I was flipping through the channels and noticed a program that was about the religious texts that were not included in the new testiment. Mythology is an interesting subject to me even though I'm not a religious person. I forgot his name but a high ranking member of the church sent out a letter that was to be read in every place of worship listing which texts were to be included and excluded from the bible. Who was that person and is there a surviving copy of the letter that he sent? Thank you.
2006-12-21 03:35:12 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You are referring the Eubius, a church leader in the fourth century. He was the head of the Council of Nicene, which in the mid 300's finalized the list of what books were and were not considered as part of the Christian canon of scriptures.
The list he published had three parts. It listed the books that were accepted by all the churches - the four gospels, the book of Acts, and the 13 letters of Paul, Hebrews. 1 John and 1 Peter. The second was the less common books - 2 and 3 John, 2 Peter, James and Jude. All of which are short (often 1 chapter) books, not commonly circulated. And the book of Revelation.
Finally there were a handful of books that some churches were reading locally (such as the Shepard of Hermes - a poetic fantasy by a second century leader Hermes, the letter of Clements, a student of John, and the Revelation of Peter) that were not included. These were listed so local churches that used them would know that they were not accepted as scripture. Also on the list is the book of Revelation again. (???)
There are many other books about Jesus that were circulated between the time of Jesus and the time of the council. But none of those were even debated by the Council. They were close enough to the time of the apostles that they knew which books has a valid history, and which were "modern" works written far after the time of Jesus. So they did not even need to discuss them.
If you do a search on the "Nicene Fathers" you will find their writings, the notes and minutes of the councils, etc. that will answer many of the questions about which certain books were and were not included.
2006-12-21 03:56:05 · answer #1 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The canonization of Scripture was a process that happened throughout the early church, that was basically rubber stamped at the council of nicea. Churches all over were already using virtually all the books of the NT as Scripture long before that "official" proclaimation of Scripture.
Basically, the test was one of apostal authorship or eyewitness accounts. ALL the books of the NT pass that test. NONE of the books that were "left out" (e.g. the gnostic gospels of Thomas, Mary, Judas, etc.) were including.
This is actually easy. ALL the books of the NT were written BEFORE 100 AD. ALL the books left out were written over 100 years LATER. In addition, the Gospels in the Bible were written by the named author...Gospel of John was written by, guess who, John between 70-90AD! He was an eyewitness to the events that he wrote.
The Gospel of Thomas (a gnostic gospel) was written after 200AD, written by an unknown author, deceptively named the "Gospel of Thomas" to make it appear as a writting by Thomas (a true eyewitness), and has teachings and events that are inconsistent with the other gospels and the rest of the NT.
The true, believing churches of the time rejected all the gosntic gospels for these and many reasons. The Council of Nicea, and other similar councils, simply recognized this decreeing what was already being practiced. No one person or council decided what was in or out of the Bible.
2006-12-21 03:55:03 · answer #2 · answered by CapLee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe some one sent out a letter, but that is not the authority for what books are in or out of the Bible. The 27 books of the New Testament were comonly reconized as the Bible long before any council decided that they were. At look at it in church history shows it really was a work of God, just as the preservation of those books has been miraculous in their survival down to this present day.
2006-12-21 03:46:15 · answer #3 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Interesting but our church is "bible" text. Every place of worship? Just becasue a letter was sent doesnt mean a church will use it.
I know that in corinthians, that Paul was very inspiring with his letters to the corinthians if that is the direction you are going.
2006-12-21 03:42:12 · answer #4 · answered by yeppers 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It was the Council of Nicea (held during the reign of Constantine) that created the Christian Cannon.
Some of the books that got left out included the Gospel attributed to Thomas, and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene.
2006-12-21 03:40:35 · answer #5 · answered by Mrs. Pears 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
There are thousands of 'religious texts' not included in the New Testament, and for a reason. The New testament is the New Covenant of the Bible, nad was written by men who were inspired by God as to what to record. All these other 'religious text' are not inspired by God. They were never part of the Scriptures.
You should be able to find these 'religious' texts on line.
2006-12-21 03:44:20 · answer #6 · answered by Desperado 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You wouldn't be referring to the gnostic gospels,would you?Interesting reading,but I don't have an answer as to why they weren't included in the original publication of the bible.
2006-12-21 03:41:12 · answer #7 · answered by Derek B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting!
2006-12-21 03:38:01 · answer #8 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sounds like censorship to me.
"Seek the company of those who are seeking the truth and run from those who think they have found it."
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2006-12-21 03:39:32 · answer #9 · answered by Honest Opinion 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
council of nicea
2006-12-21 03:40:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋