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Thanks to pop culture, a whole generation, including christians, have a wrong movieish view of how the Bible came to be.
I'm sure you're picturing medieval churches and clothes now.
The story of how the Bible came to be is boring and straightforward.
Sorry to disappoint you.
I'm sure you're picturing medieval churches and clothes now.
The story of how the Bible came to be is boring and straightforward.
Sorry to disappoint you.
Let's start with the new testament one that the "I'm a Christian, but..." Folks seem to struggle with.
All the books we call New testament (NT) today were written by Apostles and their colleagues between 40-90 AD.
By a few decades after Jesus died all those books were written.
All the books we call New testament (NT) today were written by Apostles and their colleagues between 40-90 AD.
By a few decades after Jesus died all those books were written.
The church from the first century had already started quoting these books to each other.
The mentees of the first Apostles who became the early church fathers quoted these books in their sermons and letters.
For example, Polycarp, who was the spiritual son of Apostle John...
The mentees of the first Apostles who became the early church fathers quoted these books in their sermons and letters.
For example, Polycarp, who was the spiritual son of Apostle John...
Quoted Paul's letter to the Ephesians in 125 AD.
Before I proceed note how close to Jesus' time that these books were written.
For example, you believe the story of Alexander the great. But what we know of him were written 500yrs after he was dead.
Yeah.
Before I proceed note how close to Jesus' time that these books were written.
For example, you believe the story of Alexander the great. But what we know of him were written 500yrs after he was dead.
Yeah.
Some other Holy books of other religions were written 250 yrs after the founders.
The gospel accounts were written incredibly early. And when treated as historical books and not "Bible", the gospel accounts are highly regarded among historians.
Facts. Keep in your back pocket.
The gospel accounts were written incredibly early. And when treated as historical books and not "Bible", the gospel accounts are highly regarded among historians.
Facts. Keep in your back pocket.
Where was I?
So by the second century, the church fathers had started quoting the epistles and the gospels
Justin Martyr, Ireneus all quoted these books extensively
The churches all over the world were reading these books and generally believed these books to be scripture
So by the second century, the church fathers had started quoting the epistles and the gospels
Justin Martyr, Ireneus all quoted these books extensively
The churches all over the world were reading these books and generally believed these books to be scripture
By 320 -330 AD Eusebius, who is considered the first church historian tells us the books that the churches had agreed were scripture for them.
The 27 NT books were already being read as Bible. However, they were not sure of 5 books at this time.
They were James, Jude, 2Peter...
The 27 NT books were already being read as Bible. However, they were not sure of 5 books at this time.
They were James, Jude, 2Peter...
And 2,3rd John.
And they were not sure of these books because the collective wisdom of the church was that they considered the books written by the Apostles and their colleagues who were alive with or just after Jesus as authoritative.
Another criteria was that they looked..
And they were not sure of these books because the collective wisdom of the church was that they considered the books written by the Apostles and their colleagues who were alive with or just after Jesus as authoritative.
Another criteria was that they looked..
At the content of the books and ensured they were in line with what the Apostles and church fathers taught them.
So these five books raised some doubt about who exactly wrote these books in those early years.
And you need to understand early church mindset and context.
So these five books raised some doubt about who exactly wrote these books in those early years.
And you need to understand early church mindset and context.
These people were obsessed with scripture. They were obsessed with Inerrancy.
These people happily died and we're maimed because of this gospel. So that had very very very little tolerance for any kind of doubt in authority of a book.
They'd rather throw it out.
These people happily died and we're maimed because of this gospel. So that had very very very little tolerance for any kind of doubt in authority of a book.
They'd rather throw it out.
That brings me to the council of Nicea.
The council of Nicea didn't sit to rule on canon.
It was convened by emperor Constantine for the church bishops to settle a doctrinal disagreement called arianism.
Please delete any other Dan Brown garbage in your head.
The council of Nicea didn't sit to rule on canon.
It was convened by emperor Constantine for the church bishops to settle a doctrinal disagreement called arianism.
Please delete any other Dan Brown garbage in your head.
Constantine has just become a Christian (allegedly) and was worried by the intense dispute over Arianism which in summary is a doctrine that says Jesus was created not God
The Arians were also over correcting the error of sabellianism.
The Arians were a small minority.
The Arians were also over correcting the error of sabellianism.
The Arians were a small minority.
The two camps came together and slugged it out and the Arians had very poor scriptural and traditional reason for their stance.
And so they acquiesced.
That how the Nicene Creed came about.
Jesus... Begotten not created.
It was a big issue. Today that's what the church holds.
And so they acquiesced.
That how the Nicene Creed came about.
Jesus... Begotten not created.
It was a big issue. Today that's what the church holds.
Again... Kindly delete the dán brown jargon about the Nicene Council ruling on canon.
So by 363AD the Laodicean Synod sat and ruled on 26 NT books but exluceded revelation.
By this time the church generally were okay with those five books. But revelation was till weird.
So by 363AD the Laodicean Synod sat and ruled on 26 NT books but exluceded revelation.
By this time the church generally were okay with those five books. But revelation was till weird.
In 367Ad Athanasius recognised the 27 with revelation.
From then on all the synod like African Canons, synod of carthage and other early church fathers in their writings affirmed that these 27 books were held by collective church wisdom and spirit to be authoritative.
From then on all the synod like African Canons, synod of carthage and other early church fathers in their writings affirmed that these 27 books were held by collective church wisdom and spirit to be authoritative.
To summarise
1) no one person decided which books would be in the Bible. The body of Christ as a whole agreed that these books were sound.
2) The books were all written and maintained unchanged since the first century.
In fact scrolls are still being found which are dated...
1) no one person decided which books would be in the Bible. The body of Christ as a whole agreed that these books were sound.
2) The books were all written and maintained unchanged since the first century.
In fact scrolls are still being found which are dated...
Early, which turn out to be identical to the one that the churches have been reading.
So the idea that the Bible has changed since the first century is premium nonsense.
Nobody even says that anymore except
Even Bart Erhman says the books are mostly unchanged.
So the idea that the Bible has changed since the first century is premium nonsense.
Nobody even says that anymore except
Even Bart Erhman says the books are mostly unchanged.
The old testament books story is even more boring.
These books were written from 1400- 430BC
The Jews have always accepted them as from the prophets. Jesus and the Apostles quoted or referenced every single one of them.
Interestingly, they're the same books orthodox Jews...
These books were written from 1400- 430BC
The Jews have always accepted them as from the prophets. Jesus and the Apostles quoted or referenced every single one of them.
Interestingly, they're the same books orthodox Jews...
Also read in their synagogues today.
It's was translated to Greek during the Hellenic age.
Archeology consistently proves the content of those books to be accurate, especially the history.
So because the Lord and the Apostles did everything according to scripture, the body...
It's was translated to Greek during the Hellenic age.
Archeology consistently proves the content of those books to be accurate, especially the history.
So because the Lord and the Apostles did everything according to scripture, the body...
Of Christ added it to the NT books and called this collection of 66 books...
THE BIBLE
We are convinced that these books are authoritative.
They contain inspired words in the Law and prophets. And inspired instructions in the Epistles.
We know God's worldview in these books.
THE BIBLE
We are convinced that these books are authoritative.
They contain inspired words in the Law and prophets. And inspired instructions in the Epistles.
We know God's worldview in these books.
It is the single greatest collection of books.
Gnostic gospels were fake gospels written hundreds of years after Jesus had died. And they contain spurious stories.
Think of Harry Potter version of the gospel.
They include gospel of Mary, Judas Iscariot and other stuff.
Gnostic gospels were fake gospels written hundreds of years after Jesus had died. And they contain spurious stories.
Think of Harry Potter version of the gospel.
They include gospel of Mary, Judas Iscariot and other stuff.
There are other early books that the church didn't decide to put in the Bible even though they're good books and align with the gospel.
Barnabas Epistle, Polycarp's, Didache and many other very early books.
The church was very nitpicky. So they kept them aside.
But theyre...
Barnabas Epistle, Polycarp's, Didache and many other very early books.
The church was very nitpicky. So they kept them aside.
But theyre...
Useful books. You will know how early church fathers thought and felt.
I have all of them and I learnt that John and Andrew were together when the Holyspirit through Andrew told John to go and wrote his gospel account.
Very good stuff.
Hand dey pain me.
I'm done. Thanks.
I have all of them and I learnt that John and Andrew were together when the Holyspirit through Andrew told John to go and wrote his gospel account.
Very good stuff.
Hand dey pain me.
I'm done. Thanks.
P.S It just occurred to me.
I'll do another thread of fun facts about the early church.
I'll draw on some of those early church books.
You'll really enjoy knowing how Christianity has always been the same for 2k years.
The only difference are our order of services.
I'll do another thread of fun facts about the early church.
I'll draw on some of those early church books.
You'll really enjoy knowing how Christianity has always been the same for 2k years.
The only difference are our order of services.
