What did the Council of Laodicea include regarding church reading material?

The Council of Laodicea, which took place in the 4th century, addressed various issues concerning church practices, including the types of texts deemed appropriate for Christians to read. The correct answer highlights that the council discouraged the reading of certain non-canonical texts, emphasizing a desire to guide Christian believers toward approved literature that aligned with the teachings of the Church. This reflects the broader movement during this period to establish a definitive canon of scripture and to safeguard the faith against teachings that diverged from orthodox Christianity.

The council's emphasis on orthodoxy led it to outline which texts were considered beneficial for believers and which could lead them astray. This avoidance of non-canonical materials aimed to help maintain a unified doctrine and prevent the influence of potentially misleading or heretical ideas that might arise from those writings.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the council’s directives. The encouragement of reading all philosophical texts would not align with the council’s focus on scriptural integrity. Similarly, while mandating the reading of Old Testament scripture aligns with the council's recognition of the importance of the Old Testament in Christian teaching, it does not encapsulate the specific concerns about non-canonical texts. Lastly, while there were certainly concerns about heret