These Books Never Secretly Removed

2. These Books Never Secretly Removed • By 9th Century A.D., Photius listed some 280 • Epistle of Pseudo-Barnabas (cir 70-79 A.D.) • The Shepherd if Hermas (cir 115-140 A.D.) • The Apocalypse of Peter (cir 150 A.D.) • Popularity Doesn’t Equal Inspiration • Christians Have Vine’s, Strong’s, etc. • Quoting from a document does not mean you consider it inspired • Acts 17:28; Titus 1:12

3. Some NT Books Disputed • Hebrews – because of anonymity • James – Supposed conflict with Paul’s Teaching • 2 Peter – differs in style from 1 Peter • 2 & 3 John – private nature & limited circulation • Jude – reference to an uninspired source (14,15) • Revelation – millennial sects were perverting it to support false doctrine

4. Jesus Never Warned of “Missing Books” • Jesus Gave Many Warnings: • False Teachers – Matthew 7:15 • Persecutions – Matthew 10:17-28 • Corrupt Elders – Acts 20:30 • Smooth Talkers – Romans 16:18 • Specific False Teaching – 1 Timothy 4:1-3 • False Letters – 2 Thessalonians 2:2 • Unfaithful Members – 2 Timothy 4:2,3 • False teaching about God’s Grace – 2 Peter 2:19; Jude 4 • Error concerning Nature of Christ – 1 John 4:1-3

5. “Recently the sands of Egypt have yielded even earlier copies of New Testament books from about A.D. 200-250… these copies preserve large portions of the N.T., Luke, Acts, much of the Pauline Epistles and Revelation… What do these copies look like? They differ from the text of the KJV only in details. It may be said in general that these earliest manuscripts show a text practically the same as used in the American Revised Version…

6. “Anyone can therefore test for himself approximately how much variation there is among these manuscripts by comparing these two versions (KJV & ASV). There is one fragment of John called the Rylands Papyrus dated about A.D. 125. It is extremely early, being written within thirty years of the original copy. A translation of it reads exactly like the ASV. These facts reinforce the famous dictum of Westcott & Hort that not 1/10 of one percent of the text of the NT is in dispute, and none of this concerns any doctrine of faith.”

7. How could anyone seriously argue: • “Error didn’t creep into the text, but whole books were lost?” • “They meticulously copied, preserved & even died for 27 books, while others, equally inspired, were so carelessly handled that they ended up lost?”

8. Church Councils Didn’t Remove Books • “Lists” of inspired books predate the “Church Councils” • Earliest list – Marcion (cir 140 A.D.) • Muratorian Fragment – End of 2nd Century A.D. • Eusebius (cir. 265-340 A.D.) Acknowledges most books • Athanasius (367 A.D.) 27 books (East) • Jerome & Augustine 27 Books (West) • 1st Council to Classify Canon -393 & 397 AD

9. Pseudepigrapha • False writings from 200 B.C. to 200 A.D. • Eusebius- “totally absurd & impious” • Paul warned of false letters bearing his name – 2 Thessalonians 2:2 • Some members drawn to myth & fable - 2 Timothy 4:4 • Common is the desire to fill in supposed gaps in biblical record • By just reading, can tell they are not Scripture

10. Gospel of Thomas • “When Jesus saw what he had done he was enraged and said to him: “You insolent, godless dunderhead… See now you shall wither like a tree.” And immediately that lad withered up completely.. But the parents of him that was withered took him away, bewailing his youth, and brought him to Joseph and reproached him: “What a child you have, who does such things.” (3:1-3)

11. Gospel of The Egyptians • Teaching against marriage & meat which Paul said is false doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1-4) Gospel of Joseph the Carpenter • From a cult who glorified Joseph The Passing of Mary • Advanced stage Mary worship

12. John Opposed Gnosticism • 1 John 1:1-3; 4:1-3 Paul Also Opposed • Colossians 2:9, 18-23 • Gospel of Thomas found in Upper Egypt 1945/46 • “Gnostic in character.. More developed form of same heresy Paul refutes in Colossians.”

13. John Opposed Gnosticism • About 280 false writings exist • No wonder John warned: • “many antichrists have some” 1 John 2:18 • “do not believe every spirit” 1 John 4:1

14. Apocrypha • Realize superior authority of apostolic writings • Ignatius – Epistle to Romans (4:3) “I do not enjoin you, as Peter & Paul did. They were Apostles…” • Epistle of Barnabas – story of hyena which changes its sex year by year • Clement of Rome to Corinth (95 AD)- fable of phoenix in illustration of resurrection

15. Apocrypha • Instead of discrediting NT, are witness to the authenticity of NT Books • Writings 80 – 180 A.D. • Contain many quotes • Clement to Corinthians – refers to Paul’s 1st epistle to them & gives several quotes from Hebrews

16. Modern Forgeries • 12 or more, mostly in last 100 years, claim to add revelation to Bible. • Every one shown to be a hoax • “Unknown Life of Christ” 1894 • Claimed to be based on information from Chief Lama of Tibetan monk • Monks denied ever seeing him or knowing anything about manuscripts about Christ

17. Modern Forgeries • “The Lost Books Of The Bible” 1926 • Reprint of Apocryphal New Testament 1820 • Edition of Apostolic Fathers 1737 • Galatians 1:6-9 NKJV “8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”