Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 11/29/2011

Question
Dear Don,
Where in the Gospels did Christ command his Apostles to institute Bible churches and where in the Gospels did Christ the Word tell anyone to write the New Testament. Thank you for the Truth.

Answer
Hi Glen,

Thanks for your questions.  Nowhere in the Gospels did Jesus command the Apostles to institute the churches... He did that Himself.

Matthew 16:18 (AV)
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.


Remember the word church means "Called out Assembly"  By very definition it is a local assembly.  Look how often the phrase "Church at" is used .... it is a LOCAL assembly by definition... not a denomination or universal church.

Act 8:1  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Act 13:1  Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.


Act 18:22  And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

Rom 16:1  I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

Rom 16:27  To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.

1Co 1:2  Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

2Co 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

1Pe 5:13  The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

So we see that Jesus said He would build His church... his called out assembly.  Now there was an assembly of baptized believers, assembling with Jesus... the Apostles.  They were the first Church.    He then told that first church to go out and add people to that church via conversion and Baptism.

Matthew 28:19–20 (AV)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.


No Jesus did not tell anyone to write the New Testament, that was done by the Third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:21 (AV)
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.


I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don