Te Reweti Wharepapa
New Member
What motivating factors were there to write down and bring together an accepted, true version of what took place in New Testament times?
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New Testament
- Thread starter Te Reweti Wharepapa
- Start date
Kia ora Bro, Greetings from the deep South of beautiful Aotearoa. No doubt the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, Jesus had predicted on the Mount of Olives was an important motivating factor. The gospels were written to inspire the faithful rather than to accurately record history.
Last edited:
JesusBeliever
Active Member
Chur, a few kiwis on here I see. 
I think the best place to start finding the answers is within the New Testament itself. And I think a good study of the Acts of the Apostles is a good place to start. It kinda fills us in on the many problems the Apostles and early disciples in Christ were facing. The Apostle Paul even forewarned the Overseers of the Church at that time saying the following:
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." Acts 20:28-31
Something I actually started doing tonight was trying to pair up The Apostle Paul's travels as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles with his Epistles (letters) that make up most of the New Testament. There is evidence in his Epistle to the Colossians that the disciples were being encouraged to circulate the letters between the churches:
"And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea." Colossians 4:16
It makes sense that they would have made copies of each others epistles as well, so that they always had one on hand and one to pass on. There is also suggestion in the 2nd epistle to the Thessalonians that fake epistles claiming to be from the Apostles were also circulating:
"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;" 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
I've spent many years studying the Scriptures but something that only occurred to me tonight was to take more notice of the names that are mentioned in the New Testament. I used to just let them fly over my head but not any more. I'm only in the very early stages of my study in this particular area but already I've noticed a few interesting things. Take the Epistle to the Colossians for example. Right at the end the Apostle Paul mentions a few people, some of which know the Colossian disciples and some whom he's introducing to them:
"All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him) And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. Colossians 4:7-18
Some of these same people are mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles:
"And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus." Acts 20:4
Hope this was helpful
Arohanui
I think the best place to start finding the answers is within the New Testament itself. And I think a good study of the Acts of the Apostles is a good place to start. It kinda fills us in on the many problems the Apostles and early disciples in Christ were facing. The Apostle Paul even forewarned the Overseers of the Church at that time saying the following:
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." Acts 20:28-31
Something I actually started doing tonight was trying to pair up The Apostle Paul's travels as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles with his Epistles (letters) that make up most of the New Testament. There is evidence in his Epistle to the Colossians that the disciples were being encouraged to circulate the letters between the churches:
"And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea." Colossians 4:16
It makes sense that they would have made copies of each others epistles as well, so that they always had one on hand and one to pass on. There is also suggestion in the 2nd epistle to the Thessalonians that fake epistles claiming to be from the Apostles were also circulating:
"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;" 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
I've spent many years studying the Scriptures but something that only occurred to me tonight was to take more notice of the names that are mentioned in the New Testament. I used to just let them fly over my head but not any more. I'm only in the very early stages of my study in this particular area but already I've noticed a few interesting things. Take the Epistle to the Colossians for example. Right at the end the Apostle Paul mentions a few people, some of which know the Colossian disciples and some whom he's introducing to them:
"All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him) And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. Colossians 4:7-18
Some of these same people are mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles:
"And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus." Acts 20:4
Hope this was helpful
Arohanui
DavidFirth
Well-Known Member
The Holy Spirit guided the apostles and some of them to write scripture for future generations.
Good question and welcome to the forums!
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Nobody knows who even wrote the New Testament books. It seems all of it is left up to conjecture. It's lost to history.