Most of you know that I am pretty familiar with the Bible but I sometimes have questions about some of the beliefs and teachings about it. For example. I know that Jesus and his disciples and writers of the NT always referred to the OT as the Scriptures. I have never doubted that they are. However, I sometimes wonder if everything in the NT can be called Scripture.
Hear me out. All of the writers in the OT knew they were writing a message from God for the people of God. Did all the writers of the NT know the same thing? Does it ever seem like Paul and the others were simply writing letters to churches to give them instruction and to help them understand the will of God that is already given in the OT? How does the fact that an Apostle or other Saint wrote something make it Scripture? How about the writings of men like Billy Graham, Max Lucado, John MacArthur, or Tim Lahaye? It seems to me that some Christians act as if they are writers of Scripture too!
This is just a question intended to entice a discussion and to find out if other people wonder the same thing.
The authors of the Gospel recognized in Jesus the Messiah, Christ (Yeshua HaMashiach). They saw the prophecy as described in the Jewish books come true.
Yet the Gospel itself does not "explain" the deep meaning of Jesus� crucifixion (why this had to happen)
Peter and Paul could not either until they were led by the Holy Ghost. Particulary from Paul it is known that he was extremely insecure about this totally new teachings. Yet he relied fully on the Holy Ghost to describe the meanings and consequences of the events around Jesus and Jesus� teaching. I do not know if Paul was aware that 2000 years later his letters would still be read by you and me... but in my opinion he certainly not just wrote letters to congregatations. He set the tone for christianity. He regarded those early christians as persons who besides believing that Jesus was the Messiah, needed to understand what that belief would mean for them in terms of life and afterlife.
For christians these teachings became the concept of the merit of Jesus� precious blood being shed.
Personally I beieve that Paul, Peter and the other authors of the NT, other than those who testified about Jesus, are led by the Holy Ghost to explain why Jesus came rather than testifying that He came.
As to Billy Graham and the others you mentioned.... they all talk or publish ABOUT Scripture. Their interpretation might be new, yet they are unable to claim a new event, Jesus having come back for instance. Maybe they think they are writing scirpture but they are, in my opinion, definitely not and some of them are even wrong about scripture.
As much as I can connect to what you write in your post, I do not understand how you come to wonder about the authority of the authors of the NT when listening to or reading about Graham and the others you mention....
Yeah, it would seem that the complexity and prophecy in Revelation would validate the NT. I do believe that all the New Testament books do agree completely with the OT, but besides all that, I do believe in God, and I do have a little blind faith that God protects His Holy Word. I do see your point, but I do think that Jesus is the Key to the entire bible. Everything was leading up to Him in the OT, and everything is following Him in the NT. It would be very hard to truly understand the bible without building on the "cornerstone", so that is why we needed the NT.
Maybe the issue is at time, whether or not the one writing is a christian, The clear distinction to me is that so many christians think and i say think they can put their own meaning to scripture.
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Example of not Rightly Dividing:
Posted : 1 Sep, 2010 10:15 AM
Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
There are some that try to use these scriptures to support a whole movement and unbiblical doctrine.
In coming to the word we need to always be mindful, that the word of God is the Truth, it is without falsehood.
There are so many facts written in the word of God to the integrity of God's word.
John 17:17 � Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
The scriptures are used in Romans to say that the father, will withhold mercy from whom he wants, but when we study scriptures on mercy, we see an entirely different picture.
Nu 14:18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
De 7:12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:
Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Ho 2:23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
Jon 2:8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
Mt 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Mt 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
I would encourage all to find any time in the word that the father denied anyone that come unto him for mercy.
Thanks SOS. Yes I am enjoying my new home very much. I love being up here in the mountains. I saw a Black Bear crossing the road in the little town near where I live the other day and another crossed the road about a mile from my house. There are deer everywhere and the fawns are all out now and their spots are gone. The deer are right on the side of the road and almost close enough to reach out and touch. I was on a hike yesterday and was about 10 feet from a deer who posed long enough to let me take some pictures of her. This is a very enchanted place to live. It's unfortunate that I have to go down to the city to work every day. Thanks for asking.
As for the thread, I like the responses so far. I do not dispute the authority of the writers of the NT at all and I think it is a good point that they were writing about the fulfillment of prophecy and the revelation of our Messiah. I would never say that we should not obey the commands in the NT or anything like that. I do wonder sometimes about some of the particulars that Paul wrote about like "dress codes", eating or not eating meat that is from a sacrifice and things like that. Some of the issues were definitely cultural and might be difficult to apply to our society although I'm sure we could learn from the examples. It is too bad these things become the places where some denominations plant their stake. I am curious about what others think about this. I'd love to hear more.
Awesome, your place! It is such a pity we are so far away, I would love to just hop in for a day and enjoy that scenery. You are very fortunate to be able to live in and work near a landscape like that. Good for you and may it be a constant blessing and inspiration to you!
I fully understand your point.....to what extent could we, living in today�s world, "ignore" his teachings as to behaviour and still be a christ-like christian...??
I think these answers are difficult to give... maybe here is where our personal relation with G_d comes in. That after the reading and teaching... there comes the living and G_d will be in charge. We would not be reading the answers but experiencing them as we walk with Him.
From what you have shared with me, it is quite clear, that your path is one that is led by the Lord. So in that sense, it is perhaps good that you have these questions....as with G_d questions are put in our heart to make us grow into an (even more) intimate fellowship with Him.
