Originally posted by FMF
If you want to start a thread about fault finding observations on the formation of the New Testament, then please feel free to do so.
If you want to start a thread about fault finding observations on the formation of the New Testament, then please feel free to do so.
I only asked because I have not yet enumerated the similarities that might take place, which we know took place in the recognition of the 27 NT books. I was just probing to see how you might react to them.
Let's try it out. A
few ways in the past in which books entered into the NT canon that conceivably might be re-applied (given God wanted it):
I thnk we should start with not just someone's vision. But rather let's assume that God directly intervened in a substantial way in the affairs of people in a physical as well as spiritual way. And there were eyewitnesses to it and consecrated to the publishing of the events and associated matters to the Christian public.
1.) Someone with the spiritual authority and eyewitness to God's intervention on earth, of an apostle John could inform the saints that of the many marvelous things done, only a certain subset were included in his writing:
(John 20:30) In other words Ie. paraphrased - "Everything I know is not as important. THESE things are most important."
2.) Someone with the spiritual authority and eyewitness experience to God's intervention like the apostle John, sorting out for us what among his co-workers was actually the case and what was not.
(John 21:23=24) Ie. paraphrased - "A rumor went out among the other witnesses that this was the case. But actually that was not the case."
In other words, let alone a sorting out from non-eyewitnesses false impressions, even a sorting out from genuine co-eyewitnesses would be in order.
3.) An indication from men of the spiritual stature of a
Luke that an order accounting, sorting and sifting of accounts had been taking place.
Luke 1:1-4 Ie. "Many witnesses said or wrote things. I have set forth a reliable compendium to affirm what the apostles have taught."
4.) We might expect a apostolic or authoritative request that certain writing be read in all congregations.
1 Thess. 5:23 . Ie. Read this to
"all the brethren". Or "Read this in all the Christian churches".
5.) An apostolic recommendation that all who read such would be blessed.
(Rev. 1:3) Ie. like "Wether understood or not, all who read this will be blessed by so doing."
I do not mean like your average Email chain letter. I mean something written by someone of the spiritual caliber of the apostle John - an eyewitness to God's direct intervention into human affairs.
6.) A record of wide circulation among churches.
(Rev. 1:11) Ie. Write these words and send it to all the churches.
Or like Paul's request that his letter be read in other churches:
"When this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church in Laodicea" (Col. 4:16)
In other words , what is profitable for one church to read is profitable for every church to read. A larger audience is intended revealing a kind of believer's universality
These are some of the interbiblical indications that God was working on the canon already in the initial church history. A parallel might be that the same kind of sorting, sifting, and attention was given to writings soon after God's intervention on earth in the presence of eyewitnesses.
Getting a vision or a dream canonized
28 Mar '12 18:151 edit
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