What did Christians do before the Bible?

Question

The Cannon of the Bible was not established until the 4th century. What did Christians do for 300 years before the Bible?

If they passed it along in oral tradition, then how come Christtens only believe in written tradition now. (Bible).

Answer 1

"Neither [Jesus] nor His apostles (including Paul) gave us the list and approved any of the twenty seven New Testament books. They neither used nor introduced the terms Old and New Testaments. Those unbiblical terms were first used by Tertullian (c 170 CE). In fact our Lord’s and the later apostolic teachings were first transmitted and taught orally. Bear in mind that the first Christians did not consider this oral transmission as inferior." See Gal 4:20.

Answer 2

While you're thinking in terms of Christians, God's plan and teachings have existed on this earth since Adam. I'm sure they had materials like metal plates, scrolls, and stones. There were also oral traditions. Most people don't realize that Adam and Abraham new about Christ, they didn't think "Christ" because that's not Hebrew or whatever language they spoke. Technically Adam and Abraham were Christians. They were 100% aware of Christ, his atonement, and mission. If people really understood the importance of the Gospel and the teachings of Christ, they would do everything possible to maintain the correctfulness of the word and to teach it to their kin. Logically, they would have written it down. Societies that lose writings begin to have their language eroded. Important stories and traditions are lost. (This is why I think Islam is probably seriously tweaked). After the actual Church of Christ was established with Peter as the head apostle, the Church didn't seem to have a canon. While many letters and testimonies were written down and they had the OT, the Church was not able to maintain a proper organization long enough to establish any official book or canon. The Church essentially fell apart. The Romans took advantage of the new religion and formed the Roman Catholic church. Recognizing the importance of a book of teachings, they compiled writings and decided which would be official canon. So we have the Jews and the Catholics to thank for our Bible. Christ said that he had other sheep that needed to hear his voice. There is more scripture than just the Bible that exists today. There are also scripts that we have yet to receive.

Answer 3

Before the New Testament was compiled, Christians read the Old Testament - the Hebrew holy book, the Torah. Most of the early Christians started out as Jews, after all.

They also read the first versions of the gospels, which were beginning to be written down and circulated long before the New Testament was put together. There were collections of sermons by famous teachers and preachers, there were letters between Christian communities and the Apostles, and there were various amateur accounts of the lives of Christ and his disciples - they all made the rounds.

And there a lot more than 4 gospels going around, back then at the beginning, too.

Answer 4

They met in small groups, reading from scriptures they had, Some where very differant and enlightening. They did not worship Jesus as God (reguardless of what some say) The worshio of Jesus didn't start untill the romans took over the religion,,Thats when idols were introduced. Yes those cute littel statues of Christ and of the virgin Mary and Christ on the cross are idols.The romans structured the church to control the people. Controll of the people is power. And to contain the word.. they omitted many writtings that were considered courpt..like the letters that gave women any kind of power.

Answer 5

Passed along the stories in an oral tradition

Answer 6

there is an argument whether the bible was written right after the crusefiction or 100 years later. this i hope you are asking about the "new testiment". THE BIBLE was always here and g-d gave it to the jewish people about over 3000 years ago to moses. as to what the christians did before is they were regular jews but kept the sabbath on sunday and thought yeshu was the messia and the messia already came.

Answer 7

The bible was written by men after the life of Christ and tells the history of man. Where do you think the term "Christian" come from. There were no Christians before Christ.

Answer 8

Christians had the Old Testament for one thing. Also, the epistles in the New Testament were written to specific churches who in turn traded copies of their letters with the letters of others. That's how the canon began to form. So we were never in the dark, What you are referring to is the ratification of the canon, not the invention of it.

The fact that there were "canons" already in existence made it necessary to come together and agree on just one.

Answer 9

People passed the stories along orally.

Answer 10

Before the coming of Christ, there was no such thing as Christianity. This religion was instituted by Christ, during the 33 years He was with us here on earth.