From: 	 heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: 	 Thursday, September 10, 1997 2:18 AM
To: 	 Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: I need some help with the Canonization of Scripture!


From:          "Jason T. Olivea" 
To:            Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Subject:       I need some help with the Canonization of Scripture!

Eddie,

I have need of your help.  I was born & raised Catholic and know its
history pretty well.  Three years ago while living in Phoenix AZ, I went
to a Sabbath service at Louis Kaplan's Jewish Voice Messianic Ministries.
I recieved Yeshua as Lord & Savior the first night I went.  As a result,
from day one I have known/been taught my Jewish roots.  Through my own
personal experiences with Catholicism and much study and research I
personally believe that Catholicism is another Gospel.  I'm not saying
that there aren't saved Catholics however, being born and raised in New
York and having the experiences in Catholicism that I have, I believe that 
the Gospel is not preached and taught in the Catholic church.  I have read
their encyclopedia, Dave Hunt's materal, Great Mystery Babylon, and I have
a history of religion minor at school in which we studied in great detail
Christianity's early years.  With that said,  a friend of mine is taking a
position at Franciscan Univ. at Steubenville.  While visiting there
they gave him literature about the Bible which I quote from the source:

"The books of the bible were first offically put together at the council
of Hippo in the year of 393.  They were then reaffirmed in the council of
Carthage in 397 and again by Pope Innocent I in 405.  In 1546 the council
of Trent solemnly defined and declared these books to be correct.

"The church that Christ promised to build on St. Peter in Matt. 16:18 was
the Catholic Church.  This Catholic church existed for many years before
the bible was ever put together.  IT WAS THE CATHOIC CHURCH WHO MADE THE
BIBLE; (Bold print emphasis is in the literature, not my doing).  She
selected its books, and she perserved it.  She handed it down through the
years.  THAT IS HISTORICAL FACT!!! (Again, their emphasis)  

"Many try to tear down or overthrow the Catholic Church, using the Bible.
Some try to put the bible above the very church that assembled it.  Still
others condemn and criticize the Catholic Church for corrupting and
straying from the bible.  Through all of this they turn their backs on
the mother that raised them; they slap the hand that fed them; they turn
against their best friend.  They repay with insults and abuse the very one
who has guided, led and protected them on the path to Jesus.

	Know the TRUTH...  it will set you free!!!"

This is printed from  Raddix P.O. Box 29612 Lincoln, Neb 68529


This issue has come up in my witnessing efforts about the origin of the
canonization of the Scriptures.  I think this totally coincides with the
discussions about the authority of the N.T. that has been on your e-mails.
I truly believe what the Catholic church has done to the truth of Yeshua
is an abomination.  Again,  I don't say this with bitterness but,  that
the records show for themselves what they have done.  Now I will get to
the HEART of my questions.

>
>1. Who really put the N.T. together?
>

          GOD sits on the THRONE in heaven. NOTHING happens without 
his permission and his prior knowledge. The scriptures are INSPIRED 
by the God through the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16).

          However, our King James Bibles do have 66 book to the 
Bible. 6 is the number of man. In this I see man's "fingering" with 
the inspired Word of God. 

          For example, the word "Easter" is only found in one verse 
in the Bible. It is (Acts 12:4). The Greek word TRANSLATED into 
ENGLISH as "Easter" is the Strong's Word (3957).  This is the SAME 
word translated as PASSOVER (3957) in about 30 other NT passages.

          Man's "fingering" does not neglect the truth that the OT is 
an INSPIRED book and if you will allow the HOLY SPIRIT to guide you 
in your studies, the truth of the text and it's correct understanding 
and interpretation will be known and revealed to you.

          However, the God of Israel has preserved His INSPIRED Word 
despite the "fingering" of man.
 
          Do you know that the Sadducees ONLY considered the first 
five books as inspired scripture and NOT the prophets? Yet, Yeshua 
speaks that the Torah AND the prophets speak of Him (Luke 24:44). So, 
we have a case where a sect in Judaism only considered the first five 
books as scripture and not the entire OT. 


>
>2. When was the N.T. put together?
>

          It became officially canonized several hundred years AFTER 
the death of Yeshua. I once saw a book in the Christian bookstore 
that gave the exact history. Maybe some of the other members of the 
newsgroup can provide further details.

>
>3. What about the Gospel of Thomas?
>

           It obviously was not canonized and should not be 
considered scripture.

>
>4. I just got a new book titled "Understanding the Difficult Words of
>Jesus"  which states that the N.T. was not written in greek but hebrew.
>DO you know anything about this?
>

             In all probability this is true. The ORIGINAL NT was 
probably in Hebrew. It was then translated to Greek and later to 
English. This is why we miss alot of the Jewish background and 
understanding the text in the translation. 

            The STYLE and MANNER of the writing of the Gospels is 
HEBRAIC and not written in "good Greek linguistics". Therefore, the 
conclusion can be drawn that it was written in Hebrew. Many believe 
that the ORIGIN Hebrew NT is buried in yet undiscovered dead sea 
scrolls. 

>
>5. How sure are we that there isn't more N.T. Scripture that maybe hasn't
>added because of the Jewishness of it?
>

             NOTHING happened without God's permission. Rest assure 
that God allowed what HE wanted to be canonized. HE uses men even if 
they are ignorant that they are being used and how they are being 
used to accomplish HIS plan and purposes.

>
>6. Are there any books you would recommend about the Canonization?
>

          I am not familiar with any off the top of my head. Maybe 
some of the members of the newsgroup has some suggestions. You should 
be able to find some books on the subject at your local Christian 
bookstore.

>
>7. What about the Apocrypha being in the Catholic bible and not given
>authority in Christian/Messianic Jewish Bibles?
>

              I would not accept it as divinely inspired scripture 
but only as valuable literature. The Jewish people do not recognize 
the Apocrypha as being inspired scripture.

>
>These questions have me fustrated at times however,  it hasn't nor will
>it deter me from going forward with my total dedication to Yeshua and the
>New Covenant teachings.  I thank you for any help and guidance with this.
>

           Just don't let it frustrate you to the point that you side 
with those who say that the NT is not inspired scripture of God.  

>
>Again, thanks and may Hashem bless you,
>Jason T. Olivea
>

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