11-16-2004, 10:10 PM
Quote:The bottom line is that Christians of all flavors universally accept the 22 books. As for the "Western Five", the CoE has never openly said they are not Apostolic works. We simply closed our canon before these books were known to us.
In either case, we are encouraged to read them privately at home. They are not used in the liturgy or in scriptural lessons during sermons. But it's not like we are told to not study them. They are called "pious works", and are to be used by all Christians (including the CoE) for their own personal edification.
Akhi bar-Khela, what you view as a weakness is actually a strength. While denomination may differ on the importance or authorship of certain books, they are unanimous on 22 of them....which of course shows how important they consider those books.
When did the canon for the ACOE close? Who approved it?
???Do not give up, for that is ignorance and not according to the rules of this art... Like the lover, you cannot hope to achieve success without infinite perseverance.???