Sources of Our Knowledge of Jesus

SECULAR historians have given us no record of Jesus, which is in part a confirmation of the scripture which declares that the world knew him not. So far as we know Jesus did not write a single line concerning his life, nor of any part of the divine plan in which he was so important a figure. Of the writers of the New Testament Gospel records concerning Jesus, two were eyewitnesses of what they recorded, being almost constantly with the Master throughout nearly all of his earthly ministry. These were Matthew the publican, and John the apostle. Matthew wrote the first Gospel; and John, the writer of the fourth, also wrote three epistles and the Book of Revelation.

It is well to remember that not a single original manuscript of the New Testament has yet been discovered. All that we have today are copies of the originals—copies several times removed. Herein lies the reason for a limited number of inaccuracies and additions which appear in our Common Version Bibles. For example, John 21:25—assigned as a part of the Scripture lesson for today’s study—is an interpolation, and not found in older Greek manuscripts. It declares that if all the works of Jesus were recorded, the world would not be large enough to hold the books.

MARK 2:13, 14—Here we have an account of the conversion of Matthew—“Levi” in this passage—the one who was destined to write what was later selected to be the first book of the New Testament. While some of the apostles are referred to in the Scriptures as “unlearned and ignorant men,” this was not true of Matthew. He evidently had considerable education, especially in the realm of business, else he could not have been a tax collector at Capernaum. Tax-gatherers were called publicans, and were looked down upon by their fellow Jews, and to a large extent ostracized.

As Matthew accompanied Jesus, heard him preach and witnessed his miracles, he doubtless made many notes, which he used later in writing the first Gospel. In his book is the most detailed account we have of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and also the most complete report of his great prophecy pertaining to the end of the age and the time of his second presence. It is he, also, who emphasizes our Lord’s parousia in connection with his second advent.

LUKE 1:1-4—Luke wrote the Gospel bearing his name, and also the Book of The Acts. Scholars seem agreed that he was not a Jew, but a Gentile—although this is not important. There is no indication in any of the other Gospels that he was with Jesus during his ministry, but compiled his Gospel from information gleaned by listening to the sermons of those who were with Jesus, and joining in their fellowship. There would also be a limited amount of written data available for his use.

Luke was an educated man, being referred to by Paul as “the beloved physician.” (Col. 4:14) The accuracy of his Gospel may be judged from the statement in Luke 1:3 where he says that he had gained “perfect understanding of all things” from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Because of this, he tells Theophilus, and us, that the things he writes can be known as certainties. He obtained his information, he explains, from “eye-witnesses.” The Greek word here translated “eyewitnesses” is autoptes, literally, self-seen, from which we get our word autopsy.

I CORINTHIANS 15:3-5—The Apostle Paul should not be overlooked as an authentic source of information concerning Jesus. True, he probably never saw Jesus in the flesh, nor communed with him, yet we have his assurance that he has given to us that which he had received from the Lord—by visions and revelations primarily, but also through his contacts with those who did walk with the Master. Among these would be Peter, and James the Lord’s brother, whom he visited in Jerusalem.—Gal. 1:18,19

JOHN 20:30, 31—John has been used greatly as a source of true information concerning Jesus. In this passage he explains that many “signs” had been given by Jesus to his disciples which were not written, but that those he did record were for the purpose of inducing belief “that Jesus is the Christ”—that is, the foretold Messiah—and “the Son of God.” The purpose of the belief, he explains, is that “ye might have life through his name.”

The opening chapter of John’s Gospel is designed to prove that Jesus, who in his prehuman existence was the Logos, is the Son of God. He wrote with the evident purpose of stimulating a belief that would lead to life; for the words believe, believed, etc., appear ninety-eight times, and the words life and living forty-nine times.

I JOHN 1:1-4—This is a remarkable summary of John’s wonderful experience with the Master, written about sixty years after the ascension. Those wonderful words of life were still inspiring him. His personal contacts with Jesus were still a vivid recollection, and he had spent all the intervening years declaring the great hope of life through Jesus to all whose hearts were ready to receive the message. He wanted others to enjoy this fellowship with him, and by faith, with the Father and the Son.

QUESTIONS

How many of the New Testament writers were personally acquainted with Jesus, and who were they?

Were all the disciples “unlearned and ignorant?”

How did Luke obtain his information concerning the life of Jesus?

What was the main source of Paul’s information concerning Jesus and his work?

What is one of the principal themes in the writings of John?

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