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NASB | John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 1:1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. [Gen 1:1; Is 9:6] |
Bible Question: Thanks for your reply kelly. I am aware of the purported dates of the gospel writings and, I'm not sure that simply a date qualifies a text for inclusion in the NT. Even though the gospels were written perhaps long after Jesus died, they still contain material that does not "fit" the overall NT theme of believing in the death of Jesus Christ and the shedding of His Blood for the forgiveness of sins. That's what the pastor I mentioned was noting. Recall that Jesus told one person to keep the commandments and then follow Him in order to gain eternal life. Jesus did not say: Believe in my death and resurrection (which will take place). Thus, Jesus would give an OT response to questions about salvation in the gospels. Why doesn't Jesus talk about His death to everyone who asks about salvation? The pastor I mentioned thinks that's what qualifies the gospels as OT books. It's not until Paul that a clear understanding of salvation is presented. Again, the pastor's view that the gospels are not NT sounds very odd to me. What does the BibleStudyForum community think? |
Bible Answer: Robbert, You are correct in saying, "Jesus did not say: Believe in my death and resurrection", but He did give signs that were hidden from those who were on but a cursory quest for knowledge. That is, those who wanted simply to be on "the winning side" or, those looking for "fire insurance". These are in the crowd for their own benefit, not to bring glory to God. In the context of Jesus' quoting from the Book of Jonah, there were scribes and Pharisees coming to question Him for some validation of his authority to teach such things. The scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign, but they did not receive, for they asked amiss. Jesus, seeing through their false pretense refused to give them another sign besides what has been given, in the prophet Jonah. (cf Matt 12:36-40) " I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." This, I'd like to say, Does fit into the death of Christ and also His resurrection. We have another Gospel account in the story of the rich man who died, and lifting up his eyes in hell, found himself in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, with Lazarus in his bosom. (Luk 16:22 - 31) After being denied the requested water, the rich man attempted one more request, "I pray thee therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, For I have five brothers; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. And in the last verse of the chapter, father Abraham finally told him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Another viewpoint by which to compare the teachings of (any) preacher or teacher is the sin of heresy. For this, let's turn to Gal 5:19-21 which lists deeds of the flesh: "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Now, close to the middle of the list, we see listed that 'heresies' are counted as a work of the flesh. This, I take to be due to its association with the sin of Pride. One of the most offensive to the kingdom of God. We are told in the NT that there will be many such teachers in the last days. I think that you know what to do with their words, what they usually are discovered to be, are just a cursory quest for knowledge. I hope you have gotten much of your question answered, What say you? God Bless, keliy |