Which is a complete joke knowing they changed scriptures and refused other manuscripts. A real follower of God would have kept it all together so we had everything to see for ourselves.
Well, I think we have to consider the world view of the Roman emperor. World conquest. Imagine if you will this scenario.
Christianity up until emperor Constantine, who convened the first council of Nicea was a pagan. And Christianity was illegal. Sometimes the faithful would be put to death depeding on their level of zeal and its implied or inferred threat to empire.
Then one day when Constantine was about to go into battle he had a vision. A cross appeared over the battlefield he was about to enter. And being pagan Constantine believed in portends and signs. Going into battle Constantine and his armies were victorious. And Constantine, a polytheist, a pagan with a pantheon of god's and goddesses as were typical of Romans of the day, took the cross vision over the battlefield where he gained victory as a sign that the God of the cross was on his side.
Long story short here, Constantine lifted the ban on the faith. Historians claim Constantine converted to the faith because of that. However, some contend Constantine remained a pagan until his death bed where he then converted to the faith of Christ. While some contend that while Constantine was healthy and virile still, he simply added faith in the teachings of Christ to the pantheon of other deities he revered.
The convening of the council of Nicea was to stop the bickering between various bishops and their people as to what it was to worship God. However, arriving at a creed that declares how that is accomplished would give Rome, the author of that creed, primacy. Now they ruled most of the known world's peoples. Ruling hearts and minds concerning Deity would insure rulership of the whole person.
Telling someone, love your enemies. Do good to those who abuse you. Obey the emperor. Would, in a doctrine that taught Hell awaited those who did not obey the word, make for compliance among those who lived to enjoy the rewards of the heavenly afterlife that was also promised. They'd live after life the way they saw emperors and the richly appointed in their day forever in an afterlife place.
For this reason 2nd Peter has been scrutinized by scholars along with 1st Peter and the Book of Jude, as arriving from what was contained in the Book of Enoch.
(read here)
All of this is not to relate what I hold sacred in holy writ but rather to share that it is a fascinating journey to study the origins of the decree of canon, creedal Christianity, and the history of the books of the canon and sources behind those, if available on the record.
A never ending quest of study that insures one can live their whole life and not have found all there is to read and consider.
Blessings.
