The Holy Bible stands unique in various aspects when compared with all other books. Not only because it contains how GOD has created everything, but also in it the history of jews, and how the name Israel is given to them is written.
The history of Israel - jews - for a period of 3500 years is written in different languages in different countries and places where they lived, by about 40 writers(saints) within a span of 1500 years.At the same time it is also quite surprising to note that those writers may not had the least possibility of knowing or understanding all portions of the writings of their predecessors, but yet when the Old testament and the New testament and later the Holy Bible as a whole was compiled by collecting the centuries old scriptures kept in various places - the Deadsea scrolls an example- it was found that in all those scriptures that were discovered, the history of the Jews were seen narrated continuously in chronological order connecting all events before and after the 15th century BC to the end of the second century AD.
It has to be noted that 3,500 years after the exile was not an easy period for the Jewish people for writing or keeping anything.They lost the beautiful land which LORD had given to them. Centuries of wars, bloodshed, tortures,massacres, mass exodus from one country to another country, being captured as slaves, having to live as slaves in many centuries and years under different rulers in different countries, to be sold as slaves, families, tribes, scattered, and losing even the purity of ethnicity, it was extremely difficult for the Israelites to write or keep anything when they were in the flood of miseries and difficulties.
In such a situation how accurately they could write and keep their history as what we see in the Holy Bible is nothing short of a miracle. The answer for this can be seen in Deuteronomy Chapter 31;19 where in LORD has commanded Moses to keep everything in writing, and to teach the Israelites by songs so as to rememer their LORD GOD and the miracles HE had done for them.
God arranged saints, Prophets and disciples among them and prompted them to write and they wrote as has been revealed and directed by the Holy Spirit, and they therefore kept those Holy scriptures as invaluable treasures and protected it from their enemies , which ultimately located and shaped into the form of the Holy Bible.
For the Christians the Holy Bible therefore is a very sacred and unique book than anything ever written.
Revelation
22:18 I testify to everyone who hears the prophecies in this book: If anyone adds to them, the plagues written in this book will come upon him.
22:19 If anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away his portion from the tree of life and from the holy city written in this book. "
The Tradition of The First and the Ancient Church of Antioch. The Church decides and declares the true Bible.
As Jesus told to the apostles, they after the resurrection of the LORD preached what they had been taught, directly byJesus Christ and what they heard from HIM. Even in the middle of torture and persecution Christianity began to spread from Jerusalem to neighbouring places. But later on the apostles felt that schismatics who did not have any knowledge about Jesus and the words of Jesus, who with their own speculations, and ignorance misinterpreted the words of God wanting to change Messiahs gospel. Seeing the ill doings of these disbelievers, who were cofusing the proclamation of the deciples, they thought of writing the history and teachings of Jesus.The Gospels and Epistles were written because of the thought that the history of Jesus Christ is necessary in order to be read over.These writings were circulated intending to show that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that those who believe in Jesus will have eternal life.
John 20:30 Jesus also performed many other miracles in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by so believing you may have eternal life in His name.
The purpose of writing the Holy Bible is revealed in the above words. It is evident that the Holy Bible is written with the intention of making to believe that Jesus is the Messiah son of LORD GOD and those who believe in Him,who obeys What He had taught and shown will surely enjoy the happiness of eternal life that Jesus promised. Another thing that reveals is that eventhough Jesus had done many things all of them had not been written in the Holy Bible.
John 21:25 This disciple himself testified to all these things and wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. There are many other things that Jesus did. I think that if they were written one by one, the books that would be written would not be contained in the world.
Those unwritten matters which Jesus had taught were known only to those who were with Him at that time. It can be presumed that the deciples/apostles who were always with Him would have seen and were aware of such matters. The claim of anybody or any Church arisen on later years that they also are aware of such matters are illogical and baseless .On the contrary the ancient Church that founded in Antioch by St.Peter and spread to different places due to the efforts of St. Peter and other apostlesles could have been aware of all such things . whether written or unwritten whatever Jesus had taught and explained even after his resurrection might have been followed by them and the Church of Antioch in particular. The Church of Antoch follows so many rituals and holy sacraments which are unwritten in the Holy Bible but are being followed from generation to generation till now.
The Church of Antioch is the first Church established in Jerusalem
The Antiochian Church is the first Church established in Jerusalem out of the apostles,preachers,converted jews and other gentile elements. They were guided by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 11:26 And they gathered together in the church for a whole year and taught many people. From that time on, the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Acts 13:1 There were also in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Shemaon called Nigger, Lucius from the city of Cyrene, Manael, who grew up with Herod thethrax, and Saul.
Acts 14:24 After preaching the word of the Lord in the city of Fergia, they went to Italy. From there they sailed to Antioch.
Acts 14:25 For it was from here that they were entrusted to the grace of the Lord for this work which they performed.
This Church strictly follows all the traditions that have been inherited directly from Jesus Christ and from His deciples and apostles from the very beginning . As mentioned above the seven holy sacraments and the rituals are such traditions.
It is believed that the performance of the Holy eucharist was directly taught to St. James by Jesus Christ after the ascension.Similarly all the the holy sacraments of the Church of Antioch were instituted by Jesus Christ.
Acts 13:2 As they were fasting and praying, the Holy Spirit said to them, separate for me Saul and Barnabas for the work to which I have called them.
Acts 13:3 And they fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, and sent them away.
Acts 13:4 And they, having been sent by the Holy Spirit, went to Seleucia. From there they traveled by sea to Cyprus.
In the above it can be seen that the Holy Ghost lays hands on certain selected members - including Saul whose name after the consecration was changed as Paul.( ref. Acts 13;9) In Chapter 13: 1, it can also be seen that it is in the Church of Antioch where Holy Spirit arrived,and by laying hand that resulted the commencement of priesthood, which the Church of Antioch still continues throughout the world( Mathew ,16;19)
All the gospels written for each purposes had to be kept in secret places. Because of the religious persecution of Nero and his predecessors many hand written holy scriptures were hidden and kept in secret places. The early centuries were a time where everything belonging to Christians were ordered to be confiscated and destroyed. Anyone found in possession of any such documents or writings were subjected to severe punishment, including death. Therefore, the primitive fathers used to teach many people in many regions by word of mouth. In some regions, messengers were sent with the writings of the apostles to make them strong in the belief of Jesus christ. Hearing that the people of Galatians who were members of the Church, when became fickle minded,and distracted, by schismatics, messengers with the writings of the apostles were often sent to them.( See the strong words of St.Paul who was one among the prophets and teachers of the Church of Antioch.(Acts.13;1 to 9)
Galatians 3:1 "Oh thoughtless Galatians! Who has brought about contention among you? - seeing that Jesus was depicted crucified before your very eyes! I want to learn this one thing from you: Did you experience the spirit from works of the law or from believing what you heard? Are you so foolish that, having begun with the spirit you are now finishing with the flesh? Did you experience all these things for nothing? If in fact it was for nothing? Does the one who has given you the spirit and who works miracles among you do so by your works of the law or by your faith in what you heard?
Galatians 1:7 "There are some who want to make you waver and change the gospel of the Messiah.
Galatians 1:8 But if we, or an angel from heaven, should tell you more than what we have told you, let him be cursed.
Galatians 1:9 As I said before, I say again: If anyone teaches you other than what you have received, let him be cursed."
Hence the the holy fathers at that time felt that, for the upliftment of Christians in their belief it was necessary to put everything what they have taught should be given to them in writing and for this all the available documents that have been collected were categorised as most authentic, dubious, and false. Only the most authentic after repeated scrutiny by the council of holyfathers where sorted out which by the grace of the Holy Spirit where Codified into the true Holy Bible.
It was the council of Rabbis decided which all writings were to be included in the Old testament book. The Old Testament books were also included in the codification of the Holy Bible as we see today. The list of writings to be included in the Holy Bible has been subjected to repeated verification by the holy fathers . The Holy Bible in its present form was written in peshitta Syriac language, was given to the world by the holy Church of Antioch.During the time of old testament LORD GOD had given HIS commandments, written on stone sheets by the tip of HIS Holy Finger. Unlike the commandments that Moses received during the time of the old testment period, during the new testment period Jesus had not given anything written physically. But it was written spiritualy into the heart of the deciples, apostles and to all who had heard HIM and that could not have been destroyed neither by Nero,nor his cruel predecessors and will prevail forever. Because it was already written that LORD GOD will write His new testment in their heart.
The prophecy:
Jeremiah 31:31 The Lord says: Behold, the time is coming. I will establish a new law for the house of Israel and for the house of Judah.
Jeremiah 31:32 It is not like the law that I gave them when I took their fathers by the hand and brought them out of the land of Mezren; They have violated my law. I also rejected them, says the Lord.
Jeremiah 31:33 This law, which I will establish for the house of Israel after these times, I will give in their midst. I will write on their hearts. I will be their God. And they shall be my people.
Jeremiah 31:34 No more shall they say, ``Know the Lord,'' one to his brother, and one to his friend. For everyone, young and old, will know me. I will forgive their debts. and will not remember their sins. "
Mathew 24 ; 35"Heaven and earth will pass away ; my words will not pass away"
All scriptures in the Holy Bible are the words of the Holy Spirit and the Church has given those, as it was written to the world in its original form without making any changes.
It is written in revelation:
Revelation 22:6 Then he said to me: These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place. Here I come quickly.
Revelation 22:7 Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book.
Revelation 22:18 I testify to everyone who hears the prophecies in this book: If anyone adds to them, the plagues written in this book will come upon him.
Revelation 22:19 If anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away his portion from the tree of life and from the holy city that is written in this book.
Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says: Yea, I come quickly. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen
The introduction of printing marked the beginning of many new congregations resulted in the formation of hundreds of Bibles that differ from the true and the original Bible
Guttenberg invented the printing press in the mid-15th century. In the following years, printing came into force. Before that, there were only a handful of people who had seen the original Bible which was hand written and could not be easy to take to different places. But following the invention of printing, hundreds of Books in English that differ from each other were circulated. Since it was not easy to compare these newly printed books with that of the original Bible, which was written in another language and kept in another country.As a result these manipulated Bibles gave birth to hundreds of newly formed Churches also. In the Bible exhibitions, being held in important cities you can find hundreds of such books which are modified from the original scriptures and written in such a way as to fit the belief of each of these new churches.