Biblical Church History

Following the Hand of God and the Hand of Satan

Revelation 2:8-11c.325-500 A.D.P

ergamos “Much

Marriage”

(Rev 2:12) And to the angel of the church in

Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp

sword with two edges;

THE EUCHARIST

COUNCIL OF NICEA

Transfer of Authority

HISTORY BEHIND NEW AGE VERSIONS

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In this world of Christianity when it comes to the study of the bible we here words like “in the best manuscripts” or “the oldest manuscripts” or “the most reliable manuscripts”

Then the question arises what manuscripts are they talking about where did they come from?

Autographs This is the term to refer to the original hand written letters and prophecies of the writers such as Moses, Paul, Peter, etc. None of these autographs exist today.

ManuscriptsThis term refers to handwritten copies of the autographs. They were accentually the Bible of that day. There are 5,309 surviving Greek manuscripts that contain all or part of the New Testament. These manuscripts agree together 95% of the time.

 

TextThis is a term referring to a printed or published copy of the manuscripts.

 

CodexThis term refers to a document that is bound to the left as you view it from the front. (Manuscripts were mainly written on scrolls)

In 1516 Erasmus compiled, edited, and printed the Greek "Textus Receptus" (received text). This is the text that the Protestants of the Reformation knew to be the Word of God (inerrant and infallible). The King James Bible was translated from the "Textus Receptus."This Text was derived from the manuscripts that were used and received of that day. They can be traced back to a translation called the “Italic” of A.D. 157” ( 61 years after John on Patmos)

These manuscripts represent the corrupted copies of the Bible, also known as the Alexandrian manuscripts. These manuscripts, many times, do not even agree with each other. The Vaticanus and Sinaiticus manuscripts are part of this group. These are the manuscripts on which Westcott and Hort and the modern versions rely so heavily.

CRITICAL TEXT

The modern critical text was popularized in 1881 when B.F.

Westcott and F. J. A. Hort released their Greek New Testament witch

was built on the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus manuscripts

CRITICAL TEXT

SINAITICUS

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This manuscript was found by a German liberal that study older manuscripts named Tischendorf. He found this in a Monastery on Mount Sinai in 1844. He was not able to fully receive it 1862

VATICANUS

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This manuscript was found in the library of the Vatican in 1473 by Jesuit Priests

During the mid nineteen century Tischendorf became aware of an ancient manuscript in the Vatican library. This later became known as the Vaticanus

Constantine orders 50 Bibles

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All modern Bibles can trace back to Eusebius. Basic things to know concerning Eusebius. (260-339 A.D.)He was born in Caesarea, and educated at Antioch and Caesarea, and the “Christian” School founding there by Origin and at that time being run by Pamphilus.He is revered by virtually every scholar as the Father of Church History. (Actually, he records the history of the counterfeit church—the Roman Catholic Church.)

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He is called the Bishop of Caesarea, Palestine.He gives no indication by personal testimony, or his “interpretation” of history that he was ever genuinely saved.In fact, he called the cross a “saving symbol”Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, Vol 1 section 31

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Eusebius’ writing concerning the life of Constantine:The standard work on the life and death of the emperor Constantine was written in Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History. It is called “The Life of Constantine”“The Life of Constantine” is almost like reading a biography of God!

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Eusebius wrote,The blessed Constantine was

the only mortal man who continued to reign after his death. He was the only man in history whom God had so rewarded. He was the only monarch who in all his deeds had honored Almighty God and Christ. God made clear to all who do not lack intelligence that the soul of Constantine would enjoy an ageless and endless reign.Luibheld, 213

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Eusebius writes these things despite what Constantine actually believed. Some of Constantine's beliefs: Being sprinkled with water confers immortality, and is “the seal which gives salvation.”

Luibheld, 211Constantine himself, however, was not “sprinkled” (i.e. “baptized”) until 1 week before his death.

Constantine said he “deserved immortal life”

Luibheld, 212

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Eusebius writing concerning Constantine's death:The “bath and the market places were closed”, and those who had lived “amid luxury before now walked the streets in glum.” 214

The spearmen and the bodyguards threw themselves on the ground tearing their garments and beating their heads while screaming at the top of their lungs.” Eusebius, IV section 65

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People ran around the city wailing and shouting and mourning for the death of their protector and “savior” 213

Constantine’s corpse was placed in a gold coffin and then placed between 12 coffins representing the 12 apostles. 210-213

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Eusebius writes that the 13 coffins were put on a “high place”, and Constantine’s coffin was “ringed with golden candlelight and was a marvel to those who saw it, a marvel such as no man under the sun had ever beheld on earth since the world itself began. Eusebius, IV, section 66

Constantine endows Eusebius with imperial authority and finances to produce 50 Bibles, that were to be placed in all the provincial capitals.

Eusebius’ connection

to Pamphilus

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Eusebius, now named “Eusebius Pamphili” in honor of his now deceased mentor (Pamphilus), goes to the library of Pamphilus where he led a team of copyist to fulfill the Emperor’s orderWilliam P. Grady, Final Authority, 110

Pamphilus’ connection

toOrigen

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When Origen was excommunicated from Alexandria, he fled to Caesarea, where he founded a “Palestinian Extension” of his catechetical school in Alexandria.Before his death, Origen bequeathed both his library and the institutions leadership to his favorite student, Pamphilus (c. 240-309 A.D.)

Origen’s connection

to the modern day

bibles

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A brief synopsis of his beliefs:He was steeped in the philosophy of PlatoHe did not believe Genesis 1-3 was literalHe believed in the allegorical method of interpretation of the BibleHe didn’t believe Christ was God, but a Sub godHe didn’t believe in salvation by grace, but by worksHe believed in baptismal regeneration

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He didn’t believe in hell, but believed in purgatoryHe believed in universal salvation, including the devilHe denied the bodily resurrectionHe denied the millennial kingdomHe believed in the preexistence of the human soulHe believed that stars were beings, and that Jesus died for the stars

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Origen frequently “corrected” the text of the New Testament by a process referred to by textual critics as “conjectural emendation” (Which basically means, “change the text to what you think it should be”

It’s believed by conservative and liberal scholars alike that the Codex Sinaiticus and the Codex Vaticanus are 2 of the original 50 copies of Eusebius’ Bible.H.L. Wilmington, The Manuscript From Outer Space, 69

Comparing the new Age to the KJV.

Deity of Christ

(Joh 1:18) No man hath seen God at any time; the only

begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the

Father, he hath declared him.

John 1:18  18No one has

seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the

Father, He has explained Him.

(1Ti 3:16) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the

Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the

Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up

into glory.

1Tim 3:16 By common

confession, great is the mystery of

godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations believed on in the world, taken up in

glory

1Tim 3:16 Beyond all question,

the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body,

was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by

angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in

the world, was taken up in glory

(Mic 5:2) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little

among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee

shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in

Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old,

from everlasting.

Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem

Ephrathah, are only a small village in

Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one

whose origins are from the distant

past.

Virgin birth

(Luk 2:33) And Joseph and his

mother marvelled at those things

which were spoken of him.

Luke 2:33 And His father and mother were

amazed at the things which were being said about

Him.

Luke 2:33 The child's father and

mother marveled at

what was said about him.

(Isa 7:14) Therefore the Lord himself shall

give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his

name Immanuel.

Isa 7:14 Therefore the

Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him

Immanuel.