The Key Events and Foundation of Orthodoxy and the Canon - Coursework Example

The key events and Foundation of Orthodoxy and the Canon Task: Outline Introduction Thesis ment: Dispute over religiousissues Need for clarity in issues Body The foundation of the orthodoxy and the canon The perception of the Bible The new testament The old testament Nature Autonomy Treatment of nature Humanity Relationship between humanity and Christ Divinity Nature of Christ Deity of Christ Christ as God Conclusion Doctrines fuelled conflicts The key events and Foundation of Orthodoxy and the Canon Religion is a compilation of belief systems, worldviews, and intellectual systems that link the human race to ethical values and spirituality. It plays a critical role in resolving disagreements among the diverse churches and aids in the comprehension and interpretation of the Bible1. Theology is the rational and methodical study of the influences of religion and the overt nature of respective religious truths in relation to the divinity of Christ. This paper focuses on the core occurrences and movements that proved to influence the acknowledgment of the canonical books. Various parties heavily disputed upon issues such as humanity of Christ, his deity, and nature. Thus, there is a need to clarify and identify the true writings presented by the heretical parties involved. The foundation of Orthodoxy and the Canon When an individual contemplates on the origin of the Bible, the most probable initial perception that arises would be the perception of the Bible as an aged manuscript that has been passed on from one generation to another over ages. Moreover, the Bible is the most bestselling book worldwide and still remains the most renowned on the Earth. Apparently, most people perceive that inspired individuals and apostles wrote the Bible in the ancient times. However, there was a period that was characterized by numerous disputes regarding the content of the Bible. Different groups had their own viewpoints regarding the content of the Bible and taught them to believers who were left to confer the truth from the differing teachings they received. The New Testament books were written at around AD40, while the Old Testament books of the Bibles are believed to be written in the period of BC1500. Canonical Books are an authoritative collection of books from the scriptures that various and diverse given canons of the church perceive to bear divine inspiration. Notably, these canons come to establishment after deliberations among religious authorities from various faiths. For instance, the Roman Catholic denomination declares several books to be canonical, while the Christians reject them, terming them as apocryphal. The canon has been under criticism by various personalities and groups. However, this criticism aims at placing the Bible back to the believing communities and demands respect for the original scripture. Ancient churches, apparently, had understandable reasons to determine and place various books of the Bible into canonical groups. The inculcation and establishment of the reserved canon scriptures was essential to separate records of the revealed truth from other diverse forms of writing. Both the truths and contesting writings originate from diverse forms of religion and other systems such as actual heresy. The scripture is the inspired word of God, and Christians are bound to divert from the intended truth. Several considerations are applicable in determining the canonical scriptures. For instance, the Old Testament books writers were God’s prophets such as Moses and Jeremiah, while the New Testament writers were apostles like Matthew and John. Relying on the truth that God cannot contradict himself, the second consideration examines the similar traits depicted by the various writings in the Bible. The third consideration is based on the acceptance of the scriptures by the Church of God. Some scriptures were accepted while others were rejected and disputed. Thus, the confirmation and acceptance of the canon took a long time. The canon of the New Testament enumerated a list of books without evidence of any disputes. Such books comprise of James, Jude, 2 and 3 John, and 2 Peter2. However, the Old Testament contains disputing lists of canonical books as devised by diverse religions and faiths. Therefore, the Roman Catholics, Protestants, and other religions boast of a list of their canonical books, an evidence of a clash or dispute. Nature Ancient churches explicated that the most significant element of God-given nature was autonomy, and none has the right to abuse or misuse what is provided for free by the almighty God. Referring to Genesis, Adam and Eve would not have committed the initial sin were it not for the gift of God-given autonomy at their disposal. Apparently, therefore, it is evidently overt that human beings choose to be disobedient in nature, a truth that coincides with the fact that human beings misuse autonomy at their own peril. Since time immemorial, Christians from diverse dispensations have been preaching differently regarding the nature of sin and how human beings should treat nature. Humanity Ancient churches characterized numerous heated debates regarding theology or study of God. They also had debates regarding the nature of human beings and their relation to God. Notably, the debates not only arose from the traditions surrounding the religions but also encompassed the beliefs by the respective churches. Due to lack of theological positions, the churches engaged in heated deliberations regarding the nature and divinity of Christ. Was he human or not. What special relationship exists between humanity and Christ? According to historical events and occurrences, churches and numerous faiths depict disputes with regard to the divinity and nature of God without the exception of human nature3. Contemporarily, diverse Christians portend difficulties in comprehending the true divine nature of God. For instance, feminists argue that Christ had human gender traits, most commonly male. Thus, it is evidently true that different churches and denominations bear differing perspectives regarding humanity. Humanity is categorically pertinent to the comprehension of the nature of Christ. This is because a link exists between Christ and the human race, as Christ was once a human character. Apparently, he still remains to be a human though he is perceived as the eternal Christ. Through Christ, the human race understands the divinity and powerful nature of Christ among other traits. Contemporarily, human beings are gradually diverting from the original interpretation, interpreting the biblical messages in their own perceived ways. Christ perceives and respects humanity as overtly pertinent. By choosing to be a human and not an angel, Christ depicts that he respects and loves the human race. He chooses to be a human and to save humanity, which was gradually depreciating. Christ spent his time as a carpenter, gaining obedience from his vocation. Similarly, humans practice the same vocations to earn a living. This depicts Christ as a lover of humanity, though the human race underplays this fact to their peril. When Christ was in the human body, he experienced hunger and cold and worked to make ends meet. Additionally, he suffered when humans tortured him and he experienced sorrow and grief just as human beings. Christ was a role model to many people, since most admired his character. If human beings have to uphold humanity, they ought to respect Christ in the first place, since Christ represents humanity and the two have a linkage together. Deity of Christ The Deity of Christ has fueled various differences of notions among members of the church of Christ from the ancient to the contemporary society. Apparently, some critics do not accept as true that Christ was God. However, facts indicate that Christ himself knew that he was God. Evidently, Christ claimed and believed that he was God through his autonomous law approach, which means that He equated his divine authority to God’s. For instance, Christ placed his authority above the law of the Old Testament and also proclaimed his words with respect to the words of God in the Bible. This explains that Christ’s authority is coincident to his deity4. Numerous people do not believe in the feeding of a multitude of the five thousand people due to its absence in the historical context and existence only in the Bible. Ancient churches’ beliefs relate to the worship of God as the sole God and believe that Christ is God. However, the Jewish people did not believe that Christ was God. Conclusion In conclusion, the ancient churches have evidently depicted numerous clashes among themselves with regard to perceptions of nature, deity of Christ, and humanity. The perceived doctrines of the apostles fueled conflicts and disputes among the canonicity of Hebrews. Therefore, it is overtly established that the true writings of the scripture only conveys and upholds the rightful and correct words from the inspired word of God. Additionally, canonical perspectives only serve to establish a relationship between humanity and the Christ. Bibliography Bruce, Waltke. Interpretation of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2004. Hodges, George. The Early Church. Chapel Hill: Yesterdays Classics, 2007. Verlyn, Verbrugge. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. Abridged: Zondervan, 2003. Walsh, Michael. The Triumph of the Meek: Why Early Christianity Succeeded. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 2006. Read More