Good stuff T! I had also heard that 1 and 2 Maccabees were often thought to be written some time after the period they represent.
Most if not all though of the books are highly corrupted and many such as the highly touted Didache probably resemble virtually NOTHING of the original documents at all.
As I am studying, it seems that this is actually likely to be the case for most of our Bible. I am studying the relation of the Church to political power, and there is no question that almost from the moment Jesus left this earth, Christianity became a power in politics, first as an obstacle, then as a tool. It concerns me that most of the major events that lead to our Bible coming together were at the direction of men who wanted to use it to rule more effectively.
It also seems like people often thought it OK to change things just a bit when it fit their theological views better. We see this even now.
John 1:1 has one single letter added to it from the KJV in some bibles and it radically changes the entire verse. In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was (a) God. That one letter word in the parenthesis changes everything!
My study in this area is very VERY early, and I am in a bit over my head, but I do not think every word in the Bible is the exact and true word of God anymore, which I did only half a year ago or less. It makes it very hard to have any faith in the book when you begin to study it's history.
I know some preachers who will (and I did when I used to preach) use a dictionary to drive home the emphasis of a particular word. When you actually begin to understand
the process of translation this practice seems write silly as the word you are being so exact about was simply the best fit the translator could come up with.
*Sigh* Sometimes it just gets to be overwhelming.
Anyhoo. My studies have lead me to the liniage of the papal office, and Clement is listed as like, number three I think, and I read somewhere that one of the earliest original Christian writings we have is from him. Do you know much about him, or that alleged writing? Would he really be considered a "Pope" or is this simply the Catholic Church claiming him as they do Peter?
Thanks, and anyone who can help answer these questions would be great!
Jeremy