apocrypha

Examinations of apocryphal writings, their historical background, doctrinal themes, and relevance in biblical debates.

The Biblical Books of the Apostolic Canons Members Public

The following list of biblical books is taken from the Apostolic Canons (https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3820.htm); which is believed to be a fourth-century Syrian Christian text. All bold emphasis is mine. Canon 60 If any one reads publicly in the church the falsely inscribed books of impious

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
canonbiblechurch-history

John of Damascus’ Biblical Canon Members Public

The following is an excerpt from the writings of the eighth-century church father John of Damascus who delineates the list of books that the church at that time, particularly the churches in the east, accepted as canonical and authoritative. All bold and capital emphasis will be mine: Chapter 17. Concerning

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
canonorthodoxychurch-history

Gregory of Nazianzus’ Biblical Canon Members Public

The following is an English translation of the works of Gregory of Nazianzus (fourth century AD) as listed in  Migne’s Patrologia Graeca, Volume 37, columns 471-474 (Carmina Dogmatica, Book I, Section I, Carmen XI). All bold and capital emphasis will be mine. Concerning the Genuine Books of Divinely Inspired

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
canonchurch-historyorthodoxy

The Old Testament of the Early Church Members Public

The following lengthy excerpt is taken from J. N. D. Kelly’s Early Christian Doctrines, published by Adam & Charles Black, London, Fourth Edition 1968, pp. 52-56. All bold emphasis will be mine. CHAPTER III THE HOLY SCRIPTURES 1. The Old Testament For the first hundred years, at least, of

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
canonchurch-historybible

Michael’s Contention With Satan Members Public

In the epistle of Jude, the inspired writer brings up a dispute that took place between the archangel Michael and Satan over the body of Moses: “Yet in the same way these dreamers also defile the flesh, reject authority, and slander the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael contended

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
angelssatanmoses

JUDAISMS’ VIEWS ON THE MESSIAH’S PREHUMAN EXISTENCE Members Public

In this post, I will be citing specific Jewish sources confirming the personal prehuman existence of the Messiah. ENOCH “And in that place I saw the fountain of righteousness Which was inexhaustible: And around it were many fountains of wisdom: And all the thirsty drank of them, And were filled

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
judaismmessiahmidrash

JEWISH SOURCES ON THE WORD AS A DIVINE PERSON Members Public

In this post, I will be citing some of the Jewish writings which confirm that even the Jews saw from their reading of the Hebrew Scriptures that there was/is a distinctly divine Person sent by God called the Word of God/YHVH. THE HEBREW BIBLE ON THE WORD AS

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
judaismtheologytrinity

The Muhammadan Fraud That Was Ahmed Deedat: Which Bible? Members Public

The late Ahmed Deedat is viewed by Muslims as one of the greatest debaters against Christianity and a supposed Muslim scholar of the Bible. One of his main objections against the authority and authenticity of the Holy Bible had to with varying canons found among Protestant and Roman Catholic editions

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
islamchristianitybible
Get Updates