Old Testament Apocrypha In Brief

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ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

The Elwell text informs that some 'modern Bibles include a third section called the apocryphal/deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament. These were written after the last Old Testament prophet (Malachi, ca 430 BC), mainly between about 200 BC and AD 100.' Elwell (2013: 4).

But, although important and valuable religious history is contained, many within scholarship reason these works lack divine authorship in contrast to accepted canonical Scripture and therefore are distinguished from the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Jesus and the apostles (and associates) did not quote from the apocrypha Elwell (2013: 4) and therefore this is an important lack of seal of approval in regard to divine authority. And I would add, there is a lack of approval and acceptance in regard to authorship and divine inspiration and guidance.

Browning explains that after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD Judaism was maintained by rabbis in the Pharisaic tradition and the apocrypha was not accepted. Browning (1997: 20). However, Christians for the most part accepted a longer list of Old Testament canon which led to the Roman Catholic Church labelling the apocrypha as deuterocanonical at second level in contrast to protocanonical at first level. Browning (1997: 20).

At the Reformation, Protestants reverted to a shorter canon, (closer to a Hebrew model) in part because of possible hints of purgatory being detected as doctrine in 2 Maccabees and also in Tobit it was claimed that the doctrine of justification by works existed. Browning (1997: 20).

The Church of England keeps the apocrypha for life and instruction of manners but not as Scripture. Browning (1997: 20).

BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION (1995), Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Elwell's list via a scan

New Revised Standard Version List (1995) England from scan

Relativism In Brief

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ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

On page 5, there is a box section entitled 'Is Everything Relative?' I will discuss shortly...

Blackburn writes that in regard to relativism it is 'the permanently tempting doctrine that in some areas at least, truth is relative to the standpoint of the judging subject ('beauty lies in the eye of the beholder'). Blackburn (1996: 326).

He makes the point the view is often rejected because an 'inability to make sense of such standards eventually paralyzes all thought'. Blackburn (1996: 326). With relativism the contrary view may also be true. Blackburn (1996: 326).

The Elwell text explains that full knowledge of truth belongs to God alone and cites, Romans 11: 33-34, and notes that God has revealed much about himself in Scripture. This has been done authoritatively through Biblical writers, via the guidance of the Holy Spirit.(2 Timothy and 2 Peter).

It is not as if Biblical truth is up for grabs in a relativistic sense.

The text deals with the issue of the ambiguity of the human perception of Scripture and it does correctly present the argument that the core conviction of Scripture can be traced and is consistent.

There is in my view a consistency in the Hebrew Bible from Genesis forward in regard to the holiness and goodness of God, and God's work with Noah, Abraham and Moses and others.

God's plans continue in a new covenant in the New Testament with the atoning and resurrection work of Christ and future culminated Kingdom of the New Testament.

Philosophically and theologically, God is infinite, omnipotent and omniscient. God has sovereign authority.

God inspired the historical, religious Scriptural texts and even as scholars are dealing with manuscript copies of originals and there are at this point 5000 plus copies, it can be considered consistent theological and philosophical evidence and information from a divine source and not relative.

Therefore not relative truth, but simply truth.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

104.1 The Hawk Facebook-Just wondering though why he is not wearing his blazer on such a hot day?
New corp. policy @ work blazer to be worn even during summer patrol (working on it).

Brief On Ramadan

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Ramadan

Cited

'The Muslim rite of fasting during the ninth month in the lunar calendar, commemorating the revelation that came to Muhammad. Nigosian (1994: 487).

'Month during which Muslims do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. The fast celebrates the month in which the Prophet received the Quran. Hopfe (1991: 462).

While at work the subject of the Algeria, Nigeria their football clubs and their participation in the World Cup 2014 arose with Muslim and Sikh colleagues in regard to Ramadan.

The Islamic colleague was stating that although he was personally attempting to follow good morality at Ramadan it was still very difficult not to lie others, not to talk in negative terms about co-workers not performing their work properly, even during Ramadan.

The implication being that even a man-made religious event could not halt human sinfulness.

I stated that 'The 'ol' sin nature interfered'.

My Muslim and Sikh colleagues appeared to agree.

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A much used series of verses on my blogs, but key Biblical concepts:

Ephesians 2:8-10

English Standard Version (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Human sin and imperfection separate finite and sinful humanity from the infinite, holy God as can be seen from the fall (Genesis 3) and from Romans 1-3. Erickson points out examples of how Jesus Christ as God-man atoned for sin within humanity and these include, sacrifice, propitiation, substitution, and reconciliation. Erickson (1994: 801-823).

Christ's atoning work is religiously, historically, Biblically and theologically connected to the resurrection which is also applied to those in Christ (1 Corinthians 15). Those in Christ are born again (John 3) and chosen/elected by God in Christ, Ephesians 1 and Romans 8. I take a compatibilistic free will position.

I have noted previously for academic, credibility reasons, I am comfortable with calling Christianity true religion and true religious faith, as in reasonable religious academia as is science and medicine.

However, religious practice, work or works of any kind does not bring salvation to anyone.

Nor does it please God to the point of bringing about human salvation. At best religious practice is simply a sign of being within true faith which according to the New Testament is found only in Christ, John 14: 6.

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

HOPFE, LEWIS M. (1991) Religions of the World, New York, Macmillan Publishing Company.

NIGOSIAN, S.A. (1994) World Faiths, New York, St. Martin’s Press.

Greek Manuscripts: Part Or All Of the New Testament

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Greek Manuscripts,  Part or All of the New Testament (17)

Page 10.

Papyri Cataloged 127
Uncial Mss. Cataloged 318
Minuscule Mss. Cataloged 2, 880
Lectionaries Cataloged 2, 436
Total 5, 761
(Numbers in all categories inch up periodically with new discoveries)
German numbers from 1994 and 2011 are accessed.

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.