The 49 Books of the Bible

There have been numerous discussions over the past week concerning which books should be accepted and included in our Bible. ( ie.: Canonization ). This is a highly debated subject, which is extremely important and sometimes very boring. Our selection of the writings in which we recognize as inspired by God, are to be used as our "measuring stick" for all other words/writings. Seeing that our Father established mechanisms for judging prophets and prophecies, we must acknowledge that "anointed words" may appear from a multitude of sources outside of our " approved measuring stick."

Two criteria which all writings must possess, is that they do not contradict previous "Words of God," and that they have the confirmation of the Holy Spirit within the "born from above" receiver/reader. With those who have spent time with the Lord, you develop the ability to recognize whether a writing contains "God's character," or not. An example: Personally, I believe that the "Bible codes" have no prophetic/predictive value, but they do demonstrate "God's character" with the equal spacing of his name throughout the Torah. This symmetry could never be recreated by man, so it verifies the Fathers authorship. If a portion of a manuscript departs from this symmetry, we are able to recognize that this word has been altered, and therefore not of God.

I would expect that we would also see God's symmetry/Signature within "God's approved canonization". It has always bothered me when people would say that the Bible contains 66 books. The Holy Spirit would always tell me that something was wrong with this. The God that I know, and worship, would never have a 66 book Bible. It would be out of His character. 

And then about 10 years ago, as the Holy Spirit typically does, a book by Dr. Ernest Martin called, Restoring the Original Bible was brought to my attention, which demonstrates the symmetry of the Bible canonization and shows that there really are only 49 books in the Bible. 49 books, 7 X 7; now that matches the character of the God that I know.

(The entire book is now free on-line at: http://www.askelm.com/restoring/index.asp )

Dr. Martin presents a thorough history of the canonization, and is of the opinion that the final canonization of the Bible was established by the apostle John. Dr. Martin shows that historically "books" where not even in existence until late in the first century. Prior to that the writings were on scrolls, and the Old Testament was contained on twenty-two scrolls. There are twenty-two letters in the Hebrew alphabet, and 22 was considered completeness. The Old Testament was in three divisions/groups of scrolls, the Law (Torah), Psalms and the Prophets. The "center" of the Old Testament were the five scrolls of the Law.

The New Testament contains twenty-seven books and are also in three divisions. The five books of the Gospel (this includes the book of Acts), the Letters (Epistles), and the Revelation. The centerpiece of the New Testament and the entire Bible are the five books of the Gospel. Therefore, you have the five Gospel books in the center, and twenty-two books (scrolls) before and twenty-two books after. It looks symmetrical to me, and carries the character of our God. To add or subtract a book, would change the character. I highly recommend that you read Dr. Martin's book, but you will discover that his 49 books are the same writings as our present 66 books. But there is a different sequence, that I will not go into here.

These 49 books can be safely used as our "measuring stick." Many other writings/words may also be inspired and anointed by the Holy Spirit. But they must be measured by our established and proven ruler.
 

Shalom, John