11-16-2004, 09:06 PM
Chris,
"The Catholic New Testament, as defined by the Council of Trent, does not differ, as regards the books contained, from that of all Christian bodies at present. Like the Old Testament, the New has its deuterocanonical books and portions of books, their canonicity having formerly been a subject of some controversy in the Church. These are for the entire books: the Epistle to the Hebrews, that of James, the Second of St. Peter, the Second and Third of John, Jude, and Apocalypse; giving seven in all as the number of the New Testament contested books. The formerly disputed passages are three: the closing section of St. Mark's Gospel, xvi, 9-20 about the apparitions of Christ after the Resurrection; the verses in Luke about the bloody sweat of Jesus, xxii, 43, 44; the Pericope Adulter??, or narrative of the woman taken in adultery, St. John, vii, 53 to viii, 11. Since the Council of Trent it is not permitted for a Catholic to question the inspiration of these passages" Catholic Encyclopedia, entry "Canon of NT"
Martin Luther condemned the Epistle of James as worthless, an 'epistle of straw.' Furthermore, he denigrated Jude, Hebrews, and the Apocalypse (Revelation). He did not omit them from his German Bible, but drew a line in the table of contents, putting them on a lower level than the rest of the New Testament. In Prefaces to each of these books, Luther explains his doubts as to their apostolic as well as canonical authority.Metzger, The Canon Of The New Testament: Its Origin, Significance & Development, Op.Cit, p. 273
The reformer known as Andreas Bodenstein of Karlstadt (1480-1541) divided the New Testament into three ranks of differing dignity. On the lowest level are the seven disputed books of James, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Jude, Hebrews, and the Apocalypse (Revelation).Metzger, The Canon Of The New Testament: Its Origin, Significance & Development, Op.Cit, p. 273.
Oecolampadius in 1531 under Wurttemberg Confession declared that while all 27 books should be received, the Apocalypse (Revelation), James, Jude, 2 Peter 2 and 3 John should not be compared to the rest of the books.Metzger, The Canon Of The New Testament: Its Origin, Significance & Development, Op.Cit, p. 273.
Early in his career, Erasmus (d. 1536) doubted that Paul was the author of Hebrews, and James of the epistle bearing the name. He also questioned the authorship of 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, and Jude. The style of Revelation precludes it from being written by the author of the Fourth Gospel.Metzger, The Canon Of The New Testament: Its Origin, Significance & Development, Op.Cit, p. 273.
The same four books are labeled 'Apocrypha' in a Bible from Hamburg in 1596. In Sweden, beginning in 1618, the Gustavus Adolphus Bible labels the four dubious books as 'Apocryphal New Testament.' This arrangement lasted for more than a century.Metzger, The Canon Of The New Testament: Its Origin, Significance & Development, Op.Cit, p. 273.
The twenty-two book canon implies nothing other than disagreement over which book is Scripture. The Church of the East is only bold enough to completely separate itself from them. All of this tells me that Christians are disunified as to what exactly is the 'Word of God.' How then can they expect others to take the Bible seriously?
Churches have been playing "pick n' choose" for centuries now.[/quote]
Quote:Good point Mr Bauscher. The 22 book canon suggests Peshitta arose independant of the Greek, while the 4 book OS suggests it has something to do with the Diatessaron.
"The Catholic New Testament, as defined by the Council of Trent, does not differ, as regards the books contained, from that of all Christian bodies at present. Like the Old Testament, the New has its deuterocanonical books and portions of books, their canonicity having formerly been a subject of some controversy in the Church. These are for the entire books: the Epistle to the Hebrews, that of James, the Second of St. Peter, the Second and Third of John, Jude, and Apocalypse; giving seven in all as the number of the New Testament contested books. The formerly disputed passages are three: the closing section of St. Mark's Gospel, xvi, 9-20 about the apparitions of Christ after the Resurrection; the verses in Luke about the bloody sweat of Jesus, xxii, 43, 44; the Pericope Adulter??, or narrative of the woman taken in adultery, St. John, vii, 53 to viii, 11. Since the Council of Trent it is not permitted for a Catholic to question the inspiration of these passages" Catholic Encyclopedia, entry "Canon of NT"
Martin Luther condemned the Epistle of James as worthless, an 'epistle of straw.' Furthermore, he denigrated Jude, Hebrews, and the Apocalypse (Revelation). He did not omit them from his German Bible, but drew a line in the table of contents, putting them on a lower level than the rest of the New Testament. In Prefaces to each of these books, Luther explains his doubts as to their apostolic as well as canonical authority.Metzger, The Canon Of The New Testament: Its Origin, Significance & Development, Op.Cit, p. 273
The reformer known as Andreas Bodenstein of Karlstadt (1480-1541) divided the New Testament into three ranks of differing dignity. On the lowest level are the seven disputed books of James, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Jude, Hebrews, and the Apocalypse (Revelation).Metzger, The Canon Of The New Testament: Its Origin, Significance & Development, Op.Cit, p. 273.
Oecolampadius in 1531 under Wurttemberg Confession declared that while all 27 books should be received, the Apocalypse (Revelation), James, Jude, 2 Peter 2 and 3 John should not be compared to the rest of the books.Metzger, The Canon Of The New Testament: Its Origin, Significance & Development, Op.Cit, p. 273.
Early in his career, Erasmus (d. 1536) doubted that Paul was the author of Hebrews, and James of the epistle bearing the name. He also questioned the authorship of 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, and Jude. The style of Revelation precludes it from being written by the author of the Fourth Gospel.Metzger, The Canon Of The New Testament: Its Origin, Significance & Development, Op.Cit, p. 273.
The same four books are labeled 'Apocrypha' in a Bible from Hamburg in 1596. In Sweden, beginning in 1618, the Gustavus Adolphus Bible labels the four dubious books as 'Apocryphal New Testament.' This arrangement lasted for more than a century.Metzger, The Canon Of The New Testament: Its Origin, Significance & Development, Op.Cit, p. 273.
The twenty-two book canon implies nothing other than disagreement over which book is Scripture. The Church of the East is only bold enough to completely separate itself from them. All of this tells me that Christians are disunified as to what exactly is the 'Word of God.' How then can they expect others to take the Bible seriously?
Churches have been playing "pick n' choose" for centuries now.[/quote]
???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.???