Franklin Graham Speaks Against CHRISTIANITY TODAY!

[@marthyangue319]

The Middle East is geographically a sub-region of the Asian continent which stretches from the Eastern side of the Caucasus mountains, Anatolia, the Levant, and the Arabian Peninsula in the West to all of Siberia, Japan, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea to the East. Asia is so big that the word "Middle East" was created to distinguish it from the "Far East" in relation to how East of Europe a place was. In fact, some of us in Asia have been ditching "Middle" and "Far East" for the more specific "East Asia" and "West Asia" (as opposed to the Middle East.) There is also a South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,) Central Asia (Afghanistan, Iran and such)) and North Asia (the bigger portion of Russia plus many of the 'Stan group of countries that broke away from the Soviet Union.) Geography does in fact denote Israel as being in Asia as that's the continent it's in. It's just in West Asia as opposed to East Asia where China, Japan, and the Koreas are in. Fun fact, Malaysia's tourism slogan "Malaysia: Truly Asia" was supposed to bridge that gap between the geographic reality and people's geographic blind-spot. This is also not an anti-Western concept as it was Europeans who subdivided the world into seven continents; Asia and Europe are technically just one continental landmass anyway (Eurasia.) Now while this might confuse people who understands "Jesus is Asian" as "Jesus looks Chinese," that's just a matter of correcting wrong assumptions, like if someone said "Ah, you're American? So you're a White Hollywood Liberal?" As for East Asian and South East Asian (as opposed to West Asian) portrayals of Jesus, I do think there IS a gray area there between people who wish to worship Jesus through their own traditional crafts and art styles (which often portray people in a specific race as part of the aesthetic) versus race-swapping the Lord as a "culture war commentary" on colonialism, anti-western sentiment, or even syncretic religion. It's not always going to be easy to distinguish one from the other though and, as a Christian artist from a non-western culture and a non-western country, I'd say that it will very often be some mixture of both. We love and worship Jesus but we have not totally forgotten how un-Christian he was "preached" to us 😅

[@jorinebustraan9659]

Clear explanation, thank you!

[@jeffandvickipeters5513]

The source of truth is The Bible. Franklin Graham's comment is God's Truth confronting humanity and we need to be reminded of it. I am glad called CT out on this. People read your Bibles more and share it.

[@ENergyJimP]

Almost every culture has art that depicts the nativity scene within the context of their culture. I have no problem with that. But any claim that Jesus isn't from the Middle East and Jewish is in conflict with what we do know from the Bible.

[@lindaschmidt4817]

Thanks you Brandon! Jesus wasn't a blond haired, blue eyed hippie.

[@chrisinolympiawa9295]

I think it makes sense that over the years artists have depicted Jesus as from their own culture. However, I think that we always need to acknowledge the reality that Jesus was Jewish and Middle Eastern and Semitic. So I think that going forward now that society on the whole is trying to be more accepting of other cultures and races, that current art should try to stick to the truth in terms of depicting Him as Middle Eastern. I think this seems to be the sentiment of most folks below. And any article like this in a Christian magazine should always refence the fact that Jesus was Jewish.

[@arnowisp6244]

They are literally arguing Jews are Asian even though they never saw themselves that way

[@bobbiemurray3354]

Middle East is in the continent of Asia.

[@sebastianparker2581]

I agree the Middle East is in ASIA according to GOD,he says that in ACTS 24:18. Also it’s the only Continent he mentioned.

[@sebastianparker2581]

Also all ASIANS are not Japanese or Chinese.Jews,People from Iran,Iraq etc.

[@lindaosburn3998]

Excellent explanation, Brandon! Thanks.

[@martaupward5992]

Thank you, Brandon!

[@jaynewilson5063]

👍 great information! Great new look, Brandon!

[@harpofudd9347]

At my church there is no picture of Jesus we don’t what he looks like we love Jesus from the word in the Bible read it

[@ruby11]

That’s right about Jonathan Roumie. His mother is Irish but father was born in Egypt, of Lebanese descent. When you really look at Jonathan’s features he appears both white and middle eastern.

[@jesuslives7710]

Yrs, I agree with you! The Bible is the truth & that's where our information comes from!!

[@funcritic-dv8sv]

except the Bible itself says the truth in the church (1 Tim 3:15)

[@gudrun5531]

I really like seeing people from difficult cultures represent Christianity through their cultural art, as long as it is isn't blasphemous. And I agree with different people's comments that many people in history hadn't seen people with very different skin tones at all, so it was natural that their art would represent their own ethnic identity. I think the idea of being more historically accurate to Israel is more recent when people have access to global information. Translators of the Bible probably grapple with this the most when trying to find language terms that were specific to Jews in the bible.

[@aromaceleste20]

Hi, Brandon. Just to contribute with some LatAm perspective; Here in Mexico we tend to see as natural in Catholic churches to have Jesus shown like a white male. Because the Spanish conquerors brought their European faith more than 500 years ago; Even when this is curious, as Spain was dominated before by the Arabs. However, Jesus representation is mostly European. We do not expect to see Jesus as a Mexican. The flip side of the coin is Mother Mary represented as a Mexican woman called Guadalupe; which is the most syncretic figure in Roman-Catholic Mexican faith.

[@joannapilgrim]

Learning that Jonathan Roumie is North African is news to me. That's pretty darn cool!

[@jorinebustraan9659]

I get the impression that the article was mainly about one reason for portraying Jesus within their own culture, namely to help others from that culture understand the depth of the Incarnation: that Jesus actually became just like us in His appearance, not some alien stranger. The examples in this article could well have been about people who went too far in these attempts - hence Franklin Graham's reaction - yet the struggle of how to express the depth of this theological issue in every day images is a worthwhile one in many ways.

[@elizabeths50]

To be fair you have to scrutinize CT very closely. They can be sus, big time.

[@Hello.Bethany]

I am so confused by this criticism. Does Franklin Graham not know that Israel is on the Asian continent? And therefore a first-century Jew born in Bethlehem would thus be… Asian? It may be a tad anachronistic to refer to him as Asian (I am honestly not sure when the continent was named so maybe, maybe not). But it is not unbiblical and it’s not ignoring the historicity of Jesus. I grant that the article should have explained better. By now we should all know that people aren’t going to do a simple Google search before launching their criticism. 😂

[@simonrankin9177]

Your wrong as well

[@masterprophet8378]

Bmarie, I in agreement with you. I grew up in the United States, and I know for a FACT that Franklin Graham harbors racist sentiments. We saw it in his defense of the sins of Donald Trump but in his condemnation of the infractions of Barack Obama. Franklin is NEVER fair-minded when it comes to issues of race, consequences of growing up in extremely racist North Carolina. Franklin NEVER allowed Jesus to fully purge him of that racist ethos he assimilated in childhood. It's a shame before God. smh

[@masterprophet8378]

@@simonrankin9177, actually Bmarie is right on point. It is YOU, my friend, that is wrong - dead wrong!

[@jaynewilson5063]

What God meant for Good the enemy uses for evil & the enemy wants to destroy Christian Today especially since it was sold to let Satan get his foot in...

[@jimmyjimenez03]

What a misleading article, makes you think if the author has ever read the Bible!

[@serenabell1971]

One thing to consider is that really old depictions of Jesus were solely based on personal experience. Unlike today, most people a long time ago saw only people in their region and had no clue what a Jewish man looked like when Jesus lived on Earth.

[@terryvidaurri600]

Look at The shroud of Turin if you want to see what Jesus really lookEd like!

[@2012escapee1]

Yes the Shroud ❤

[@lids62ify]

I don't like seeing Jesus Christ portrayed as a "white, blue eyed, blond-ish" Man, but I can't say that seeing Him portrayed by un-traveled, not visually taught people who realize what the Bible says but having never actually seen anyone of any other ethnicity depicting Our Savior as what they only see around them, if it brings them or others of their Culture or Ethnicity closer to The Father, His Only Begotten Son & The Holy Spirit, that's great! But having intentionally changed the True History from the Bible isn't really right! I'm pretty much just agreeing with you, Brandon! The only reason I'd really get concerned is when the Bible isn't truly being represented or taught but otherwise, like you, if I'm not "worshiping" any visual depiction of Jesus Christ, I'm not bothered but if you're changing History/The Bible then I do have issue to that! I want you to know that I'm enjoying both of your Channels, so, Well Done!🕊🙏❤🇺🇸🙏🇮🇱🕊

[@cenibabycenibaby6575]

GOD is a SPIRIT and those that worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and in truth. John 4:24.

[@joannapilgrim]

I Iike that were still having this discussion about what Jesus looked like based on where and when He was born, but I LOVE that His skin color is not a heaven or hell issue. I can still have a relationship with Him because He is God and God is Spirit. They that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the truth about Him as an actual man matters because if it didn't, many people would not believe and the Adversary would not have distorted the truth in the first place

[@anne-marieboucher9751]

My walls are covered with images of Jesus's life from all over the world, Jesus--Cameroonian village preacher, Japanese turning water to wine, Indian baby receiving arati , ancient Greek icon teaching, classical Italian Renaissance gardener encountering Mary Magdalene at the tomb, Irish baby in a manger even paler than me (if that were possible!)...and of course I know he was a middle Eastern Jew (though "Israeli" might be an anachronistic term). I think depicting Jesus in one's own national setting sometimes happened because an artist had no way to imagine what his actual historical reality looked like; and sometimes, especially nowadays, as a way of symbolically expressing the reality that the Body of Christ encompasses "every race, nation, and tongue." In any case, in Scripture no one, even his closest friends, recognized the Risen Jesus by what he looked like, only by what he said, and did. I like images of Jesus (like that Asian nativity in CT, which is actually quite beautiful) for the Gospel realities they show, not as would-be photographs of the historical person (which God seems to have found it absolutely unnecessary to provide.) And yet, I love The Chosen's attempts to make the historical realities come alive also. Art and history are different, and yet they can work very well in harmony!

[@NostalGamation]

To be fair, Jesus IS asian, geographically speaking. However, when we talk about arabs, jews (which Jesus is), russians, indians, etc, were talking about phenotypes. I believe I even read that the term "Middle East" was just a made up term for political & social usage & the real term for this is "West Asia".

[@pegmoore8567]

Yes, I was actually at a Bible study and one of the women remarked...oh, I always forget that Jesus was Jewish ...🤦‍♀️🤣

[@tersee123]

In the Bible, when you read the line of David you find quite a few Africans in there, like "Bat Sheba," "Queen of Sheba," looks like them Shebite woman made quite the trophy wife for the Jewish Elite. In 1958 President Nasser of Egypt pointed out: "... you left here black and came back white." Jesus was Jewish, and certainly not fair complexioned, he was dark, more like skin of bronze.

[@maegardnermills4292]

" Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Palestine, which at the time of his birth was considered part of North East Africa. The term Middle East wasn't coined until the 1850s after the creation of the Suez Canal by the British, long after the lifetime of Jesus.Dec 21, 2022" Jesus was African. He was black.

[@masterprophet8378]

But why isn't Franklin at denouncing pictures of a White Jesus when Franklin knows full well that JESUS WAS NOT EUROPEAN? This is the stuff that gets on my last nerve! What's good for the goose is still good for the gander. Why, then, won't Franklin EQUALLY DENOUNCE depictions of White Jesus, that he knows he sees all over the place? It's sickening! smh

[@sprinklechesed]

Yes!!! I have tried so often in vain to find historically accurate portrayals of Jesus and the nativity. It is very frustrating. Hopefully more Christian artists will produce historically accurate art.

[@reginapontes5672]

Look at the Shroud of Turin. That will give you the indication of Jesus' physical nature.

[@shanamorgan3]

Wow. It is said in the Bible that people will "create" Jesus as they would have Him be to suit their own liking. Idk where is found but seriously... he was Jewish. Why try to change this?

[@robertschultz6922]

It’s kinda like Noah’s flood. Every culture tries to make it their own, and unfortunately by making Jesus into a Black man, or a oriental or whatever it in their minds makes him their own. If you look at the cultures all over the world, they have some type of flood story, but each is unique to their culture. Where I used to live, the local piute Native Americans had a story of a great turtle that all the people would get onto his back and when the flood happened they sat on his shell. It has portions of the Biblical flood yet was still unique to them.

[@johnhennessy1352]

Jesus was not from Asia he was from Judea. From the line of King David.

[@nilarene2088]

I picture Jesus and God as a bright blurry glowing light. Then that way I don't have any preconceived notions. When Jesus came as a baby, boy and man, will only be a temporary image. One day, I'll know exactly what their faces look like. Besides, "mad in our image" is good enough for me!! ❤

[@christiancrusader9374]

Sorry. The Bible clearly says "The word became flesh". That means his incarnation wasn't temporary. He actually added a human nature to his godly one.

[@VirginiaWawrzynaik]

People do this for attention

[@Warriorbride11]

Everything changed with the Cross of Calvary! No longer nationalities, countries, races... including Jesus’ Jewishness. Understanding New Covenant realities have yet to be understood. What does He look like? Look in the mirror...

[@pegmoore8567]

TBH I was pondering the Adam and Eve scenario and if God made Adam for the soil/dust I can only assume that the soil was rich with nutrients so Adam would have been dark skinned and Eve was taken from Adam's rib and bones are light in color 🤔 Maybe GOD was trying to tell us something about unity and acceptance ❤

[@marylawrence6658]

Asia minor is not in Asia. Those are two different regions.

[@lissarodrigues8950]

I don't think Jesus really care about where people think He's but to be His followers. He died on a cross for everyone He loves everyone the same.

[@Vampirebloodthirst]

My counselor has an African nativity

[@dawanlee792]

History lesson, when we use the term Asian we refer to we describing China Japan Korea.... In Biblical (Ancient time) Asia and Asia minor was the area north of Israel and Lebanon or from Turkey east. When Marco Polo went into China he didn't call them Asian referred to them as whites. On that there no continent caled the middle east. By to days yes Jesus would be called Asian because Isreal sits on the Asian continent shelf. So does apart of Egypt and Turkey, and Russia. Was Jesus an Israeli no he was an Israelites. His birth religion was Judaism which makes him Jews.

[@nedjabbar2966]

The land of the Bible, the Middle East, the legal geographic name is called West Asia, so yes, people of the region are West Asia. Remember, Turkey is Asia Minor. The land between asia and Europe : Many scholars even believe that Greece should be part of it: These names fell out of use because of bias by westerners. It bothers them that the land of the bible is really in asia

[@arnowisp6244]

Middle East People do not see themselves as Asian.

[@tiffcat1100]

Being historically accurate (and it’s not that I don’t really love The Chosen, because I do) Jesus looked like anyone else from the area (thus likely black hair, dark eyes, tanned skin), hair wasn’t being worn long then, he grew up with plenty of siblings & was killed on a stake, not a cross (which was a pagan symbol from long, long before & subsumed into what we now think of as Christianity (along with the Renaissance-looking Jesus, belief that he died on a Friday & was resurrected on the following Sunday (no way is this 3 days), that he was an only child, & that his birth & in fact all of our birthdays should be celebrated, (he never said this & in fact one of the few references to a birthday was the beheading of John the Baptist). Nor did he say to learn the Lord’s Prayer & repeat it like a chant for centuries afterwards; it was meant to be a guideline as to how to pray. If you are looking for the true church today it is probably small in numbers and greatly hated. Jesus knew that only a remnant of the tribes of Israel remained in the land, mainly the tribe of Judah with some of the Benjamites, and that the other tribes had eventually migrated north & west to ‘the islands’, and ultimately still further west. These lost tribes whilst having lost their identities, never quite lost the memory of the 10 commandments nor fell 100% into lawlessness.

[@maegardnermills4292]

Jesus was black. He had black in his family. The Goly Spirit overshadowed Mary. That darkness. She did not know the Black is dominate.

[@christinastateham3048]

One of Jesus's primary messages was that we can only fully understand and have a relationship with God as spirit, that we must be "born again of the spirit". How He physically, specifically looked is irrelevant to who He was. I love Christian art and artists should be able to represent their spiritual visions of Jesus as they relate to Him.💖

[@funcritic-dv8sv]

I am less concerned about the different depictions of Jesus than not depicting Him at all. Firstly, Middle Easterners have features of white, black and Asian peoples; so, no one is totally off base by depicting Him the way they want. Jesus relates to all cultures. What I am more concerned with is *not* depicting Jesus at all. To do so is ultimately to deny that God took a fleshly form and that is what the Gnostics thought. This issue was resolved by John of Damascus who explained why this second commandment argument doesn't apply today. If many would look at Christian history, they would see the church resolved this long ago.

[@velkyn1]

it's great to see these cultists attacking each other, and showing just how ignorant and bigotted they are.

[@markmontesines6825]

I could emphatically make my point that Jesus was Jewish and Asian since Israel is geographically situated in the western region of Asia. On the other hand, we may wonder' "What if Jesus was born in Africa, namely in Egypt or in Greece", I would have no problem with that though I am Asian. With all the past aesthetic representations of the Savior in different cultures' worldview, I still see no point in making a fuss or a big issue out of it. The Messiah's birthplace was in Israel, in the Middle East - geographically an Asian country because it was a strategic place for Him to be born there for the propagation of the gospel primarily to 3 major continents (Asia, Africa and Europe) in that period. It was not out of God's racial favoritism over other nationalities since He has the whole world in mind when it comes to spiritual redemption. So let's not be envious or jealous making an issue out of Jesus' former earthly race or particularly in response to an article in Christianity Today. Despite His racial roots on earth, He had (or has) understood the travails and joys of human experiences in general. The bottom-line is that though Jesus was racially born a Middle Eastern, an Asian, -- by heart, He universally represented mankind on the cross and offers spiritual salvation to every human person on the entire planet.

[@reginapontes5672]

Isreal is one the Asian continent. Middle Eastern region is more appropriate.

[@mavericktheace]

This is a very American concern. In Europe, they call places "Asian" that we in North America do not. The very pedantic insistence from Christianity Today that Jesus was Asian is unnecessary and confusing. But it's technically not wrong. There is much more that they have said that is wrong.

[@elizabeths50]

To be fair the Bible calls parts of Turkey and that area Asia Minor, so that is as close as Asia is it gets. Jesus was Jewish , from Israel, this area has always been the Middle East. It doesn't matter if people called him European at some point, it wouldn't make sense since we all read the Bible and see he is from the middle east. 🙂

[@ruby11]

Years ago I received some inadvertent education from a lady living in Canada from India. When she referred to herself as Asian I was at first confused but then realized that, sure, that entire surrounding part of the world, up to and including a section of Russia is technically part of Asia. We’re just not used to hearing it on our side of the world.

[@patsyluebke5248]

tribe of judah was black!

[@AJBernard]

Please reread the text of the second commandment for yourself. Go to Exodus and read it. it forbids all images. Even KZbin videos. Unless you read the next sentence in the commandment. Then you realize that it is only forbidden idols. So if the chosen is a 2CV, so are your videos. Your videos depict things that are on the earth.

[@TheSnipeLife]

Yeah that’s what I’m saying here. Clearly the text says not to bow down or worship any idol that is made. Yeah for sure, someone could take my videos out of context and worship me or the subject matter as well. It’s not saying that we can’t have an image of Jesus. However I would say that if people are worshipping any image or artifact that it could become a major issue and I’ve seen that as well.

[@AJBernard]

@@TheSnipeLife Absolutely. Dr. Baucham gets this wrong, be cause (as much as I love Voddie Baucham), he fails to read the full text of the commandment, and argues that making an image of Jesus is a 2CV. It is not. Worshiping an image of Jesus would be, but merely depicting Him is not.

[@ronwells5375]

Well, actually. Historically. According to old world maps & chronological history. All land from ancient west too the east was deemed Asia… however, regions from the western (not America)… West Bank, had many cultures and various religions and races… I’m not here to argue, it’s few people that actually understand. Chronical history, but no he wasn’t as Asian is viewed today. Nor, American, nor, African. It’s clearly stated Jewish, and remember, culture swapping wasn’t a thing back then, mixed races rarely existed. God bless all, and. Remember, Jesus was of the light, not darkness!

[@jonathonblackmon2763]

Franklin has zero credibility

[@fifteenbyfive]

In their minds, Jesus is a part of Asians, they're a part of Jesus. They can make Jesus look like them in their art or whatever else brings them closer to God. Can you imagine a 100+ year old Jesus though? How reverent Japanese are towards their elderly... he would have had the best retirement anywhere on earth at the time. Judaism says Jesus is not the Messiah. Christianity says He died and rose again. Islam says He didn't die and just rose, straight up. My question is this: If he rose, who says he couldn't have descended again? Or is the Japanese belief even literal? Was it figurative? Merely Jesus-ish or Jesus-like? Was it someone else they believed was Jesus? If it has a real history in the Japanese culture, I refuse to believe it just came out of nowhere. But what does an art curator know about this anyway? I'd speak to a real Japanese historian first before going too far with this.

[@fayewood1377]

The bible tells us Jesus was born in Bethlehem he was and is middle eastern, why is this even a thing? I personally do not care what shade his skin is , and anyone one who does care needs to reflect on their own self worth.

[@controlyourself806]

Revolution 1:14 and Daniel 10:6

[@azwarriorm2617]

Jesus was born into humanity as a Jew…Jews are not considered Asian… it’s sounds like semantics saying he’s Asian… and trying to say on technicality …the world needs to accept that was Jesus was born Jewish - He was fully man in a Jewish body, and fully God …He came , He died and He Rose again and is now seated at the right hand of God… let’s just stick to what the Bible says… For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17

[@indayoung4569]

Agree! Jesus was not white, black,Hispanic neither Asian as the picture above. but geographically, Is not Israel located in Asia continent? However I don’t think is is wrong to represent Jesus as “our culture”I am latina(Peru) and I like to show my nativity where the holy family is wearing the typical Andes clothing and instead of sheep and cows we show the Llamas.

[@donnastorey3830]

Our church has a Jewish Jesus hes not black or white looks like someone with a tan. Guess its what people would call olive skin.When i see photos of a white Jesus with blonde hair and blue eyes to me that doesnt seem right. The bible tell us Jesus is Jewish. Thats another reason to support Israel 🇮🇱 the country of our Lord and Savior.

[@anthonypalo8191]

Dude technically Jesus was Asian, he was from the Middle East Asia region. Lots of Races in Asia. Jews, Hindus, Arabs, Chinese, Japanese, Southeast Asian, etc. Middle East stands for Middle East Asia for those in the arab region, like Southeast Asia for Philippines, Malaysia, South Asia for India, East Asia for China and others. so He was from Asia, and Christianity came from the Asian region, its so easy bro.

[@shelly090806]

Asian regions you spoke about didn't even exist when Jesus was on earth the first time Rolling eyes. Jesus was Jewish BTW

[@pegmoore8567]

I don't believe I've read that anywhere in the Bible

[@shelly090806]

Please refer to the maps in scripture for the accurate regions that existed during those times.

[@simonrankin9177]

Incorrect

[@robertschultz6922]

Isn’t it actually a sin to have or draw a portrait of Jesus? It’s a idol which is one of the commandments we’re not supposed to have. It would be like having a crucifix. A cross with out Jesus is a symbol for Christianity like a fish. A crucifix with Jesus is a idol.

[@TheSnipeLife]

I talk about it a little bit here, some people think so. It depends on how you interpret the second commandment. I personally don’t think so as long as you’re not worshipping that image. An idol in my opinion is different than a picture.

[@teresabrowning4126]

Growing up in the Catholic faith it always bothered me that we were supposed to pray to the saints and Mary. I didn't understand why until I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. My real knowledge came through Bible studies. The world is always trying to feed us lies that will keep us from knowing the truth.

[@robertschultz6922]

@@teresabrowning4126 exactly! Praying to Mary is just like praying to Zeus or Baal. Yes she was the mother of Yeshua but she was/is not a god in her own right. As for saints, we all are saints according to the Bible. Many catholic ideas are incorrect but they still do them.

[@funcritic-dv8sv]

​@@TheSnipeLife I started watching this channel because of The Chosen. The problem with Protestants is they read the Bible and history ends there. John of Damascus in the 7th century resolved this with the following argument: If Jesus is not depicted by images, we are denying the fact that God walked in the flesh. This is what the Gnostics thought. John's argument won the day and this view was adopted by the Seventh Ecumenical Council. But our Protestant friends only go back to the Bible and ignore Christian history and bring up an issue resolved many years ago.

[@funcritic-dv8sv]

@@annaj6512 No, you can't just stop with the Bible. Believe in the Trinity? Not in the Bible. Believe that Jesus is fully man and fully God? Not in the Bible. Does the NT itself says to just depend on the Bible? No. The NT itself says the truth is found in the church. The church responds to the times, but the last real date you need to know is 787 - with the 7th Ecumenical Council (which BTW dealt with icons).