Interesting idea. Consider me subscribed.
Is it the collection of four chant which I might know under the name "Psalms of Salomon"?
Which today are considered as originating from a Pharisee sphere?
(I remember a verse along the lines "the sinner falls, and curses himself ... the righteous man falls, and rises again")
Many thanks for your comments.
No these are separate from the psalms of Solomon ...
See : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odes_of_Solomon
and the text is here:
http://www.carm.org/odes-of-solomon
There is a difference between what later generations dared to use as a vindication, and the (largely obscure) process of canon forming itself.
Most likely the New Testament consists exactly of those books which were read most frequently in service in the majority of communities.
Intriguingly, this selection seemed to converge in distant and largely independent cities! Otherwise, the notion 'canon' would be much more problematic or even non-existent ...
Using a piece of scripture in service implies its acceptance as "Word of God" to some extent, even if not in so many words and without theological nitpicking.
Moreover, many Biblical books are attributed not to Apostles, but to disciples of Apostles.
And to be honest, to imagine that Hebrews was written by Paul seems a faint excuse for having it in ...
I tend to agree
This having been said, there is little reason why Christian communities should deem that book(let) so precious. It is plausible that many chanted these Psalms in service - but to be treated like other New-Testament books there should by some reference to Jesus Christ - in a more direct way than in, say, the canonical Psalms ...
The Messiah and the Son are mentioned in a few places, for example Ode 24:
1 The Dove fluttered over the Messiah, because He was her head; and she sang over Him and her voice was heard:
Hm, I wonder what a few additional scripture verses saying something similar to dozens of others would move ...
Well, in this timeline Emperor Maurice (and his successors) sees these words aimed directly at him:
Ode 17 1 I was crowned by my God: my crown is living: ....... 11 And I went over all my bond men to loose them; that I might not leave any man bound or binding: 12 And I imparted my knowledge without grudging: and my prayer was in my love: 13 And I sowed my fruits in hearts,
He saw in this that he was instructed by God to end slavery..... and to tell others.