So ... do you think that the so-called Gospel of Judas ... should have a place among the scriptures ?
I don’t know, but it makes interesting reading and it refutes the over 40 authors who all agree thing.
Fortunately it doesn't refute a thing ... because it was never a part of the scriptures.
It was just another writing in the collection of writings which were generated during the days of the early church. Some of these writings were inspired by God ... and some of them weren't.
God, working through the early church, separated the wheat from the chaff.
The early church had dismissed the Gospel of Judas (and other similarly spurious writings) ... before Constantine ever came on the scene.
Um who decided these were spurious writings?
God did ... working through the church.
Is it your opinion that all of the writings which appeared during the days of the early church ... should have been declared scripture ?
Do you think that all of the Old Testament Jewish writings ... were compiled into the Old Testament canon ?
Do you believe that the LDS should give as much credence to the Gospel of Judas ... as you give to your already declared scriptures ?
Is this why the apostles were fighting apostasy while they were alive?
The church has fought apostacy and heresy ... for as long as it has existed.
Many have come, ... pretending to be men of God, ... for their own evil purposes ...Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe I simply pointed out that the orthodox teaching of the Church is that the Father and the Son are distinct Persons, but are both the One Eternal God, along with the Holy Spirit.
The Nicene Creed (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11049a.htm ) disagrees with you.
Why is it that you believe that the Nicean Creed disagrees with me ?
Read, Ponder, Pray for knowledge, get corroboration. If I told you to go to some library, you’d go, if I told you to go to a web site, you’d go, but you won’t goto God and you won’t accept the word of those who have, Sad really.
I have been going to God in prayer for some 40 years now ... and He has yet to even hint to me ... that Book of Mormon is from Him.
Unfortunately ... all we have is his single testimony.
Nope, I refuted that already too.
Not quite ... remember ... not another soul on earth ever read those plates. You all have only Joseph's word as to what they said.
So how do I testify of Christ without the spirit.
Christians don't forego the testimony of the Spirit.Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:The Spirit simply hasn't led us to embrace the Book of Mormon.
>>Fortunately it doesn't refute a thing ... because it was never a part of the scriptures.
>>
>>It was just another writing in the collection of writings which were generated during
>>the days of the early church. Some of these writings were inspired by God ... and some
>>of them weren't.
Why wasn’t it included in the Bible if all the authors of the time agreed as you said? That was my point, you missed it. As you will no doubt, miss this plainly stated refutation of the Compilation of the Bible.
>>God did ... working through the church.
A church that Paul said was already falling away from the teachings…
The Bible was compiled hundreds of years after Christ and writers of the day complained that important books were lost (Esibius sp?). The Great grandson of St John the Apostle (Hippolytus) wrote books refuting some of the heresies he saw entering the church, His works were mostly lost due to the Heresies winning! The Bible as it is assembled, was assembled by men who took the power of the church to add to their power base. Go and read up on Constantine and the Bible at the Caholic encyclopedia site.
You might embarrass yourself by posting about the “Happy homogonous Bible compilation” it was a bloody battle and it was one the truth lost.
The Life of Constantine (http://www.newadvent.org/Fathers/2502.htm ) for starters, and remember it was written by a scribe who could be killed if Constantine didn’t like it
Continue to Search this valuable resource, and you will see competing translations, Greek was used until 250 AD or so, then Latin stated to come into vogue, the first Bible was in Latin, biblia means a collection of books in Latin. It was a long time before it was considered the “Authoritative” source and was called “The Bible”. Your neat and orderly version of the compiling of the bible just never happened.
>> Is it your opinion that all of the writings which appeared during the days of the early
>>church ... should have been declared scripture?
No, but destroying Books is never a good idea.
>>Do you think that all of the Old Testament Jewish writings ...
>>were compiled into the Old Testament canon ?
No, but the Torah which was considered scripture by Christ was.
>> Do you believe that the LDS should give as much credence to the Gospel of Judas ...
>>as you give to your already declared scriptures ?
No, but it sure makes for interesting reading, I’m waiting for the prophet to give us his opinion, until then, it’s just interesting.
>> Why is it that you believe that the Nicean Creed disagrees with me ?
Because what it says and what you say are not the same.
>> I have been going to God in prayer for some 40 years now ...
>>and He has yet to even hint to me ... that Book of Mormon is from Him.
Did you ask? Did you ask in Faith? How long did you do this?
>> not another soul on earth ever read those plates.
Not another soul saw the Burning bush, nobody saw god call Jonah and nobody saw Abraham wrestle with an angel. I’ve got tons more
Most of the prophets in the Bible will not meet the standards you set for Joseph Smith, they must be hucksters too.
>> You all have only Joseph's word as to what they said.
No, I have God’s word, but you won’t accept my testimony that I have received a witness from him. Your refusal to accept testimony does not mean it did not happen nor does it mean I am deceived. Satan does not testify of Christ, nor does he teach men to call on Christ’s name.
>> The Spirit simply hasn't led us to embrace the Book of Mormon.
Well, it led me to. Why not try again? You might learn something, what have you got to lose anyway? No answer, no harm, answer you learned some thing important.
Millions of Mormons can’t be wrong. (Grin)