Expert: Brenton Hepburn - 5/18/2006

Question
Now that we have the complete word of GOD. Something the first century Christian's didn't have, can one come to an accurate knowledge simply by reading the Bible with an honest heart ? Or should we depend on the uninspired writings of those who claim to be mordern day mouth piece for GOD. Having authority equal to the Apostles and Prophets
and therefore are not to be question. Does not such teaching strongly imply that GOD has given one the ability to read and understand the writings of men. But not that of his inspired book. Such is like the teachings of the Catholic church years ago. I'LL be glad to hear from you.                     Larry Brayall Rockland Maine

Answer


Hello Larry

Thank you for your questions.

The evidence of history suggests, that most of the Bible was written before the end of the first century.  Evidently the earliest of the New Testament Books was Matthew, and, was written about 41 c.e. The majority of the rest were written before 65 ce.  The two apparent late books to the collection were the Book of John and Revelation written about 98 c.e.

It also appears that as different letters were written to a congregation, copies were made and sent out to other congregations.  So most of the New Testament would have been available to most of the Christian congregations scattered around at that time.

It is true that in the first century many were persuaded to believe by what people such as the apostle Paul had to say see for example the following (all text quoted are from the RSV)

Ac 17:4  And some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas; as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
Ac 18:4  And he argued in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
Ac 19:26  And you see and hear that not only at Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable company of people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods.

As the number of Christians grew, they were formed into congregations. These congregations had qualified men appointed to look after them. Among them were teachers of Gods word

Acts 13:1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon

Ephesians 4:11  And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

Paul admonished the Hebrew Christians that it was important for them not to forsake meeting together (Hebrews 10:24).  This indicates that to learn accurate Bible knowledge we can not do it alone.

Also, to the Hebrews Paul wrote that some needed to be taught the elementary things again

Heb 5:11 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need some one to teach you again the first principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food;

And in a letter to James, he warns that the teachers hold a heavy accountability

James 3:11   Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.

In Acts chapter 8 we have the account of an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was having difficulties understanding the Book of Isaiah.  Phillip reasoned with him and taught him the meanings.

Later in  Acts 17:2  we see Paul explaining from the prophets (old testament)  point to prove just who Jesus was “And Paul went in, as was his custom, and for three weeks he argued with them from the scriptures, 3  explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead,â€?

Matthew records some of the last words Jesus gave to his apostles, in chapter 28:19,20. A teaching work had to be done in order to make disciples .( Matt 28:20 “Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you�) .

Personally I do not believe that we “can one come to an accurate knowledge simply by reading the Bible with an honest heartâ€?.  Mainly because, unfortunately, NO Bible today is  a 100% accurate translation of the original writings.  ALL translations have some sort of theological bias in them by the way they render certain words or passages.  Some of these theological ideas distort Bible teachings to convey something very different to what the original authors  intended.  Some are just poor renderings of words into English, where the choice of word used can be ambiguous. So to just pick up and read any Bible by ourselves we will not know which texts have been badly tainted, or mildly tainted or not tainted.  

Should we follow any one that claims to anyone that  claims “authority equal to the Apostles and Prophets?â€? No we should not.  No one since the apostles has that authority.  However, the Bible does indicate that there would be those that would be given the heavy responsibility of providing spiritually for those that are followers of Jesus.  In an illustration that Jesus gave as recorded in Matt 24 (in reference to the time of the end) he indicated that there would be appointed a “faithful and wise stewardâ€? that would be given that responsibility.  He did not identify that steward but asked the question “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?â€?.  It therefore becomes our responsibility to find who has been given that position.

Well Larry, I hope I have answered you in a way that makes sense.  If not please feel free to ask for clarification  

Brenton