17
votes
Accepted
Are there theological explanations for why God allowed ambiguity to exist in Scripture?
In Matthew 13, Jesus reveals that it is God's will that some people understand and others be confused:
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of
heaven has been given to ...
- 11.4k
15
votes
Accepted
What writings are held as "biblical canon" by Swedenborgians?
Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772) listed the books that he considers to be the Word of God ("divinely inspired Biblical canon," in the words of the question) in three places: Arcana Coelestia ("Secrets ...
- 8,513
11
votes
Accepted
Does the Catholic church consider Mark 16:9-20 to be biblical canon?
At the Council of Trent, the Church officially declared as dogma the canon of Holy Scripture. This included "the four Gospels, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John." The council did ...
- 18.5k
10
votes
What is the origin of the Catholic apocrypha?
Some historical background regarding the Canon of Scripture
The books that non-Catholics (generally Protestants) call the Apocrypha are called by Catholics the Deuterocanonical books (from the Greek ...
- 13.2k
10
votes
Accepted
Was defining the New Testament originally condemned as heresy?
It is impossible to know for sure without asking the person that said it, but I believe it is most likely, given her description of the individual in question, the historical time frame and the ...
- 2,134
10
votes
Accepted
Was the 66 book Bible being used by early Christians?
The answer is most certainly no.
The oldest complete Bible that we have is the Codex Vaticanus, dating to between 300 and 325. It contains 68 books: 45 Old Testament books plus 23 New Testament ...
- 5,637
10
votes
Are there theological explanations for why God allowed ambiguity to exist in Scripture?
Why God allows ambiguities and what He does to help us
Most denominations hold that the Holy Spirit inspires not only the Biblical book authors but also
the Individual Bible reader, and/or
the ...
- 22.2k
10
votes
Accepted
How do Sola Scriptura defenders have a list of "scripture" since the list isn't mentioned in scripture?
The doctrine of Sola Scriptura is about how to rank various sources of spiritual authority, but it does not concern how we arrived at the Biblical canon.
Instead, Protestants teach that God's ...
- 19.7k
9
votes
Accepted
How do Calvinists explain Calvin's use of Baruch?
Actually, in his magnum opus "Institutes of the Christian Religion" (ICR), he cited Tobit, Baruch, 1 and 2 Maccabees, and Siriach. The Geneva Bible, which Calvin accepted and fostered, also ...
- 4,601
8
votes
What explanations have scholars proposed for the rejection of the Didache from the Canon?
Lee McDonald says in The Biblical Canon that the most common criteria in identifying what was and wasn't canonical for the early church was apostolicity, orthodoxy, antiquity, and use, and ...
- 15.2k
8
votes
What is the origin of the Catholic apocrypha?
In the Catholic tradition, there 3 types of historical writings dealt with here: biblical writings and/or non-biblical writings known as Apocrypha.
Canononical works
Deuterocanonical works
Apocrypha (...
- 2,626
8
votes
Why did the reformers include the book of Hebrews in the canon?
As far as Calvin was concerned, his views on the canonicity of Hebrews can be found in his introductory comments to his commentary on Hebrews (here at pp. 16–17). He includes it "without hesitation" ...
8
votes
Accepted
Do the "Anathemas" Pronounced in the Council of Trent still stand today?
To say of a person, "Anathema sit"—"Let him be anathema"—means simply that the person is excommunicated: regarded as having separated themselves from the body of the True Church. ...
- 18.5k
8
votes
Accepted
When the early church was formalising the canon, what did they understand by the word 'Inspired'?
Further Clarification
The original person who asked the question asked for additional clarification on these two questions:
1) Are inspired works closed as canon is? 2) Are there potentially other ...
- 234
7
votes
When was the Biblical canon formalised?
This question has an accepted answer, but, with all due respect, I do not think that the answer is accurate.
There are three distinct sources of information related to the formation of the Christian ...
- 5,637
7
votes
How much variation is in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament?
Overview of Hebrew history
Although not specifically asked for, it is profitable to start with a brief overview of the history of the Hebrew language. For more details on the subject, see A History ...
- 7,743
7
votes
What deuterocanonical books are quoted in the New Testament?
The Deuterocanon quoted (or referred to) in the New Testament
Other answers give lists, but here's a quick one with the cross-references in the Protestant King James Bible (1611).
Matthew 6:14-15 ...
- 1,249
7
votes
Accepted
What explanations have scholars proposed for the rejection of the Didache from the Canon?
Since the Didache was discovered in the late 19th century, scholars have provided a number of rationales, ranging from the typical standards of canonicity (late age, mysterious authorship, poor ...
- 42.3k
7
votes
Do the "Anathemas" Pronounced in the Council of Trent still stand today?
Yes, all dogmas the Church has defined still stand today.
The anathematized propositions in the Council of Trent are dogmatic definitions expressed negatively. A dogma is "A truth proposed by the ...
- 38.5k
7
votes
How does the Westminster Confession address the paradox of the Bible canon?
Yes, the Westminster Confession of Faith answers this apparent, but not real, circularity as follows. In Chapter 1 Paragraph 5, we read:
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church ...
- 1,788
7
votes
According to Reformed Theology, why did the 70 Jewish translators include the Apocrypha?
It is true that the Jews ultimately did not accept the apocryphal books you listed in their canon, in a gradual process over several centuries at least spanning 1st century BC and 1st century AD. ...
- 22.2k
7
votes
On what basis do Catholics continue doctrinal development after the Bible canon was closed?
The Catholic Church teaches dogmatically that general revelation ended with the Apostles (cf. condemned proposition no. 21 in Pope St. Pius X's Lamentabili Sane). This general revelation forms the ...
- 310
6
votes
Accepted
What books did Calvin consider canonical?
We have several pieces of evidence to say that Calvin affirmed the 66-book canon that has become known as the Protestant canon and rejected all other books as canonical.
The first piece of evidence ...
- 15.2k
6
votes
Kokabiel's History Forgotten?
The reason why Kokabiel's story is not part of the bible is that it is taken from the Book of Enoch, which is not considered as being part of Sacred Scripture by most Christian Churches. The Book of ...
- 67.6k
6
votes
Why are the civilly married not allowed confession in the Catholic Church?
You can go to confession but you may not receive absolution
Can. 1055 §1. The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman
establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life and
...
- 6,707
6
votes
How does the Westminster Confession address the paradox of the Bible canon?
The Westminster Confession of Faith and its associated catechisms (collectively referred to as the Westminster Standards) are designed to teach the Reformed faith, but not necessarily to defend it. ...
- 4,926
6
votes
Accepted
Do Catholic anathemas apply to people who lived before it was codified?
Do Catholic anathemas apply to people who lived before it was codified?
For example: Do the anathemas issued by the Council of Trent regarding the canon of the scripture applies to the Church Fathers ...
- 67.6k
5
votes
What deuterocanonical books are quoted in the New Testament?
Matt. 6:19-20 - Jesus' statement about laying up for yourselves treasure in heaven follows Sirach 29:11 - lay up your treasure.
Matt.. 7:12 - Jesus' golden rule "do unto others" is the converse of ...
5
votes
Why were Deuterocanonical books rejected in the Reformation?
The Protestants rejection of the deuterocanonical books being equal to Holy Scripture is based primarily on Jerome's Helmeted Preface:
Jerome, in his Prologue to the Books of the Kings
This ...
- 1,249
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