2 Timothy 3:16-17All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work
Through theological studies, expanding knowledge on them, and including various religions, can show us this is a common theme in them all. But i admit, the Holy Bible as it is now is key into building the solid foundation that allows you to successfully reach out from there and ponder the truth of matters.
Maybe you're not there yet, but for me, after i had a solid base on scripture, i needed more. I used the skill gained to reach out and study more, and determine if the people way back then made the right call to determine it such.
I found the texts they rejected to contain interesting content, sometimes valuable, namely Daniel's extra chapters. People try to shape history today, (eg: no fraud) and we see how they were wrong. The powers that be have been doing that for a long time.
I'm not saying to start with these, but they are still read-worthy and good at putting your Holy Bible based skill to work.
Have you never noticed in John' s letters the tendency to call out others for certain views?
Or in Acts is told the differences of opinion between Peter & John and Paul.
And even from Acts we learn there are those adhering to "The Way" being only cognizant of the baptism of John.
Is it so unimaginable there are Christians who are more gnostic? Compare the Gospel of John with Marc. You will see immediately the difference. Chapter 1 is gnostic as it comes.
However, a bunch of religious and political hustlers in 325AD in a place called Nicea decided on what should be in the bible as the orthodoxy. John' s Gospel nearly did not make it. Neither the Apocalypse (Revelation).
Jude makes mentioning of the book of Enoch. You will not find it in the Nicean Canon.
It can be beneficial to consider the place where Christians were first called such. Who was there? When? Circumstances? And why is his background relevant?
What is the contents of the Gospel of Thomas? Why was it hidden? Who benefited? Or who was not the wiser for it?
Consider:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work
Through theological studies, expanding knowledge on them, and including various religions, can show us this is a common theme in them all. But i admit, the Holy Bible as it is now is key into building the solid foundation that allows you to successfully reach out from there and ponder the truth of matters.
Maybe you're not there yet, but for me, after i had a solid base on scripture, i needed more. I used the skill gained to reach out and study more, and determine if the people way back then made the right call to determine it such.
I found the texts they rejected to contain interesting content, sometimes valuable, namely Daniel's extra chapters. People try to shape history today, (eg: no fraud) and we see how they were wrong. The powers that be have been doing that for a long time.
I'm not saying to start with these, but they are still read-worthy and good at putting your Holy Bible based skill to work.
Early Christians .... you mean who?
Have you never noticed in John' s letters the tendency to call out others for certain views?
Or in Acts is told the differences of opinion between Peter & John and Paul.
And even from Acts we learn there are those adhering to "The Way" being only cognizant of the baptism of John.
Is it so unimaginable there are Christians who are more gnostic? Compare the Gospel of John with Marc. You will see immediately the difference. Chapter 1 is gnostic as it comes.
However, a bunch of religious and political hustlers in 325AD in a place called Nicea decided on what should be in the bible as the orthodoxy. John' s Gospel nearly did not make it. Neither the Apocalypse (Revelation).
Jude makes mentioning of the book of Enoch. You will not find it in the Nicean Canon.
It can be beneficial to consider the place where Christians were first called such. Who was there? When? Circumstances? And why is his background relevant?
What is the contents of the Gospel of Thomas? Why was it hidden? Who benefited? Or who was not the wiser for it?