If we can assume higher criticism's position of judgement over the content of the New Testament', insisting that there is a disparity of credibility between the 4 Gospels and the New Testament letters, then we must ultimately share higher criticism's conclusion that Paul invented Christianity; a proprietary concocted religion that is distinct from Jesus' oringinal intentions. In short, the New Testament letters are either God's word, or they are antique writings with no more authority then any other ancient scrolls. We might as well include the sayings and ethics of Jesus as presented in the gnostic gospels too. Without the New Testament letters we have little cause to believe in justification through the righteousness of God by faith, the crucifixion and resurrection life of Christ and the walk in the Spirit, the Gospels triumph over inherent sin, (Romans) the Gospel of Grace (Galatians), the believers position in Christ through faith, or revelation concerning the body of Christ (Ephesians), the experiencial and authenticating relationship between faith and works in true religion,(James) or the qualifications and functions of elders and the pastoral work of a true elder (Philemon).We've mentioned a related topic in previous threads but it makes sense to bring it up here. The inspiration to hilight Jesus' human laranyx utterances with red ink in our bibles is not divine, but commercial...about a hundred years ago some enterprising publisher came up with 'red letter edition' for a marketing feature. This modern practice of using two colors of inks can suggest two levels of scripture that does not exist...namely that within the pages of the bible some words are from God while other words are merely about God, from man's mind. However, any scholastic methodology for seperating the divine from spurious in either testament of the bible is subjective and prejuduced at best. Nothing wise, or even honest is achieved by this, except that honest doubt is put into the weaker brethren regarding the whole counsel of scripture.Let's not be critics and judges of scripture...but rather the reverse brethren.MC
_________________Mike Compton
MC wrote:
Without the New Testament letters we have little cause to believe in justification through the righteousness of God by faith, the crucifixion and resurrection life of Christ and the walk in the Spirit, the Gospels triumph over inherent sin, (Romans) the Gospel of Grace (Galatians), the believers position in Christ through faith, or revelation concerning the body of Christ (Ephesians), the experiencial and authenticating relationship between faith and works in true religion,(James) or the qualifications and functions of elders and the pastoral work of a true elder (Philemon
_________________Sandra Miller
Excellent point ginny.
