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Quote
out of
the post
by 03cobra#116 dated “Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:34 pm:”
“The
list of 27 books in current Western Protestant New Testament canon was
approved in the Synod of Rome of 382, which is the same church meeting that
declared the church at Rome in charge of all the other churches willing to
submit to its rule.
“There are other ancient churches with
other canons.
“The Church of the East, which by
tradition was founded by the Apostle Thomas in Persia, India, and China, has
a 22 book New Testament. It excludes 2 Peter, 2&3 John, Jude and
Revelation. (These books were disputed in the West until the fourth
century, as is evident from the writings of Eusebius.) The Syrian Church accepts the 22 books.
“The ancient Armenian church did not
accept Revelation until 1000 AD.
“The Ethiopian Orthodox Church includes
the same 27 books in its "narrower" canon but adds 8 books to its
"broader" canon.
“Because the Protestant movement grew
out of the Roman Catholic Church, there has been little investigation in
the West of the appropriateness of the disputed books (although Martin Luther did have some concerns at one time
over James). But since there are ancient Christian churches with different
canons, I think it is prudent for believers to consider the options rather
than just accepting the canon that the Roman Catholics selected in 382.”
Thank you, Cobra!
That's valuable information that I may
well find useful for my ongoing studies re New Testament chronology!
Why
the difference?: 27 vs. 22
My first thought: It makes sense, if indeed the Apostle Thomas traveled
eastwards, as per the tradition, bringing with him the then extant written
works, that whatever was not yet written, or otherwise not available to
Thomas, would not have been brought to those areas at that time, or would
it? This situation then becomes evidence that the books not found within
the Church of the East were written subsequent to all of the 22 books
included by the Church of the East. This then becomes confirmation
strengthening the dating found within my tabulation of
date and place of authorship for, and the scribe of, each of the NT books
and epistles.
When
was Jude written?
My second thought: The one exception, as compared to my current findings, being
that Jude - according to that scenario - would then also, along with 2
Peter and 2&3 John, be written at a later date. That is, Jude would not
then have been written at the time of the apostolic church meeting with
Paul (recorded in Acts 15) when:
And they
wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and
brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in
Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. (Act 15:23 KJV) [All bold emphasis
mine]
and...
And
when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be
pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and
Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that
we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. (Gal
2:9 KJV)
Considering the Greek text of Textus
Receptus I find this rendering of Gal. 2:9 even more clear:
"And when James, Cephas, and John,
who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they
gave acts of participation and support in the form of epistles
to me and Barnabas that we should go unto the heathen,
and they unto the circumcision." (Gal 2:9 TLT (Tree of Life Time Version ©) )
When
did the Apostle Thomas commence his travels to the East?
My third thought: Given the above scenario with the Apostle Thomas traveling
east while bringing with him the 22 books should then also be evidence,
albeit not proof, that the Apostle Thomas did not begin his travels until
after the last of those 22 books and epistles were written. Per my findings
the last of those 22 is Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews, which, as it
appears, was written from Italy
shortly after Paul
was, as it appears, released from his bonds in Rome about Ethanim/Tishri 1, 45 CE:
"Written
to the Hebrews from Italy
by Timothy." (Hebr. 13:25 KJV)
I.e. in contradistinction to each of the
following that were written from Rome:
“It
was written to the Philippians from Rome by Epaphroditus.” (Philippians 4:23 KJV)
“Written from Rome unto the Ephesians by Tychicus.”
(Ephesians 6:24 KJV)
“Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus
and Onesimus.” (Colossians 4:18 KJV)
“Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus
a servant.” (Philemon 1:25 KJV)
“The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the
first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome,
when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.” (2 Timothy 4:22 KJV)
“Unto the Galatians written from Rome.” (Galatians 6:18 KJV)
Or, does the above not make sense?  
In the name of Him whose name means
"I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6 KJV.) To me
the name of Yeshua [Jesus] is a constant reminder of the fact that all
growth is a step by little step process, e.g. my learning curve re the
dating of the NT books and epistles.
Andy©
_________________
Each may sign away the names and trust
he is granted. Our Creator, Owner, and Savior is offering His help, step by
little step, leading each out of self-induced bondage. But… this takes
will, time, and patience!
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