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canon

A collection of 27 issues

The Non-Rule of Mr. Svendsen

by David Palm The Burden of Proof I want to say a few more words about the burden proof in this discussion of the meaning of heõs hou in Matthew 1:25. As I fully expected, Eric Svendsen has tried repeatedly to shift the burden of proof to his opponents

Evidence for the Canonicity of Baruch’s Epistle

The book of 2 Maccabees is a pre-Christian 2nd century BC Jewish writing, which has been accepted by Christians throughout the centuries as inspired, canonical Scripture. It is a part of the Old Testament Canon of the ancient Churches, which include the Assyrian Church of the East (ACOE), Oriental and

Melito, the Jews & the Hebrew Canon

The Christian historian Eusebius writes of Melito the bishop of Sardis, and mentions the OT canon list of the Jews which he catalogued for Onesimus in order that he might know from which books to draw prophetic evidences for the Christian faith, particularly in defense of the Church’s belief

The Talmud on OT Authorship

The following excerpts are taken the from the Babylonian Talmudic tractate Bava Bathra, and deal with the authorship of the Old Testament books. One interesting position mentioned by the Baraita is that there were rabbis who actually believed that God had Moses record his own death and burial in advance

A Protestant Defends the “Apocrypha”

I quote from Protestant authority William Heaford Daubney’s The Use of the Apocrypha In the Christian Church, published by C. J. Clay & Sons, Cambridge University Press, 1900, pp. 106-110. Daubney refutes some of the alleged contradictions which leveled by Protestants against the canonicity of the “Apocrypha,” such as

EO on Communion with Heretics/Schismatics

According to the canons of the Eastern Orthodox faith, no one can have communion with heretics or schismatics and still remain in good standing with the Church. This applies to the clergy as well: Canon XXXII of the council of Laodicea states: “That one must not accept blessings of heretics,

John Calvin & the Book of Baruch

In his commentary on 1 Cor. 10:20, the Swiss Reformer John Calvin believed that the blessed Apostle borrowed the language of the following verse from the deutero-canonical writing Baruch: “For you provoked the one who made you by sacrificing to demons and not to God.” Baruch 4:7 New

Gelasian Decree Pope Damasus & the Canon

The Gelasian Decree (Decretum Gelasianum) is a Latin document dating from the 6th century AD, and is believed to be based on the decree of Pope Gelasius I (492-496 AD). The document mentions the canon list ratified by the Council (Synod) of Rome under the authority of Pope Damasus in

Origen, Susanna & OT Canon

I share Origen’s defense of the canonicity of the “History of Susanna,” which all the ancient apostolic communions accept as sacred Scripture. Origen refutes the objections raised against the book’s authenticity, and explains why the Jews rejected it. In his response, Origen shows his great familiarity with the

Hermas’ Mediating Angel

The Shepherd of Hermas was a very popular work, which some Christians even wanted to include in the canon. An interesting aspect of this writing is that Hermas has an angel whom he beseeches or begs to assist him in understanding the parable that was being revealed to him. The