Duvduv

What I am interested in is a critical examination of the writings of apologists the same way there is a critical examination of the NT texts. I just notice that the discussions of what is part of the canon occur mostly between the years 350 and 400. Yet not a single one devulges WHO authorized a canon ("handed down from our fathers"), WHERE and WHEN this is supposed to have happened in the past prior to the 4th century.

And of course it could be asked why a dozen apologists had to all declare the canon when it should have been a simple matter of common knowledge, though this would suggest the need to inform various publics in various locations under the sponsorship of the imperial regime.

Sheshbazzar

There were hundreds of early Christian texts. Those vipers that seized 'authority' via the swords of Constantine & Co. composed their own exclusive 'versions' and 'canon 'which they then proceeded to force down the throats of everyone they could reach at the point of those same swords... hunting down, beheading, and burning 'heretics' and their books.
That is how The Great WHORE, 'The MOTHER of WHORES and abominations of the earth' came into power; Fabrication and false witness, extortion, murder, and mayhem.
The spilled blood of the innocent victims still cries out for justice, and for vengeance.

The WHORE and her whoring DAUGHTERS are altogether too evil and perverted to be ashamed of their unclean past.
'Situation ethics'; If they had lived in the days of their fathers they would have done likewise. And were it in their ability to do so, they would do likewise today.

They now plot against tomorrow, and against all nations and all peoples, how they will yet again seize control, and in the name of their Nehushtan force every person to slave for, suffer, and 'pay' under their nightmare christian dominion.

Oh for that Day when the christian death cult, along with its snake-on-a-stake idol, are at long last all cast into that fiery Pit and consumed.

outhouse

tell us how you really feel


I agree with most, and love the drama :clapping:




:talktothehand: But those dem dar vipers and such, didnt compose squat, you give them way to much credit.

the current canon had been "semi" in place, in different levels with other literature of different communities, and these scripts were found valuable by many groups and mainstay for many groups since they were composed by what we actually know through scholarships

outhouse

have you not been told this but refuse the knowledge given?

Sheshbazzar

It is my belief that these vipers revised and rewrote 'The Memoirs of the Apostles', into the four 'Gospels. (so that under each 'name' a 'see' could be established.)
And under the name of 'Paul', and the names of various other invented 'Church Fathers', composed blatantly fraudulent writings.
By means of this subterfuge introducing a line of newly fabricated stories that would support their power grab under the guise of a totally fabricated 'tradition' of 'Apostolic Succession'. Then undertook the murdering of anyone who objected.

Sheshbazzar

I should clarify that I am NOT saying these texts were rewritten, modified, or composed during the reign of, or under the oversight of Constantine.
These 'catholic' vipers had been at work with their revisions and fabrications long years before Constantine ever arrived on the scene.
Constantine 'bought' what they were peddling because, like with politicians since time immemorial, it could be harnessed to serve his political plans.

sotto voce

Isn't it strange, then, that they didn't make it into anyone's canon.

Duvduv

The question is what early Christian texts actually existed before the 4th century, of whatever importance.
Again, it has to be noted that the 4th century apologists, one after the other, do not divulge where the canon came from, and who determined which texts were authentic. But then again, if those apologists were simply publicizing the texts authorized by the imperial regime, then they couldn't admit that because it would deny authentic antiquity to the texts themselves.

outhouse

I think we know this to be true.


the softening up of paul epistles

I do think the gospels stayed pretty original, but all other works destroyed.


honestly, you could claim the gospels fit under this umbrella, when they were first written.

after all it is roman scripture, not jewish. paul made sure that didnt go anywhere.

Sheshbazzar

Not really. Once the catholic orthodoxy had accomplished divvying up the civilized world into 'Apostolic sees', -established by means of fraudulently produced religious texts- collusion at the top of the various hierarchies achieved control of the religious beliefs and practices of local populace through a program of thinly veiled terrorism, first carried out by Ecclesiastically directed and controlled mobs of christian converts. Latter by Imperial troops acting under orders.
-The same methods that the latter Protestant Southern Baptist led Ku Klux Klan and supporting politicians employed in the American South to 'keep everyone in line'.
The 'Johnny come lately' Protestant whores are still dancing on the ends of the strings that were pulled by these 2nd and 3rd century catholics.

Where I live here in the hills of Kentucky there are plenty of church going christian 'good 'ol boys' that are more than ready and willing -with a little provocation provided by a fiery sermon from a redneck pastor- to go out for an evening of 'fun', and 'take care' of whomever it is that is the 'troublemaker' their pastor has targeted.
It is nothing new.

Under Constantine and his continuators, and political equivalents in succeeding and other national governments, the iron fist of State sponsored Christian control of 'proscribed books' saw to it that competing or non-conforming texts and their authors were, where it was possible, hunted down and summarily 'dealt' with.
Those who were merely found to be in possession of any non-authorized books were likewise dealt with. No wonder then that christians early on became famous for their censorship and book burnings, an instilled christian 'tradition' that still rears its ugly head from time to time.

The christian texts that didn't 'make the cut' as being canonical, if they were not vigorously promoted by any faction, could simply be ignored or even laughed at.
Any that were taken seriously or promoted as being canon were stomped into oblivion -along with those that had the gall to oppose the edicts of The Holy Catholic and Orthodox Church and its Divinely appointed representatives.




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