Well, I’ve just posted many documents that DO support that idea. Yet, you have provided nothing in contradiction. If you have studied Church history then you should be able to provide us with some historical documents dating back at least as far as those that I have posted that prove your statement.
You read the wrong history books. You are biased in your reading. You are like the Mormon that reads only Mormon literature and thus asserts his scholarly conclusion is more educated than yours.
No need to see the above. You want to read the "Roman Catholic Church" back into first century history. Do you also want to read computers back into first century history. We don't start with a present premise and try to prove that it was in the first century. You have become biased before you have even started.
Well, its historical fact that they did. You can ignore it if you wish, but that would be your problem.
The canon was finished at the end of the first century with the writings of the Apostle John. Your assumption is that the Apostles were so stupid that they could not educate first century believers what was Scripture and what was not. In fact this is the position of all Catholics. It is so arrogant that is pitiful.
The fact remains that the RCC did not even exist until the fourth century. What do you think believers did before that century?
Have you ever heard of the Peshitta, the Itala, and other second and third translations of the Bible, that existed far before the RCC did.
It’s simple logic – nothing more! The RCC had the authority – guided by the Holy Spirit – to create the NT canon. If you were a true student of History, or even had a Western Civ. 101 course under your belt, you would know this. Personally, it sounds to me as though you have an axe to grind.
Yeah, it is simple logic. Rome (the RCC) had the authority to murder thousands through the Inquistions, the Crusades, and various other persecutions and tortures. Yep, they had the authority all right. But God never gave them the authority to touch, create, keep, preserve, the Word of God. That was in the hands of "holy men of old"--the prophets of the OT and the apostles of the NT, and the early believers. The RCC was and is one of the most wicked organizations to exist. God would never entrust His holy Word to them. Please don't make that assumption. To say that they were guided by the Holy Spirit is ludicrous. The Holy Spirit does not guide to murder, torture, persecute. If you were a true student of history you would know these things. But you conveniently gloss over them. It sounds to me you have both an axe to grind and one to defend--unfortunately (defending the axe that beheaded the martyrs that stood for the Word is sickening)!
You ought to wonder; but maybe not. You are a wolf in sheep's clothing.
You are not a Baptist. You are a Catholic spouting Catholic doctrine lying on your profile saying you are a Catholic when you are not. No Baptist believes this garbage.
No, it was a statement of fact.
No Baptist believes this garbage. That is not opinion. You are not a Baptist.
And you should mind your own affairs.
Honesty is a Christian trait.
If you are honest then you should leave the SBC which you are associated with and join the RCC which you so ardently defend. Why are you so dishonest?
Let’s see - you use scripture to judge the councils that put together the scripture of the NT by which you are judging them. Astronomically circular!
--Man is a sinner. He is not infallible. Only God is infallible.
It stands to reason then that no Council is infallible.
It also stands to reason that no Council of the RCC is infallible.
The only authority that is infallible is the Bible which is inspired of God, not of man. The RCC had nothing to do with its canonization.
Well, all I can say is that people are fallible and they make mistakes. So, whose interpretation of scripture do you follow, hmmm? It is going to be through some denominational lenses that you view scripture you know. So, which shall you chose? I believe that, wherever there is consensus among the ECF’s, there is a guide to what the Early Church taught and worshipped. It is undeniably clear. Personally, I would prefer to use the Early Church as my interpretational lenses as they were close to the time of Christ and his teachings, and knew better than some yahoo “theologians” who came onto the scene in only the last 500 years.
You prefer the early church; I prefer the leading of the Holy Spirit.
You prefer the early church; I prefer the objective study of the Scriptures.
You prefer the early church; the ECF which you prefer were caught up in many heresies.
Ireaneus believed that Christ lived up to the age 80. Reliable wasn't he?
Origen was declared a heretic even by the RCC.
Tertullian at one stage believed that baptism saved, and that at another stage believed in believer's baptism. Later he became a Montanist. Which account do you believe?
Eusbius was a follower of Origen; who knows what he believed, as he was a follower of the heresies of Origen in many of his philosophies.
So, go and believe your heresies. I will believe the Word of God.
What makes you think that our Catholic Christian brothers and sisters ignore Christ? As far as I can tell, they are more Christocentric that many Protestant denominations out there.
If they are not saved, they are not my brothers and sisters.
Jesus said (John 8:44) "Ye are of your father, the devil...)
Catholic doctrine teaches that the new birth is baptism. If that is their belief they cannot be saved, and therefore are not my brothers and sisters. The RCC is not and never was a Christian Church. With all of its anti-Biblical doctrines it falls outside the realm of Christendom.
Yes it is right. Early believers recognized the canon that was already in existence. But the RCC recognize "the stupidity" of the Apostles. That is unfortunate.
Look - there were many writings out there at the time and some were even heretical. Why in the world do you think the councils were called in the first place? It was to create a unified canon of the inspired and authentic writings into one unit that all Churches could use with confidence. Here’s a list of what didn’t make the cut. Again, this is historical fact!
New Testament Apocrypha
Community Rule
The 'Zadokite' Document
Narrative of Joseph of Arimathaea
Epistle of the Apostles
Report of Pilate the Procurator
History of Joseph the Carpenter
Apocryphon of James (Another version)
The Letter of Peter to Philip
Book of John the Evangelist
Ptolemy's Commentary on the Gospel of John Prologue
Avenging of the Saviour
The Apocryphon of John (Long Version)
The Sentances of Sextus
Book of Thomas the Contender
Lost Books of the Bible
The GOSPEL of the BIRTH OF MARY
The PROTEVANGELION (Another version)
The first Gospel of the INFANCY of JESUS CHRIST
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas Composit
Greek (A)
Greek (B)
Infancy Compilation (all)
The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew
THE EPISTLES of JESUS CHRIST and ABGARUS KING of EDESSA (Another version)
The GOSPEL of NICODEMUS (or ACTS of PONTIUS PILATE) (Another Version)
Letters of HEROD and PILATE
The APOSTLES' CREED
THE EPISTLE of PAUL the APOSTLE to the LAODICEANS
The EPISTLES of PAUL the APOSTLE to SENECA (w/SENECA's to PAUL)
The ACTS of PAUL and THECLA
The FIRST EPISTLE of CLEMENT to the CORINTHIANS
The SECOND EPISTLE of CLEMENT to the CORINTHIANS
The GENERAL EPISTLE OF BARNABAS
The EPISTLE of IGNATIUS to the EPHESIANS
The EPISTLE of IGNATIUS to the MAGNESIANS
The EPISTLE of IGNATIUS to the TRALLIANS
The EPISTLE of IGNATIUS to the ROMANS
The EPISTLE of IGNATIUS to the PHILADELPHIANS
The EPISTLE of IGNATIUS to the SMYRNAEANS
The EPISTLE of IGNATIUS to POLYCARP
The EPISTLE of POLYCARP to the PHILIPPIANS
HERMAS
The First Book of HERMAS (or VISIONS)
The Second Book of HERMAS (or COMMANDS)
LETTERS OF HEROD AND PILATE
THE LOST GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PETER
THE GOSPEL of PETER - LAST
The EPISTLE of IGNATIUS to the PHILIPPIANS
The MARTYRDOM of IGNATIUS
The MARTYRDOM of POLYCARP
TERTULLIAN on SPECTICALS
TERTULLIAN on PRAYER
TERTULLIAN on PATIENCE
TERTULLIAN on MARTYRS
The Report of Pilate to Caesar
Gospel of Bartholomew
Gospel of Thomas
Gospel of Phillip
Secret Gospel of Mark
Book of Marcion
Excerpts from the Gospel of Mary
The Letter of Aristeas
The Didache
Peace!
And we had the Apostles to teach us which were Scripture and which were not. It doesn't take much brains to figure that out.