Jesus' Canonicity
WIKIPEDIA
JESUS' CANONICITY
PREFACE
THE NEED FOR JESUS' CANONICITY
It is reasonable to think of religion as the result of universal progressive human philosophy that evolved from animism and polytheism through classical monotheism and legalistic monotheism and reached its peak in the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. So, there are three clearly distinguishable modes of religion that are not be co-mingled one with the other: polytheism, monotheism and the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. It, therefore, seems proper that the religious documentations for each mode of religion be declared distinct one from the other. It is in this quest that the peak religion of Christianity be made to stand alone and be able to stand on its own distinct Jesus' canonicity, this being the specific record of doctrines specifically taught by Jesus. Such Jesus' canonicity makes the claims of inerrancy and infallibility much easier to maintain. To deny Christianity this distinction is to force it back into either classical or legalistic monotheism and to still force it to keep embracing the Judaizers' error of Acts 15. See how they, the Judaizers, have been freed, once and for all times, in Galatians 2:11ff from such error. We should stop repeating the same error.
Attempts are made in this work to come out with such a body of unique knowledge, termed Jesus' canonicity, and the result is commended to all and sundry.
PART 1. THE BELIEVER'S ONLY ESSENTIAL CANON IS JESUS' OWN CANONICITY
ABSTRACT
We call Jesus, Lord, and sure He is. We call Him, Teacher and yes He is. We call Him, Son of God, Second Person of the Triune God, and all these He is. But when it comes to the Literature by which to know God, we consult a library of difficult to read, difficult to understand, difficult to teach, difficult to verify, controversial texts. A friend often said : "the Bible is a city, you often get lost in it." Instead, we should now turn to the "Bible Jesus Used" because of its simplicity, clarity and unassailability. This intentionally short "Bible Jesus Used" is such a work. If Jesus is truly Lord, Teacher, Son of God, Second Person of the Triune God to us, His revealed text should be way above any other text by which we get to know God.
Jesus' words qualify more than any others' to be the only inspired Word, as should all writings that prophesied Him as the crucified and risen Messiah. For, "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy," Revelation 19:10. Also as I John 4:2 forward says: "By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is already in the world at this time." After all, Jesus said: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me."
So, why do we continue to seek God by ways except through the life, sayings, teachings of Jesus Christ. We should honor his words rather than put our own words into his mouth. If Jesus did not quote it, refer to it or fulfill it, it may, therefore, be suspect and not Jesus-canonized. After decades of oral tradition, Jesus' followers wrote reasonably accurate records of Jesus' life and teachings. Let us, therefore, go quickly through the life of Christ as revealed reliably through the four gospels. Jesus will in these gospels speak for himself, he will give us a new canon by which Christianity should be conducted, without divergence to matters extraneous to His Good News.
It should be noted that in the "Bible Jesus Used", there is no discussion nor endorsement of any views of controversial subjects. Billions of souls have been lost because of such unnecessary controversies, as those souls may lack the discernment to not throw out the baby with the dirty bath water. Let alone the billions who will be lost for the same reasons, if the situation is not fixed. The "Bible Jesus Used" is a successful effort that fixed this problem. In fact, John D. Callahan, in "What Jesus Said About the Creation Story and the Flood" by Faith & Reason Ministries writes: The very fact Jesus spoke little, if any, about Adam, Eve, and Noah is further evidence of His deity. Such is the uniqueness and accuracy of Jesus' revealed canonicity as contained here that it shows Jesus is, above all controversies, the Lord. For as Colossians 2:3 says: "so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
The numerous gifted biblical scholars of the first century until now, whose shoes I am unworthy to untie but can tie if they are found untied, gave us the 66 biblical books as tenets of Christianity. Theirs is about 31,200 verses. They made a good attempt, but overlooked the fact that Jesus, the Lord himself, in his own entire earthly ministry quoted only 45 Old Testament verses, made reference to 16 OLD TESTAMENT verses and the Gospel authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) added 18 OLD TESTAMENT verses of Messianic prophecies that Christ fulfilled. These verses comprise the core of the "Bible Jesus Used". These honorable biblical scholars, however, failed to give Jesus his Main Seat at canonical Councils.
I don't know about you, but not being a genius like you, I will rather prefer as canon (the inspired core of teaching for Christianity) the simplicity of Jesus and his 78 verses to those sages' 31,200 verses. The rest of the New Testament is then the inspired exposition and commentary on the ministry of Christ. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11 verse 3, "But I fear.... lest your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
If you will not like the Word of Life to be hidden in a whole library of religious texts, embrace the "Bible Jesus Used"
So, Jesus' ministry can be divided into these three portions: the Didactic-Jesus' Teachings, the Messianic Fulfillments and the Tripartite Commission to his followers.
THE REST OF THE NEW TESTAMENT IS AN EXPOSITION AND COMMENTARY ON JESUS' MINISTRY.
This Jesus' canonicity nullifies all controversies and inconsistencies leveled against Christianity.
PART 2
OLD TESTAMENT QUOTATION STATISTICS
Let us for a start look at some statistics about Jesus' use of OT verses in the four Gospels. Jesus quoted only 45 unique verses from the about 23,145 verses of the Old Testament. A list of these 45 quotes of Jesus is shown immediately below. These 45 quotations, 30 didactic and 15 fulfilled prophetic, can hardly be described as a saturation of the New Testament by Jesus' quotes of the Old Testament. All these are godly and civil lessons, in none of these quotations is there an exhortation to or endorsement of internecine war or cruelty to one's neighbor. About a third of these 45 quotations are Messianic prophecies fulfilled in Jesus' life and ministry. They, therefore, all qualify to be in Jesus' canonicity. Read the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37.
Jesus also made 16 references to the Old Testament in the Synoptic gospels. The gospel authors referenced 12 OLD TESTAMENT fulfillments in the 3 Synoptic gospels, and 10 major Old Testament Messianic prophecies in John's gospel which were fulfilled in Jesus.
Jesus made the only one OLD TESTAMENT typological reference appropriate for his Resurrection - that of Jonah, and only two OLD TESTAMENT typological references, namely, that of Noah's flood and of the destruction of Sodom in Lot's days to teach readiness for the suddenness of Jesus' second coming.
Even if these were not historical events, they still would not fail to illustrate the typologies pertaining to them. It is perfectly acceptable to use a mythological event as typology when a comparable one is not available, as happened in these cases. The Noah case is where in normal living overt sin is not imputed and Lot's case is where overt sin is imputed. Of these two, we will talk more later.
Jesus used the above mentioned 45 OLD TESTAMENT quotations and 16 references in the Synoptic gospels; Jesus inspired the 4 gospel authors to use 12 OLD TESTAMENT fulfillments in the 3 Synoptics and 10 OLD TESTAMENT fulfillments in John's gospel to get rid of age-old difficulties, controversies, acrimony and atrocities that had prevented billions of people coming to faith in Him.
Jesus used just 78 out of the about 23,145 OLD TESTAMENT verses to accomplish his ministry. Of these about 80 verses, none is controversial. We, as Christians, should emulate him.
The 4 gospel authors, like any other writers of any single biography, deserve a literary editorial board, and one is being afforded them here. Their works also need to be perfected, since they are the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ, the Divine. Perfecting means ridding the texts of attributes that are not consistent with the divine nature of the Christ. Nothing comes perfect in this life, not even the word of God, as it is also mediated through human kind, and to err is human. All things given us by God are diamonds in the rough, we have still to perfect them, that's why we have thinking brains. Same with scripture, it says, "Prove ALL things, hold only to that which is good," I Thessalonians 5:21. This ALL things include Scripture.
Here I come to a simple principle of canonicity, if it cannot be corroborated and perfected, it is not inspired.
THE IMPORTED CONTENT OF JESUS' CANONICITY
JESUS' FORTYFIVE (45) QUOTES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, 15 of which in green letters (italicized and emboldened) were Prophecies fulfilled in Him as the Suffering Servant.
A. Jesus' Thirty (30) "Didactic" Quotes from the Old Testament in the 4 Gospels (not a strict classification).
This is culled from Jesus' 45 OT quotations as found in the four Gospels - list by Biblepgs.com.
These 30 quotations are part of the didactic teachings of Jesus that form the majority in the 4 gospels or in FOOTPRINTS of JESUS CHRIST.
Jesus' Thirty (30) "Didactic/Teaching" OT Quotes in the 4 Gospels.
1. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 FOOTPRINTS 3.4, Luke 4:4 FOOTPRINTS 3.4, OT Reference Deuteronomy 8:3.
2. Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Matthew 4:7 FOOTPRINTS 3.4, Luke 4:12 FOOTPRINTS 3.4, OT Reference Deuteronomy 6:16.
3. Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Matthew 4:10 FOOTPRINTS 3.4, Luke 4:8 FOOTPRINTS 3.4, OT Reference Deuteronomy 6:13.
4. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ Matthew 5:21 FOOTPRINTS 6.4, OT Reference Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17.
5. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ Matthew 5:27 FOOTPRINTS 6.4, OT Reference Exodus 20:14, Deuteronomy 5:18.
6. “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ Matthew 5:31 FOOTPRINTS 6.4, OT Reference Deuteronomy 24:1
7. “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ Matthew 5:33 FOOTPRINTS 6.4, OT Reference Leviticus 19:12, Num 30:2, Deuteronomy 23:21.
8. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ Matthew 5:38 FOOTPRINTS 6.4, OT Reference Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:21.
9. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ Matthew 5:43 FOOTPRINTS 6.4, OT Reference Leviticus 19:18.
10. Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’. Matthew 7:23,
FOOTPRINTS 6.11d, OT Reference Psalm 6:8.
11. For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law — a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household'. Matthew 10:35-36,
FOOTPRINTS 6.42, Luke 12:53 FOOTPRINTS 8.19, OT Reference Micah 7:6.
12. For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death. Matthew 15:4 FOOTPRINTS 7.6, Mark 7:10 FOOTPRINTS 7.6, OT Reference Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Exodus 21:17, Leviticus 20:9.
13. “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’” Matthew 15:8-9 FOOTPRINTS 7.6, Mark 7:6-7 FOOTPRINTS 7.6, OT Reference Isaiah 29:13.
14. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ Matthew 18:16 FOOTPRINTS 7.21, OT Reference Deuteronomy 19:15.
15. "Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’” Matthew 19:4 FOOTPRINTS 9.17, Mark 10:6 FOOTPRINTS 9.17, OT Reference Genesis 1:27, Genesis 5:2.
16. and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ Matthew 19:5 FOOTPRINTS 9.17, Mark 10:7-8 FOOTPRINTS 9.17, OT Reference Genesis 2:24.
17. “Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 19:18-19 FOOTPRINTS 9.19, Mark 10:19 FOOTPRINTS 9.19, Luke 18:20 FOOTPRINTS 9.19, OT Reference Exodus 20:12-16, Deuteronomy 5:16-20, Leviticus 19:18.
18. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” Matthew 21:13 FOOTPRINTS 10.5, Mark 11:17 FOOTPRINTS 10.5, Luke 19:46 FOOTPRINTS 10.5, OT Reference Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:11.
19. Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37 FOOTPRINTS 10.15, OT Reference Deuteronomy 6:5.
20. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39 FOOTPRINTS 10.15, Mark 12:31, FOOTPRINTS10.15, OT Reference Leviticus 19:18.
21. “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ Matthew 22:44, FOOTPRINTS 10.16, Mark 12:36 FOOTPRINTS 10.16, Luke 20:42-43 FOOTPRINTS 10.16, OT Reference Psalm 110:1.
22. “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—" Matthew 24:15 FOOTPRINTS 11.3, Mark 13:14 FOOTPRINTS 11.3, OT Reference Dan 9:27.
23. “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:64 FOOTPRINTS 13.2, Mark 14:62 FOOTPRINTS 13.2 OT Reference, Psalm 110:1, Daniel 7:13.
24."Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember?" Mark 8:18, FOOTPRINTS 7.10, OT Reference Jeremiah 5:21, Ezekiel 12:2.
25. "where “ ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ Mark 9:48 FOOTPRINTS 7.19, OT Reference Isaiah 66:24.
26. "Everyone will be salted with fire." Mark 9:49 FOOTPRINTS 7.19, OT Reference Leviticus 2:16, Ezek 43:24.
27. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ Mark 12:30 FOOTPRINTS 10.15, OT Reference Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Joshua 22:5.
28. Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ Luke 23:30
FOOTPRINTS 14.2, OT Reference Hosea 10:8.
29. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. John 6:45 FOOTPRINTS 7.5, OT Reference Isa 54:13.
30. Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods?" John 10:34 FOOTPRINTS 8.24, OT Reference Psalm 82:6.
THIRTY THREE (33) JESUS-FULFILLED PROPHECIES FROM THE 4 GOSPELS, from which texts Jesus' Emmaus Road Lecture would have been chosen.
These thirty three (33) quotations form the entirety of Messianic fulfillment by Jesus in the 4 gospels or in FOOTPRINTS of JESUS CHRIST.
B. 15 from Jesus' quotations, C. 11 from the Synoptics (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), and D. 7 from John's Gospel.
B. Fifteen Jesus' Messianic OT Fulfilled Quotations out of the 45 He Used . (not a strict classification).
| 1. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:13 FOOTPRINTS 5.11 OT Reference Hosea 6:6 2. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Matthew 11:10 FOOTPRINTS 6.14 Luke 7:27 FOOTPRINTS 6.14 OT Reference Malachi 3:1
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8. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Matthew 23:39 FOOTPRINTS 10.17, Luke 13:35 FOOTPRINTS 9.3, OT Reference Psalm 118:26.
9. Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’"
Matthew 26:31 FOOTPRINTS 11.19
Mark 14:27 FOOTPRINTS 11.19 OT Reference Zechariah 13:7
10. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46 FOOTPRINTS 14.5, Mark 15:34 FOOTPRINTS 14.5 OT Reference Psalm 22:1
11. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’
John 15:25 FOOTPRINTS 11.21 OT Reference Psalm 69:4
12. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” OT Reference Isaiah 53:12
Luke 22:37 FOOTPRINTS 11.19
13. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Luke 23:46 FOOTPRINTS 14.5 OT Reference Psalm 31:5
14.“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’
John 13:18 FOOTPRINTS 11.17 OT Reference Psalm 41:9
15. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 FOOTPRINTS 5.3. OT Reference Isaiah 61:1-2
References gleaned from parts of: Philipps, H. D. (2009). Old Testament Quotes in the New Testament. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
From title page: This set of parallel passages was derived from cross-reference information contained within the Holman Christian Standard Bible.
Copyright © 2013 Steve Clark
C. Eleven (11) OT Messianic Fulfilled Quotations from the 3 Synoptics, Matthew, Mark and Luke.
1. Footprints 6.29 Matthew 13:33-35, Mark 4:33,34
“I will open my mouth in parables and utter things kept secret since earth’s beginning.” OT Reference Psalm 78:2
2. Footprints 2.1 Matthew 1:18-25, A virgin will become pregnant bearing a son they will call Immanuel, which means “God with us.” OT Reference Deu 22:23-24; Isaiah 7:14
3. Footprints 13.5 Matthew 27:3-10, They took thirty silver coins, the price set on him by Israelites, to buy a potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” OT Reference Zechariah 11:13
4. Footprints 2.4 Matthew 2:1-12, “In Bethlehem,1 as the prophet wrote, ‘And from you, Bethlehem, though you are small among the rulers of Judah, will come One who will be ruler over Israel.’” OT Reference Micah 5:2,4
5. Footprints 2.5 Matthew 2:13-18,thus fulfilling what the Lord said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt, I called My Son.” OT Reference Hosea 11:1
6. Footprints 2.5 Matthew 2:13-18, thus fulfilling this prophecy of Jeremiah: “A great mourning is heard in Ramah, Rachel weeping for her children and could not be comforted, because they are no more.” OT Reference Jeremiah 31:15
7. Footprints 2.6 Matthew 2:19-23, Luke 2:40, fulfilling the prophecy that Jesus would be called a Nazarene. No O.T prophecy.
8. Footprints 3.1 Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4, John 1:23b; as the prophet Isaiah wrote: “The voice of one crying in the desert: ‘Prepare the Lord’s way, straighten his path. OT Reference Isaiah 40:3
9. Footprints 5.4, Matthew 4:13-16, fulfilling what was spoken by Isaiah, “Land of Zebulun and Naphtali, by the sea beyond the Jordan, internationalized Galilee, the people sitting in darkness saw a great light; on those sitting in the land and shadow of death, a light shone.” OT Reference Isaiah 9:1.2
10. Footprints 5.7, Matthew 8:14-17, Mark 1:29-34, Luke 4:38-41 thus fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy: “He took our infirmities and carried our diseases.” OT Reference Isaiah 53:4
11.Footprints 5.16, Matthew 12:15-21, That the saying of prophet Isaiah 42:1-4 might be fulfilled, “Behold My chosen servant, My beloved in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on him and he will announce judgment to the world. He won’t argue, shout or be heard in the streets. He won’t break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick, until justice is victorious. In his name, will the world trust.” OT Reference Isaiah 42:1-4
D. Seven (7) OT Messianic Fulfilled Quotations from John's Gospel.
JESUS DRIVES THE BUYERS AND SELLERS FROM THE TEMPLE FOR THE FIRST TIME
1. John 2:17b; FOOTPRINTS 4.3 - 'Zeal for your house has eaten me up' by Disciples. OT Reference Psalm 69:9.
THE MAN BORN BLIND WHO GOES BEFORE THE PHARISEES
2. John 9:24b; FOOTPRINTS 8.6 -' give God the glory' by the unbelieving Jews at blind man seeing. OT Reference Joshua 7:19
THE FINAL ENTRY OF JESUS INTO JERUSALEM
3. John 12:15; FOOTPRINTS 10.3 - 'Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt'.- as it is written: OT Reference Zechariah 9:9.
AS MANY JEWS REJECT JESUS, SO OTHERS REACH OUT TO HIM
4. John 12:38b; FOOTPRINTS 10.7 - 'Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?' - in fulfillment of Isaiah. OT Reference Isaiah 53:1
HIS CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH
5. John 19:24b; FOOTPRINTS 14.4 - 'They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots' - to fulfill the Scripture: OT Reference Psalm 22:18.
HIS BURIAL
6. John 19:36b; FOOTPRINTS 15.1 - 'Not one of his bones shall be broken.' - to fulfill the Scripture: OT Reference (Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12, Psalm 34:20)
7. John 19:37b; FOOTPRINTS 15.1 - 'They shall look on him whom they pierced.' - to fulfill the Scripture: OT Reference Zechariah 12:10.
E. JESUS' USE OF REFERENCES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT
SIXTEEN (16) JESUS' OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCES IN THE THREE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS or in FOOTPRINTS.
Sixteen (16) Major Jesus OLD TESTAMENT References in the 3 Synoptic Gospels - edited from undergraduate project, by Steven Jenkins at Mattersey Hall Bible College, UK.
Jesus referenced Old Testament Scriptures at least 16 times, these references made by Jesus also should be in Jesus' canonicity.
1. Jesus' quote too. Daniel (Matthew. 24:15; FOOTPRINTS 11.3). Therefore when you shall see 'the abomination of desolation,' having been spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place--the one reading, let him understand.
2. Gomorrah (Matthew.10:15; FOOTPRINTS 6.42). Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
3. Sodom (Matthew.10:15; 11:23-24; FOOTPRINTS 6.15). And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will descend to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had happened in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”…
4. Abiathar (Mark 2:26; FOOTPRINTS 5.14). During the high priesthood of Ahimelech-Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.'…
5. Elijah (Luke 4:25; FOOTPRINTS 5.3 ). And in truth I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, when there was a great famine upon all the land;
6. Widow in Zarephath (Luke 4:26; FOOTPRINTS 5.3). Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon.…
7. Elisha (Luke 4:27; FOOTPRINTS 5.3). And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”…
8. Moses (Luke 5:14; FOOTPRINTS 5.9). "Do not tell anyone," Jesus instructed him. "But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."
9. David (Luke 6:3; FOOTPRINTS 5.14). Jesus replied, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, took the consecrated bread and gave it to his companions, and ate what is lawful only for the priests to eat.”…
10. Jonah (Luke 11:29-30; FOOTPRINTS 8.14, 6.20). As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, "This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation
11. Lot (Luke 17:28; FOOTPRINTS 9.15). It was the same in the days of Lot: People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.…
12. Queen of Sheba (Luke 11:31; FOOTPRINTS 8.14, 6.20). The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
13. Abel (Luke 11:51; FOOTPRINTS 8.15, 10.7). from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the one having perished between the altar and the house. Yes, I say to you, it will be required of this generation.
14. Abraham (Luke 13:16; FOOTPRINTS 8.21). Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?"
15. Isaac (Luke 13:28; FOOTPRINTS 9.2). There will be weeping and gnashing of the teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you are being cast out.
16. Noah (Luke 17:26-27; FOOTPRINTS 9.15). Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man: People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.…
2. JESUS' CANONICITY ENSURES ITS OWN INERRANCY AND INFALLIBILITY
IF YOU CAN USE A BIBLE, ENSURE YOU USE THE "BIBLE JESUS USED."
Quote from SO4J.com: "...Comparisons of the Four Gospels of Jesus Christ in the Bible.
All Four Gospels in the Bible that tell the story of Jesus Christ -- Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John -- stand alone, emphasizing a unique aspect of Jesus' life. But when these are blended into one complete account, or Harmonized, we gain new insights about the life of Christ. This Harmony combines the Four Gospels into a single chronological account of Christ's life on earth. It includes every Chapter and Verse of each Gospel, leaving nothing out..."
Realizing that the gospel authors had no Editorial Board, FOOTPRINTS of JESUS CHRIST, the Harmony of the Gospels referenced and linked herein, eliminates almost all the supposed inconsistencies and contradictions in the gospel accounts. Scholarly Commentaries like on Bilblehub.com answer all other inquiries.
SUMMARY
The "Bible Jesus Used" comprises Jesus' Canonicity as represented by the authentic nature of the 45 Jesus' Quotations from the OLD TESTAMENT, the 16 Jesus' References to the O.T in the Synoptics, 11 unique references to the OLD TESTAMENT by gospel authors in the Synoptics, the 7 unique Major Fulfillments of OLD TESTAMENT Messianic Prophecies in John's gospel, the 2 often misconstrued Hard Sayings, the 3 Typologies of Noah, Lot and Jonah, the "More Blessed to Give than to Receive" saying of Jesus, the unified content of the 4 Gospels, and All Scripture that affirms the Crucified and Risen Jesus.
Jesus used just 78 out of the about 23,145 OLD TESTAMENT verses to accomplish his ministry. Of these 80 odd verses, none is controversial.
For, as cited above, "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy," Revelation 19:10. And, 2 Timothy 3:16 forward says: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work..
CONCLUSION
The "Bible Jesus Used" comprises about 3,700 verses original to the 4 Gospels and 78 verses imported from the O. T. The 78 OLD TESTAMENT verses imported are:
(i) Jesus' 30 "Didactic" Quotes from the Old Testament in the 4 Gospels which form part of Jesus' didactic ministry,
(ii) the remaining 15 Jesus quotes, the 11 quotes from Matthew, Mark, Luke and the 7 from John, these form part of the entirety of Messianic prophecies fulfilled by Jesus in the 4 gospels or in FOOTPRINTS of JESUS CHRIST,
(iii) 16 Major Jesus OLD TESTAMENT "References" in the 3 Synoptic Gospels.
The Specific Tripartite GOSPEL Message Jesus wants Christians to preach after his Resurrection, is namely:
(a) Matthew 28: 18 forward, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey every command I have given you.
(b) Mark 16:15 forward, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, unbelievers will be condemned
(c) Luke 24:46 forward, “This is what is written: That Christ must suffer and resurrect on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to all this...”
ANY DEPARTURE FROM THE ABOVE MENTIONED TRIPARTITE GOSPEL IS THE ACCURSED "ANOTHER, DIFFERENT, CONTRARY" GOSPEL, PAUL BERATED IN GALATIANS 1 VERSES 6 TO 9.
JESUS' PROMISE of Support to Gospellers:
All authority in heaven and on earth is been given to me... Lo, I will be with you always even till the end of the age...I will send you my Father’s promised gift. But remain in the city until you are clothed with power from above.”
So, Jesus' ministry can be divided into these three portions: the Didactic, the Messianic and the Tripartite Commission to his followers.
THE REST OF THE NEW TESTAMENT IS EXPOSITION AND COMMENTARY ON JESUS' MINISTRY.
Jesus' Canonicity[edit]
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- ↑ 1. Bible - Authorized Version paraphrases by Yomi Falade 2. What Jesus Said About the Creation Story and the Flood, Faith & Reason Ministries, by John D. Callahan 3. Jesus' 45 OT quotations as found in the four Gospels - list by Biblepgs.com 4. Old Testament Quotes in the New Testament. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, Philipps, H. D. (2009). 5. Old Testament References in the Synoptic Gospels, Mattersey Hall Bible College, UK, by Steven Jenkins, 6. Comparisons of the Four Gospels of Jesus Christ in the Bible, SO4J.com 7. Bible hub, www.biblehub.org 8. The Bible Jesus Used OR Footprints of Jesus Christ by Yomi Falade
