Why would councils pick and choose epistles and gospels that were not widely read and recognized by the church worldwide?
I Don’t have to cite contemporaneous sources at all. Councils are reflections of community consensus. They come together as a sort of cross advisory group that talk to and refer to each other’s community in order to formalize for posterity what the churches have always recognized.
As for Martin Luther, you over emohasize his initial doubt on the letter of
James. The fact is -— He DID include the epistle in his own German translation of the Bible.
So, I would say that he was prevailed upon by fellow reformers to do so. Had he been part if a council, the epistle if James would still be in the Canon.
>> Councils are reflections of community consensus.
Your entire thesis seems to be stuck on the odd belief that, with the possible exception of the apostles and authors of the Scriptures, those who have always and everywhere been recognized as the spiritual leaders, doctors, fathers, teachers, and preachers in the Church have actually been the students and followers of the flocks to whom they ministered. Haven’t you mistakenly put the cart before the horse?