The Origin of the Western Five

[gbausc]

Shlama Paul,

What prophetic books? Revelation is the only one of its kind in The NT.

Revelation is the antithesis and answer to the curse of sin and death in Genesis. Genesis is first things and the beginning; Revelation is last things and the end. Genesis is about creation; Revelation is about the New Creation.Genesis is about the fall of man and the Promise of redemption;Revelation is about the resurrection of Man and the fulfillment of redemption.

There simply is no other book like it, though other books may have elements in common with it. The Bible has no other proper ending without it.

But to make unique doctrine the essential ingredient for inclusion in the canon is a dual edged sword. Some may object that new doctrine is exactly why a book should not be included with the rest.

Does Mark contain doctrine that the other Gospels do not? I don't think so. But validation can be a good thing.

I don't think there is one objective criterion which can qualify a book as canonical. It is a matter of spiritual discernment. We need to quiet our minds, get into our inner spirit man and hear the still small voice of The Spirit of God: "

He who has a ear, let him hear what The Spirit is saying to the churches

." These words occur 7 times in Revelation. Hearing is an art at which which we in the West are not very adept. I expect more from an Eastern Christian.

Burkta,
Dave