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I read a review of the book and it seems to center around the Anabaptists (1500-1600's).

Since the recognition of the cannon (late 300's), there have always been people who claimed "sola scriptura." But for the most part, these were far and few between. But in the early Church it wasn't even an issue!

With no recognized compiled cannon, the idea of early "biblical" Christianity was non-existant. True, the Gospels were probably widely used, but there is much silence as to what else was used in the mean time. I'm sure some groups had incomplete cannons and others had "extra" NT books that turned out not to be inspired.

What you had in the early church was "Apostolic" Christianity, that is, the teachings of the Apostles and the Apostles successors. Surely there were copies of writings, but like I speculate, not every church or group had them all.

Even the claim that the bible alone is the sole authority is unscriptural. It wasn't till the 1500's that this idea was even seriously considered. This doesn't mean that it was invented in the 1500's, just that it mushroomed.

This is a side discussion with some relevance to the article however, as I think I have to include what early Christians had and didn't have in terms of scripture.

Thanks for the reply!

With no recognized compiled cannon, the idea of early "biblical" Christianity was non-existant. True, the Gospels were probably widely used, but there is much silence as to what else was used in the mean time.

Utter nonsense. You could find it out for yourself in the most basic Bible encyclopedia. Even Peter acknowledged Paul's writings to be inspired.

With no recognized compiled cannon, the idea of early "biblical" Christianity was non-existant. True, the Gospels were probably widely used, but there is much silence as to what else was used in the mean time.

In Acts 17:10 It tells how the Bereans searched the "scripture" to see if the things Paul told them were true.

In 2 Tim 2:15 Paul tells Timothy to search the "scripture"

Something alot of people overlook is that the Jews of Jesus's day had the OLD TESTEMENT. That is the scripture that the apostles taught from. Jesus and the plan of salvation are all through the OT. Peter at Pentecost showed the Jews he was speaking from how Jesus matched the prophesy that was spoken of in the OT about the Messiah.

The OT Jews were looking for ward to the coming Messiah, but their were very few who recognized him because they were looking for a king and also there was probably alot of them like people today who don't really study God's word and understand what it says, consequently they don't know God's will. This is a good example to keep in mind about why we should study this book and teach is to our children in the manner God told us too. Check out Deut. 6:7

Becky