05-05-2009, 12:57 PM
Verses from the 5 "disputed books" dont appear in early COE writings. Aphrahat, for example, does not quote them. They do not appear in the COE liturgy.
There is no evidence that the COE ever had any of these writings in Aramaic.
All we know is that as early as we can go, as early as we have actual evidence, the COE just had 22 books they considered canonical.
The western Church independently arrived at a similar canon, but they after much debate it seems, accepted some other writings as canonical.
The COE later on, perhaps in a display of unity with their western brothers, accorded these 5 books some status and translated then into Aramaic.
This is as I understand it, but am open to correction.
There is no evidence that the COE ever had any of these writings in Aramaic.
All we know is that as early as we can go, as early as we have actual evidence, the COE just had 22 books they considered canonical.
The western Church independently arrived at a similar canon, but they after much debate it seems, accepted some other writings as canonical.
The COE later on, perhaps in a display of unity with their western brothers, accorded these 5 books some status and translated then into Aramaic.
This is as I understand it, but am open to correction.