Which Christian traditions value the Gospels more than the Epistles?
Upvote:3
The various "New Church" denominations that follow the teachings and Bible interpretations written by Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) give much greater weight to the Gospels (and the book of Revelation) than to the Acts and the Epistles.
As explained in my answer to the question, "What writings are held as 'biblical canon' by Swedenborgians?," in the New Testament, Swedenborg viewed only the four Gospels and the book of Revelation as part of the inspired Word of God. The remaining books in the New Testament he said were "good books of the church," but inspired more in the way that the Holy Spirit inspires a preacher when preaching based on the Word of God.
Because of this belief, Swedenborg based his Christian theology primarily on the Gospels and the book of Revelation (in the New Testament), and only secondarily on the Acts and the Epistles. Swedenborgians have generally followed suit.
Having said that, both Swedenborg himself and various Swedenborgian theologians do also quote from the Acts and the Epistles in supporting and explaining their theology. Swedenborg stated that these books, when rightly understood, also support his theology.
Upvote:3
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, there's a pretty clear statement that the Gospels hold the highest place.
CCC 125 The Gospels are the heart of all the Scriptures "because they are our principal source for the life and teaching of the Incarnate Word, our Saviour".
CCC 127 The fourfold Gospel holds a unique place in the Church, as is evident both in the veneration which the liturgy accords it and in the surpassing attraction it has exercised on the saints at all times:
- There is no doctrine which could be better, more precious and more splendid than the text of the Gospel. Behold and retain what our Lord and Master, Christ, has taught by his words and accomplished by his deeds. (St. Caesaria the Younger)
- But above all it's the gospels that occupy my mind when I'm at prayer; my poor soul has so many needs, and yet this is the one thing needful. I'm always finding fresh lights there; hidden meanings which had meant nothing to me hitherto. (St. Therese of Lisieux)
Based on what I have observed with current practice, the Roman Catholic Church puts the most weight on the Gospels, in terms of the books in the New Testament. This can be seen during the celebration of the Mass during the Liturgy of the Word.
You can see it's order here (pages 46 and 47) in the the 3d Edition Roman Misal.
Before Mass begins, during the procession, the book that holds the Gospels is carried in by a Deacon or Priest, held high above his head for all to see.
During the Liturgy of the Word, there are first readings by lectors (usually lay persons) from elsewhere in the bible:
Old testament, a responsorial Psalm, an Epistle.
There is then a profound pause.
A Hallelujah is sung and the people stand.
A Priest or Deacon proclaims the Gospel. ("A reading from the Gospel according to Luke," for example).
The people cross their heads, lips, and hearts and say
"Glory to you, O' Lord."
The Gospel is read.
The Priest or Deacon then concludes with
"The Gospel of the Lord"
The people respond
"Praise to you Lord, Jesus Christ."
The people then sit and listen to the homily.
The homily that follows is most often focused on the teachings of Christ, with supporting points woven in from the other readings.
Conclusion: It is fair to say that, in theory and in practice, the Roman Catholic Church presents the Gospel as the most important part of the New Testament.
More post
- 📝 Is Jesus speaking in Isaiah 40-48?
- 📝 What does the symbology in this painting of the Trinity mean?
- 📝 How will Jesus be recognized at the time of "Second Coming"?
- 📝 Liturgical prayer in Aramaic?
- 📝 What is the difference between AME and AME Zion Churches
- 📝 Are non-Anglican Protestant churches ever named after extra-biblical saints?
- 📝 What of Augustine's ecclesiology was rejected in the Reformation?
- 📝 Are there scriptures that deal with refraining from procreating for the benefit of mankind to eliminate hereditary disease?
- 📝 From a Roman Catholic point of view, what should a Protestant chaplain do for a dying Catholic?
- 📝 The Bible and Gender
- 📝 Does the “until now” in Romans 8:22 mean that the creation's groans have ended?
- 📝 How do those who hold to the filiquoe understand 1 Timothy 6:16?
- 📝 Why do the Gospel accounts not specify what crimes the two men crucified next to Jesus were guilty of?
- 📝 What is the meaning of the strange fire in Leviticus 10:1?
- 📝 Why is the term Immanuel/Emmanuel considered to be a title rather than a proper name?
- 📝 How do Catholics traditionally understand the divine omnipotence?
- 📝 Did Augustine teach sola fide?
- 📝 Why Jews are the chosen people?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, can demons force or misguide you into receiving communion?
- 📝 Is there any Biblical reference strictly speaking about God being timeless?
- 📝 What type of Christianity does Hans Christian Andersen depict in *The Red Shoes*?
- 📝 What constitutes a "serious" crime for the purpose of LDS baptism preparation?
- 📝 What does the LDS Church teach about Jesus being married, having children, and His position on polygamy?
- 📝 In the Binitarian view, who or what is the Holy Spirit?
- 📝 In what way was the Law of Moses "a good thing whose purpose had now been accomplished"?
- 📝 Are funerals a way to reduce the time of the dead in purgatory
- 📝 Where were the two 'thieves' that were crucified at the same time as Jesus, laid to rest?
- 📝 Is celibacy essential to the Catholic priesthood?
- 📝 Was Abel regenerated before the offering according to the Calvinist?
- 📝 Can we pray from any position?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Which Christian traditions value the Gospels more than the Epistles?
- 📝 Which 20th-century Orthodox Christians said that the crusades were more oppressive than the Marxist anti-religious campaigns?
- 📝 What Christian denominations profess that they remain with 'that which was from the beginning' rather than 'progress' to a 'further revelation'?
- 📝 Do any Christian traditions assert that there can be more than one "messiah"?
- 📝 Why does Jesus value leap of faith more than those who rely on direct evidence?
- 📝 Did the first Christian believers keep the Sabbath and if so on which day?
- 📝 Is there more than one Joseph in the Bible?
- 📝 What is the theory that there is more than one "Satan" called, and what is its basis?
- 📝 Is a moral society more open to the gospel than an immoral one?
- 📝 In which one of the four Gospels is the Old Testament quoted the most?
- 📝 Does "Where ever there is more than one of you gathered in My name" apply to the Internet?
- 📝 Do any Christian traditions intentionally use the name 'Yahweh'?
- 📝 Why does the LDS church (Mormon) put so much more emphasis on the family than most other denominations do?
- 📝 Why does God often permit his children to suffer in this world more than the wicked?
- 📝 In which Christian denomination(s), do people plan their weddings around the bride's menstrual periods?
- 📝 Which Protestant Christian denominations accept the Deuterocanonical books?
- 📝 Which Christian denomination removed trinitarian language from the hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy"?
- 📝 Looking for the Bible Verse: "If any of you have more than one <some-thing> give that to another"
- 📝 Do any Christian traditions hold the belief that Adam was androgynous?
- 📝 Can I project more than 500 verses of Scripture over the course of a year? Or, an entire book of the Bible?
- 📝 In Catholic understanding when there is more than one Pope, who decides which Pope is real and by what criteria?
- 📝 Are modern Amish much more dissimilar from society than the original generations of Amish?
- 📝 What Tradition is Paul referring to when he admonishes us to "hold the traditions which ye have been taught"?
- 📝 What Christian traditions fully embrace the concept of a "local parish church"?
- 📝 Are some people pursued by the "enemy" relatively more than others?
- 📝 On which parts in the gospels is Weatherhead's argument about Mary, mother of Jesus, founded?
- 📝 How is the LDS churches belief on a pre-mortal existence different than other Christian religions?
- 📝 Why did Jesus favor Peter, James and John more than the other disciples?
- 📝 Which church traditions regard Constantine the Great as a Saint?
- 📝 Are there any Christian denominations that reject some of the gospels in the New Testament?