p.2 The New Testament writings

When we come to the New Testament, the wise men came from the east to seek the birth of the Lord. They asked, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Herod asks where the Christ would be born.In v.5They responded to Herod by saying,” In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet, ” and they quote Micah. Without the Scripture, they would have never known any of this. For this very reason, we consistently see Jesus and the apostles referring back to what is written in Scripture.

Mary knew how to obey, she knew what God required, because the law was written. Luke 2:22 “Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.”

In Jesus’ temptation, Matt 4:4, He quotes Scripture from Deuteronomy to the Devil, to overcome him and resist the temptation to act independently of the Father.

The apostles

The spirit of truth inspired them to write the Word that is truth for all the generations of believers that would come after them. John 14:17“the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive.” John 15:26 “the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me .”We learn that the Spirit who wrote the Word through chosen men is also called the spirit of truth.

John 17:17-19Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by Your truth . Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”

How was Jesus sent into the world? He came preaching Gods word. What we learn is that the truth is the word which is what Jesus is called also. 2 Tim 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” What is written in both the old and New Testaments weregiven to all who want to learn the truth. And for this reason those who were appointed by Jesus wrote to the Church what Jesus taught them for us to know the Scriptures was fulfilled about the Messiahs coming.

John 16:13-15 “when He, the Spirit of truth , has come, He will guide you into all truth ; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

Those things to come are written as prophecy, as instructions for daily living. These men were moved by the Spirit like the prophets of old were.

Peter- 2 Peter 3:1-2 “Beloved, I now write toyou this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior ,

Jude 3 “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

John “I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you’(1 John 2:14).

Were the apostles wrong, disobedient to write down everything, or, were they led by the Lord to write it down? That is the question Catholics must settle in their hearts and minds. For it directly pertains to the church and its traditions.

John 2:22 “when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said .”

Both what was said, and what is written are the same or they are meaningless.

Luke 1:1-4 tells us, “Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”

Again they are being led of Gods Ppirit to write. It does not have to say God told them to write, it is granted that they were moved by the Spirit.

Paul: 1 Cor. 14:37-38 “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.”

2 Cor. 9:1 “Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;

2 Thess. 3:17 “The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.”

Jesus: Ps 40:7-8 then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.” This is quoted by Jesus, recorded in Heb. 10:7.

John 5:39-40 Jesus explained, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” The scripture testifies of the Word (not tradition) that was made flesh, who is the life.

Jesus speaking to John and the people Matt 11:9-10 “I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.' (Mk.1:2)

Jesus says from the Old Testament, It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God .' He said to them “search the Scriptures” (John 5:39), “is it not written in your law?” (John 10:34; Luke 10:25), “have you not read?”(Matt.12:3; 12:5; 19:4; 21:16; 22:31). This clearly shows that the people had access to and were expected to read and interpret the Scriptures for themselves. Not rely on their religious teachers who would stop them from reading the Scripture and putting it as apriority in their lives? The Religious leaders who held to their traditions, Jesus’ argument with them was about their traditions outside Gods Word.

Mark 12:26 “have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him” It was Jesus who said John 5:46 or “if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.”(Jesus refers to Moses directly in Mt.19:7, 22:24; Mk.1:44,7:10,10:3; lk.5:14, Lk.24:27; Jn.1:17;3:14;7:9, these are just a few references).

When he chased out the money changers from the Temple, he spoke. Matt 21:13-14 It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.’”

In Mark 7:6 Jesus quotes, “ Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.”

You cannot honor him without adhering to his Word that is written.

As he was to fulfill the word written, Mark 14:27  All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written : 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered.'

Luke 18:31 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.” This we know are about 300 prophecies written.

Luke 22:37 “For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end.”

Everything referred to is the Scripture, what is written by the prophets. What was first written to a nation became personal to each individual in the New Covenant.

For “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). His written word is not like traditions that change.

The apostle John records for all generations afterwards, (Jn.20:31-21) “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

John 16:12-14 John records Jesus saying to them, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”How will the Spirit guide us today into truth?John says 1 Jn.1:4, “ and these things I write to you.” 1 Jn.5:13 “these things I have written to you who believe.”

What if they didn’t write the words they were taught or prophecy they were given, what would we have today? What would we know?

Luke 24:44 “Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” Jesus points to the word as the confirmation for the fulfillment of his ministry, both the Old Testament prophets and writings, and the New.

The New Testament canon, exactly like the Old, was accepted and recognized by a consensus of the believers as it was being written. This is clear from the historic evidence we have given above. Further proof comes from the testimony of Peter: “Even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest [twist], as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15, 16).

Peter acknowledges Paul's writings as Scripture. So has the entire body of believers at this time. “The other Scriptures” by that time would have been included in the New Testament. These books were already available and well-known to all by common consensus at this early date (about A.D. 66), so Peter didn't even need to name them.

Paul writes Rom. 3:21 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.”Paul rebukes the Jews who had the oracles of God, as they copied and memorized them, but taught them from their traditions instead.

2 Tim 3:16 “ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” ALL means nothing is missing. The meaning of this is that the Scripture was written down. From the beginning, it was inspired by God, meaning God breathed; he moved the men, prophets, and scribes to write the words down. So it is not on their own initiative, but God instructed them, and it is God's communication to mankind.

Rom 10:17 “faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the WORD OF GOD.”

The Word of God was spoken by the apostles and what was spoken was what was written, so there are no conflicts.

Heb. 4:12-13 “the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Eph. 6:17 the sword of the Spirit, is identified as the Word of God, “I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.” (1 Cor. 1:2 and Eph.1:1)

1 Peter 1:23-24 “Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.”

Eph. 1:13 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise”

If one does not submit to the Word, they are protesting God. Similar to the Protestants who do not submit to traditions that are not in the Word.

2 Peter 1:20-21 “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation. For prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Peter makes it clear that Scripture was given to Gods chosen prophets by God himself. To maintain the purity of God's instructions it became the written word, the source is a pure, the Scripture itself. Look what Peter says in v.19 previously, and so we have the prophetic word confirmed which you do well to heed.” A more sure word of prophecy, which is written .”

Paul said to the Thessalonians 1Thess. 2:13 “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” He's saying they accepted what he said as what God has said and what God has written.

Paul commended the Berean's who tested what he said by the word. You cannot test to know truth by traditions.

Acts 17:10-12 Paul and Silas away go to Berea. “When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so”

Paul constantly referred to the word, he warned about tradition 1 Cor.14:21 In the law it is written: 1 Cor.14:37 “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to youare the commandments of the Lord.”

He wrote, “He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26). The church is not set apart by any tradition.

Jesus said Jn.17:8 “I have given them your words you have given me.” These words were recorded not in voice but by the pen, There is no way to confirm what someone said yesterday or the week or month before without eyewitnesses, we be reading and obeying them above the words of men, any men.

If the New Testament were not written by the apostles we would have no idea what to do.

“Jesus said, If a man love me, he will keep MY words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings; and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent Me” (John 14:23-24) The Lord spoke to us about the authority of the Scriptures alone, so did His apostles after Him

John says 1 Jn.1:4 “and these things I write to you.” 1 Jn.5:13 “these things I have written to you who believe.” “I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.” (1 Cor. 1:2 & Eph.1:1). We see the bible being formed and shared among the church. And like Israel we are told in Col 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom”

The Encyclical letter of Pope Pius the 7^th, 1816 “It is evident, from experience, that the Holy Scriptures when circulated in the vulgar tongue, have produced more harm than benefit.”

This vulgar tongue is any language but Latin. However God had the scripture originally written in Hebrew and then Greek. Latin is the language of the Roman empire that crucified Christ.

Rev 1:19 “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”

Rev 21:5 He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

Johns book ends with Revelation 22:18-19 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book: If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” This is not just about this book, Revelation is the consummation of all prophecy, as Jesus is the spirit of prophecy to the prophets. The prophecy of John is based on the prophets before him.

In this time period the word of God will be disrespected. Rev. 20:4 “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image.”

What we see is those who keep his word are persecuted, as they have always been.When Jesus returns His name is called The Word of God Rev 19:13.

Were the apostles disobedient or obedient to write what they learned, the words of Jesus?

There is a loyal minority who cherish the writings of the prophets and the apostles handed down.

Peter put it this way: "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby..." (1 Pt 2:2).

Moses wrote 3,500 years ago (of which Jesus quoted), "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Dt 8:3; Mt 4:4).

Scripture is NOT subject to the Church, the church is subject to the Scripture.

God found among the people of Israel a minority who responded to Him, and it is the same

This phrase has been said by the prophets and Jesus repeated this phrase all throughout his ministry, He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt 11:15,Matt. 13:9, Matt 13:43;Mark 4:9; Luke 14:35. Mark 4:23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 7:16). Luke 8:8 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The word is still spoken, but is it heard? And is it understood to be lived by?

 

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