Featured “The Gospel of John” has an anonymous author

[Scooter]

Part of the problem is knowing what good is if it's not addressed in the Bible. To some people, burning too much fossil fuels is a bad thing. You could say if it's used for good, but what is using it for good? Of course, we can know from outcomes, but then a gay marriage that causes no harm can also be seen as a good outcome. I would think religious morality would work like a manual, where you have clear rules and principles. But we don't have that, the canon has been stopped, and revelation is no longer accepted apparently.

Those who know the Author of the Bible have no problem understanding right from wrong. We don’t need anything added to the Bible because we see the perfection of the scriptures. Technology changes; customs change. But man’s nature remains the same through the millennia. That is why the truths found in the Bible are timeless. If it was wrong thousands of years ago, then it’s wrong today. The technology we have today can be used for both good and bad. Those who are guided by the Spirit can discern the difference.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

We don’t need anything added to the Bible because we see the perfection of the scriptures.

You are failing to realize that Paul had to add to Scripture (all of his letters made it as Scripture), and he did so as problems popped up. Problems in Christianity I'm sure continued to pop up long after Paul and we can clearly see it today.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

I'm sure continued to pop up long after Paul and we can clearly see it today.

I think this is why the Catholic Church emphasizes church tradition in addition to scripture.

Or, as one Catholic in his thirties explained to me, Jesus didn’t just leave a diary, He left a Church.

 

[Scooter]

We don’t need anything added to the Bible because we see the perfection of the scriptures.

You are failing to realize that Paul had to add to Scripture (all of his letters made it as Scripture), and he did so as problems popped up. Problems in Christianity I'm sure continued to pop up long after Paul and we can clearly see it today.

Christianity was brand new. The church was an institution that had not existed in the past. Yes there were problems and yes there continue to be problems. However, every problem in principle the church faces today has already been addressed in Paul’s epistles. God’s plan of salvation, and His instructions for Godly living have been revealed in the current Bible. There is no need for anything else.

BTW, not all of Paul’s letters made it into the canon of scriptures. In 1 Corinthians Paul mentions a previous letter he had written to that church (1 Cor.5:9).

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

In 1 Corinthians Paul mentions a previous letter he had written to that church (1 Cor.5:9).

Maybe in the early church at Corinth, things were just disorganized at times, and the letter was at first misplaced?

 

[Scooter]

Maybe in the early church at Corinth, things were just disorganized at times, and the letter was at first misplaced?

Regardless of the reason, we don’t have that letter.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

Maybe in the early church at Corinth, things were just disorganized at times, and the letter was at first misplaced?

BTW, not all of Paul’s letters made it into the canon of scriptures. In 1 Corinthians Paul mentions a previous letter he had written to that church (1 Cor.5:9).

Since authority was a requirement for canonicity, I'm willing to bet that such letter would've made it into the canon if it existed.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

Yes there were problems and yes there continue to be problems. However, every problem in principle the church faces today has already been addressed in Paul’s epistles

Thinking about this more made me realize that even this is based on some speculation. Based on biblical examples and questioning some views of mine and yours, I will change my view regarding Paul writing as new issues popped up to my new view that Paul also expanded on things that were already known to be wrong - like a man sleeping with his father's wife (which is banned even in the OT). IN other words, it wasn't just new things, but even addressing and expanding on old things. Both types of information made it into Scripture.

The main point here is that what made it into Scripture did not have to be "new" information, but it could also be any type of information that God revealed to an apostle. I also think limiting to an apostle or even a Church leader is speculation or tradition.

Now takes off his skeptic cap.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

my new view that Paul also expanded on things that were already known to be wrong - like a man sleeping with his father's wife (which is banned even in the OT).

And for the advanced coaching level, we don’t hype this and make it sexy. Instead, we’re just matter-of-fact about it.