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What makes Acts part of the Bible and not the Acts of Peter or the Acts of Thomas? Also, isn't the book of James unscriptural? "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." James 2:24 If we follow a strict interpretation of St. Paul's words, the Church erred by creating the New Testament. The scriptures St. Paul referred to were the Hebrew scriptures, not the New Testament. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 And we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly, and not according to the tradition which they have received of us. St. John Chrysostom comments on 2:15 "Hence it is manifest, that they did not deliver all things by Epistle, but many things also unwritten, and in like manner both the one and the other are worthy of credit. It is a tradition, seek no farther. Here he shows that there were many who were shaken." http://www.lightshinesindarkness.com/scripture_tradition.htm

>>What makes Acts part of the Bible and not the Acts of Peter or the Acts of Thomas?<<

By the working of the Holy Spirit and the will of God. Sometimes He even uses evil men to get done what He wants done.

>>Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.<<

Have you ever had anyone tell you what’s in a book? See the word learned there? Has your pastor ever helped you learn what’s in the Bible? When he told you something did you ever open the Bible to see if it was true what he said? Did anyone ever tell you what was in the morning paper? Did you ever learn anything from hearing it from someone else who read it in a book? Doh!

>>"You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." James 2:24<<

Except in a verse above it states that the works are a of faith.

James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

And the verse above that tells us why. It’s because you have to have the right kind of faith and works coming from faith proves what kind of faith you have.

James 2:19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

So the works are only proving what kind of faith you have. It’s still the faith that justified.

>>St. John Chrysostom comments on 2:15 "Hence it is manifest, that they did not deliver all things by Epistle, but many things also unwritten,<<

2 Thessalonians was written in 55 A.D. and the book of John wasn’t written until about 90 A.D. so of course there were things that were still not written at that time. In fact 20 of the New Testament Books had not been written yet. But then again, it doesn’t say they weren’t written anywhere does it? It simply says they were delivered to those people in spoken word rather then in writing. Ever have anyone tell you what was in the Newspaper that morning?

>>Here he shows that there were many who were shaken<<

How did you here about the twin towers coming down? Did someone tell you about it or did you see it yourself? Were you “shaken”? Was it later written down because it was important?

2 Thessalonians 2:14 Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.

2 Thessalonians 2:14 Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.

The OR shows that they are the same words, whether spoken or written...