paradise beauty,
You may be taking about 1 John 5: 7. I was taught as a JW that this was added by some unnamed monk in the 16th century. No one ever challenged me on this at the doors.
I researched it a few years ago and found plenty of early evidence for this scripture, not only in early biblical manuscripts, but also evidence of 2nd century Christians.
Early manuscript evidence that exists for I John 5: 7,8 |
Early church writers that used it: Cyprian 200 - 258 AD. "The Lord says, 'I and the Father are one;' and again it is written of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 'And these three are one'." If Cyprian quotes I John 5:7 from his Bible in 200• 258 AD, it must be a valid reading. His Bible was copied from an older manuscript containing this verse. Early bible versions that include it: Greek miniscule manuscripts that include it: Opusdei Says: many Christian sects that existed in the first and second century. Christianity is a salad of theologies. It is pretty easy to determine sound doctrine from the bible by reading what the early Christians wrote about. There will always be miniscule differences on minor issues between people. But, all of the major doctrines were firmly established in the 1st century and passed on to future generations of disciples. When doctrinal threats did occur, it is easy to find out where they came from, and who was the culprit; because Christians wrote a lot against herisies. I highly recommend this book to determine what was "sound doctrine" in the early centuries and who were the "Jehovah's Witnesses" of that period.
The Searcher Says: "There is of course some truth in these kinds of statements." We have to use common sense. While we are told not to judge others, 1 Timothy 5: 1 tells us Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 2 Tim. 4: 3 says - For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. Proving things and determining sound doctrine involves using judgment. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, Again, judgment and discernment is needed. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. Since God wanted us to be on the look out for "damnable heresies", it is reasonable to exercise our abilities to judge our teachers so as to determine sound doctrine. Making a habit of judging others, for small vain reasons, like to pump up our estimation of ourselves, is clearly wrong, and will actually bring a like judgment upon ourselves. The bottom line is that, even today, sound doctrine is relatively easily determined. I also recommend this book as it chronicles several groups from the Apostles down through the dark ages.
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