When ever you ask a Christians today about their faith they always say read the bible and inside is the proof their's is the true religion because of what is contained inside. So before the invention of mass produced books what did Christians use to prove their religion?
2007-05-02 03:29:06 · 16 answers · asked by aroundworldsports 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
the old testament. Jesus himself read from them in the temple.
2007-05-02 03:38:32 · answer #1 · answered by Starjumper the R&S Cow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Mass produced" Bibles did not come along until the mid 1500's. Before that they had hand copied manuscripts (copies of copies).
The Bible was complete in 95 a.d. As soon as books were complete they were copied and passed on. Very early in the 2nd century many if not most churches had the 66 books we use today. 5 of the New Testament books were held in suspicion by a few chuches for a short while. But that was solved early. Other documents were used by some churches which were not considered "inspired", the argument was settled in 325 a.d. The canon was officially closed with the same 66 books used by the early church and most churches today. The Roman Catholics did officially add the "deutero-canon" to their Bible at the council of Trent in the mid 1500's.
2007-05-02 10:45:44 · answer #2 · answered by johnnywalker 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mass produced books weren't produced until much later, nor was the Bible settled until later (and it doesn't mean other books aren't inspired either).
We pointed to many of the same documents, but we also had books like the Didache, the Shepherd, the Epistles of Ignatius, and so on. We also used the oral Tradition (e.g. St. Basil the Great used it to great effect in his treatise on the Holy Spirit in the fourth century). If you're really curious, pickup the Apostolic Fathers, St. Justin Martyr, and St. Irenaeus. They all predate that period, and they make their points pretty well.
Fortunately, Christianity is not based on a book.
2007-05-02 10:34:55 · answer #3 · answered by Innokent 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the Old Testament as it says here in the new
Act 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Act 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
Act 8:32 The place of the Scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
Act 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Act 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
2007-05-02 10:39:02 · answer #4 · answered by Noble Angel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even though the New Testament wasn't revealed yet, the Old Testament would have been used. One didn't replace the other once it showed up, it continued the story! It's saying the same thing, and all of the OT foreshadowed redemption through Christ. (ie. Even in the first installment of the Torah, Genesis, God killed an animal to provide skin for Adam and Eve to wear. The animal(I like to think it may have been a lamb) covered them over... they were naked and broken!
Praise GOD!
2007-05-02 10:35:01 · answer #5 · answered by Soundtrack to a Nightmare 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The letters of the apostles to the different churches around the world. Some of these writings date as early as 32 A.D., and have been considered the canon of the church ever since.
2007-05-02 10:39:32 · answer #6 · answered by singwritelaugh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Apostles themselves testified of Jesus and his resurrection and thus believers accepted the truth and established the Chrisitan church. Then the Apostles started to document the events they experience by the leading of God and now we have the written word of God completely with the OT and the NT.
2007-05-02 10:32:22 · answer #7 · answered by Damian 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't use the bible to PROVE my religion - but it is a good reference tool - In the past, people's lives revolved more around faith - prayer, worship together - and this is perhaps how they learned about God?
2007-05-02 10:32:48 · answer #8 · answered by Laura S 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Probably prior to 325 AD, Christians had enough connections to the people who actually had experienced firsthand something that has to do with the life of Christ.
2007-05-02 10:32:44 · answer #9 · answered by Scotty Doesnt Know 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those books were certainly around, they just weren't in their current form. People read the Old Testament.
2007-05-02 10:32:11 · answer #10 · answered by charlie h 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible was not canonized at the Council of Nicaea (325 AD). Nor was it mass produced until the 18th century. Sorry, you have no idea what you are talking about.
2007-05-02 10:31:27 · answer #11 · answered by Aspurtaime Dog Sneeze 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋