Is there a scriptural basis for treating the non-Gospel books of the New Testament as scripture?
Upvote:6
Is there a scriptural basis for treating the non-Gospel books of the New Testament as scripture?
Short answer: yes.
Jesus commissioned 12 of his disciples as 'apostles' and gave them authority to teach. If you accept Jesus' words as scripture (as recorded in the gospels), you should accept the words of his apostles as scripture as well, as He said to them:
18 ...“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20 NIV (emphasis added)
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” - John 20:21 NIV
Jesus specifically authorized His apostles to teach, and to do that in the authority that He Himself had received from His Heavenly Father. For this reason, the early church placed particular importance on what were judged to be authentic writings of the apostles (as well as their companions who were believed to have acted as scribes for them - e.g. Mark and Luke). The gospels themselves actually fit in this category - the early church trusted that the (canonical) gospels were accurate because of their author's apostolic credentials. For this reason, there is no legitimate basis for separating the gospels into a different category of 'scripture' that does not equally apply to the rest of the New Testament1.
1. In broad terms at least. There were some arguments about the authenticity of individual books that later came to be accepted (or excluded) from the New Testament canon. However these arguments centred around whether they were authentic in regards to their apostolic credentials. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antilegomena for further information on these disputes.
More post
- 📝 Where did the account of Veronica originate?
- 📝 Jansenism's views of marriage?
- 📝 What extrabiblical sources support the existence of Jesus in history?
- 📝 Style of referring to a cardinal
- 📝 Were Adam and Eve of the same species as the modern human?
- 📝 Did Christ's original twelve apostles have families?
- 📝 What is the earliest systematic New Testament commentary?
- 📝 Are there any common themes in the dreams so many Muslims have that prompt them to come to Jesus?
- 📝 Are there any Bible verses about 'Being on your Knees' that do not specifically mention praying?
- 📝 What Place was Jesus going to prepare
- 📝 Why didn't Mary tell Joseph what Gabriel had said to her?
- 📝 Does the Roman Catholic Church have a daily Bible reading?
- 📝 In Eastern Orthodoxy, what is most important for the efficacy of the sacraments: the right Church or the right God?
- 📝 What is God's throne like?
- 📝 Why four Gospels?
- 📝 What is considered chaste behaviour from a Catholic perspective?
- 📝 Is there a word for describing the existence of a unique or controversial interpretation of Christianity within a denomination?
- 📝 Is it a valid Christian concept to attribute subjectively attactive physical characteristics, as blessings from God?
- 📝 Seeming paradox arising from idea of eternal life
- 📝 According to Catholicism, is it unlawful to cause others to work on Sunday?
- 📝 Source for this alleged quote from Martin Luther?
- 📝 How do Protestants against the use of alcoholic wine explain 1 Timothy 3:8?
- 📝 How many stalls for horses and chariots did Solomon have?
- 📝 Why do some Christians use a period instead of a colon in verse references?
- 📝 Did Jesus defend himself at his trial?
- 📝 Research project: am I missing any verses where Jesus addresses wealth and greed?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for saying the Apostles did not necessarily expect the final judgment to occur in their lifetime?
- 📝 Who can move Easter celebrations in the Orthodox Churches?
- 📝 What is so special about sitting at God's "right hand"?
- 📝 Is God fully Jesus?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Is there a scriptural basis for treating the non-Gospel books of the New Testament as scripture?
- 📝 Is there any Biblical Basis for 400 years of silence between Old and New Testament?
- 📝 What is the scriptural basis for clerical celibacy?
- 📝 What is the scriptural basis for "Love God and do whatever you please"?
- 📝 Is there a basis for Christian holidays in the Bible?
- 📝 What is the basis for the claim that the entire New Testament can be reconstructed apart from original and copied manuscripts?
- 📝 Are there "rational" criteria for which books appear in the Bible?
- 📝 What is the basis for saying that the Gospel of Thomas was accepted as scripture by early Christians?
- 📝 What is the doctrinal or Scriptural basis for a central Church authority?
- 📝 What is the scriptural basis for the idea that salvation can still be obtained after death?
- 📝 Is there any scriptural support for the belief of convulsions/seizures being a sign of the Holy Spirit's presence?
- 📝 What is the scriptural basis for a monarchical episcopate?
- 📝 Is there historical evidence for an atheist argument about the New Testament?
- 📝 What is the New Testament basis for the idea the God is a God of judgment and vengeance?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that there are humans in heaven now?
- 📝 What is the basis for arguing that the gospel has already been preached to "all nations"?
- 📝 Is there biblical basis for the claim that Pilate had no choice?
- 📝 Is there a Biblical basis for the concept of being allowed to "be angry with God" or "tell him just how we feel"
- 📝 What is the Scriptural basis for Catholics praying to Mary and the various saints?
- 📝 What is the basis for the belief that there were twelve Magi?
- 📝 What is the Scriptural basis for Modalism?
- 📝 What is the basis for seeing Christ's words in the Gospels as part of the New Covenant?
- 📝 What is the scriptural basis for the Holy Spirit speaking to you through other people's words?
- 📝 What is the scriptural basis for gluttony being a sin?
- 📝 Is there any biblical basis for the Church to depict Jesus as a European or some other ethnic race?
- 📝 Are there theological explanations for why God chose the Church to preach the gospel instead of more effective and efficient alternatives?
- 📝 What is the basis for baptism being the new circumcision?
- 📝 What is the scriptural basis for liberation theology?
- 📝 Is there biblical basis for the "blood moons"?
- 📝 According to Reformed Theology, what is the doctrinal basis for belief in New Testament tithing?