I Said:
The Jews have a tradition that Adam had a wife before Eve, Lilith was supposedly created at the same time as Adam and was therefore equal with him, She left after partaking of the fruit and Adam stayed and was alone.
U Said:
Tradition is just tradition. It's not part of accepted Scripture, the Torah and all. The OT and NT have been basically unchanged for thousands of years.
Actually, it's a little known fact that the Jews lost so many of their books of scripture that they went back to the septuagint (an old version of the Bible written in Greek) and retranslated the old testament into Hebrew. It is also interesting to note that not all the books in the septuagint made it into the Bible we use today. The Book of Enoch which was in use by the Copts into modern times is also to be found almost unchanged among the dead sea scrolls predating Christ, all the apostles and Jesus himself quoted from it, why isn't it in the Old Testament?
U Said:
The Dead Sea Scrolls demonstrate how accurately they have been handed down.
and much that has been left out.
U Said:
Once the canon was established by the early church fathers, that about settled it. There's too much controversy over the additional writings that some accept and others don't, for my comfort. I'm not going to take the chance and run into error.
I understand you position and it's more logical than many here.
U Said:
Does that mean that maybe I'm missing some truth? I suppose technically it could but you know what? What's in the Bible that we have now is more than enough for me to manage. I could spend my entire life in a monastery studying it and still come up short on all it has. I don't need to spend time on stuff that is questionable.
I would agree with you except for on little scripture in the Bible,
John 17: 3 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
I am looking for that life eternal, and I have come to know God the father and Jesus Christ who he was sent more through the Book of Mormon than was possible through the Bible. The big bone Orthodox Christians have to pick with Mormons started at Joseph's first Vision, with God and Christ being separate beings, who were one in heart might mind and strength. This more than anythings else sticks in their craw, but it's important to know if the trinity is correct or if the Godhead is correct, our eternal lives rest on that knowledge. I understand the demands of time, believe me. I unlike some on this thread am an armature, posting in my "spare" time. I know I could never have learned as much as I now know in all my life without the help of the holy spirit, he enlightens the scriptures for me and continually brings to mind things that I had read and forgotten in a new light so that i am continually feasting on the words of Christ even as I concentrate on work, I would encourage you to seek this closeness which I Enjoy so much.
U Said:
Could I be missing truth? Maybe, but after the lifetime of study of the Bible as we have it, I'd still be missing truth. It's simply not possible to NOT miss truth because I'm finite and human and God is God. There's no way to know Him in His totality. I disagree, when God reveals himself to you, you will understand what he reveals for his methods are perfect. However, if we are just studying him on "our terms" I would agree that we will never comprehend the smallest portion of him completely.
U Said:
For the record, I think the Bible is complete as it stands and do not give any consideration to extra-Biblical teachings. I do not think they are reliable and therefore do not think that it is safe to give them the confidence that I give the OT and NT. Fro the record, I don't (earthshaking, I know for a Mormon to say) but I also have read the Book of Jasher, and the book of Enoch, I have attended every religion my friends had in High school, and I even graduated from a Buddhist monastery while I was in Taiwan. Religion fascinates me, and I read fast, so why not?
That said, I respect you for the honest and forthright manner in which we have conversed, while I would invite you to read the Book of Mormon, I understand completely if you do not feel you have the time. I invite, I do not attempt to compel.
I hope you truly have a nice day and may Jesus shed his light upon you and swaddle you in his love like a newborn babe in a blanket made by Mom.