(More Bible Studies Available @ www.marktabata.com)
To Receive These (And Other) Free Bible Studies And Updates Via Email, Contact Mark Tabata @ 606-216-1757 (Text Message) Or hazardhomecoc@gmail.com (Email)
1 Corinthians 2:13-These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Because the question of Jesus and Mary Magdalene goes so much deeper than just their personal relationship, we are going to take some time and investigate every facet of the subject. In my thinking, the best place to start this investigation is with our main sources of information regarding the life of Jesus Christ, the New Testament Scriptures (especially the Gospels). Specifically here, we are going to take a look at the Gospels and the question of their genuineness (which has reference to who wrote them).
The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) tell us about the conception, birth, ministry, miracles, teachings, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Matthew and John were Apostles of Christ (special representatives who were endowed with His authority), while Mark received his information from the Apostle Peter and Luke from the Apostle Paul. Yet some teach that the Gospels are actually anonymous, and that we can’t have any confidence that the content of these Books originates with Jesus’ Apostles. Furthermore, it is maintained by some that the Gospels are not only anonymous, but that they are only guesswork and speculation about Jesus and His life.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
There are at last four lines of evidence which show clearly that the Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The first is what is known as the superscript. Literally, this word means “the text about the text.” If you turn to the four Gospels, you have the words at the very top of the Gospels written out, “The Gospel According To” and then either the names of either Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. These titles are as ancient as the Greek manuscripts themselves, showing that they were present from the very beginning when the Gospels were being written down. What’s more, you never have these titles being attached to the wrong Book, I.e., you never have the title “the Gospel of Matthew” being attached to Mark, Luke, John, etc. From the very beginning, the Gospels were identified and associated with the Apostles.
Second, that the Apostles of Christ wrote these Books to which they have been attributed is the testimony of the earliest Christians closest to the time of the Apostles themselves. These “church fathers” wrote extensively about the authorship of the Gospels, and this testimony is all the more impressive when we remember that some of these men knew the Apostles themselves! Here is a sampling of that evidence:
“For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them.” (Justin Martyr, c. 155)
“Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew language, and each one interpreted them as best he could…Having become the interpreter of Peter, Mark wrote down accurately whatever he remembered. However, he did not relate the sayings or deeds of Christ in exact order. For he neither heard the Lord nor accompanied Him. But afterwards, as I said, he accompanied Peter. Now, Peter accommodated his instructions to the necessities [of his hearers], but with no intention of giving a regular narrative of the Lord’s sayings. Accordingly, Mark made no mistake in thus writing some things as he remembered them. For one thing, he took special care not to omit anything he had heard, and not to put anything fictitious into the statements.” (Papias (c. 120, E), 1.155, as quoted by Eusebius)
“Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome…After their departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, also handed down to us in writing what had been preached by Peter…Mark, the interpreter and follower of Peter, begins his Gospel narrative in this manner….Luke also, the companion of Paul, recorded the Gospel in a book.” (Irenaeus (c. 180, E/ W), 1.414)
“Mark was the follower of Peter. Peter publicly preached the gospel at Rome before some of Caesar’s equestrian knights, and adduced many testimonies to Christ. In order that thereby they might be able to commit to memory what was spoken by Peter, Mark wrote entirely what is called the Gospel according to Mark.” (Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.573)
“The third book of the Gospel is that according to Luke. . . . Now, he himself did not see the Lord in the flesh. And he, according as he was able to accomplish it, began his narrative with the birth of John. . . . Moreover, the Acts of all the apostles are comprised by Luke in one book . . . because these different events took place when he was personally present. The principle on which he wrote was to write only of what fell under his own notice. And he shows this clearly by the omission of the martyrdom of Peter, and also of the journey of Paul, when Paul went from the city of Rome to Spain….The fourth Gospel is that of John, one of the disciples. When his fellow-disciples and bishops entreated him, he said, “Fast now with me for the space of three days, and let us recount to each other whatever may be revealed to each of us.” On the same night, it was revealed to Andrew, one of the apostles, that John should narrate all things in his own name—as they called them to mind.” (Muratorian Fragment (c. 200, W), 5.603)
The third evidence of the Apostolic authorship of the Gospels comes from the early sects of Christianity, such as the Gnostics. These people tried to combine Christianity with paganism, from which they got all kinds of strange teachings and groups. What is interesting for our purposes is that these sects acknowledge that the New Testament Scriptures were written by the Apostles, even when it would have helped their case not to acknowledge this! One example is from a man named Marcion, one of the leaders of early Gnosticism. Years ago, brother J.W. McGarvey pointed out:
“His teaching demonstrates the previous general recognition of this Gospel and these ten Epistles, while his antagonism to the other Gospels and the writings in general of the other Apostles, demonstrates the existence of those. Moreover, the ground on which he rejected the latter was not their want of genuineness, but, admitting their genuineness, he denies the apostolic authority of their authors.” (J.W. McGarvey, Evidences Of Christianity, 75 (emphasis added); Indianapolis, IN: Faith And Facts Publishers)
Finally, we should consider the testimony of the early enemies of Christianity who acknowledge the Apostolic authorship of the Gospels.
“All the early adversaries of Christianity granted the genuineness of the New Testament books. These adversaries were men of talent and learning. By worldly interests and intense hatred of Christianity they were urged to use against it every possible weapon. The fact that they did not show its sacred books to be spurious is proof that they were not able to do so….”Testimony of Julian. The Emperor Julian composed his work against Christianity in 361. He united talent, learning, power, and persecuting zeal. If anything could have been said against the genuineness of the New Testament he would have been eager to make his attack from this side, but he did not. He bore witness to the genuineness of the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. He concedes their early date and quotes them as the genuine works of their reputed authors. He quotes Romans, Corinthians, and Galatians. His whole attack assumes the genuineness and credibility of the New Testament…”2. Testimony of Hierocles. In 303 he was president of Bithynia; a cruel persecutor, and a sarcastic writer. He concedes the genuineness, and confines his efforts to the hunting up of internal flaws and contradictions. He refers to six of the eight authors of the New Testament. 3. Testimony of Porphyry. He was the most severe and formidable adversary of the primitive church…”He wrote about 270. He was well acquainted with the New Testament. He has plain references to Matthew, Mark, John, Acts, and Galatians. There is no trace of a suspicion that the sacred books were spurious. That he would have made this point, if possible, is evident from the fact that he did attack the book of Daniel in this manner…4. “Testimony of Celsus. He flourished about 176, and about 76 years after the death of the Apostle John. What we know about his work entitled ‘The True Word’ has been preserved by Origen. More than eighty quotations, made by him from the New Testament, have been thus preserved. His whole argument proceeds upon the concessions that the books he quoted were in existence, were held in high esteem by the churches, and were genuine. Thus by a plain and independent path we can trace the New Testament back to the Apostolic Age. It is also a remarkable fact that these bitter enemies are made to bear this unwilling, but decisive, testimony.” (Harvey W. Everest, The Divine Demonstration: A Textbook Of Christian Evidence, 54-55; Nashville, TN; Gospel Advocate Company)
Having established the genuineness of the Gospels, we will turn our attention next to whether or not these Books are reliable in what they teach regarding Jesus Christ. If they are shown to be credible, we will observe what they teach regarding the relationship of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene, before diving deeper into these subjects.
Lord, thank You for the New Testament which teaches us about our Lord Jesus. Bless us in our studies and help us to draw closer to You. Amen.