Scott,
Sorry to burn band-width, but I wanted to be sure that you knew that I did read this:
[quote:b58b641317]THE EPISTLE OF Paul THE APOSTLE TO THE LAODICEANS
1. Paul an Apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, to the brethren which are at Laodicea.
2. Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. I thank Christ in every prayer of mine, that you may continue and persevere in good works, looking for that which is promised in the day of judgment.
4. Do not be troubled by the vain speeches of anyone who perverts the truth, that they may draw you aside from the truth of the Gospel which I have preached.
5. And now may God grant that my converts may attain to a perfect knowledge of the truth of the Gospel, be beneficent, and doing good works which accompany salvation.
6. And now my bonds, which I suffer in Christ, are manifest, in which I rejoice and am glad.
7. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation forever, which shall be through your prayer and the supply of the Holy Spirit.
8. Whether I live or die, to me to live shall be a life to Christ, to die will be joy.
9. And our Lord will grant us his mercy, that you may have the same love, and be like-minded.
10. Wherefore, my beloved, as you have heard of the coming of the Lord, so think and act reverently, and it shall be to you life eternal;
11. For it is God who is working in you;
12. And do all things without sin.
13. And what is best, my beloved; rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, and avoid all filthy lucre.
14. Let all your requests by made known to God, and be steady in the doctrine of Christ.
15. And whatever things are sound and true, and of good report, and chaste, and just, and lovely, these things do.
16. Those things which you have heard and received, think on these things, and peace shall be with you.
17. All the saints salute you.
18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
19. Cause this Epistle to be read to the Colossians, and the Epistle of the Colossians to be read among you.[/quote:b58b641317]
Scott said:
[quote:b58b641317] BTW, please answer my questions on the specific books (there are two, including one concerning the Epistle to the Laodecieans) when you get a chance. I think your answers, whatever they are, will reveal a lot about your view of the canon.[/quote:b58b641317]
I'm really not sure what it is I am supposed to be revealing here. I believe that Paul probably wrote many letters (epistles) that were not chosen for the canon of scripture. And by that , I mean chosen by God. I doubt that the Lord prohibited the Apostle from writing to the churches whenever he felt the need, just as we would write, call, or visit those close to us, for whatever reason. No reason to believe that everything that Paul ever put on paper was "God breathed". In my understanding of scripture, God inspired Paul at specific times to write specific letters to specific churches so that His Word might be know to the Church through the ages.
[quote:b58b641317]Also, I think you are missing the point on canonization. All agree that God determines the canon. The question is which entity or entities are authorized to auhoritatively recognize what God has done? Is it the lone individual, the collective mind of the church, or is it something else?[/quote:b58b641317]
God is at liberty to authorize any entity He pleases. He has at times spoken through a bush, a cloud, and from thin air. He has written His Word with the pens of poets, the pronouncements of prophets, in epistles, and in stone with His own hand. He has now chosen to preserve His Word through His church, which is an assembly of individuals.
Have their not been apostate assemblies (false churches) that have tried to corrupt and contaminate His Word from the earliest times? How then do we know which "church" to believe? Because His Spirit testifies to His Truth. His elect will not ultimately be deceived nor forsaken.
[quote:b58b641317]One places the individual mind of man (allegedly inspired by the Spirit) as the final earthly authority. One places God's Bride, the Church, as the final earthly authority.[/quote:b58b641317]
Wrong on both counts. I have never suggested that man, individual or otherwise, has final authority. The final authority is the Head, earthly and heavenly.
[quote:b58b641317][b:b58b641317]Ephesians 1[/b:b58b641317]
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
[b:b58b641317]Colossians 1[/b:b58b641317]
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. [/quote:b58b641317]
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