2007-02-23 15:13:11 · 17 answers · asked by ? 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Church -- (Catholic anyway) came before the New Testament. The earliest writing that exists in the NT was Paul's letter to the Romans or his 1st letter to the Corinthians while the first Gospel -- written by Mark was only written around 63 A.D. Since Jesus dies, rose and ascended into heaven in 33 A.D. that gives atime lapse of 30 years until Mark's Gospel Even then it was only th one copy....it wasn't until later that additionally copies were very painstakingly hand-copied and further circulated. John's Gospel was only written around the year 90 A.D. so OF COURSE the Church precedes the NT!!!
Protestant churches -- on the other hand -- only came into being in 1517 with martin Luther. The first protestant bible -- the KIng James Version -- was written in 1611.....and copied from the Catholic one.
2007-02-23 15:47:07 · answer #1 · answered by The Carmelite 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The church did not preceed the bible. That is a Catholic teaching and a desire of the men in charge of it to be able to add and subtract from it what they desire.
The church was started by Jesus Christ and his ministry while here on earth. Most of what Jesus taught was written down so that when the apostles were gone there would be a record of the teachings and therefore hopefully, no need for man to add to or take away from the written record.
As the church was growing and the apostles couldnt be everywhere at the same time, they wrote letters to some of the churches to address specific problems and questions that the new and growing church had. These letters were also put into the bible for us to learn from and to help guide us with the principles that were written.
Gods word states that the bible and every last one of its words is divinely inspired. Gods word tells us not to add to or take away from his word.
SO, yes, I am a bible believing, bible based Christian who believes every word of Gods bible that he has given me to read about, pray about, understand and obey.
2007-02-23 23:55:39 · answer #2 · answered by cindy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Church first came to be at Pentecost, right after Jesus ascended into heaven. Even then they had the Old Testament Scriptures.
I would say the Bible itself was complete around 90 A.D., when John wrote the Book of Revelation on the Isle of Patmos.
2007-02-23 23:35:07 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a chicken and egg question. The Canon of the Christian Bible was set in the 300s but the books and stories that are contained in it stretch back over 2500 years? The Bible is said to contain the word of God. People who say they believe in the Bible are saying they believe it contains the revelation of God in an authoritive manner.
The Church took time to select the books and stories from within its traditions to say these book and stories are judged to worthily portray and ground our beliefs. Personally I think some people have been rather narrow in their faith exploration, confining their acceptence of revelation to those written words. I believe God reveals himself in every moment and in everything. The Bible gives us some wonderful common ground, a heritage, with which to study and share our faith but biblical revelation should be viewed as the projector of God presence in our history rather than the screen at which point the light stops.
Our religion is not based on the Bible, we are not called Biblians. Our faith is based on the person of Christ, we are Christian. The Church's mission is to complete his mission.
2007-02-23 23:45:46 · answer #4 · answered by fathermartin121 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Old Testament preceded the church, and the New Testament was written during the first century, in conjunction with the growth of the church.
What are you talking about?
2007-02-23 23:19:20 · answer #5 · answered by Bobby Jim 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I thought Christian Churches were based on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus (not the bible) being the head of the Church. Now we confess that our doctrine and theology is directly based off the the Scriptures.
2007-02-23 23:21:08 · answer #6 · answered by Martin Chemnitz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christianity is based on the word of God. The word of God has been around since before the bible. The bible is divinely inspired.
2007-02-23 23:17:18 · answer #7 · answered by fair blue 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What church? Your question is a nonsequitor. Is it hotter in the city than in the summer?
2007-02-23 23:18:53 · answer #8 · answered by Mr Answer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus Christ started the Church we are the body. I believe we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.
2007-02-23 23:24:32 · answer #9 · answered by The Angry Stick Man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the church didn't come before the bible... the church didn't develop untill after jesus's death and resurection........ the jewish had temples and so forth but they where based on what they where told in the scriptures
2007-02-23 23:15:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋