Lfoxx said:
It has recently been brought to my attention... well I pondered it but didnt do much research on the sub. My plan this year was for me to read the whole bible from start to finish but the other day my hubby and Iwere watching the history channel and it was on fogotten books of the bible. We looked into it and were amazed at what we found. There were so many doctrines that werent put in. We started off by reading the book of Thomas but then I came across an article that blew my mind.
http://reluctant-messenger.com/essene/gospel_intro.htm
It talks about how An Irish clergyman, Rev. G. J. Ouseley claims to have discovered the Original Gospel from which the present Four Gospels were derived, which, he says, was "preserved in one of the Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, where it was hidden by some of the Essene Community for safety from the hands of the corrupters.
It then goes on to say:
The Original Gospel, representing the teachings of Christ, the Lord of Love, taught harmlessness and compassion to all living beings, including both animals and humans. For reasons above stated, the Roman Churchmen at Nicea opposed these doctrines and eliminated them from the Gospels, which they radically changed so as to be acceptable to Constantine, who loved the red meats and flowing wine of his midnight feasts too much to accept a religion that prohibited these pleasures, which was a main reason why he so bitterly persecuted the early Christians who advocated these doctrines. For this reason the Church Fathers changed the Gospel in such a way that Love and Compassion were limited only to human beings but the animal expressions of life were excluded from receiving these benefits. But the savior of the Original Gospel, as Christ were represented to be, was a redeemer of the animal world, as he was of men, seeking to alleviate the sufferings of all living beings.
Im just cutting and pasting but it basically says that the commandment "Thou shall not kill" was also meant twords animals because they are helpless creatures and that God loves them too. It also has stories of how Jesus would come across people being abusive to thier animals and Jesus would tell them not to do so, and to treat their animals well. Apparently these stories were taken out because the king at that time liked to eat meat and didnt want to quit living his life the way he had done so. I myself am a real animal lover and was very moved by these stories and also couldn't believe that books were changed so drastically to change things the way the people at that time or rulers rather to thier living styles. It changed my outlook on alot becuase this is something that couldve easily been done. I know what some are already thinking. If Jesus was a vegetarian then what about the story where he had the fish and loaves of bread and fed thousands. Well apparently this story was changed and Jesus fed the people with 6 loaves of bread and 7 clusters of grapes instead.
http://reluctant-messenger.com/essene/gospel_3.htm#Lection290
If this is the case theres so much that we are unaware of. I mean how many people or christians for that matter carry, wear, or even have as an emblem on thier car the fish from that story as a symbol. Please go to the links and let me know what you think. I mean why would this be made up.
http://reluctant-messenger.com/essene/gospel_3.htm#Lection210
These stories of Jesus defending animals of course he would. Jesus was a wonderful, compassionate, and full of love. Animals couldnt be here just to be our food, or to be tortued for food.
The only problem we run into here, is that when we look at these "lost books" they never match up with scripture.
Scripture, as a whole, flows perfectly, no contradictions, and its message never changes.
All the gospels we have, along with the epistles, bear witness to the promises of the old testament being fullfilled, in no way do they contradict the prophets, or the law beforehand, but fullfill them.
these other so called "gospels" and "books" should not be used to determine doctrine, nor should they be viewed as God's word, because they run contrary to God's word. These books may be an exellent historical read (like the story of perpetua), but we should not view them as God's word, or develop any doctrine from them. That is like developing doctrine from our history book.
Always read these so called books in comparasen to scripture, because if when we compare it to scripture, it will either agree with it, or be broken, but scripture will never be broken.
Now, what does scripture say about itself?
John 3:11-14
11
I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[
d] 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.[
e]
John 8:12-31
12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." 13The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid."
14Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 18I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me."
19Then they asked him, "Where is your father?"
"You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.
21Once more Jesus said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come."
22This made the Jews ask, "Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, 'Where I go, you cannot come'?"
23But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be,[
a] you will indeed die in your sins."
25"Who are you?" they asked.
"Just what I have been claiming all along," Jesus replied. 26"I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world."
27They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." 30Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.
The Children of Abraham
31
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
2 Peter 1:12-21
12So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. 16
We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."[
a] 18We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
19
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
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