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The Connection of Christ’s Missions
a timeline of ACTS of the Apostles

Twenty-first century followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and believers less immersed in Scripture tend to oversimplify the journeys and any connection of apostles of the first century church.
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Our helpful, but partial view tends to look something like this:
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- A.D. 30 – Peter and the Twelve APOSTLES witness Jesus’ resurrection mostly in Jerusalem
  - In fact, the Twelve all traveled (Peter, certainly back and forth to his wife and family Capernaum) and even as far as Rome where more than 30 years later Peter would be executed by Nero.
ACTS on Mission
- A.D. 47-57 – Paul becomes Christ’s connection to the Gentiles and journeys throughout Europe on three time, taking some others with him.
  - Most 21st c. believers realize that Saul had personally met the risen Christ near Damascus while persecuting followers of the Way of Jesus Christ just 10 years earlier.
  - AND we don’t typically count a crucial connection of the Apostle’s final journey to Rome as a “fourth missionary journey” (~A.D. 60) where he too would be executed in about A.D. 66 or 67 just prior to Rome destroying Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
a Connection of Apostles

JESUS CHRIST is the One connection of Paul’s three missionary journeys we dare not overlook.

Notice that ALL of the apostles sent out on the three missionary journeys of Paul were also sent by the Holy Spirit AND the Church to the Jews, Greeks and Roman citizens.

Luke’s account of the history of the Church carefully and frequently notes their connection to each other and especially to the Holy Spirit — who IS One with the Father and our risen Lord JESUS the Son of man, as well as their resurrected friend and Savior.

From the very beginning of ‘Paul’s’ first mission to Cypress with Barnabas and John Mark we continually see more and more connections of individual apostles to new followers in these church plants.
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See a partial list of these connections to beloved believers of new churches and a more detailed 20 year timeline of Acts in this earlier post.
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Corinth – 1st Church Plant in ACHAIA

‘Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul..’

ACTS of more Apostles

Acts 18:

18 And Paul, having stayed-on considerable days longer, having said-good-bye to the brothers, was sailing-off to Syria— and Priscilla and Aquila with him— having sheared his head in Cenchrea, for he had a vow. And they came to Ephesus. And those ones he left-behind there. And he himself, having entered into the synagogue, reasoned with the Jews.
Acts of the Apostles 18:18-19 Disciples’ Literal New Testament
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The Disciples’ Literal New Testament adds two more descriptive headings to our current journey with Paul from the Apostle's second missionary journey to begin his third mission.
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- In Ephesus, Paul Prepares Them For a Future Visit And Then Returns Home To Antioch
  - (Here we see the connections of place with Antioch the church which sent out the Apostles and Ephesus which is about to become a most influential church in Asia Minor both culturally and geographically closer to Rome.)
- Paul Embarks On a Third Journey. Priscilla And Aquila Update Apollos
  - (In these connections of apostles I include: Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos, introduced to us in Luke’s account as we continue on Paul’s THIRD mission into all the world with other apos t les).
And having done some time there, he went forth, going successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Acts of the Apostles 18:23 Disciples’ Literal New Testament

As Paul returns to churches planted in the central inland areas during two previous missionary journeys Luke’s account of other apostles to the gentiles now moves to the coastal city of Ephesus where Apollos – a new believer now proclaims the Gospel alongside Priscilla and Aquila.

Before Luke momentarily moves his account of the acts of apostles from Paul to Apollos, let’s look at one more personal connection of Paul and others to those the apostles of Jesus Christ meet throughout the world of the Roman Empire.

a Connection of Letters

Epistle of Paul to the Romans

Connections to Letters from James

James is leader of the Jerusalem Church in the traditional place where the Lord God has led and shepherded His elect.

Luke has already shown readers of ACTS some important meetings between Peter, Paul and others which included at least one (and probably more) letters from James, the half-brother of Jesus and Pastor of the Jerusalem church, with encouragement for other followers of the Way of Christ Jesus.

Epistle from the Council of Jerusalem – Acts 15:20

A.D. 49 – the COUNCIL of JERUSALEM (which includes Peter & Paul) sends letters to Churches clarifying application of Mosaic LAW to Greeks and Romans as well as these Messianic Jews.

A.D. 52 – By now as PAUL and other APOSTLES depart on this next missionary journey, these ‘fathers‘ of the Church have sent additional epistles (letters) to encourage the Church beyond their personal and present reach.

New Testament Epistles – Apostolic Letters to the Church
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VISIT our Talk of JESUS .com CATEGORY with posts from any of these NEW TESTEMENT LETTERS
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Contemporary Application of the Letters (Epistles)
Most New Testament writers take on specific issues confronting faithful followers of Jesus Christ. These same issues continue to confront believers until the Lord’s coming again in these last days.
Talk of JESUS .com – Church Letters- Is he writing to me?

Connections already made by letter:

James – Preaching to a Worldly Church – 4

A.D. 49 – from our A.D. 2019 series from the Epistle of James

HOT topics from Galatians – Perversion of the Gospel

A.D. 49 – from Paul, an apostle.. and all the brothers who are with me

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel
Epistle from Paul, an apostle.. To the churches of Galatia 1:6 NKJV
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Here we join Paul in A.D. 52 as the apostle NOW immediately heads to Galatia in person to confirm the Gospel of Christ JESUS to the faithful of these NEW churches.
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A.D. 50 – Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Not ME – the deception of SIN

‘.. you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. – 1 Thessalonians 1:7b

A.D. 51 – also from Paul, Silas and Timothy to the Thessalonians:

Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

The Judgment at Christ’s Coming
This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—
2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 ESV

The close connection of all of these men sent out (apostles) continues to nurture these churches even as they head out on a third missionary journey with Paul.

AND later (A.D. 55) as they travel toward Ephesus these apostles will again touch the beloved brothers of the church in Corinth from where they have just departed.

ACTS of the apostles TO BE CONTINUED on Paul’s THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY…

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
August 26, 2023
Matthias – Scripture fulfilled in Jerusalem – מַתַּתְיָה
Choosing Matthias

And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Acts 1:26 NASB20

Matthias fills a position of an Apostle from off the bench (so to speak) as a substitute for Judas who had betrayed Christ and then took his own life. This new Twelfth Apostle gets little mention as we could readily move on to some of the more miraculous events of Acts. (Luke mentions Matthias only twice in these verses.)

What I missed before Peter’s great preaching at Solomon’s Portico in the Temple was the Apostle’s taking up the mantle of leadership of the Church in an upper room in Jerusalem.

Peter Preaching in the Upper Room

After Ten Days Peter finally Acts: Shepherding Christ’s Flock

Acts 1:

Acts of ALL with one accord

The Apostles & others have waited ten days after Jesus’ ascension.

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
Acts 1:15 KJV *Note: μαθητής – mathētēs translated as disciples in the KJV refers to learners of a teacher, not to be confused with Apostles; other versions translate as ἀδελφός adelphos–generally translated as brethren (in Christ)

Why replace Judas?

After a hundred disciples of Jesus returned to Jerusalem and waited together, we can suppose that the Holy Spirit reveals to Simon Peter why Judas must be replaced by a twelfth Apostle.

“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.”
Acts of the Apostles 1:16-17 NASB – Simon Peter preaching to the hundred in Jerusalem

What had David said that applied to Judas now, a thousand years later?

Peter preaches by the same Holy Spirit who inspired David of what is written in the Psalms.

.. the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David foretold about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.17 For he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”

18 Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst, his body burst open and his intestines spilled out. 19 This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama (that is, “Field of Blood”). 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms:

Let his dwelling become desolate;
let no one live in it; and
Let someone else take his position.

Recalling Judas’ betrayal in the upper room and in Gethsemane

In his first account Luke records Judas’ betrayal of Jesus nearly two months prior to Peter anointing his replacement shortly after Christ’s ascension into heaven.

Luke 22:

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve..

“This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in My blood.

But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”
Gospel of Luke 22:21-22 – Jesus foretells His betrayal by Judas at the last supper

That fateful night two months past in Gethsemane

23 And they began to debate among themselves which one of them it was who was going to do this.

While he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49 When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked,

“Lord, should we strike with the sword?” Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.

(We know that it was Peter who cut off the ear of Malchus.)

51 But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, he healed him.

Preaching Scripture

Peter had learned well from Jesus the lessons of Scripture for three years.

During more than a month following Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection the Lord certainly must have instructed His disciples of the great significance of events recorded in the Bible (their Old Testament or Old Covenant).

Luke records Jesus’ routine of teaching in Jerusalem, which Peter and the Apostles most certainly would have followed during these first days of the Church.

Now [days] during the day [Jesus] He was teaching in the temple, but [nights] at evening He would go out and spend the night on the [hill] mountain that is called [Olive Grove] Olivet.
And all the people would get up very early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.
Gospel of Luke 21:37-38 NASB [incl. footnotes]

Did you miss this during all the times you have heard the gut-wrenching drama of Christ’s Passion during the Lord’s last week in Jerusalem?

I did.

And you may have even wondered about Jesus preaching about David in Psalm 110 from Luke 20.

Peter also points back to David and Psalms in his understanding of replacing Judas recorded by Luke in Acts.

Jesus and Judas, Like David’s enemy

Psalm 41:

All who hate me whisper together against me;
They plot my harm against me, saying,

“A wicked thing is poured out upon him,
So that when he lies down, he will not get up again.”

Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me.
Psalm 41:9 NASB

How Peter and the Eleven must have also suffered in failing to discern the betrayal of their fellow Apostle.

Psalm 69:

May their camp be desolated;
May there be none living in their tents.
For they have persecuted him whom You Yourself struck,
And they tell of the pain of those whom You have [pierced] wounded.
according to [lilies] Shoshannim. A Psalm of David. 69:25-26 NASB20

Psalm 109:

A Psalm of David.
God of my praise,
Do not be silent!

.. In return for my love they act as my accusers;
But I am in prayer.

So they have [laid upon me] repaid me evil for good,
And hatred for my love.

May his days be few;
May another take his office.
Psalm 109:8 NASB – quoted by Peter in Acts 1:20

Peter connects David’s Psalm to Judas

Acts 1:

14 They all were continually united in prayer..

Now Peter by the Holy Spirit speaks of replacing the Apostolic office of Jesus’ betrayer.

21 “Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

YES, during the three years of Jesus’ earthly ministry MANY disciples followed the Lord, believed His teaching and witnessed His acts of miraculous signs only possible through the Lord God.

So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.
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A helpful early church history linked below provides insight about casting lots used by the Apostles to choose Matthias over Joseph. 
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Matthias: an Apostle by Providence

“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
Proverbs 16:33

It was crucial to the remaining 11 Apostles that the number 12 Jesus had chosen be completed again. They chose as candidates two equally qualified disciples, prayed, cast lots and Matthias was chosen.
Sandra Sweeny Silver – EARLY CHURCH HISTORY—LIFE IN ANCIENT ROME & THE EARLY CHRISTIANS – CASTING LOTS IN THE BIBLE

24 And they prayed and said,

“You, Lord, who know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen to [take the place of] occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

And they [gave] drew lots for them, and the lot fell [upon]to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Acts of the Apostles 1:26 NASB – the selection of Matthias as a twelfth Apostle

Matthias

Μαθθίας

Matthias = “gift of God” -the apostle elected to fill the place of the traitor Judas [Acts 1:23, 26]

– apparently a shortened form of G3161; Matthias (i.e. Mattithjah), an Israelite:—Matthias.
- Mattathias = “gift of Jehovah”
  - the son of Amos, in the genealogy of Christ
  - Mattathias was the son of Semei in the genealogy of Christ
LUKE records in his Gospel genealogy, beginning at 3:23

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi.. which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos.. which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei.. which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David.. [ etc.. ] the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Of Hebrew origin מַתַּתְיָה (H4993)
- Mattithiah = “gift of Jehovah”
- Mattithiah occurs in 8 verses in the KJV, always a son of the priestly line of the Levites.
Matthias – a post script

We do not read of Matthias again in Acts or the pastoral letters; but aren’t you wondering what awaited this important Apostolic ministry for this new twelfth Apostle?

Here is a reliable, little-spoken historical account (though not by Luke).

The Apostles in Jerusalem & all the world
- About two thousand Christians, with Nicanor, one of the seven deacons, suffered martyrdom during the “persecution that arose about Stephen.”
  - God-willing, we will read more about Steven in Acts 7.
- James the son of Zebedee was martyred about ten years later in A.D. 44.
  - As mentioned in my introduction to Acts, Luke had not yet recorded even his Gospel until about A.D. 60.
- Philip thrown into prison [in Phrygia] , and afterwards crucified, A.D. 54.
- The Apostle and Gospel-writer Matthew was slain with a halberd [a two-handed battle axe] in the city of Nadabah, [Ethiopia] A.D. 60.
- At the age of ninety-four [James the Less] was beat and stoned by the Jews; and finally had his brains dashed out with a fuller’s club.
Matthias
Of whom less is known than of most of the other disciples, was elected to fill the vacant place of Judas.

He was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded. *

SOURCE: FOX’s BOOK of MARTYRS
https://www.ccel.org/f/foxe/martyrs/fox101.htm
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* Other traditions claim that Matthias was martyred in Cappadocia [modern day Turkey]. 
-- St. Jerome and the early Christian writers Clement of Alexandria and Eusebius of Caesarea attest that Matthias was among the 72 disciples paired off and dispatched by Jesus. - Source: Britannica 

* OR Died	c. AD 80
Jerusalem, Judaea or in Colchis (modern-day Georgia) 
-- The tradition of the Greeks says that St. Matthias planted the faith about Cappadocia and on the coasts of the Caspian Sea, residing chiefly near the port Issus. Source: Wikipedia
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NEXT: The Acts of Pentecost
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To be continued...
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September 30, 2021
The BIBLE is HOLY
HOLY Scripture

“ALL scripture is inspired by God.. !
All scripture is given by inspiration of God..
All Scripture is breathed out by God..
All Scripture is God-breathed..
2 Timothy 3:16a

How does God communicate with man?

The Doctrine of Scripture or the Doctrine of the Bible stakes claim to all that is HOLY in the writings of God.
- Does Scripture have an ‘other’ holiness?
- Is the Word of God in writing true?
What is Holy?

We began this series on Doctrine appropriately with God’s Holiness.

Doctrine – GOD IS HOLY

“God is not a man, that He would lie,
Nor a son of man, that He would change His mind..

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God! Other! Separate of man and above all His creation.

God is God and we are not.

Is the Bible Holy?

Christians call it, “THE HOLY BIBLE,” but what does that mean?

Now I ask you, my fellow believer and follower of Christ Jesus,

What authority should the Bible have in the lives of disciples of the true doctrines of God?

We have already defined holiness as separate, apart, and therefore sacred and as God speaks, an awful thing! Now I must define our commonly used terms addressing the holiness of God’s written word, the Bible or Scripture.

What is Scripture?

“It is written..” – כָּתַב

The word means “writing.”

In the Old Testament it occurs in the King James Version only once, “the scripture of truth,” in Da 10:21, where it is more correctly rendered in the Revised Version (British and American), “the writing of truth.” The reference is not to Holy Scripture, but to the book in which are inscribed God’s purposes.

In the New Testament, “scripture” and “scriptures” stand regularly for the Old Testament sacred books regarded as “inspired” (2Ti 3:16), “the oracles of God” (Ro 3:2).
International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

And in each and every book of the Bible we must hold sacred that:
- IF ‘it is written’ as God’s spoken word,
- THEN we must regard it as truth – God’s truth revealed in the written word.
כְּתָב

אֲבָל֙ אַגִּ֣יד לְךָ֔ אֶת־הָרָשׁ֥וּם בִּכְתָ֖ב אֱמֶ֑ת וְאֵ֨ין אֶחָ֜ד מִתְחַזֵּ֤ק עִמִּי֙ עַל־אֵ֔לֶּה כִּ֥י אִם־מִיכָאֵ֖ל שַׂרְכֶֽם׃ פ
Daniel 10:21 WLC

You’ve often read scripture such as:
- .. as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses..
- .. it is written in the Book of Jashar..
- “Celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.”
- “It is written in the Prophets..
- “For it is written in the book of Psalms..
OR of specific scriptures.

.. as it is written:
“THERE IS NO RIGHTEOUS PERSON, NOT EVEN ONE..
Romans 3:10 NASB20 referring to verses in the Psalms
- Scripture is the written truth of God revealed to man.
The Jews chosen by the LORD God lived by Scripture (or at least they were called to live by the word of God through the Law and the Prophets).

“It is written..” – γράφω

The first mention of Scripture in the Gospels of the New Testament is by the Person of Christ Jesus!

After the Lord had been in the wilderness for forty days, the Messiah Jesus answers Satan’s temptation by applying Scripture written from the wilderness testing of Moses and Israel.

Matthew 4:

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

4 But He answered and said, “It is written:
γράφω – graphō

‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”
Gospel of Matthew 4:4 NASB

(Do you think Christians might want to take heed to how Jesus replies to the temptation of Satan in the wilderness?) ‘MAN SHALL LIVE ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD..’

JESUS REITERATES THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE!
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So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.
- Deuteronomy 8:3 
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The New Testament on Scripture

γραφή – graphē

a writing, thing written
the Scripture, used to denote either the book itself, or its contents
a certain portion or section of the Holy Scripture

The KJV translates Strong’s G1124 in the following manner: scripture (51x). from G1125; a document, γράφω – graphō [as we have defined above ‘it is written’ ] which occurs 192 times in 181 verses in the mgnt Greek.
A few examples of holy scripture
- Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. – Luke 24:45
- You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me; and yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.– John 5:39-40
- For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. –Romans 15:4
All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB20

INSPIRED BY GOD! ALL Scripture (not just a verse or two to our liking). Scripture is HOLY, writings other than the ordinary books not spoken by God — books not written by the LORD speaking to a man.

The BIBLE is HOLY!

What is the Bible?

DOCTRINE – What do you believe?

Again, the necessity of defining what ANYONE means where referring to “THE BIBLE.”

NOT ALL BIBLE’s are alike.

First, What is NOT the Bible

(AND therefore, NOT the HOLY Word of GOD.)
- The Quran is not the Bible.
- The Book of Mormon is not the Bible. [See: Cult Resources]
- The Complete Tanakh (*with its 24 Hebrew books) is an incomplete Bible.
  - *The 24 Hebrew books are the same as the 39 Books of the Old Testament; the difference is in the way they are divided.
- Some *Additional Books in Roman Catholic and other Bibles include writings which are helpful, but NOT the inspired Word of God.
  - The word Apocrypha means “hidden.”
- Gnostic Books (& gospels) which some *claim as part of the Bible oppose the Holy Scriptures and Word of God.
  - *The term apocryphal is also applied to other books that are New Testament forgeries. An example of this would be the Gospel of Thomas, which claims to have been written by Jesus’ disciple Thomas. The book, however is a forgery.
- Some contemporary ‘translations’ of the Bible are *biased against true Scripture and do NOT actually translate Scripture from the original Hebrew and Greek.
  - *Examples of Anti-Trinitarian bias of the NWT (New World Translation) of the Jehovah Witnesses cult non-secure links to authoritative research by Bruce M. Metzger from Christianity Today available.
The BIBLE

I will not go into detail here concerning the Canon of Scripture and historical affirmations of the Authority of God’s word.

{You may find it helpful to remember the competing authority of definition 1 from the Oxford English Dictionary
- – i.e. Canon So-and-so, Bishop of Rome, London, etc.}
Technically, the HISTORY of the Bible is NOT itself, DOCTRINE, however one cannot fully appreciate the Bible now in print for most anyone without a brief look at how the Canon of Scripture came about.

Since many respected theologians have provided proofs of the authenticity of the Books of the Bible [66 total] included in the teachings of the church, I will highlight just a few dates for your further research if you desire.
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Although I use and refer to several sources, if I could suggest one indexed authoritative source for your person answer to questions about the Bible I recommend:

 https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/index.cfm
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Creeds & the Canon of Scripture

The Biblical Canon

is the collection of scriptural books that God has given his corporate people, which are distinguished by their divine qualities, reception by the collective body, and their apostolic connection, either by authorship or association.

Source: The Gospel Coalition

Authoritative Authors

A final attribute of canonical books is that they are written by God’s chosen agents, his inspired prophets and apostles. Put simply, not just anyone can speak for God; .. prophets and other inspired spokesmen .. it included the apostles, Christ’s authoritative witnesses …

‘We have good historical evidence…‘

A few of the historical events of note which have constantly and consistently affirmed the Authority of God through the Holy Bible.
- ‘The earliest Christian creed is found in the New Testament, which declares, “Jesus is Lord.”’ – R.C. Sproel, Avoiding Theological Anarchy
- A.D. 50 – Council of Jerusalem see Acts 15
- The deity of Christ was at issue at the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325). In that council the full deity of Christ was affirmed, and Christ, the divine Logos, the second person of the Trinity, was declared to be co-essential and co-eternal with the Father. – See the Nicene Creed.
- The Apostles’ Creed dates to about A.D. 390 in a letter from Ambrose of Milan to Pope Siricius, but its complete current form does not appear until the eighth century.
- Council at Ephesus A.D. 431 confirmed the original Nicene Creed, and condemned the teachings of Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who held that the Virgin Mary may be called the Christotokos, “Christ-bearer” but not the Theotokos, “God-bearer”.
- In A.D. 451 the Emperor Marcian convened a council of some five hundred bishops at Chalcedon. The Chalcedonian theologians were conscious of deviations from biblical orthodoxy that had plagued the church for over a hundred years an emerged with The Athanasian Creed, honoring Athanasius, the great champion of Trinitarian orthodoxy who died in A.D. 373..
The Great Schism of 1054

‘So on July 16, 1054, the “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church,” as the Nicene Creed puts it, split. And then there were two.’
Stephen Nichols

The Protest and Reformation
- A.D. 1521 Diet of Worms, meeting of the Diet (assembly) of the Holy Roman Empire held at Worms, Germany, in 1521, made famous by Martin Luther’s appearance before it to respond to charges of heresy.
Because of the confused political and religious situation of the time, Luther was called before the political authorities rather than before the pope or a council of the Roman Catholic Church.

“I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Word of God, I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.” – Martin Luther at Worms
- A.D. 1545 The Council of Trent began sitting in 1545, introducing rigidity in dogma and austerity in morals. The Protestant views of justification by faith alone, the Lord’s Supper, and the propriety of clerical marriage were sharply rejected. All deviation within the Catholic fold was rigidly suppressed.
- London, A.D. 1611 – King James Bible printed in English, after Protestantism had been restored to England.
MORE.. Church Divided / Empire Fallen 2

DOCTRINE – What do you believe?
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To be continued...
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NEXT: More on Doctrine of the Bible
June 26, 2021