Be careful about dates for the Bible

I generally agree with Harold Knudsen’s letter of Aug. 9 (“Don’t dismiss the Bible as irrelevant”).

However, he says, “The Bible is as relevant in 2013 as it was in the year 213.”

While the Old Testament was probably around for a few hundred years in 213, when he refers to “Christians ... and its own religious text,” we did not have the New Testament until more than 180 years later.

According to Rev. Henry G. Graham’s “Where We Got The Bible,” the existing Gospels and Epistles which were selected to make up the “canon” or sacred collection of inspired writings was not finally settled by the bishops and approved by the [ope until the Council of Carthage in 397.

David W. Sutter

Libertyville