New Testament Apocrypha?

Eddy Tiner · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 12:17 pm Post subject: New Testament Apocrypha?

I recently read something on the order of "There is far less debate over what writings belong in the New Testament canon." (I don't have the reference with me right now; I'll provide it later, if anyone wishes.)

Point is, I didn't know there was ANY debate. I'm aware of the large number of writings which would have been "New Testament" (eg Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Mary, writings concerning Jesus' childhood, etc.), but I'm not aware of any church that considers them a part of their Bible.

Does anyone know of a denomination that uses anything other than the "traditional" New Testament?

Eddy Tiner · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 6:36 am Post subject:

Actually, I think I've answered my own question: the Book of Mormon.

As I thought about it, I realized that they publish it as a separate book, but that seems like an inaccurate distinction to make. I believe this would have to qualify as a NT apocryphal writing.

Yes?

Javan · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 7:39 am Post subject:

Hi Eddy,

I was going to answer your post yesterday and then I just didn't...which is good, because you came up with part of the answer I was going to post anyway.

I am not familiar with what every denomination has (or does not have) in their Bible, but here are a few others:

JWs have changed wording in many of the scriptures.

Catholics have the books of the Apocrypha listed on this site in their Bibles (I'm not certan if it is all Catholics or just some sects...???), but you will not find the Apocryphal OT writings in the original Hebrew canons and the NT writings seem to be more historical than gospel oriented.

Seventh-Day Adventists hold the writings of their founder, Ellen White, to be pretty much equal with any of the epistles written by apostles (she was a schizophrenic false prophetess).

I believe the United church has removed certain passages regarding homosexual activity, but I am not certain of that (it could just be a Canadian United church thing).

There may be more, I am not sure. My point is that you should simply ignore anything outside of the 66 book canon we have today (except for educational purposes...maybe). It is one complete story - from Genesis to Revelation, nothing taken away, nothing added - and tells us all about God's purpose for mankind...what else do we need to know?