Any Lost Books of the Bible?

http://www.reasons.org/resources/fff/2002issue10/index.shtml#lost_books ^

[Antioch]

I meant to say...Implicit in the thinking of those who claim that "lost" Gospels would change the deposit of faith, is the notion that God could be imperfect. (i.e. he did not perfectly communicate to man through the bible and tradition, thus man alone is tasked with piecing together all these gnostic fragments to discover what He really meant)

[Ostlandr]

So you're saying that His Nibs, the Big Boss Bad Guy hasn't done his best over the last 2,000 years to get weak, imperfect humans to do his bidding by rewriting the Bible?
If one were to take the most ancient versions of the accepted books of the Bible and have them translated by, say, a non-Christian but very expert Japanese linguist (i.e. someone with only a scholarly interest in the Bible and no preconcieved notions of what "should" be in it) would the result have any resemblance to what passes for the Bible today- especially such 'updated' editions as the "New International Version" (NIV) ?

[nmh]

You might want to have someone learned in Hebrew and Greek to do the translating ... NOT Japanese - LOL!!!!

Yes, a scholar who translates the original writings and knows the verbiage of the time WILL have the same translation. As words change in meaning for us, for example the word, gay ... so did words in those days have meanings that would vary. It's all about context and understanding those times. Unfortunately we have people with an ungodly agenda putting their beliefs in there in stead of the intended words, meaning and context.

[RobbyS]

So, the options are these: Either the Bible is divinely inspired, or it's merely a human document representing the beliefs of a religious group known as Christians. Given these two definitions, could any books of the Bible be lost?

Or the Bible is a recollection of the relationship between THE GOD and a small nation who came to realize over time that he was not a local god or just a god of their nation, but of all places and all nations.

[SuzyQue]

Had He wanted these "lost books" to be a part of the Bible - they would have been part of the Bible as we know it today.

They weren't lost to God. He knew where they were and made sure they stayed put.

So, what does that fact that they are not "lost" now mean? Interesting question.

[nmh]

You said it best!

They're really not lost ... .

[servantboy777]

ok, that makes a little more sense. However, it says at least two times that I know of in the bible that anyone adding to or taking away from these Holy Scriptures put themselves in jeopardy of God's judgment.

This would lead me to believe that God wanted the bible to be just as it is. Now, I think your speaking of the Apocrypha if I'm not mistaken. There are bunches of manuscripts that are worthy of reading, but they are not Holy Scripture as God breathed.

Someone more intelligent than I am could probably explain it better, this is my understanding.

[HarleyD]

The Church fathers, particularly Augustine and Jerome, closed the canons simply because it was becoming harder and harder to keep trace of the inspired writings. The early leaders had a set criteria of determining what was inspired. They at least knew what was inspired and what wasn't. Since the early fathers themselves forbid adding new writings to what they deemed inspired, this "lost" book simply doesn't qualify.

The trouble is for the Catholics they have lost the term what inspired writing is. The latest piece of paper that pops up in a clay jar and everyone is goggled eyed over it.

[John Locke]

Lost Books of the Bible? Why, I saw them for myself, at a small town in New York State:

[xzins]

Any Lost Books of the Bible?

Why, yes...I lost two this morning myself. I feel bad about it. I had them in my pocket and was out shopping. I guess they just fell out.

Unfortunately, it was at Wal-Mart where they have only "Happy Holidays" and not "Merry Christmas." That means if a Wal-Mart clerk finds them they'll be just "Happy Writings."

I sure hope that doesn't change my theology.

[Corin Stormhands]

I sure hope that doesn't change my theology.

If you were secure in your faith, you'd be shopping at Target.

[xzins]

Wal-Mart shopper Justified....

Just as if I'd

shopped at Target.

[P-Marlowe]

There are several "lost" books of the Bible that you can't even find with a thumnb index. Nahum, Obadiah, Jude, Haggai. I'd be willing to bet that those who are so eager to find new books in the Bible have never read those.

[xzins]

I don't know about Jude.

Everybody knows "Hey, Jude."

(probably everybody over 47)