An Improved Bible

[Migdalin]

Following the Reformation, Protestants removed the Apocrypha (about 14 Old Testament books) from their formal canon. Maybe it's time for another Reformation, where Christians remove everything from The Bible that is contrary to the Two Commandments of Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.

It seems that if Christians, or at least some Christians, formally removed the Old Testament and Revelation from their holy book, it would be a huge step forward, morally, ethically, and spiritually.

Even better, what if The Bible became just the gospels? "All Jesus, All the Time."

Thanks,
Jim

 

[salida]

First, the apocrypha was removed because it wasn't considered inspired and still isn't even by some catholics.

http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/111-the-apocrypha-inspired-of-god
http://www.bible.ca/catholic-apocrypha.htm

I got a better idea-read below. Your not going to improve Gods Word sir.
http://www.gotquestions.org/canon-Bible.html
http://equip.org/articles/a-defense-of-sola-scriptura
http://equip.org/articles/bible-reliability

For you to make the statement lets just chop up the bible and do what we want shows that you don't know much the about the bible and/or don't care. To me this is like saying lets just burn the constitution because one doesn't like it but much much worse.

 

[Martinius]

You can accomplish the same thing by concentrating on and living your life by the Gospels. There is no rule that I am aware of that says you have to give equal time and equal weight to every book. Many people find spiritual comfort in the Psalms, others prefer some of the prophets or specific Epistles. I personally put the Gospels first, and also use some of the Epistles and wisdom books (even some of the apocrypha) as the central part of my faith reading. Go with what works for you.

It is interesting that you mention the book of Revelations, for in the early years of the church when the biblical canon was being decided upon, many Christian leaders did not want that text included. I think the same applied to some other books and epistles.

I would agree with your last comments, not necessarily removing anything, but going with the Gospels as the central part of our biblical studies. As you say, that could have a very positive effect on our faith lives and on the world.

I have come to the realization that we can and should boil everything down to the essential words and teachings of Jesus. Much of the rest is either confusing, contradictory, or unnecessary. You wisely point out what those core teachings are.

You are not far from the Kingdom.

 

[Sketcher]

That would be kind of tough, considering all of the commandments hang on those two commandments.

 

[laconicstudent]

First, the apocrypha was removed because it wasn't considered inspired and still isn't even by some catholics.

It is completely irrelevant what some people think. The Church included the deuterocanon, Luther took it upon himself to delete it. I'm going to go with the Church.

 

[Harry3142]

You can find the apocryphal books in The Oxford Edition of the Holy Bible RSV, published for protestants.

As for 'chopping up' Scripture, the Old Testament gives us the background referred to in the gospels. Also Psalms and Proverbs are beautifully written, and enjoy a timelessness that is well worth preserving yet today.

The epistles are a continuation of the message of the gospels, and are to be preserved, especially in this day and age. I was on another site only a few years ago where some were arguing that we should ban all of St. Paul's epistles from the Holy Bible. But the reason that they wanted Scripture purged of his letters was due to the problems they were encountering because of them. When they were trying to preach that everyone needed them in order to attain salvation, those letters were proving them wrong.

 

[texastig]

Following the Reformation, Protestants removed the Apocrypha (about 14 Old Testament books) from their formal canon. Maybe it's time for another Reformation, where Christians remove everything from The Bible that is contrary to the Two Commandments of Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.

It seems that if Christians, or at least some Christians, formally removed the Old Testament and Revelation from their holy book, it would be a huge step forward, morally, ethically, and spiritually.

Even better, what if The Bible became just the gospels? "All Jesus, All the Time."

Thanks,
Jim

They weren't part of the Bible as inspired but they put it there for historical literature.

 

[LBP]

Following the Reformation, Protestants removed the Apocrypha (about 14 Old Testament books) from their formal canon. Maybe it's time for another Reformation, where Christians remove everything from The Bible that is contrary to the Two Commandments of Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.

It seems that if Christians, or at least some Christians, formally removed the Old Testament and Revelation from their holy book, it would be a huge step forward, morally, ethically, and spiritually.

Even better, what if The Bible became just the gospels? "All Jesus, All the Time."

Thanks,
Jim

Not gonna happen, but I must say I've had exactly the same thought. I'd even do the same pruning -- good-bye to the Old Testament and Revelation. I recently did buy a book by Phyllis Tickle called The Words of Jesus in which she simply takes the words of Jesus and categorizes them according to who His audience was. In other words, everything He said to the disciples is brought together in one chapter. It's considerably more interesting than it may sound. I've also tried going through the Old Testament books from time to time and pulling out quotations according to the criterion, "Is there anything here that I'd actually want to remember or think would contribute to my spiritual development?"

 

[ebia]

Following the Reformation, Protestants removed the Apocrypha (about 14 Old Testament books) from their formal canon. Maybe it's time for another Reformation, where Christians remove everything from The Bible that is contrary to the Two Commandments of Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.

It seems that if Christians, or at least some Christians, formally removed the Old Testament and Revelation from their holy book, it would be a huge step forward, morally, ethically, and spiritually.

Even better, what if The Bible became just the gospels? "All Jesus, All the Time."

Thanks,
Jim

Scripture is the ongoing story of Gods plan to restore us and all creation. To take the gospel without what goes before is like telling the punchline of a joke without the buildup - if it makes anysense at all it's not the sense intended.

The problem isn't the canon, it's the way scripture is sometimes read that ignores the fact that it is an ongoing story and that we are at a particular place in the story, instead trying to treat it as a somewhat random collection of timeless statements and commands.

 

[Martinius]

Scripture is the ongoing story of Gods plan to restore us and all creation. To take the gospel without what goes before is like telling the punchline of a joke without the buildup - if it makes anysense at all it's not the sense intended.

The problem isn't the canon, it's the way scripture is sometimes read that ignores the fact that it is an ongoing story and that we are at a particular place in the story, instead trying to treat it as a somewhat random collection of timeless statements and commands.

You are correct that knowing the OT helps in understanding the Gospels and the Epistles. But all those Romans, Greeks and other gentiles who became Christian in the early years did so without that background, as do people of other religions or no religion who have responded to the Gospel since. So although it may be helpful, I don't think familiarity with the OT is necessary to following Jesus or being a Christian.

 

[salida]

It is completely irrelevant what some people think. The Church included the deuterocanon, Luther took it upon himself to delete it. I'm going to go with the Church.

No its not irrelevant because its accurate. What do you mean by the church-the catholic church? The church doesn't mean any specific denomination but those that believe in Christ as a whole. The bible doesn't even mention denominations.

Luther was not the only one who didn't agree with the deuterocanon-there were many more like Polycarb who was a disciple under John. He was much closer to the apostles than some denomination.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Following the Reformation, Protestants removed the Apocrypha (about 14 Old Testament books) from their formal canon. Maybe it's time for another Reformation, where Christians remove everything from The Bible that is contrary to the Two Commandments of Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.

It seems that if Christians, or at least some Christians, formally removed the Old Testament and Revelation from their holy book, it would be a huge step forward, morally, ethically, and spiritually.

Even better, what if The Bible became just the gospels? "All Jesus, All the Time."

Thanks,
Jim

The Apocrypha is a separate issue. Removing the OT would not make sense, as all the bible ties together, and the OT is almost as important regarding Jesus as the NT is.

 

[ebia]

You are correct that knowing the OT helps in understanding the Gospels and the Epistles. But all those Romans, Greeks and other gentiles who became Christian in the early years did so without that background, as do people of other religions or no religion who have responded to the Gospel since. So although it may be helpful, I don't think familiarity with the OT is necessary to following Jesus or being a Christian.

You need the whole story explained or you are stuck in a superficial caricature of the gospel, unable to grasp what is going on or what part you are called to play, which is why every NT writer keeps referring back to it constantly, even those writing for gentile audiences. They clearly knew you had to teach it and explain the whole metanarrative.

 

[solarwave]

Taking those bits out the Bible would be good for stopping judgement fundementalism, so those you don't really think about what they beliebe properly, but I think for those you have a good approach to the Bible then the OT helps because it gives a background to the NT and we might even be able to learn things from the bits which go against love.

 

[Mess]

Didn't Jesus say He did not come to abolish the OT? Then remind me why would we do that? And to remove Revelation or the letters written by Paul, etc. How clueless can you get.

 

[Bro_Sam]

Following the Reformation, Protestants removed the Apocrypha (about 14 Old Testament books) from their formal canon. Maybe it's time for another Reformation, where Christians remove everything from The Bible that is contrary to the Two Commandments of Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.

It seems that if Christians, or at least some Christians, formally removed the Old Testament and Revelation from their holy book, it would be a huge step forward, morally, ethically, and spiritually.

Removing the Old Testament from the Bible makes about as much sense as trying to remove the foundation from a building and expecting it to be sound.

Even better, what if The Bible became just the gospels? "All Jesus, All the Time."

But all of the Bible is already the words of Jesus.

 

[Bro_Sam]

I would agree with your last comments, not necessarily removing anything, but going with the Gospels as the central part of our biblical studies. As you say, that could have a very positive effect on our faith lives and on the world.

How would that have any more of a "positive effect" than the rest of Jesus' words recorded in the Bible?

I have come to the realization that we can and should boil everything down to the essential words and teachings of Jesus.

Are you familiar with 2 Tim 3:15-17?

Much of the rest is either confusing, contradictory, or unnecessary. You wisely point out what those core teachings are.

Well, we already know that there are no contradictions in the Bible and that no scripture is "unnecessary". So why don't you tell us what parts of scripture you find so confusing?

You are not far from the Kingdom.

Yes, he is. The BIble

 

[Bro_Sam]

I recently did buy a book by Phyllis Tickle

Why?

She's a flaming heretic who wouldn't know the Gospel if she tripped over it.

It's considerably more interesting than it may sound.

"Intereting" isn't the issue. The question is, is it doctrinally sound. If it's Phillis Tickle, I can't imagine that it would be.

I've also tried going through the Old Testament books from time to time and pulling out quotations according to the criterion, "Is there anything here that I'd actually want to remember or think would contribute to my spiritual development?"

So you think there are things in the OT that don't contribute to a Christian's spiritual development?

 

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[razeontherock]

F Maybe it's time for another Reformation, where Christians remove everything from The Bible that is contrary to the Two Commandments of Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.

It seems that if Christians, or at least some Christians, formally removed the Old Testament and Revelation from their holy book, it would be a huge step forward, morally, ethically, and spiritually.

There is nothing in the Bible that is contrary to these 2 great commandments. If anybody finds any of it confusing, it's because they haven't realized this yet, which is exactly why it's all there! To make us seek G-d, trying to understand what's going on.

You can't follow Jesus for long trying to do w/o the OT. For instance, Ephesians 6, the breastplate of righteousness - what do you do with that? You miss the whole message until you get deep revelation of the OT.

And don't even think about Revelation until you get done w/ all the OT ...

but perhaps the OP would like the Jefferson Bible?