Four Gospels

Essay for the Dr. of Christian Studies – The Four Gospels Course.

Sharon J. Mayer

This is a wonderful course that has taken me on an exploration of early Christian writings, practices, and thought.

Over my sixty nine years of life I have had the gospels read to me or read them myself numerous times and each time something new has come from the reading as I have grown in understanding. This course was the best of all I have taken on the subject. I was not told this is the Truth and you must believe it. I was allowed, during the course, to explore on my own the writings and teachings that would enhance the subject and my understanding. .

We were asked to write on one point of the books, which either stumped or moved the reader, to pick a section and write an opinion. That is extremely difficult because all the books as presented sent me looking for more information, another interpretation, history of the times and place the book was written, the thoughts and powers of the day. I was so interested in continuing my studies that I did not eve realize the course had come to an end – but my studies have not ended as yet.

The parts that interested me the most were those that mentioned the Gospel of Q as a starting point of the narrative of some of the books. The ideas that the oral tradition that was passed from regional areas and understandings of what had been said and done by Jesus was well brought out during the discourse. I was familiar with Q and Thomas, as well as other books that were not included in the New Testament by formal religion. I am also familiar with other texts of some religions that are added to the Bible for use by their church members.

I have often been confused by the fact that not all books were available to read by the common person and that since the Bible was hand-copied there was no way to be sure that the text was kept complete and accurate. This is a main point that has perplexed me most of my years. I understand there are those who believe and base their faith on the fact that God gave all the words in the books to the person writing and they are absolute truth and are to be followed.

But if the Bibles were commissioned by humans and humans have free will how were the books of the bible to be kept pure as complied and handed down for centuries? If a ruler wanted to add something to enhance his kingdom and he needed to have “history” rewritten that could be done. We all know that local practices were incorporated into the church to draw more members. So what was to stop the things the ruler did not like from being excluded and things he wanted to be part of religion from being added? If a church body felt that a book for other form of writing was detrimental to their ways they would just not add that thought or practice to the Formal Church. People have died for what was written and believed from the early church on. These are the things about the Gospels that really push me to continue my learning of early Christian writing and keep me studying more about the subject.

The Gospel according to Like is an example of the history of Jesus’ birth and family.

This is brought out in the course to be written to appease the Romans that this was a spiritual person and no threat to the political situation of Rome. It also made a strong tie of Christianity being part of the Jewish religion that would be tolerated by Rome. This to me is a case in point where the writing was honed to appeal to the powers that be.

Later the books were arranged by what was to be taught because of highly placed church leaders and the thought they had about what was to be given to the common folk to continue their religious training. There seems to have been much control of what was added to the books, wheat was written, how it was presented and what text was left out. As brought out in the lesson on “The Word According to Luke, Pt 2 “There are no secrets. When you open yourself up to the light, everything is seen.”

That is what this class has done for me and I hope for others. Look into the light of knowledge and travel to wherever it takes you to find the truth.

Rev Sharon J. Mayer

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