Apocrypha

[anvi]

There was an oral tradition and a hierarchy that predated the assembled scriptures.  In the Sola Scriptura view, these are generally regarded as corruptions of Gospel... and yet they were essential to the assemblage of the same.

Minor trivial point: It's been recently discovered that the original number of the beast might have been "616" rather than "666".  This numerology adds up to Domitian, which would make a alot more sense given the time frame.

Agreed.  And, one addendum to the final point.  The number of the beast of Revelation is given in most manuscripts as 666, but in some very ancient Greek ones was written 616.  Both numbers, according to the conventions of gematria, correspond to the name of emperor Nero, depending upon which alphabet his name is spelled in.  If spelled in Hebrew as Neron, the gematriac value is 666 and if spelled in Greeek as Nero, the value is 616.  The reason for the conjecture that the number was meant to identify Domitian and not Nero as the beast is because Domition was knwon during his reign as the "revival of Nero."  That is important because the verses in Rev. 13 identify a beast which has received a mortal wound in his head which was healed before his attack on the saints, and according to the Hebrew Sybilline Oracles, the belief was widespread that Nero would be reborn and throw the world into chaos.  So, it seems reasonable, given the date of Revelation's composition that its author was referring with the numbers 616 or 666 to Domitian as "Nero's revival."

[12th Doctor]

I studied the Apocrypha when I first became a Christian before I knew the controversy surrounding the texts.  I was disappointed when I finished reading the Bible and wanted more scripture to dive into, so I bought a book which had the entire Apocrypha.  The margins of my text ended up full of question marks because the contradictions within the texts were very puzzling to me.  

For example, Antiochus' death is recorded in 1Mac, but has two completely different deaths in 2Mac...3 different deaths in the span of 2 books, with 2Mac contradicting itself?!

So, after reading the Apocrypha, I went searching for answers to the contradictions and stumbled upon the controversy.  

The question as to what should and shouldn't be considered canon is ageless and definitely cause for taking aspirin.

So?  It has long been known that there are contradictions between the Book of Judges and other books of the Bible... Joshua and "The Histories" (only in quotes because that is what they are called, not because I doubt they are historical).  Genesis 1 and 2 contradict one another in a straight reading.  What were Jesus' last words, again (or did he simply give out a loud cry)?  How did Judas die?

The reason 1 and 2 Maccabees have contradictions is because they are telling the story from totally different angles, not because they are "wrong".

[12th Doctor]

There was an oral tradition and a hierarchy that predated the assembled scriptures.  In the Sola Scriptura view, these are generally regarded as corruptions of Gospel... and yet they were essential to the assemblage of the same.

Minor trivial point: It's been recently discovered that the original number of the beast might have been "616" rather than "666".  This numerology adds up to Domitian, which would make a alot more sense given the time frame.

Agreed.  And, one addendum to the final point.  The number of the beast of Revelation is given in most manuscripts as 666, but in some very ancient Greek ones was written 616.  Both numbers, according to the conventions of gematria, correspond to the name of emperor Nero, depending upon which alphabet his name is spelled in.  If spelled in Hebrew as Neron, the gematriac value is 666 and if spelled in Greeek as Nero, the value is 616.  The reason for the conjecture that the number was meant to identify Domitian and not Nero as the beast is because Domition was knwon during his reign as the "revival of Nero."  That is important because the verses in Rev. 13 identify a beast which has received a mortal wound in his head which was healed before his attack on the saints, and according to the Hebrew Sybilline Oracles, the belief was widespread that Nero would be reborn and throw the world into chaos.  So, it seems reasonable, given the date of Revelation's composition that its author was referring with the numbers 616 or 666 to Domitian as "Nero's revival."

See, now that I didn't know.  Interesting.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

So?  It has long been known that there are contradictions between the Book of Judges and other books of the Bible... Joshua and "The Histories" (only in quotes because that is what they are called, not because I doubt they are historical).  Genesis 1 and 2 contradict one another in a straight reading.  

You’ll have to give a specific example of a contradiction involving Judges or Joshua.

I find ZERO contradictions between Gen 1 and 2

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What were Jesus' last words, again (or did he simply give out a loud cry)?

the stories are complementary, not contradictory, and are very easily reconciled:

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (drinks wine vinegar) …”It is finished."…“"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (dies)

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How did Judas die?

Judas, seeing that Jesus was condemned, gave the money back to the Jews and went and hung himself in a potter's field and when his body feel it broke open and his intestines fell out causing a very bloody scene…the priests to whom Judas gave back the blood money would buy that same field with the blood money, so the field was known as the “Field of Blood” because: 1) Judas’ body burst open there in a bloody mess, and 2) it was bought with blood money.

Again, very easy to reconcile because the stories are complementary, not contradictory.

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The reason 1 and 2 Maccabees have contradictions is because they are telling the story from totally different angles, not because they are "wrong".

How is 3 different causes of death at there different geographical locations for the same person “telling the story from totally different angles”?!   there is no way to reconcile the three accounts even if we attempt to view them as being complementary