The Bible

[Sean]

True, the original KJV included the Apocrypha. It was ordered as "historical reference" and not sacred scripture.

King James was so shell shocked by Catholicism and its' persecutions of "heretics", he wanted all of England to have legal access to the scriptures, even "outsider" books.

The Apocrypha was later removed legally after king James died.

[Esaias]

I've never read any book that reads like the bible. Anything that would get addes just wouldn't fit.

The apocryphal books just don't have the same "oomph" the others seem to have. Can't explain it but there it is.

[Scott Pitta]

Many early copies of the NT included books we do not now have. Not all Bibles all had the same extra books.

Interesting discussion.

[Scott Pitta]

What are the criteria for determining if a book is inspired or not ?

[Scott Pitta]

The church was motivated to consider a canon by the heretics. Certain false teachers had their own list of inspired books. This forced the church to consider which books were inspired and which were not.

[FlamingZword]

Originally Posted by Esaias

I've never read any book that reads like the bible. Anything that would get addes just wouldn't fit.

The apocryphal books just don't have the same "oomph" the others seem to have. Can't explain it but there it is.

I shall explain it for you in easy words.

The books that belong to the Bible are easier to classify on the basis that they mention other books of the Bible, have a continuity or a link to other scriptures in the Bible.

Per example, the book of Exodus links to Genesis, by retelling some of the past actions mentioned in Genesis.

The Book of Ruth is linked to the Book of Judges by telling us that those events happened in the time of the Judges.

The book of Job is linked by mentioning Adam, God and Angels and the foundation of the world.

No book of the Bible stands alone, every book is linked to others, but most people fail to see the connections

[Scott Pitta]

The books of the NT do not quote each other. They really are stand alone books. One of the books of the OT is not quoted in the nt. Remember which one ? It will be your fun fact of the day !!

[Esaias]

The OT canon was established by the time of Christ.

The NT works came to be recognized as authoritative by a consensus aming early believers. Some groups added some, some rejected some, of course.

But the Gospel of Thomas or Hermas' Shepherd for example just din't have that special something the others have.

Personally I always wondered what the point of including Philemon was. But I have no objections to it lol.