http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2008/05/polytheism-henotheism-environmentalism.html
I like to present information from other sites at times on this blog. I am aware that I can look in my textbooks, for example, and find opinions differing from the material in this article, as can many others, but the information below is helpful overall.
From J. P. Holding:
http://www.tektonics.org/lp/ntcanon.html
However, if we believe in the inspiration of the Bible, then it is also reasonable to assume God's hand in the matter of the compiliation of the canon. Although skeptical of many traditional positions on the canon, McDonald rightly perceives that "(t)hose who would argue for the inerrancy of scripture logically should also claim the same infallibility for the churches of the fourth and fifth centuries, whose decisions and historical circumstances have left us with our present Bible." [MacD.FormCB, 255] One cannot sensibly argue that God inspired certain books of the Bible and then allowed us to mix in books with it that were not inspired. It was either all inspired at its origination, or none of it at all, other than at a basic human level of inspiration - and though, thanks to transcription errors and the like, we have some chaff mixed in with the wheat at present, the ambiguity that is reality at the textual variant level does NOT affect our position on the canon level.
I reason that within the apostolic era the original Scriptural letters were inspired and infallible in regard to the message the Lord conveyed through the writers. I do not think we can take the idea of inspiration and infallibility into the fourth and fifth centuries, although I do grant that God did guide the correct texts to be included within the New Testament text. I reason that without holding to an infallible canon formation, we can accept the idea that God used reason and evidence to formulate the entire Biblical canon. This means it is possible, although very unlikely, that a lost manuscript could be found at a later date that may be considered part of Scripture. The written content, to be accepted, would not contradict the teachings of the other Biblical books. My view is that the original Scripture was inspired and infallible and that we have essentially accurate copies by which a proper canon was formed.
Per Metzger, NT works cited or alluded to - in actuality and in probability - by Apostolic Fathers are:
All Four Gospels;
Acts
All Pauline epistles except three (see below)
Hebrews
1 John
1 Peter
James
Revelation.
Not cited or alluded to are Titus, Philemon, and 2 Corinthians; 2 Peter, Jude, 2 and 3 John.
However, no conclusions may be drawn from this for two reasons:
First, except for 2 Corinthians, all of these books are so short that it is possible that there was never any need to refer to them - especially in light of the fact that:
Second, as Metzger indicates, the total extant works of the Apostolic Fathers fits "a volume about the same size as the New Testament"! (ibid., 72) It would therefore have been very fortunate if we had indeed had witness to all 27 NT books.
Conclusion
Human beings will never agree unanimously on anything, even the canon of Scripture. Even today, many groups (such as the Mormons) seek to add to what has been written. This, of course, is their right; but the fact remains that the canon has been fixed, not by some 4th-century Church Council, but by the witness of history itself. As Metzger writes: "the canon cannot be remade - for the simple reason that history cannot be remade." (ibid., 275) The books that made it into the canon did so by means of "survival of the fittest" - it was not a random drawing with all participants beginning on equal footing. The church did not create the canon, "but came to recognize, accept, affirm, and confirm the self-authenticating quality of certain documents that imposed themselves as such upon the Church. If this fact is obscured, one comes into serious conflict not with dogma but with history."(ibid., 286) We may freely learn from the non-canonical literature [MacD.FormCB, 257], and it may be that some of that literature contains authentic strands of teaching by Jesus. Nevertheless, we have our canon. We are each free to take it or leave it; and if it offend thee - take up scissors and paste, and make what thou considerest a better effort than others!
Here is yet another scammer email. The email came to undisclosed-recipients, and is written with the usual magnificent command of the English language:
Queen Elizabeth's Foundation And The Nigeria FoundationWoodlands RoadLeatherhead Court LeatherheadSurrey KT22 0BN.
BATCH NO: (N-222-6747,E-900-56)
Attn: Beneficiary
Congratulations The Queen Elizabeth's Foundation And The Nigeria Foundation has chosen you by theboard of trustees as one of the final recipients of a Cash Grant/Donation for your own personal,educational, and business development. To celebrate the 30th anniversary 2008 program, We aregiving out a yearly donation of 250,000.00 Pounds each to 40 lucky recipients, ascharitydonations/aid from the Queen Elizabeth's Foundation, ECOWAS, EU and the Africa UNO inaccordance with the enabling act of Parliament.which is part of our promotion To file for your claim You are required to contact the ExecutiveSecretary below their email
Executive Sec: Edwin Johnson
E-Mail: queen-elizabeth-foundation@hotmail.com
Regards.Mrs Tracy Peterson
And yet another:
INVESTMENT PROPOSAL.
Dearest One,
My name is Miss Vianney Aliababa, the only Daugther of late Mr.and Mrs Aziz Alibaba (A GOLD MARCHANT). I have a preposition important which permits me to request for your assistance in a financial transaction. And I wish to invest in Manufacturing management in your country.
I inherited Eight million Five houndred thousand Dollars.(8.500,000) to invest in your country with your very help, and I will require your assistance in helping me stand as my late father's foreign business partner who will receive the whole money in your coperate account for my self keeping and the investment project as we will agree together.
The Fund was deposited in Prime Bank in fixed suspense account.I will be glad to give you 25% of the total sum for your assistance.
While we will discuss on your percentage, on the Capital investment that you will introduce me to.
Please know that I have not gotton a good financial Education to control the whole money in your country.That is why I real need your help to secure a better financial education that will enbale me not to make poor money decissions later in life that might take years to over come.
please it is very important you contact me immediately on my private email address.(via_baba@hotmail.fr) for further explanation.
Awaiting your immediate response Thanks and God bless.
Best Regards,
VIANNEY ALIBABA.
A future satire and theology blog troll?
My Mom sent me links featuring interesting paintings. I am not making a political/social statement.
Global Warming from Robert Bateman
A thought:
O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson, Mike Tyson, Robert Blake and Phil Spector should form the Society of Celebrity Super-Villains.
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