eternal
Testament, which the holy and Catholic Church receives: of the
Gospels, one book according to Matthew, one book according to Mark,
one book according to Luke, one book according to John. The
Epistles of the Apostle Paul, fourteen in number: one to the
Romans, two to the Corinthians, one to the Ephesians, two to the
Thessalonians, one to the Galatians, one to the Philippians, one to
the Colossians, two to Timothy, one to Titus one to Philemon, one
to the Hebrews. Likewise, one book of the Apocalypse of John. And
the Acts of the Apostles, one book. Likewise, the canonical
Epistles, seven in number: of the Apostle Peter, two Epistles; of
the Apostle James, one Epistle; of the Apostle John, one Epistle;
of the other John, a Presbyter, two Epistles; of the Apostle Jude
the Zealot, one Epistle. Thus concludes the canon of the New
Testament.
Likewise it is decreed: After the announcement of all of these
prophetic and evangelic or as well as apostolic writings which we
have listed above as Scriptures, on which, by the grace of God, the
Catholic Church is founded, we have considered that it ought to be
announced that although all the Catholic Churches spread abroad
through the world comprise but one bridal chamber of Christ,
nevertheless, the holy Roman Church has been placed at the
forefront not by the conciliar decisions of other Churches, but has
received the primacy by the evangelic voice of our Lord and Savior,
who says: "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My
Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it; and I
will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever
you shall have bound on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever
you shall have loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
