God did not promise to preserve the history of the early church, except that which is captured in Scripture. The Bible is unique, among records of that age, in that it has been accurately delivered to our generation. So, we won’t be able to find authoritative records of the faith and practice of the early church outside God’s Word. It is suspicious when any teachers claim some special understanding of Scripture because of early church history that they have read. That seems like a convenient way to promote heresy, since just about any false doctrine, one might like, can be found in such historical records.

Now that we are in the New Testament, all authoritative revelation from God the Father is only available from God the Son (Hebrews 1:2). And it is only confirmed as God’s Word by God the Holy Spirit, through the Apostles that Jesus chose Himself (Mark 16:20, John 14:26, Hebrews 2:3-4). Those Apostles have completed their mission. Yes, the early church needed to consider, and come to a conclusion, what writings were to be included in Scripture. However, the question was not, “Which ones should we choose?” The question they needed to answer, rather, was, “Which ones did the Apostles ordain?” This was settled admirably, and correctly, by the early church. The True Church is in complete agreement with the results, though some other groups have added apocryphal writings several centuries later.

John 14:25-26
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you.
26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The context of the above passage is that Jesus is with The Apostles in the upper room, just before they all leave for the Garden of Gethsemane.

Maybe you are like me and you have forgotten something. Yes, part of our human frailty is that we do not remember everything. But, Jesus told His inner circle, The Apostles, that The Holy Ghost would help them remember everything Jesus taught them. The Apostles did their job, as ordained by God, to establish the New Testament Scriptures, enabled by this supernatural memory assistance. So, in The Holy Bible we have all of the lessons Jesus wanted us to learn, all of the traditions Jesus wanted us to keep, and all of the anecdotes of His earthly life Jesus wanted us to hear.

Anything that is omitted from Scripture was ordained by God to be left out. Nothing needs to be added to The Holy Bible, as if God needs to be corrected.

Proverbs 30:5-6
5 Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [ought] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

So, if we hear of some early church writings, it may be slightly interesting, but they have zero authority.

Want to hear more?