What Constitutes Scriptures?

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JohnDB

JohnDB

Well-known member
#1
Jan 16, 2021
6,191
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#1
Since everyone seems to be questioning the well traveled paths lately....

Why do you believe that certain books are Holy and some are not?

Age?
Authorship?
Content?

We have the 66 books as Cannon. Why?

Why do you think other books were excluded?
Your immortal Soul is dependent upon the theology you have isn't it?

Ugaritic tablets have a very similar story as Genesis but nobody quotes them....why?

Nobody reads the "The Assumption of Moses"....
 
J

joecoten

Guest
#2
#2
I think I read The Assumption Of Moses. It was entertaining. I wouldn't call it scripture.
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
#3
Apr 21, 2021
8,280
3,607
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#3
JohnDB said:
Since everyone seems to be questioning the well traveled paths lately....

Why do you believe that certain books are Holy and some are not?

Age?
Authorship?
Content?

We have the 66 books as Cannon. Why?

Why do you think other books were excluded?
Your immortal Soul is dependent upon the theology you have isn't it?

Ugaritic tablets have a very similar story as Genesis but nobody quotes them....why?

Nobody reads the "The Assumption of Moses"....
Click to expand...
The apostles' writings were recognized as authoritative long before they were canonized. They became scripture because they had already been accepted as such. Early believers also quoted extensively from the New Testament books as early as the 2nd century.

I don't know all the nuts and bolts that went into making the New Testament, but I do know it wasn't just created out of thin air. The Lord also had His hand in the process, ensuring we'd have reliable, authoritative writings.
 
S

Shilohsfoal

Banned
#4
Dec 27, 2018
1,642
164
63
#4
I consider the books in the Bible which the writers were instructed to write or to teach to be scripture. Such as the gospel according to John. John was instructed to preach the gospel and he wrote down what he did concerning the words of Christ. Also the book of Revelation, John was instructed to write what he did. I consider both of these to be scripture. I consider the letters to the churches by several of the apostles to be instructive but not necessarily scripture.
 
CS1

CS1

Well-known member
#5
May 23, 2012
13,013
4,315
113
#5
JohnDB said:
Since everyone seems to be questioning the well traveled paths lately....

Why do you believe that certain books are Holy and some are not?

Age?
Authorship?
Content?

We have the 66 books as Cannon. Why?

Why do you think other books were excluded?
Your immortal Soul is dependent upon the theology you have isn't it?

Ugaritic tablets have a very similar story as Genesis but nobody quotes them....why?

Nobody reads the "The Assumption of Moses"....
Click to expand...


I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name. (Psalm 138:2 NKJV)

The Word of God and what is known as the Canonized books are so because they are the word of God collectively. They are not the word of God because man says they are, they are the word of God because God ordained it to be so.

The Word of God also is confirmed to the lost, the church, and the devil.

The word of God has saved, healed, and delivered which are all Testimonies that the Word of God is true.
God has kept HIS word from the time He spoke it, and took his finger to write it, and gave it to man to record it.

The Number one confirmation that it is the word of God is fully and completely in the Person of The Lord Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation. He is the thread and Foundation on what is the word of God. All books build on him.
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#6
Jun 30, 2015
25,412
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113
#6
Let’s get something basic established here…
the word is ‘canon’ as in a standard, not ‘cannon’ as in a heavy gun.
 
J

joecoten

Guest
#7
#7
I wish I could have a cannon in Cannada!
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#8
Sep 4, 2013
30,683
6,871
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#8
When I read a Book written about Jesus or God, and I deem it to be the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God, then I declare it to be Scripture.

Folks disagree, they will just have to get over it.......OR, I can aim my giant cannon at 'em and open fire
 
J

joecoten

Guest
#9
#9
Now that what I'd call getting cannonized!
 
J

joecoten

Guest
#10
#10
No matter how many times I swear off of the BDF, I end up back here! Weird!!!
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
#11
Apr 21, 2021
8,280
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#11
p_rehbein said:
When I read a Book written about Jesus or God, and I deem it to be the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God, then I declare it to be Scripture.
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How do you "deem" it to be Holy Spirit inspired? What criteria do you use?
 
A

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
#12
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
780
113
#12
ResidentAlien said:
The apostles' writings were recognized as authoritative long before they were canonized. They became scripture because they had already been accepted as such. Early believers also quoted extensively from the New Testament books as early as the 2nd century.

I don't know all the nuts and bolts that went into making the New Testament, but I do know it wasn't just created out of thin air. The Lord also had His hand in the process, ensuring we'd have reliable, authoritative writings.
Click to expand...
Just a couple of questions as to your post, you state, "The apostles' writings were recognized as authoritative long before they were canonized. They became scripture because they had already been accepted as such. Early believers also quoted extensively from the New Testament books as early as the 2nd century."

How can you say that the apostle's writings were recognized as authorative in the early going? There were no printing presses, very few people could read or write, so what are your references as to their being recognized as authoritative? Also, who was it you say recognized them as authorative? And by what authority could these have deemed them as authorative?

Who were the 'Early believers' who quoted extensively from the New Testament books as early as the 2d century, that would be just after the year 100AD? Thanks.
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
#13
Apr 21, 2021
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#13
arthurfleminger said:
Just a couple of questions as to your post, you state, "The apostles' writings were recognized as authoritative long before they were canonized. They became scripture because they had already been accepted as such. Early believers also quoted extensively from the New Testament books as early as the 2nd century."

How can you say that the apostle's writings were recognized as authorative in the early going? There were no printing presses, very few people could read or write, so what are your references as to their being recognized as authoritative? Also, who was it you say recognized them as authorative? And by what authority could these have deemed them as authorative?

Who were the 'Early believers' who quoted extensively from the New Testament books as early as the 2d century, that would be just after the year 100AD? Thanks.
Click to expand...
You're right. I take it all back. I apologize.
 
XavierJesusLovesIndia

XavierJesusLovesIndia

Banned
#14
Nov 26, 2021
1,125
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India
#14
Good Question. The Canon of Scripture is known to us through Apostolic Tradition and the Church Fathers. It is these Church Fathers who tell us, based on the Tradition they received from the Apostles, that there are to be 4 and only 4 Gospel accounts, which we all have. But they agreed on some of the books, and were uncertain about others. Finally, the Catholic Church, using the authority received from Christ, in the 4th Century, in a Council under Pope Damasus determined the Biblical Canon - 46 OT Books and 27 NT Books that are Scripture.

"The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, states:[1] A council probably held at Rome in 382 under St. Damasus gave a complete list of the canonical books of both the Old Testament and the New Testament (also known as the 'Gelasian Decree' because it was reproduced by Gelasius in 495), which is identical with the list given at Trent." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Rome
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
#15
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
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#15
JohnDB said:
Age? Authorship? Content?
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How about simply divine inspiration. The canon of 66 books in the Holy Bible consists of books written under the direct divine inspiration of God the Holy Spirit.
 
XavierJesusLovesIndia

XavierJesusLovesIndia

Banned
#17
Nov 26, 2021
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#17
ResidentAlien said:
Right.
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Laugh away, my friend. Laugh away. But it is a serious question, which those who reject the Apostolic Church face mighty difficulties in answering. The answer of traditional Christians - both Catholics and Orthodox - is very simple. Christ's Church infallibly decided this.

"What Church? Scripture reveals this Church to be the one Jesus Christ built upon the rock of Saint Peter (Matt. 16:18). By giving Peter the keys of authority (Matt. 16:19), Jesus appointed Peter as the chief steward over His earthly kingdom (cf. Isaiah. 22:19-22). Jesus also charged Peter to be the source of strength for the rest of the apostles (Luke 22:32) and the earthly shepherd of Jesus’ flock (John 21:15-17). Jesus further gave Peter, and the apostles and elders in union with him, the power to bind and loose in heaven what they bound and loosed on earth. (Matt. 16:19; 18:18). This teaching authority did not die with Peter and the apostles, but was transferred to future bishops through the laying on of hands (e.g., Acts 1:20; 6:6; 13:3; 8:18; 9:17; 1 Tim. 4:14; 5:22; 2 Tim. 1:6).

By virtue of this divinely-appointed authority, the Catholic Church determined the canon of Scripture (what books belong in the Bible) at the end of the fourth century. We therefore believe in the Scriptures on the authority of the Catholic Church. After all, nothing in Scripture tells us what Scriptures are inspired, what books belong in the Bible, or that Scripture is the final authority on questions concerning the Christian faith. Instead, the Bible says that the Church, not the Scriptures, is the pinnacle and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15) and the final arbiter on questions of the Christian faith (Matt. 18:17). It is through the teaching authority and Apostolic Tradition (2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6; 1 Cor. 11:2) of this Church, who is guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14:16,26; 16:13), that we know of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, and the manifold wisdom of God. (cf. Ephesians 3:10)."

Taken from: https://www.scripturecatholic.com/catholic-faith/
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
#18
Apr 21, 2021
8,280
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#18
XavierJesusLovesIndia said:
Laugh away, my friend. Laugh away. But it is a serious question, which those who reject the Apostolic Church face mighty difficulties in answering. The answer of traditional Christians - both Catholics and Orthodox - is very simple. Christ's Church infallibly decided this.

"What Church? Scripture reveals this Church to be the one Jesus Christ built upon the rock of Saint Peter (Matt. 16:18). By giving Peter the keys of authority (Matt. 16:19), Jesus appointed Peter as the chief steward over His earthly kingdom (cf. Isaiah. 22:19-22). Jesus also charged Peter to be the source of strength for the rest of the apostles (Luke 22:32) and the earthly shepherd of Jesus’ flock (John 21:15-17). Jesus further gave Peter, and the apostles and elders in union with him, the power to bind and loose in heaven what they bound and loosed on earth. (Matt. 16:19; 18:18). This teaching authority did not die with Peter and the apostles, but was transferred to future bishops through the laying on of hands (e.g., Acts 1:20; 6:6; 13:3; 8:18; 9:17; 1 Tim. 4:14; 5:22; 2 Tim. 1:6).

By virtue of this divinely-appointed authority, the Catholic Church determined the canon of Scripture (what books belong in the Bible) at the end of the fourth century. We therefore believe in the Scriptures on the authority of the Catholic Church. After all, nothing in Scripture tells us what Scriptures are inspired, what books belong in the Bible, or that Scripture is the final authority on questions concerning the Christian faith. Instead, the Bible says that the Church, not the Scriptures, is the pinnacle and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15) and the final arbiter on questions of the Christian faith (Matt. 18:17). It is through the teaching authority and Apostolic Tradition (2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6; 1 Cor. 11:2) of this Church, who is guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14:16,26; 16:13), that we know of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, and the manifold wisdom of God. (cf. Ephesians 3:10)."

Taken from: https://www.scripturecatholic.com/catholic-faith/
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No one can deny the Bible as we have it came through the mechanism of Catholic "church." But it wasn't because of any "authority" Christ gave to Catholicism. Many of the books of the New Testament were recognized as authoritative long before Catholicism was ever heard of. Some Catholics just got together and ratified them. We have the Lord to thank, not the Catholic church.

Someone should tell you that Jesus never gave His authority to your "church." What your "church" represents is an abomination to Him and it will soon be judged. Hallelujah!

"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."—Acts 2:42
 
A-Sword-Cometh

A-Sword-Cometh

Banned
#20
Jan 12, 2022
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#20
Well if they're the canon and are true you should be able to either observe or even better, do, some of what is written of course.
 
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