radarmark
Quaker-in-the-Making
We read a lot here about scripture and canon in Judaism and Christianity. So I thought I'd compile a list of the various canons I know of. This is a list of the OT canon.
Okay, do any of you know how to post an excel worksheet here?
See the attachment. It gives 74 books (including a lot you have probably never heard of); 5 Jewish (Samaritan, Esra-elwi, Karaite, Mosoretic, and Speptuagent) canons; Assyrian, Tewahedo, Coptic, Syrian, and Armenian Oriental Orthodox; Georgian, Slavic, and Greek Othodox; Catholic; and Protestant versions of each book.
Yes means they are canon, no means they are not. Other comments should be pretty self explanatory.
The whole object is to show just what the differences are within Judaism and Christianity by what we mean as "Scripture" or "Canon".
For instance the Esra-elwi (Ethopian Jew) tradition has very few of the Books we others consider conanical, but the Chief Rabbinate declared them jews. Not so the Samaritans (who only have Torah, and a divergent one at that).
Christian canon is even wilder. Look at the Assyrian (Edessan Chistian) books versus the Tewahedo (Ethiopean) and Armenian canon versus the Protestant (which was pretty much declared canon by one man, Martin Luther). Again, you will find wild divergences.
So when we speak of scripture or canon, we must remember our brothers and sisters may have a very different idea within Judaism and Christianity.
Faded Jeans, that is highly manipulated information you've been given. Reevaluate. Martin Luther made himself into a king, and he nearly quenched the (already existing) spirit of reform which had been in motion for a long time before he was born. He took advantage of existing consternation to divide people. Modern Lutherans are much different from him, but don't cover up for him, please. He gave previously allied governments justification to make war. Unlike sincere reformers like John Wycliffe and the Lollards he made religious decisions into political life or death ones. He approved killing individuals simply for disagreeing with him. On his turf you accepted his Canon or you were scoffed at and disdained, persecuted, imprisoned, fined or killed. Not surprisingly, everyone capitulated to his definition of canon. Luther, Calvin and some others practically deified themselves; and its because of them that so many American Christians struggle to comprehend scripture whilst being drowned in an unworkable family of commentaries that deaden the conscience to the sufferings of others. I hope that this does not come across as praise for Martin Luther, because its not.
Thats ok-- I would like to point out one can be Lutheran in faith and not BE a member of a denomination OR Synod though.
one also can be just A Lutheran in name only never beleiving the bible is to be the infallable inerrant pope over them.