The
Redacted Gospels
Jehovah Source – Elohim Source – Deuteronomist Source – Priestly
Source
First Word
·
As we read through the
scriptures,
we began to notice that many of the authors of the Book
use the SAME phrases, precepts and concepts. It is as though they all had the same source
of information before them. – Scholars have put together a theory known as the Documentary Hypothesis
or “DH”
that explains the origin and composition of the Torah.
·
The Torah or Pentateuch is the first five books
of the Christian
Bible; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, all believed to be
the work on one author. – A series of documents, believed to be absolutely
divinely inspired and transmitted to us with the highest possible standard of
accuracy. - Scholars have put forth the theory that the Torah was not the
unified work of one author, but was made up of many sources, homogenized over many centuries by many
hands; compiled and joined together and edited over time by many
“REDACTORS”.
·
The first time I ever heard the term “REDACTED” was after a two year investigation
of President Donald J. Trump to find out if he had colluded with the Russians
to influence the outcome of the election results. – The report that was issued
was REDACTED with some information EDITED; BLACKED OUT. – This study will look
at a source
called “R”; “REDACTED”.
·
Three of the Gospels, Matthew,
Mark and Luke are known as the SYNOPTIC GOSPELS because of a
strong parallelism; they include many of the same stories in similar
wording and similar sequence as compared to John
whose wirings were very distinct from the others.
·
Synoptic means “seeing all
together”
or giving accounts from the same view point and perspective. – It is
widely taught in both Jewish, Hebrew and Christian religious schools the
theory that there were four unknown major
sources of information that
influenced our Bible
writers. – These sources are known as the JEDP theory that was passed
down through the ages and influenced the writings of the authors of the scriptures;
each source with different perspectives and details. – There
seems also to be a “Q”
source just for the sayings of Jesus and an “R” source that REDACTS or corrects all the other
sources.
·
Matthew was a Tax collector for Rome,
Luke
was a medical doctor and John was a fisherman; all were of the special circle of the 12 Disciples, except
for Mark
who was the wild card. - He was essentially a general purpose assistant to Peter,
Paul
and Barnabas.
·
The first time we encounter Mark is when he is a very young follower of Jesus in
the Garden. - Just before Jesus is arrested, a soldier grabs Mark
by his long linen shirt and he slips out of it and RUNS OFF NAKED. We know it was Mark because no one else reports
on this story except Mark in his own Gospel.
·
Another story says that Mark DESERTED Paul at some point which made for bad feelings,
so Mark
went with his cousin Barnabas on the missionary journeys. – Later on
all fences are mended with Paul and Mark, then later Peter fondly refers to Mark
as his own son. – Mark is credited with establishing a number of
churches and is the second writer of the Gospels.
·
It is theorized that it was MARK’S WRITINGS that
influenced both Matthew
and Luke’s
Gospel as the Gospel of John was written totally independent
of the others. - The story of Mark
ends with the thought that God chooses the weak and foolish to
confound the wise. – The purposes and
plans of God are carried out by fallible people. - He can use all of us in spite
of our failures
and short comings;
that would be you and ME. - It’s in the Book –
Mark 14:50-52 – Mark runs
away naked
50 Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away.
51 ONE YOUNG MAN FOLLOWING BEHIND was
50 Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away.
51 ONE YOUNG MAN FOLLOWING BEHIND was
clothed
only in a long linen shirt. When the mob
TRIED
TO GRAB HIM,
52 he slipped out of his shirt and RAN AWAY NAKED.
52 he slipped out of his shirt and RAN AWAY NAKED.
(NLT)
Colossians 4:10
– Mark’s Cousin was Barnabas
10 My fellow prisoner
Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does MARK, THE COUSIN OF BARNABAS.
NIV
Acts 13:5 – Mark was in training as an assistant
5 When they arrived at Salamis
AS
THEIR HELPER.
NIV
Philemon
23-24 – Mark a fellow worker
23 Epaphras, my fellow
prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do MARK, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke,
MY
FELLOW WORKERS.
NIV
2 Timothy
4:11-12 –
Things change - Paul wants Mark to help him
11 Only Luke is with me. Get MARK and bring him with
you,
because
he is HELPFUL TO ME IN MY MINISTRY.
NIV
Acts
15:36-39 –
Mark screws up
36 … Paul said to
Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we
preached
37 Barnabas wanted to take
John, also called MARK, with them,
38 but Paul did not think
it wise to take him, because
HE
HAD DESERTED THEM IN PAMPHYLIA
39 They had such a sharp
disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for
Cyprus
NIV
1 Peter
5:12-13 – LATER
Peter considers Mark as his son
12 With the help of Silas,
whom I (Peter) regard as a faithful brother, I have written to
you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God.
Stand fast in it.
13 She who is in Babylon (code for sinful Rome), chosen together with you,
sends you her greetings, and so does MY SON MARK.
NIV
Mark 2:14 – Matthew Levi tax collector
14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi (MATTHEW Levi) the son of Alphaeus SITTING AT THE TAX BOOTH, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. (ESV)
14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi (MATTHEW Levi) the son of Alphaeus SITTING AT THE TAX BOOTH, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. (ESV)
Colossians 4:14 – Luke the medical doctor
14 LUKE, THE BELOVED DOCTOR, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. (NLT)
14 LUKE, THE BELOVED DOCTOR, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. (NLT)
JEDP Source
·
Scholars have defined the “JEDP” sources as follows:
Ø J
source –
Jehovah - “J” consistently uses the word “Yahweh”
for Jehovah
God. – “J”
is credited as the source for the Song of Deborah, the Jewish woman
warrior in the Book of Judges. – Some scholars believe the “J” source
is a woman because it is more colorful, folkloric, humorous and is the
best story teller than the other three. - The Hebrew Bible has no vowels, so YHWY in the English version
became Yahweh
when the vowels were added...
– “J”
is also called Yahwist or Jahwist. – (“J”
was written in the 7th century BC or later.)
Ø E
source –
Elohim
– “E”
is thought to be noted for the author’s use of the word “Elohim” which is the Hebrew name
for God. – El-Shaddai;
God Almighty. - In
Genesis the “E’” contribution picks up with
the narrative of Abraham. - In Judges “E” picks up with a version of Deborah’s story
similar to J’s
version, but less colorful. – (The “E” source was written in the
late 9th Century BC.)
Ø D
source –
Deuteronomist
– “D”
is believed to be written independently of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers of the Torah; the Tetrateuch. - “D” is thought to be responsible for a great
deal of the book of Deuteronomy as well as shaped the historical books
of Joshua, Judges,
Samuel, Kings and probably Ruth. – “D” explains Israel’s success for their faithfulness
and obedience as well as their failures for disobedience and God’s punishment
for Sin. – “D” expresses concern for the
Widows and fatherless; treatment for the neighbor and the poor. - Some scholars
theorize that the writer was Jeremiah
the prophet who lived during that time. - (“D” written
in the early 7th century BC to the later 6th century BC.)
Ø P
source –
Priestly
– “P”
overall concern seems to be for the LAW, origins of shrines and rituals and
genealogies.
It is deemed the independent source for most of the book of Leviticus.
- “P” seems to divide history into four areas;
1)
Covenants of God at the beginning
of creation and with Noah.
2)
Covenants with Moses and Abraham, including
stories about Isaac and Jacob.
3)
Covenants and
the relationship of God with Israel His chosen people.
4)
The Priestly
kingdom;
concerns with the holiness of the people; preserving ritual purity through
rules and rituals and its identity as a people of Israel stressing staying
separate and avoiding interracial marriage with non-Israelites. - “P” also provides the instructions for
constructing the Tabernacle. – It is also known as the Holiness Code of Leviticus.
– It is written to show that God remains present even when all seems lost. (The “P” source was written around the
6th to 5th century BC.)
Ø Q
source –
Q Gospel – “Q” is from the German word “Quelle”
which means “source”; a hypothetical collection of sayings primarily by
Jesus. It propagates the TWO SOURCE HYPOTHESIS that Mark and “Q” were the two sources
of material that Matthew and Luke used as they wrote independently their worldview
of the Good News of the Gospel.
·
The “Q” source is thought to be drawn
from the oral traditions of the early church that were eventually
written down in Koine Greek. – The sayings of Jesus were paraphrased in
order to avoid misunderstandings. – “Q” was devised as the most likely
explanation behind the common sayings found in the synoptic Gospels Matthew, Mark and Luke.
·
The Two Source Hypothesis has retained wide support
even though it has been widely challenged. – It is also called the Q document or the Q Hypothesis.
Scholars believe “Q” was written before Matthew, Mark and Luke and is a collections of sayings and quotations of
Jesus. - If “Q”
ever existed, it was LOST as we have no record of it.
Ø R
source –
Redactor
– “R”
seems to be an additional individual or group of individuals that redacted
or EDITED, COMPLIED AND SPLICED together the four
existing JEDP
sources.
·
Here is where we are; JEDP influenced the OT;
and Q the
NT;
and R
redacted all of it.
The
Take Away
·
Conspiracy theorist have often thought that
God told Adam SECRETS OF THE
UNIVERSE that
were passed down through his descendants.
Some see the secrets revealed in the Book as
certain tribe’s excelled in different disciplines’; special abilities.
- The
Free Masons
believe that Noah was the father and founder of the
Masonic system of theology. They
believe that Hiram Abiff was the master architect of King Salomon’s
temple and possessed secret knowledge and secret special words imparted
by God to Adam and passed down to Noah and onto Hiram Abiff, who was then murdered to get this secret
masonic knowledge. - NYOBS 04:27 – SHRINERS – FREE MASONS
·
Did God pass secrets, special knowledge to Adam, down through the Godly line of Seth
and on to Noah
then finally to Moses? - Knowledge to make instruments of music, knowledge
of instruments of iron for cultivating the soil as well as instruments of war. Knowledge of weaving, planting, farming and hunting,
construction and building the Great Pyramid. - Is this secret knowledge the source that links the entire Bible
together? NYOBS 19.02 –
GREAT PYRAMID
·
If your worldview is a “Forever Trumper”,
then when the PRESIDENT does
something good for the nation, a cry of ‘Hallelujah’ goes up. - If your worldview is a “Never Trumper” then a cry of “Impeach Him”
goes up. – Such is the worldview of the theory JEDP Bible sources; if your world
view is as a “Born
again Believer”, then a cry goes up “The Bible is inerrant”; praising
God for His omniscience. - The Flip Side;
if your worldview is as a C&E Christian; a Christmas and Easter “Make Believer”, then a cry goes up “The Bible has been
corrupted”.
·
External sources are believed to have influenced
the Gospels
of the New
Testament, as well as influenced the Prophets of the Old Testament. The Book says
that God does not do anything that He does not first reveal His plans to
His Servants.
·
The Gospel
of Mark confirms
that many people have written accounts about God’s chosen people and the events
that have been fulfilled among them. Mark
says that after having CAREFULLY INVESTIGATED everything from the
beginning, including the eyewitness reports that circulated among the
early disciples, he had decided also to write a CAREFUL account so they could be CERTAIN of the TRUTH that had been taught.
·
Hearing about JEDP Bible sources only underscores the fact
that God has
continued to reveal Himself to man
from the first earth age to the last.
·
“R” Redacted – GOD IS OUR REDACTOR, He has compiled and
edited the scriptures through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. - His hand is
on the books
of life, compiling our works, redacting, editing and deleting our sins and adding
His righteousness, grace and mercy.
·
The Book
says ALL Scripture is
inspired by God and
is useful to teach us what is TRUE and to make us realize
what is wrong in our lives. - It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us
to do what is right. – God has provided us down through the centuries, many WITNESSES to His unchanging
inerrant plan; assuring us that the “original manuscripts” transmitted to us are
without error or fault in all its teaching.
The Bible is the very breath of God
Redacted by the Holy Spirit
Numbers 12:6 – God reveals Himself in Visions and
Dreams
6 And the LORD said to them, “Now listen to what I say: “If there were PROPHETS among you, I, the LORD, would
6 And the LORD said to them, “Now listen to what I say: “If there were PROPHETS among you, I, the LORD, would
REVEAL MYSELF IN VISIONS. I
would
SPEAK TO THEM IN DREAMS. (NLT)
Amos 3:7 – God reveals His plans to His servants
7 Indeed, the Sovereign LORD NEVER DOES ANYTHING until
7 Indeed, the Sovereign LORD NEVER DOES ANYTHING until
HE REVEALS HIS PLANS TO HIS SERVANTS the
prophets.
(NLT)
2 Timothy 3:16 – God has inspired ALL scripture
16 ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It CORRECTS US when we are wrong and TEACHES US to do what is right. (NLT)
16 ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It CORRECTS US when we are wrong and TEACHES US to do what is right. (NLT)
2 Timothy 3:16 – The Scripture is the breath of
God
16 ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
16 ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
(NIV2011)
Luke 1:1-4 – Luke compiles all the accounts of
Christ
1 Many people have set out to write accounts about the
1 Many people have set out to write accounts about the
EVENTS THAT HAVE
BEEN FULFILLED AMONG US.
2 They used the EYEWITNESS REPORTS circulating among us from the early disciples.
3 having CAREFULLY INVESTIGATED EVERYTHING FROM THE BEGINNING, I ALSO HAVE DECIDED TO WRITE A CAREFUL ACCOUNT FOR YOU, most honorable Theophilus,
4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught. (NLT)
2 They used the EYEWITNESS REPORTS circulating among us from the early disciples.
3 having CAREFULLY INVESTIGATED EVERYTHING FROM THE BEGINNING, I ALSO HAVE DECIDED TO WRITE A CAREFUL ACCOUNT FOR YOU, most honorable Theophilus,
4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught. (NLT)
Isaiah 28:10– One line at a time, here and there a
little
10 HE TELLS US EVERYTHING OVER AND OVER— one line at a time, ONE LINE AT A TIME, A LITTLE HERE, AND A LITTLE THERE!” (NLT)
10 HE TELLS US EVERYTHING OVER AND OVER— one line at a time, ONE LINE AT A TIME, A LITTLE HERE, AND A LITTLE THERE!” (NLT)
Deuteronomy 19:15 – Father – Son - Holy Spirit – 3
witnesses
15 You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.
15 You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.
(NLT)
James 1:17-18 – God’s Word does not change
17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.
17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.
HE NEVER CHANGES or casts a shifting
shadow.
18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And
18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And
WE, OUT OF
ALL CREATION, BECAME HIS PRIZED POSSESSION. (NLT)
1 Kings 7:13-14 – Hiram Abiff was a master craftsman
13 King Solomon sent to Tyre and brought Huram, (Hiram Abiff)
14 whose mother was a widow from the tribe of
Naphtali and whose father was a man of Tyre
NIV
In the multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:14
I am grateful to those that went before me
providing concepts, ideas, historical
information, and scripture verses. Because of them I can stand on their
shoulders
and
see further that I otherwise ever could have.
Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias
Apocrypha – Goodspeed
Baker Commentary on the
Bible – Elwell
Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White
Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer
Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row
Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s
Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake
Don’t know much about the Bible – Kenneth C. Davis
English Standard Version
Bible – ESV
Expositor’s Bible
Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein
Forgotten Books of Eden; The – World
Gospels Interwoven; The – Karmit Zarley
Illustrated Bible
Dictionary; The – Tyndale
Interlinear Greek-English
New Testament – Baker
Invisible War; The – Donald Grey Barnhouse
King James Version Bible –
KJV
Lost Books of the Bible; The - World
Lost Books of the Bible; The - Bell
Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan
Meredith’s Book of List; 1&2 –Bethany House
Publishers
Missing Books of the Bible; The – Halo Press
Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest
Nag Hammadi Library; The – James M. Robinson
Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan
New International
Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas -
Tenney
New International Version
Bible (2011) – NIV
New Living Translation Bible - NLT
Other
side of the Good News; The – Larry Dixon
Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls – Hugh J. Schonfield
Systematic Theology – Wayne Grudem
Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee
Unseen Realm; The – Michael
S. Heiser
Vincent’s Word Studies of
the New Testament – Mac Donald
Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner
Wycliffe Bible Commentary;
The – Pfeiffer & Harrison
Wikipedia –
Zondervan Pictorial
Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney
