Jesus’ Words and Revisionists

By Wallace H. Little

George W. Cornell, a religious writer for the Associated Press, recently wrote: Scholars Seek True Words of Jesus. His article discussed Robert Funk and his “Jesus Seminar” deciding which New Testament words “Jesus actually spoke.” Can such arrogance do this? Dare created man pit his puny intellect against creating Divinity’s omniscience? These “scholars” apparently believe they know the Bible better than the men who penned God’s words as he inspired them. Except for the seriousness of it (Jn. 12:48), it’s laughable. How foolish (Psa. 14:1)!

The Bible claims inspiration (“God-breathed words”) twice (Job 32:8; 2 Tim. 3:16,17). In 1 Corinthians 2:11-13, the apostle Paul explains: “For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words” (ASV).

This inspiration fulfilled Jesus’ promise (Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:13). “. . . the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, . . . shall teach you all things, . . . bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you . . . testify of Me . . . guide you into all truth:. . .”

The Bible says the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost all are God (“God” is a plural noun). Christ was the creating God (Jn. 1:1-3; Heb. 1:1,2), the ” fulness of the Father . . . the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 1:19; 2:9). All spoke the same thing. What God the Father said, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit also said.

We’re in sad shape if our salvation depends on the “scholarship” of Mr. Funk and his “Jesus Seminar.” We either believe all the Bible or none of it. God gives us no other choice. Believers know all New Testament words are “true words of Jesus.” Skeptics know nothing.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 13, p. 390
July 4, 1991