Re: 'Gospel of Judas' Called An Authentic Fabrication

Where is your argument?

*/The Four Gospels
/*by Irenaeus, /Against Heresies/, 2nd century

There are four gospels and only four, neither more nor less: four like
the points of the compass, four like the chief directions of the wind.
The Church, spread all over the world, has in the gospels four pillars
and four winds blowing wherever people live.

These four gospels are in actual fact one single Gospel, a fourfold
Gospel inspired by the one Spirit, a Gospel which has four aspects
representing the work of the Son of God.

These aspects are like the four cherubs described by Ezekiel. In the
prophet's words: `The first had the like ness of a lion,' symbolizing
the masterly and kingly role of Christ in priesthood; `the second had
the appearance of an ox,' the beast of sacrifice, recalling the perfect
sacrifice of Christ; `the third had the face of a man,' undoubtedly
referring to the coming of the Lord in human nature; `and the fourth had
the aspect of a flying eagle,' with a clear allusion to the grace of the
Spirit hovering over the Church. [cf. Ezek. 1:10; Rev. 4:7]

The four Gospels correspond to these symbols. Christ is at the center
of them.

John actually speaks of his kingly and glorious Sonship to the Father in
his opening words: `In the beginning was the Word.' [John 1:1] Luke
begins with Zaccharias offering sacrifice. Matthew chooses first of all
the Lord's human genealogy. And Mark leads off by calling on the
prophetic Spirit which invests humanity from on high.

http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/father10.htm

Janice Matchett wrote:

> At 08:28 PM 4/8/2006, Pim van Meurs wrote:
>
>> <quote>
>> These are books which describe the life of Jesus*. *Gospel is a
>> translation of the Greek word "/euangelion/" which means "/good
>> news/." About 50 gospels were written in the first and second century
>> CE; each was believed to be accurate by various groups within the
>> early Christian movement. Four of them (/Mark, Matthew, Luke /and/
>> John/) were accepted by the early Christian movement as inspired by
>> God. They were approved for inclusion in the official canon during
>> the 4th century CE, and are found today in every Bible.* Why were
>> there only four? St. Irenaeus explained: "/There are four principle
>> winds, four pillars that hold up the sky, and four corners of the
>> universe; therefore, it is only right that there be four
>> gospels./"*</quote>
>
>
> @ "...Irenaeus (130-202) .......the famous "four winds" quote, *which
> many skeptics misuse*, thinking it means that 4 Gospels were chosen,
> and not 3 or 5, because there were 4 winds ...."
> http://www.tektonics.org/guest/wildvis.html
>
> ~ Janice
Received on Mon Apr 10 14:44:57 2006