“Some interesting views “
Can’t make much out of it personally, but I’ve often wondered about the “apochryphal texts” that to a greater or lesser extent have fallen in and out of favor over the years.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/apo/index.htm
Not trying to make trouble by any means, but it would appear that the Bible that we currently have (and even it may or may not include some of these texts), seems to have “varied” over the years since it was first set down.
Was there a council of some sort, approximately 400 years after Christ’s death, that set into place which holy texts were acceptable in the compilation, and which were not? It would be interesting to study the rationalizations as to why some were included and some were not.
I’m not terribly interested in answers based on “It’s divine enlightment, so that’s just the way it is. Don’t ask!”. What I’m interested in is the historical basis as to why certain books were included, at what time, and what books were reintroduced into the collection at a later date.
I would think if some Bible is good, more Bible is better, but obviously there are many Christian religious sects that have disagreed from time to time.
“Was there a council of some sort, approximately 400 years after Christ’s death,” (and resurrection?)
Yes in 325 AD there was a lot of unrest during the reign of Constantine some will argue it was divine others will say it was to quell the masses.
Why some manuscripts were included and other not was the decision of those in charged.
We are very bless for the preservation.
What we do have of the Bible is truly witness by the Spirit of the Lord.
***
“What I’m interested in is the historical basis as to why certain books were included, at what time, and what books were reintroduced into the collection at a later date.”
We are living in a temporal world so each government had much control over the Churches so some books were accepted and others most likely did not fit the agenda of the day?
Many of us today see the hand writting on the wall yet there is also many who are in denial it is the same with those who cling to a preconcived notion that the Bible is inerrant and infallable are in denial
In many of the manuscripts were warning about do not add or subtract from the manuscript as well in
Galatians 1
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that tr
ouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
So if the scriptures were free from error or distortions why would there be all these warning in the scriptures including the Lord impressing this concern in Galations if this kind of thing was not going on.
Many are in denial!
That is why when reading the Scriptures one is to pray for discernment to recognized the Spirit if the Lord aka as the Holy Ghost!
John 14
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
If you are interested in a scholarly approach to the NT, then I would recommend reading some of Bart D. Ehrman's books.
Some view NT textual criticism as an attack on the NT, but in reality nothing could be further from the truth. NT textual criticism is an attempt to determine the original manuscript of the NT books. In essence, to get a more accurate version of the NT books. It is said there are more variants of the NT than there are words in the NT. Determining which variants are the most original ones is the task of NT textual criticism.