[Jim W N]

The Holy Spirit only authored the four gospels.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

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[neverevergiveup]

Thanks for a very interesting and timely post. I personally feel that many along the course of early Christianity were inspired to write - by the spirit and their faith, and all brought their unique perspective to what they wrote. Although I agree with you about the four Gospels, I would love to read translations of all that was written.

Personally, I feel that God speaks to us each and every day, if we listen. I am too often preoccupied with things that won’t matter ultimately, or I would hear, see, and feel what God ‘speaks’ much more than I do.

[BenLurkin]

[Aliska]

That's true. And Luke never saw or heard Christ in the flesh. I looked him up, and he was a disciple of Paul whom I now hold in high regard. A Greek, but now I don't know if he was Jew in the diaspora or a gentile. In any case, I hold him in high regard.

I believe to him (Luke) and him alone can we be grateful for an account of Mary's visit ti Elizabeth and the beautiful Magnificat along with all the marvelous details.

Which are the two that there has been some speculation that one was at least in part copied from another one?

[SkyDancer]

Because they either didn’t glorify God or Yeshua; wasn’t preaching the word Yeshua risen.

[PGalt]

Good work by Tim Barnett. Thanks for posting.

[SERKIT]

Quelle.... Q!

[bigbob]

I’m certainly no Biblical scholar but I do know that the four Gospels tell the story of the life of Jesus, whereas the Gospel of Thomas, which was discovered in 1945 as part of the Nag Hammadi library, is more of a collection of sayings by Jesus. That would seem like a nice addition through today’s lens, but at the time I can see that those who compiled the Bible would be more interested in the narrative.

[goodolemr]

My understanding is other accounts are forgeries with gnostic sympathies. Furthermore, what we have included in actual canon is the inspired word of God, and God has provided us with it as a complete reveation for his will for salvation. So, what’s the point in even bothering with the other stuff outside of being sure someone isn’t mislead?

John 21:24-25
This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

[Poison Pill]

Second, they are early. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are all from the first century

This is simply the Church party line. These dates are a matter of tradition and not much more. The earliest physical evidence we have is a fragment on John from about 200. There is no mention of any of the 4 Gospels in the historical record earlier than the late 2nd Century.

[YogicCowboy]

As Clive Staples Lewis, an expert in myth, wrote, they are written as eye-witness journalism, not imaginative mythologizing.

[NoCmpromiz]

PFL