Understanding the Origins of the New Testament

Introduction

Hello everyone! We're glad you're joining us tonight on Christianarchy Today. I want to take a moment to delve deep into the fascinating history of the New Testament. I'll be using the whiteboard behind me to give a brief overview and history of how the scriptures we read today came to be.

The Formation of the New Testament

We start with the Old Testament, followed by the words of Jesus in the New Testament. The apostles recorded these teachings, and their writings were sent to various locations like Corinth, Rome, and Ephesus. The timeline is debated, but it generally spans from around 4 BC, marking Jesus's birth, to 30 CE. The apostles are believed to have written their accounts between 30 CE and 290 CE, although I personally think they were written between 50 to 65 CE.

Questions of Authenticity

A significant issue in those early days was determining which writings were genuinely apostolic and which were fakes. The period was rife with counterfeit gospels and epistles, creating a need to establish which writings were truly authoritative.

Copying and Distance Challenges

There were also issues related to copying. If a letter was sent to Corinth, how many times was it copied, and was it copied correctly? I believe divine intervention ensured the accuracy of some copies, but it was a persistent problem. Furthermore, there was the challenge of distance. For instance, epistles meant for Rome had to travel far before reaching Jerusalem, complicating timely dissemination to all believers.

Establishing a Canon

With issues of authority, accuracy in copying, and the challenge of distance, it wasn't until around 230 CE that there was any consensus about which books should be included in the New Testament. Yet, the debate on these matters persisted all the way to the 1550s. Luther, for example, strongly opposed the inclusion of books like Hebrews and James, dubbing them 'antilegomena,' which faced continual scrutiny.

Control and Readability Issues

From this initial period up to the invention of the printing press, there were ongoing problems involving both copyist errors and control over these copies. The Catholic Church predominantly held this control. Not everyone could read the languages of these texts, which introduced issues of readability.

The Evolution with the Printing Press

The invention of the printing press in the 1400s was a turning point. The first thing printed was the Gutenberg Bible, marking the beginning of an era where scriptures became more accessible to the public.

Conclusion

This background sets the stage for understanding how the New Testament, or what can also be called the Apostolic Record, was formed and distributed. Understanding these historical challenges helps us appreciate the effort and divine guidance involved in the preservation of these sacred texts.

The Role of Scripture and the Holy Spirit: A Reflection on the Protestant Reformation

The Foundation of the Protestant Reformation

The Protestant Reformation was largely made possible by access to the Bible, which consisted of the Old and New Testaments. With this context in mind, we consider how people, from the end of the apostolic era forward, came to understand the teachings of Jesus and the words of the apostles.

Understanding Faith in the Early Church

Between the last apostle's deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. and the beginnings of organized doctrine, roughly 130 to 160 years passed. During this period, believers lacked complete access to all of the epistles or gospels. Understanding was guided by what was available, sometimes just a single epistle, and the oral teachings that accompanied it.

The Principle of Sola Scriptura

During the Protestant Reformation, reformers declared that Scripture alone (sola scriptura) was the ultimate authority for understanding God's will. This meant that divine guidance was believed to be solely found in the written word. However, Erasmus had a poignant critique of this, pointing out to Martin Luther that sola scriptura often depended on Luther's interpretation.

The issue with this principle is evident in the myriad disagreements about the Bible’s interpretations, resulting in thousands of differing views.

Traditional Hierarchy of Faith

Since the Reformation, a generally accepted order in faith could be outlined as follows:

1. Primary: Scripture.
2. Secondary: The Holy Spirit.
3. Tertiary: Church history.
4. Essential: Brick-and-mortar religion.

This structure allows followers to live out what is described in Scripture through the apostolic church.

A New Perspective on Spiritual Guidance

Tonight, I propose a reevaluation of this hierarchy. I am personally convinced that the Holy Spirit should be primary and preferential. This doesn't negate the necessity of scripture, which informs and teaches us, but the Holy Spirit confirms what is true. Especially in times when scripture wasn't wholly accessible, the Holy Spirit guided Christ's church.

Holy Spirit as Primary

In contrast to the reformers, I suggest we've misplaced priorities. The Holy Spirit is primary and preferential, while the Bible is secondary and referential. It acts as a reference book to verify spiritual inspirations. If, for example, someone claims a revelation that God wears a pink wig and rides a unicorn, we consult the Bible. If this isn't reasonably supported, we can question the validity of such revelations through the Holy Spirit.

Balancing Holy Spirit and Scripture

As they function in tandem, I advocate for prioritizing the Holy Spirit. If tasked with choosing between guiding elements, I would choose the Holy Spirit, trusting its presence written on the heart to move believers faithfully. The Holy Spirit remains central to those who follow Christ.

The Role of Church History

Church history is tertiary and deferential. While it provides insight into past events, it should not be held up as an unimpeachable source of authority. Historical interpretations were often flawed.

The Place of Institutional Religion

Finally, brick-and-mortar religion holds its place as essential within this dialogue, but deserves reexamination in the hierarchy of spiritual guidance.

Understanding the True Foundation of God's Church

God's church is not fundamentally rooted in a brick-and-mortar gathering of people or any kind of religious collective. Instead, it is based on believers who have the Holy Spirit within them; they make up His body. This understanding emphasizes the spiritual essence rather than the physical assembly.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

When it comes to the Bible, while we love it, study it, research it, and teach it, we must acknowledge that the Holy Spirit is primary and preferential. This insight highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit in guiding and shaping the lives of believers beyond any physical church structure or religious institution.