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To add to all this, whose "canon" are you going to accept, and why? The Catholic Bible? The King James, and all it's modern variations? How about the Ethiopian Bible? The Jewish scriptures? The Mormon Bible? Which "canon" did Jesus recognize? There are a LOT more...
Everyone of these sincerely believe their scripture is the only right and "authorized" official Word from God, and that the rest are wrong, or at the least, incomplete...
Did God ever give any human authority to determine what is, and what is not, the Word of God? How do you know? Just because your pastor says something is so doesn't neccessarily make it true. Remember, the pastors of those other denominations I mentioned are probably saying something entirely different...and they are all very sincere in their beliefs...
What "canon" did the early Christians have? Even if you happen to have a "copy" of a lost book (like, downloaded from the internet), how do you know it really is in fact a verbatim genuine copy of a 2000yr-old (+/-) writing? And, even if it is a genuine copy of an early church writing, how do you know it was God inspired to begin with? How are we to know which book was the very last official "real" word from God? What about the odd stuff found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, that you seldom hear about?
Just asking...
Me? About 99% of the time I go with the King James Version. Perhaps, just perhaps, it is not all of the original God-inspired writings. But...you know what? I don't worry about it...it's enough...it works for me. To me, it's not worth worrying that I might possibly be missing out on some "lost" book out there in never-never land...
Bud
There are so many versions out their to study a choose from when it comes down to the bible.
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did Jesus recognize?
Jesus didn't have to discern like us, because God knows all. Jesus was the walking Word, the truth in Flesh.
Even if there were bibles in those times, Jesus wouldn't have had to go to anyone of them, because He was the one who gave the scriptures and already knew what was being said.
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Did God ever give any human authority to determine what is, and what is not, the Word of God? How do you know?
If you have the Holy Spirit then you will know truth from false when it comes down to scripture and teachings. The Spirit will never accept a lie and will only accept the truth about Himself. So, yes God has given us His Spirit to discern.
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Just because your pastor says something is so doesn't neccessarily make it true
Yes, you are right, but before you sit under a pastor and even want to learn from your pastors teaching, you have to know where his teachings are coming from. Not all pastors are spirit lead. So, if you have the Holy Spirit He will guide you and allow you to see where you pastors teachings is coming from, whether it is evil or good.
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And, even if it is a genuine copy of an early church writing, how do you know it was God inspired to begin with? How are we to know which book was the very last official "real" word from God? What about the odd stuff found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, that you seldom hear about?
Just asking...
It really just comes down to following the Holy Spirits guidance. Yes, I read my bible from cover to cover, but that is only in english. So, I am learning Hebrew and Greek and what ever else I have to learn, so I can read the original text in Hebrew and Greek for myself. So, I'm willing to do the work to further my understanding of the bible.
RSH I say this with love but, there are NO lost books of the bible or books taken out even though some of them were beautifully written; contain actual accounts even have good lessons but they all had something severe enough to discount them....
Assuming for a nano-second you have taken the time to read Sirach; perhaps you can tell us what separates Ecclesiastes (Canon) from Ecclesiasticus?
I don't need to read Sirach to know we shouldn't be using other books other than the bible to grow in holiness. I say to God, your word is enough. People who want to study other books for spiritual guidance are saying, your word is not enough. That's where it starts, other books; other revelations and then God's word becomes irrelevant. It's called divine inspiration. Just my opinion.
Last edited by Fundamentalist; 04-03-2009 at 08:13 AM..
Thank you both for your efforts to encourage scholarship to those merely reading the bible literally. I suspect it is wasted effort for the most part . . . but seekers and others here and among the lurkers can benefit greatly from it. God Bless, Mystic.
Thank you both for your efforts to encourage scholarship to those merely reading the bible literally. I suspect it is wasted effort for the most part . . . but seekers and others here and among the lurkers can benefit greatly from it. God Bless, Mystic.
Do you mean that literally?
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