Early Christians continued to accept the Old Testament as authoritative and they could interpret the Old Testament in the light of Jesus' deeds and words if they had a reliable record of them. So, alongside Moses and the prophets, they had these early writings about Jesus and letters from the apostles who had known Jesus in the flesh and Divine. This refers to Oral and Written Tradition.

When they sought to make a list of books about the Lord Jesus Christ and the early Church which they considered authoritative, they retained the Old Testament on the authority of Jesus and His apostles. Along with these books they recognised as authoritative the writings of the new age - four gospels or biographies on the life and ministry of Jesus; the 13 letters of Paul; and letters of other apostles and their companions. The gospel collection and the apostolic collection were joined together by the Book of 'The Acts Of The Apostles' which served as a sequel to the gospel story as well as a narrative background for the earlier epistles.

The primary standard applied to a book was that it must be written either by an apostle or by someone close to the apostles. This guaranteed that their writing about Jesus and the early Church would have the authenticity of an eyewitness account. As in the earliest phase of the Church existence, 'the apostles' doctrine' was the basis of its life and thought. The apostolic writings formed the charter or foundation documents of the Church.

THE EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

These remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of bread and to prayers. The many miracles and signs worked through the apostles made a deep impression on everyone. The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common; they sold their goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed.
They went as a body to the Temple everyday but met in their houses for the breaking of bread: they shared their food gladly and generously; they praised God and were looked up to by everyone. Day by day the Lord added to their community those destined to be saved. - Acts 2:42-47 -

Behind the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible is a thrilling story of how God revealed Himself and His will to human spokesmen and then acted throughout history to preserve His Word and pass it along to future generations.

The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of Yahweh blows on them
(The grass is without doubt the people)
The grass withers, the flower fades
but the word of our God remains forever. - Isaiah 40:7-8 -

I tell solemnly, before this generation has passed away all these things will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away. - Matt. 24:34-35 -

In the beginning was the Word;
the Word was with God
and the Word was God. - John 1:1 -

Something which has existed since the beginning,
that we have heard,
and we have seen with our own eyes;
that we have watched
and touched with our hands;
the Word, who is life-
this is our subject. - 1John 1:1 -

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -