Conceding to private interpretation:
What appears to be destroying the body of Christ today is the individualizing of Scriptures! When any one violates the Scriptures, they have usually gotten caught up in some form of sectarianism. In this, Christians have become fragmented, as part of the whole begins to splinter from the main body, resulting in confusion, and mutual misunderstandings.
We have witnessed in the past 100 years an explosion of cults and sects, they having drawn away from the true body of believers. Ask yourself, do I allow others to dictate my beliefs? Do you have questions that the pastor can’t answer, or will not!
When men put their nose into God’s business doubt concerning basic doctrinal understandings begin to arise Main line Christian churches have become so unstable, it is doubtful they can ever right themselves. When a stranger becomes a member of your church do they have to compromise their faith?
Let’s take a brief look at the history of the Bible.
When Paul wrote 2 Tim.3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
It is assumed that Paul was speaking of both the Old and New Testament?
But there was no New Testament. A few books of the N.T. had not been written yet, and those that had been written were not brought together as one book. Also the Jews had NOT decided upon a definite list of canon concerning the O.T. books until after the rise of Christianity.
The modern Jewish canon was not fixed until the third century. The first completed listing of the N.T. books as we have them today appeared some 300 years after the death of Christ. The first completed listing was given by Athanasius in his Paschal letters in 369 A.D.
The four Gospels were written 30 to 60 years after the death of our Lord. In this interim period, the EARLY CHURCH relied on eye witnesses, and oral tradition, as well as scattered pre-gospel documents. First, second, and third century churches for the most part had only parts of what we call the N.T.
As the eye-witnesses died, the apostles wrote as they were guided by the Holy Spirit. In this they preserved and solidified the scattered written and oral traditions. In the centuries that followed, substantial disagreement over which books should be included in the canon of Scripture.
Marcion, a second century heretic, attempted to establish his own version of the N.T. His desire was to reject its Jewish heritage, this by his complete rejection of the O.T. The exposure of Christian doctrines in the early church was confined to what was heard in their particular churches. What they heard was the law, the prophets, the Psalms, and a few of the apostle’s memoirs.
As Christian persecution arose, unauthorized documents began to flood the churches. Persecution ear-marked with false documents complicating the matter, as other Gospels began to circulate in the first two centuries, some being the Gospels according to the Hebrews, Egyptians, Peter, and others.
When Matthew and Mark’s gospel were the only ones written, Luke wrote,
Luke 1:1-2, “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration (narrative) of those things which are most surely believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word.”
Biographers were writing about Christ, some accurate in their facts as others were not. Yet Luke said that it seemed good to the Holy Spirit to inspire him to write his accurate account.
But the controversy continued as to what books were to be used.
In Asia minor only John’s gospel was used, but not Matthew, Mark or Luke. Roman Christians resisted John’s Gospel, using only Matthew, Mark and Luke, the reason, the Gnostic’s were using John’s Gospel with their own secret Gospels.
Another issue rose among the authority. Should their be a single composite Gospel, or separate Gospels? In the Syrian church a single composite gospel was used called the Diatessaron. The four Gospels were not accepted until the fifth century, as also were John’s epistles, 2 Peter, and the book of Revelation.
Clement of Alexandria at the church in Egypt included in his canon, the Gospel to the Hebrews, the Egyptians, had Mattathias. Others included the first epistle of Clement, Barnabas, the preaching of Peter, the Revelation of Peter, the Didache, the Protevangelium of James, Acts of John, the Acts of Paul, the Shepherd of Hermas, each held as apostolic. Irenaeus included the Revelation of Peter in his canon.
The book of Hebrews was finally accepted at the end of the fourth century. The book of the Revelation was not accepted in the Eastern churches for several centuries. Martin Luther desired to grade the books of the N.T. believing some to more inspired then others. He gave secondary classification to the books of Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation, having them placed at the end of his translation.
The term, New Testament was first used by Tertullian about 200 A.D. Some believe the Muratorian canon to be the oldest legitimate list of the N.T. this dating from the second century. This canon excluded Hebrews, James, the epistles of Peter, but included the Apocalypse of Peter, and the Wisdom of Solomon. And so the controversies continued until 325 A.D.
Emperor Constantine became frustrated over the squabbling of the books to be used and the debate over the deity of Jesus Christ. Constantine pressed for a clearer definition of the books to be used, and the doctrine of the Trinity. He then closed the N.T. canon. Yet until the 5th century, the Codex Alexandrinus included 1st and 2ed Clement.
As time passed the church settled in. Then our modern day controversies began.
The Codex Sinaiticus, known as the Aleph, a fourth century document had been thrown into a waste paper basket at St. Catherine Monastery reared its ugly head. A man called Tischendorf saved it from the fire. This manuscript was reported to have up to 15,000 changes made by an unknown hand. Yet this was used by Wescott and Hort in the late 20th century. From there it went to Nestles and Allen in the mid 1930es. From this came the Nestles and Allen text.
This manuscript, Aleph is used today in most, if not all of the modern day Bibles published today, except the King James Version. The N.I.V. N.A.S.V. The Good News Bible, N.W.T. of the Jehovah Witnesses, R.S.V, Serendipity Bible, etc. use this Aleph text. This ancient manuscript also included two books, Barnabas and the Shepherd of Hermas.
Councils had been established to discern and then confirm what was already accepted within the church at large. They reflected what they considered to be self-evident truths and practices within the body of Christ. Also the faith, practice, and tradition as it already existed in local churches.
Because of modern communications, especially T.V. and the Internet, writers pastors, teachers and commentators are putting their own spin on various verses and doctrines that had once been established and closed. It appears that the things of the flesh are becoming the beliefs of the spirit.
Cynicism prevails, all having the attitude of a snarling surely dog. The church is convulsing, suffering from life itself, Churches and members yearning for friendships, individuals desiring to be recognized so they may pursue a purpose. Religion without a relationship with God is not Christianity!
Regardless of what any one may say, every answer to every important question can be found in the Scriptures. Don’t become a product of your church, but mold yourself with the help of God Almighty to the Image of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com