The Gospels
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
To some, these findings cast doubt on the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will say that the Gospels are fiction because of the differing accounts. Some may say the stories are “inspired by God” and will be answered with “If they are inspired, why didn’t they get it right by now?” I liken the books, regardless of how many contributing authors, to observers or reporters who are writing the events as they see them. The message of Jesus still comes through, loud and clear!
Love Granddaddy
The Perplexing, Puzzling, and Profound John
11/08/2020
Reading the synoptic Gospels then reading John you will immediately recognize that they are very different. Clement of Alexandra explained John this way. “John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the gospel, being urged by his friends and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.” In fact I would suggest that in addition to you reading something from the Old Testament, the synoptic Gospel to get the full effect. Adam Hamilton explains the differences this way. “If I’m looking for answers to questions of when, what, and how, I look to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. If I’m interested in answers to questions of who and why, I turn to John.“
To illustrate the difference, I looked up the institution of the Last Supper. The Synoptics agree that it was instituted on what would be Jesus’s last Passover. With little difference the Synoptics described it this way.
(ESV) Matt 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
When I looked at John, I found that he didn’t say anything about the institution of the Last Supper, which was unnecessary, but instead:
(ESV) John 13:4 He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.
This is certainly a different aspect of Jesus, but helps understand The Who and why.
Love Granddaddy
Which Books Made It into the New Testament and Why
10/09/2020
BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT
As discussed earlier, the letters of Paul were the first documents written that found there way into the Bible. Even though purposes of the letters were to encourage young Christian Churches and clarify his teaching, it is likely that the letters were copied and shared in the Christian Community. Prior to those times, members had the eye witnesses to tell them about Jesus. Paul was always clear when he was stating his own opinion versus words coming from Jesus. For Example:
(ESV) 1Cor 7:10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
Love Granddaddy
11/10/2020
THE EMERGENCE OF THE GOSPELS AS SCRIPTURE
In Adam Hamilton’s discussion of the emergence of the Gospels, give us an estimate time-line of documents.
| Date | Title | Discussion |
| Late 1st Century | The Didache | Writings of Matthew or Sources that Matthew Used http://www.thedidache.com/ |
| Early 2nd Century | Mark & Matthew | Papias of Hieropolis, mentions their use. He also tells us that Mark was Peter’s interpreter and that his quotation’s of Jesus came from Peter. |
| 2nd Century | First Book resembling a New Testament | Marcion included the Gospel of Luke and ten of Paul’s letters (he did not include the pastoral Epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy, or Titus https://www.marcionite-scripture.info /Marcionite_Bible.htm). |
| 170 AD | Diatessaron | By Tatian, a student of Justin Martyr, a teacher living in Rome. Included the 4 Gospels https://earlychurch.com/justin-martyr/ |
| End of 2nd Century | The Shepherd of Hermas, The Didache, 1 Clement, Letter of Barnabas. | These were books circulated and used around end of 2nd Century |
I will probably add to the above table, and will definitely discuss in more detail later. I have, in addition to Alan Hamilton’s book, read the links provided. I found discussion of Marcion to be particularly interesting because he, like many Christians, had a problem with the depiction of the Old Testament God, and the one Jesus presented.
Love Granddaddy
11/11/2020
There were a number of New Testaments authorized by Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Athanasius. If want details I refer you to Alan Hamilton’s book. In 397, a council in Carthage, Africa, finally adopted a New Testament which declared “Besides the canonical Scriptures, nothing shall be read in church under the name of divine Scriptures”.
Adam Hamilton has listed what he believe is the criteria for acceptance in the New Testament: Usefulness, Consistency, Association, and Acceptance.
Where these sections of Hamilton’s books were difficult for me to get through, his presentation gave me a better understanding of their authenticity. I also encourages me to challenge interpretations that do not comply with what I believe about Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
11/12/2020
Theopneustos or Plenary Inspiration
Theopneustos is a word originated by Paul that means “God-breathed” and often translated as “inspired”. With reference to the Bible, it is used to describe the situation where a writer puts the word to print or uses it and God breaths a meaning by which the reader or hearer is inspired. In the New Testament the writers wrote accounts of Jesus life but the readers must use their own experience, knowledge, and intellect to draw inspiration.
“Inspiration awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility, and transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities.” Scott Barry Kuafmen, “Why Inspiration Matters”
The history of the church seems to emphasize this view.
The actual wording of Article V of the Methodist Articles of Religion (based upon Article VI of the Anglican Church’s Thirty-Nine Articles) reads, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” The Evangelical United Brethren Church noted, “We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.” Both were accepted when the two churches merged to form the United Methodist Church in 1968.
During the period of Enlightenment, as a defense to scholars who were challenging every thing, many sects, still in existence today adopted the view that every word in the Bible was the direct word of God. This is known as verbal, plenary inspiration. Adam Hamilton, and I, believe this constitutes a “house of cards” because if anything is found to be wrong, the whole house comes down.
I recognize that there are better sources of information and explanations. Why do I write these letters? In the hopes that I can inspire you to pursue these subjects further. And because
I love you Granddaddy
11/16/2020
Several chapters of Adam Hamilton’s book, 16-18, discuss these issues and if you wish we can discuss these more fully. The point of these chapters, where important, is that, where we as Christians can hear the word of God from the Bible and as stated above, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” we are required to use the life and words of Jesus to be the final arbiters as to whether what we are reading is the Word of God.