canon
Historical and textual studies explaining how the biblical canon was formed and defended against common objections.
The Talmud on OT Authorship Paid Members Public
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” Paid Members Public
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 Paid Members Public
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 Paid Members Public
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 Paid Members Public
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 Paid Members Public
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 Paid Members Public
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
Mark 16, Bruce Metzger & Misinformation Paid Members Public
The following is taken from James E. Snapp Jr.’s post: Mark 16, Bruce Metzger, and Misinformation. Tuesday, June 19, 2012 Very many commentators, when considering Mark 16:9-20, have not investigated the subject directly. Instead, they have relied upon the late Dr. Bruce Metzger’s handbooks A Textual Commentary