Some of the gospel of Thomas is just a direct quote from the other Gospels and other parts of it are gibberish. I suppose it's useful to identify those scriptures in the Gospels from which it was derived. The Gnostic Jesus is impersonal and it's just paradoxical mystical riddles like Zen.
The authorship of the Gospel of Mark is traditionally attributed to St. Mark. However The Gospel itself does not explicitly name its author, which is common in ancient texts. There is no definitive evidence proving St. Mark authored the Gospel.
I cherish the Bible, and truly believe that it is God's word and so therefore live my life accordingly. HOWEVER, I do struggle to fully accept that out of all the 12 Apostles, then the 72 and all the other Disciples that followed Jesus, that only Matthew and John were the only two eye witnesses to write their accounts! Yes we have the letters from Peter, James, Jude and of course Paul, but there MUST have been other writings!
Luke 1:1-2 specifically says that there were *many* compiled eyewitness accounts. But it seems simple to accept that not all those accounts were inspired by God and not all of them were preserved. And once authoritative accounts were made by apostles (Matthew and John) and by associates of the apostles (Mark with Peter and Luke with Paul) there was little incentive to write or preserve the other accounts. That seems logical and likely to me.
Have you studied textual criticism to know what constitutes those edits and how they affect the text? Because if you just make a blanket statement about the Bible being edited, and then just walk away leaving out any of the details explaining the process and intention, then you demonstrate that either you do not know what you are talking about, or that you do not care about how such an unqualified statement may affect others who have not studied the issue either.
I've been noticing that every denomination has at least one good point. I believe that there is such a thing as reincarnation. How it works only God knows. It might mean that everyone reincarnate or only some people. Reincarnation would explain a lot of difficult verses in the bible.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (Jn. 1:12 ESV) Believe in His Name for Salvation...no 'reincarnation' except a new body of corruption to those WHO DID NOT RECEIVE HIM to reside in Hades forever...
Once again, I'm blessed by these videos of Dr. Mounce popping up as I scroll RUclips. Hidden gems that I'm sorry are somewhat hid.
I love to hear from William D. Mounce. Thank you for making these amazing videos.
I really have had my eyes opened to the bible with these teachings
Some of the gospel of Thomas is just a direct quote from the other Gospels and other parts of it are gibberish.
I suppose it's useful to identify those scriptures in the Gospels from which it was derived.
The Gnostic Jesus is impersonal and it's just paradoxical mystical riddles like Zen.
The authorship of the Gospel of Mark is traditionally attributed to St. Mark. However The Gospel itself does not explicitly name its author, which is common in ancient texts. There is no definitive evidence proving St. Mark authored the Gospel.
I cherish the Bible, and truly believe that it is God's word and so therefore live my life accordingly.
HOWEVER, I do struggle to fully accept that out of all the 12 Apostles, then the 72 and all the other Disciples that followed Jesus, that only Matthew and John were the only two eye witnesses to write their accounts!
Yes we have the letters from Peter, James, Jude and of course Paul, but there MUST have been other writings!
Luke 1:1-2 specifically says that there were *many* compiled eyewitness accounts. But it seems simple to accept that not all those accounts were inspired by God and not all of them were preserved. And once authoritative accounts were made by apostles (Matthew and John) and by associates of the apostles (Mark with Peter and Luke with Paul) there was little incentive to write or preserve the other accounts. That seems logical and likely to me.
God establishes Truth through 2 or 3 witnesses. We have what we need.
I don't believe any of the gnostic gospels.
The bible was edited...no surprise there
Have you studied textual criticism to know what constitutes those edits and how they affect the text? Because if you just make a blanket statement about the Bible being edited, and then just walk away leaving out any of the details explaining the process and intention, then you demonstrate that either you do not know what you are talking about, or that you do not care about how such an unqualified statement may affect others who have not studied the issue either.
Indeed www.amazon.com/dp/B0851MWQP7
I've been noticing that every denomination has at least one good point. I believe that there is such a thing as reincarnation. How it works only God knows. It might mean that everyone reincarnate or only some people. Reincarnation would explain a lot of difficult verses in the bible.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (Jn. 1:12 ESV) Believe in His Name for Salvation...no 'reincarnation' except a new body of corruption to those WHO DID NOT RECEIVE HIM to reside in Hades forever...
Which verses?