>>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)
If I learn any thing when I read good I get a good feelings, when I read things from the devil like trying to shake ones faith, or underminding the Book of Mormon, or writting thing to create doubt...
I get a very strong forbodden feeling, some can confuse and think it is about the Book of Mormon, but it really the person is misunderstanding, for it is the kind of answer one get from the opposition a forbodden scray feeling!
Because when one goes back and read the scripture peace returns to their mind!
I use to get a forbodden feeling when I read the Walter Martin stuff about the Book of Mormon or things like it, but the feeling went away when I read the Book of Mormon!
This is a very clear lesson on discernment this is when I was a member for less than 6 months, it is a lesson I never forgot!
Than another time I read in one of our lesson what the fruits of the spirit of the Holy Ghost is an also what the what the opposition posses and it can not imatate good it can only create fear.
I would love to come across that lesson again I never forgot the jest of it!
Read the Book of Mormon feel peace and Good it is the same feeling I get whenever I read the word of God
Read the anti version I get a forbodden and scray feeling!
Only things of the Lord can give peace!
1) Hippolytus was not related to John.
Hippolytus was upset with the bishops of Rome for not being Trinitarian enough.
Satan does not testify of Christ, nor does he teach men to call on Christ’s name.
Acts 16:16-17.
Also Satan was happy enough to have people be Docetists. Remember what John said about them.
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.
All of the writers of scripture agree ... that's (8) writers in the NT alone.
Why would Judas (the betrayer) ... agree with the other disciples ?
God did (the selection of the NT writings) ... working through the church.
A church that Paul said was already falling away from the teachings ...
Paul never said that the Church was falling away from Christ's teachings.
Paul said that the Church was fighting heresy that was attempting to infiltrate the Church ... from the outside.
Understand something ... your logic is off.
You're making all this fuss about who chose the NT scriptures ... all written within less than 100 years after Christ's ministry ... in a God-led process involving the original Apostles, the early Fathers, hundreds of scholars, etc.
And ... at the same time ... you accept the single testimony of one young man ... of questionable character ... and who admits to being confused.
According to their own statements, Mormons don't doubt the validity of the Bible.
And why shouldn't they ... if they can accept the testimony of one Joseph Smith for the BOM, ... they should readily accept the overwhelmingly more solid evidence for the Bible.
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.
I pray to God nearly everyday. I continue to pray to Him concerning the Mormon claim, among other things. When He gives me the nod, ... I'll let you know.
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.
Joseph Smith would not be the first to attempt to use Christ's name ... for his own purposes.
Millions of Mormons can’t be wrong. (Grin)
Why not ? ... millions of Moslems are.