Looking at the Old Post

 

Deep Dive into Bible Access and Christian Origins: Analyzing the Quotes

The document explores a controversial topic: the limitations placed on Bible access in early Christianity (3rd-4th century AD) and the motives behind them. Here's a breakdown of the key quotes with commentary:

1. Establishing the Canon:

• "The Council of Nicaea ... sanctioned 27 books for the New Testament ... The Council of Cartage confirmed the same 27 books ..." (Document)

This establishes the historical fact that the early Church formalized the New Testament through councils.

2. Discouraging Bible Reading:

• "The Church actually discouraged the populace from reading the Bible on their own..." (Document)
• "Decree of the Council of Toulouse (1229 C.E.): ...We prohibit also that the laity should be permitted to have the books of the Old or New Testament..." (Document)

These quotes highlight the Church's policy against widespread Bible access. The commentary suggests a power play by the Church to control religious knowledge.

3. Jewish Roots and Jesus' Identity:

• "While I was writing my book ... it became increasingly clear to me that there was another more potent motive for keeping the New Testament out of reach for Christians: to conceal the Jewish foundation of Christianity and Jesus' lifelong dedication to Judaism and Jewish practices." (Document)
• "Jesus did not mean to found a new religion. In his historical humanity, Jesus was a devout Israelite..." (Document)
• "The word 'Jew' appears 202 times in the New Testament ... The term 'Christian' never appears in the Gospels at all..." (Document)

These quotes and observations are central to the author's argument. They suggest the Church may have downplayed Jesus' Jewish identity to establish Christianity as a separate religion.

4. Evidence for Concealment:

• "Ruling of the Council of Tarragona of 1234 C.E.: ...No one may possess the books of the Old and New Testaments in the Romance language..." (Document)
• "Proclamations at the Ecumenical Council of Constance in 1415 C.E.: ... John Wycliffe ... was the first (1380 C.E.) to translate the New Testament into English ... For this 'heresy' Wycliffe was posthumously condemned ..." (Document)
• "Fate of William Tyndale in 1536 C.E.: William Tyndale was burned at the stake for translating the Bible into English." (Document)

These quotes showcase the harsh punishments for translating or possessing the Bible in vernacular languages. The commentary suggests these actions aimed to suppress knowledge of Christianity's Jewish roots.

5. Jewish Practices and the Charge of "Christ Killers":

• "The vicious 'Homilies Against the Jews' by Saint John of Chrysostom ... Why would the Bishop of Antioch ... spend so much time ... excoriating Christians for continuing to attend synagogues and participating in Jewish practices?" (Document)
• "The charge of 'Christ Killers' against Jews was stepped up as well." (Document)

These quotes highlight the Church's efforts to distance itself from Judaism, potentially fueling anti-Semitism. The commentary suggests a strategy to create a clear separation between the two religions.

6. Modern Reconciliation:

• "Today, in a new era of reconciliation, Christians and Jews are recognizing the strong connection between the two religions." (Document)
• "Cardinal Dolan ... 'My favorite girl of all time was Jewish.' 'Who is that?' Walters asked with a surprised look. 'Mary' Cardinal Dolan answered softly." (Document)

These quotes offer a hopeful perspective, suggesting a move towards acknowledging the shared heritage of Christianity and Judaism. The Mary reference highlights the Jewish roots of Jesus' lineage.

Commentary:

The document presents a compelling argument, but it's important to consider alternative viewpoints. Some scholars argue that the Church's focus was on maintaining doctrinal purity, not hiding Jesus' Jewish identity.

Additionally, the document primarily uses sources critical of the Church. Including contrasting perspectives would provide a more balanced view.

Further Exploration:

• Research the history of the Bible canon and the debates surrounding it.
• Explore the development of Christian theology and its relationship to Judaism.
• Investigate the role of anti-Semitism in European history.

This analysis provides a deeper understanding of the document's claims and encourages further exploration of this complex topic.