Frequently Asked Questions on Seeking Guidance from God's Word
Q. How were the Writings revealed?
A. The Writings were revealed through Emanuel Swedenborg. For the first fifty-seven years of his life, Swedenborg was a scientist and philosopher in 18th century Sweden. He devoted his last twenty-seven years to writing and publishing the theology and experiences he said he had been called by the Lord to present. He wrote about religious topics including the life after death, the spiritual meaning of many Bible stories, the development of the human mind, and how the Lord lovingly guides each of us.
Q. Does the New Church remove books from the Bible?
A. There are different biblical canons read today, depending on your faith. There is the Catholic Bible, Protestant Bible and even the Jewish Bible, each of which feature different books. The New Church also has its own biblical cannon which recognizes some books of the Bible as having a deeper, more spiritual meaning than others. For example, the Gospels, which contain the Lord’s own words, have a more spiritual quality than Paul’s letters.