A Biblical Vision, Part II: Mastering the New Testament Witness to Christ

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A B i b l i ca l Vi s i on, Par t I I : Mas ter i ng the New Tes tament Wi tnes s to Chr i s t

5. Theories and questions about authorship and sources must never take precedent over the heart of the Gospels as they proclaim themselves to us .

a. To produce faith in Jesus as the Messiah, John 20.31 – but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

b. To provide certainty in those things which have been believed, Luke 1.1-4 – Inasmuch as many have under taken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, [2] just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, [3] it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, [4] that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. c. To lay the foundation for a worldwide proclamation of Jesus and his Kingdom, Luke 24.45-48 – Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, [46] and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, [47] and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. [48] You are witnesses of these things.