When were the books of the New Testament known? The Greco-Roman Catholic and Protestant church says it took centuries as they had difficulties accepting several of the books. Yet, the Church of God claims it knew the canon from the time the Apostle John penned the Book of Revelation.
Who gave the world the Bible?
The Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following Bible News Prophecy video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel related to these matters:
14:31Who Gave the World the Bible?
Did the Roman Catholic Church give the world the Bible as they claim? From a book titled “The Bible is a Catholic Book” by Jimmy Akin the inside flap has this written: “In The Bible Is a Catholic Book, Jimmy shows how the Bible cannot exist apart from the Church. In its origins and its formulation, in the truths it contains, in its careful preservation over the centuries and in the prayerful study and elucidation of its mysteries, Scripture is inseparable from Catholicism. This is fitting, since both come from God for our salvation.” Catholic Bible 101 claims, “the Church gave the world the Bible. The Bible does not exist apart from the church.” Is that accurate? Are the truths of the Bible inseparable from Roman Catholicism? Is it true that the Bible cannot possibly exist apart from the Roman Catholic Church? The Roman Catholic Church did not formally accept its canon of the Bible until the 1546 Council of Trent. And the Greek/Eastern Orthodox? They did not finalize their canon until 1672 at the Synod of Jerusalem. Would God have left His true church without His word for centuries? What about a Protestant church? Did one of the Protestant churches give the world the Bible? The Protestant churches were born from the Roman Catholic Church, so they came later in time. If the Roman Catholic Church didn’t bring the world the Bible, then humanity was without the word of God for even more centuries. One thing is certain – the instant one of the books of the Bible was written, someone had it; even if it was only the author. So, was there a church that had a continuous chain of custody of the scriptures? If so, what church was it? Is there historical proof that one group had a continuous chain of custody of the books of the Bible the instant they were written – not centuries later? The fact is that the Greco-Roman Catholic and Protestant churches did NOT accept the validity of several books of the New Testament. Yet, from the beginning the Church of God did and has maintained the chain of custody since the Apostle John handed down the books and the knowledge of the canon to Polycarp of Smyrna, who passed this on to others. And most importantly: Who Really Did Give the World the Bible?
Here is a link to our video: Who Gave the World the Bible?
As far as which church actually represents the “original Bible Christians” goes, the free eBook Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? (often from Roman Catholic approved sources) helps demonstrate why it is not the Church of Rome.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Who Gave the World the Bible? The Canon: Why do we have the books we now do in the Bible? Is the Bible complete? Are there lost gospels? What about the Apocrypha? Is the Septuagint better than the Masoretic text? What about the Textus Receptus vs. Nestle Alland? Was the New Testament written in Greek, Aramaic, or Hebrew? Which translations are based upon the best ancient text? Did the true Church of God have the canon from the beginning? Here are links to related sermons: Let’s Talk About the Bible, The Books of the Old Testament, The Septuagint and its Apocrypha, Masoretic Text of the Old Testament, and Lost Books of the Bible, and Let’s Talk About the New Testament, The New Testament Canon From the Beginning, English Versions of the Bible and How Did We Get Them?, What was the Original Language of the New Testament?, Original Order of the Books of the Bible, and Who Gave the World the Bible? Who Had the Chain of Custody?
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
The Apostle John He wrote a lot that people should study. John was an original apostle, early Christian leader, and the last of the original apostles to die. Here is a link to a related sermon titled Apostle John: The Disciple that Jesus Loved. John is the final original apostle that we in the Continuing Church of God trace our ecclesiastical succession through.
Laying on of Hands Succession and List Does the Church of God have laying on of hands succession? Does the Continuing Church of God have a list of leaders from the time of the apostles? Here is a link to a related sermon: Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession.
Lost Books of the Bible? Is the Bible missing books? What about the Book of Jasher and the Book of Enoch? What are the pseudepigrapha?
Read the Bible Christians should read and study the Bible. This article gives some rationale for regular bible reading. Here is a link in Mandarin Chinese: 读圣经
Bible: Superstition or Authority? Should you rely on the Bible? Is it reliable? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
Is Matthew 28:19 in the Bible? Some have claimed that Matthew 28:19 has added words as part of a trinitarian plot. Is that true?
What is the Appropriate Form of Biblical Interpretation? Should the Bible be literally understood? What do the writings of the Bible, Origen, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Augustine show?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, French: L Histoire Continue de l Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui? Here is a link to a short animation: Which Church would Jesus Choose?