I think we could get in some very interesting arguments, Darryl. But this is not the forum for that kind of thing.

I stand by my point that the CHURCH sold these books as being authored by the Apostles and that is how they are perceived by the laity whether or not the books actually say who they were authored by. I am not wrong, but you seem to want to nit-pick the obvious. They ARE forgeries because that is how the Church has sold them as. If you read the surrounding liturgical and other attestants, the Church Fathers indeed sold them as being authored by the Apostles. Ergo, “forgeries”. Without question. Nit-pick all you like. I’m right. You’re arguing a technicality just to miss the point.

FWIW, Paul was about as rabbinically trained as Nero. If he actually did study under Gamaliel he was a very bad student. Paul can say anything, it doesn’t make it the truth. The fact is, in Galatians, Paul misquotes Torah nearly a half dozen times on his way to making errant points NO HEBREW, no Jew would ever make! Paul was a lousy scholar and it shows in his aberrant misquotes of Scripture.

But this is digressing. I would love to converse with you over coffee. What an interesting discussion that would be! Thank you for the exchange, Darryl. Feel free to chime in any time!

Peace.