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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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