MANHANDLING THE NEW TESTAMENT

Hugo McCord

It is not surprising that educated (?) theologians, in the closing years of the 20th century, think that they know more about Jesus than did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the first century.

After "five years of work" a "group of biblical scholars," after a "Jesus Seminar," have published a book entitled THE ACTS OF JESUS, concluding that "of 176 events catalogued ... only 28 actually occurred" (John Rivera, THE OREGONIAN, 5-9-1998). The most important of the rejected events was "the empty tomb story" which "was actually created by Mark 40 years or so after Jesus died."

What these alleged "biblical scholars" have done fits exactly both of the dictionary definitions of "manhandling": "1. to move or do by human strength only" and "2. to handle roughly."

But it is surprising to this "has been" of 87 years to learn of alleged gospel preachers who manhandle the New Testament: 1. some by eliminating Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John from the New Testament, and 2. some by minimizing Acts-Revelation.

I. ARE THE FOUR GOSPELS NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS?

The "new covenant" (Hebrews 8:8) began on Pentecost Day, May 28, A.D. 30. However, so much new covenant teaching had been given by Jesus prior to A.D. 30, now related in the four gospels, a "title-page" preceding the four gospels has been inserted in your Bible: "The New Covenant commonly called the New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

It is sad that a gospel preacher writes that

none of Jesus' teaching in the four gospels was N.T. teaching, it was rather a restatement of the true teaching of Moses' law (UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE, page 1).

On the contrary, everything that Jesus taught (beyond obedience to Moses' law) he has commanded that it be taught to every baptized believer to "the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20). Accordingly, "all things whatsoever" that Jesus had "commanded" his apostles is "N.T. teaching" (Matthew 28:18-20).

Jesus' teaching was not "a restatement of the true teaching of Moses' law," but new teaching for the new covenant. Notice how Jesus modified and altered the law of Moses:

You have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment." But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment (Matthew 5:21-22).

You have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not commit adultery." But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:27-28).

Furthermore it has been said, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce." But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except fornication leaves her debased, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery (Matthew 5:31-32).

Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord." But I say to you, do not swear at all (Matthew 5:33-34).

You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also (Matthew 5:38-39).

You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:43-44).

The word "neighbor" in Moses' law only meant a fellow Jew (Leviticus 19:18), but Jesus taught that it should include a "Samaritan" (Luke 10:25-37).

Our erring preacher brother writes that if everyone accepts his idea that "none of Jesus' teaching in the four gospels was N.T. teaching," then "the principle [sic] cause of all the confusion among churches of Christ on Matthew 19 and marriage, divorce, and remarriage" would be eliminated.

But Matthew 19 does not give "a restatement of the true teaching of Moses' law." Instead, Jesus rejected "the true teaching of Moses' law," a law allowing divorce "for every cause" (kata pasan aitian, Matthew 19:3), and taught that one cause only, fornication, allows an honorable divorce. Furthermore, he taught that a divorce and remarriage without the one cause is adultery (Matthew 19:9).

If Jesus has "all authority in heaven and on the earth" (Matthew 28:18), and if he is the author of "the law of the Spirit of life" (Romans 8:2), surely uninspired preachers ought to tremble if they make divorcees comfortable who are remarried without the one exception.

II. ARE ACTS-REVELATION IMPORTANT?

It is shocking to read that the 23 books, Acts-Revelation, are simply “the shadow of the reflection of a ham sandwich, the ham sandwich being Matthew-John.”

The apostle who wrote that nothing was in his preaching but Christ and him crucified also wrote that all that he wrote in his 13 books “are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37). It is not possible to preach Christ and him crucified without preaching the commands of Christ: “If you love me,” he said, “you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). He who “does not keep his commandments is a liar” (1 John 2:4).

If one only uses the four gospels to tell sinners what to do to be saved, he could please everybody by listing five different plans of salvation: (1) faith only (Luke 7:50); (2) faith of associates (Mark 2:5); (3) charity and restitution (Luke 19:1-10; (4) prayer only (Luke 23:43); and (5) faith and baptism (Mark 16:16).

If we do not go beyond the four gospels, we wind up with a do-nothing, powerless group, being told to “tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

As important as is cruciform preaching (and may no man minimize that “core”), it is by a prologue to Christianity. Everything in the four gospels was prior to the “beginning” of Christianity (Luke 24:49; Acts 11:15). Some ten or more important principles that God wants me to know he did not put in the four gospels, but only in Acts through Revelation.

1. WHAT NAME IS AUTHORITATIVE. If one only gets instruction from the four gospels he will not do anything “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). Instead, he will do everything in the name of Yahweh (Exodus 3:15; Matthew 6:9). Jesus reminded his apostles that during the three years of training his own name was not authoritative: “Until now you have not asked anything in my name” (John 16:24).

Then, in anticipation of the “beginning” (May 23, A.D. 30, Pentecost Day, Acts 2) of his new covenant, he prepared the apostles for the change from Yahweh’s name to his own name: “ask and you will receive” (John 16:24). Accordingly, they did nothing in Jesus’ name until what he called the “beginning” (Luke 24:47). On the day of the beginning, sinners were commanded to “repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38). This was the first time that the name of Jesus was authoritative, and its authority continues to this day (Colossians 3:17), a fact not true if Acts through Revelation are ignored.

2. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH. In the prologue (Matthew through John) we learn that Jesus promised to build his church, but even after he had been raised from the dead he had not done it. If one does not utilize Acts-Revelation he would never know that the Lord did build his church, his beloved bride for whom he died (Acts 2:47; 5:11; 20:28; Ephesians 5:23). Since he will return to save his church, I want to know everything he said about it in all 27 books of the New Testament.

3. THE COMING OF THE KNIGDOM. In the prologue (Matthew-John) one learns that the kingdom was “at hand” (Mark 1:15), that it would come before the apostles died (Mark 9:1). But on crucifixion day (April 7) it was yet in the future (Mark 15:43), and on his ascension day (May 18) Jesus told the apostles “to wait for the promise” of “the power” that would accompany the coming of the kingdom (Acts 1:4-8). Ten days later, May 28, the kingdom came with power, and was spoken of as “the church” (Acts 2:1-4, 47; 5:11). How we do need Acts-Revelation!

4. THE KING. If one only reads the four gospels he will not see Jesus crowned as king. When some tried by force to make him a king, he walked away “into a mountain alone” (John 6:15). He relieved Pilate when he told him that, though he was born to be a king, his kingdom would not be “of this world” (John 18:36). After he had died and had come out of the tomb, still he had not been crowned (Acts 1:4-8).

But ten days after his ascension, as he sat at the Father’s right hand, God the Father anointed him “with the oil of gladness” to be King of kings, and Lord of lords, saying to him, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever (Hebrews 1:8-9; Acts 2:30).

I heard an old preacher use something of human origin (Bible chapter divisions) to bring home what the Bible teaches about the kingdom and the church. He exclaimed, “Daniel 2, Isaiah 2, Acts 2,” emphasizing that Daniel 2 tells about the coming kingdom, Isaiah 2 tells about the coming church, and Acts 2 tells about the fulfillment of both predictions.

5. THE HIGH PRIEST. All Christians rejoice that Jesus now is their high priest, who “is able to save forever those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). But on the earth in the time of the four gospels he was not allowed to be a priest (Hebrews 7:14; 8:4). On ascension day, as he went into heaven, he still was not a priest. But on May 28, ten days later, at the same time he was crowned king he was anointed to be our high priest (Hebrews 5:5-6).

6. CHRISTIANS ARE PRIESTS. Never from the four gospels would we learn that all Christians, male and female, are priest (1 Peter 2:5, 9). But since Pentecost they are privileged to draw near with boldness to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).

7. THE NAME CHRISTIAN. Jesus’ disciples, destined to be called Christians by “the mouth of the Lord” (Isaiah 62:2), did not receive that meaningful name until the church was integrated at Antioch (Acts 11:26), long after the time of the four gospels. Now they are privileged to “glorify God in this name” (1 Peter 4:16).

8. NO SACRED DAYS. If we do not look beyond the four gospels we will observe the sabbath day, as did Jesus (Luke 4:16). But Christians learn that they are forbidden to keep the sabbath day sacred (Colossians 2:16; Galatians 4:10-11).

Moreover, Christians have no sacred day (cf. Romans 14:5-6). The first day of the week is not more sacred than any other, but the Lord wants Christians on that day to break bread and to lay by in store a contribution (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Though all days are the Lord’s, Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week, and so apparently John called Sunday “the Lord’s day” by way of special memory (Revelation 1:10).

9. CHURCH ORGANIZATION. Without Acts-Revelation the church might have a universal bishop or distinct superintendents or majority rule. But since an apostle has left an example of “elders” in “every church” (Acts 14:23), people who respect the Lord do not try to improve on the apostolic practice.

10. THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. As an indwelling guest the holy Spirit “was not” given while Jesus was on the earth (John 7:39). But after his glorification in heaven as King of kings, he authorized the apostles to promise the gift of the Holy Spirit to all who obeyed the gospel (Acts 2:38; 5:32). Without Acts-Revelation one would not know of this heavenly gift.