Sự trung thực bằng chi phí của chính họ

One of the more striking features of the gospels is that the writers did not hesitate to record facts that might be used against them.

If you have a witness who is trying to distort the truth, one of the first things they will do is withhold information that might be detrimental to their case, or to their personal credibility. Nếu như, as has been suggested, they are actually fabricating evidence to bolster their story it is even less likely that those fabrications would include such material: yet the gospels contain many such items.

In the quotes below I have indicated parallel passages which occur in more than one gospel by citing the duplicates in square brackets.

Material which reflects badly on the disciples themselves

• Their preoccupation with the issue of what was in it for them. núi 18:1 [Lk 9:46], Mk 9:33, Mk 10:28 [Lk 18:28], núi 20:21 [Mk 10:37], Lk 22:24.
• The occasions when theory failed to translate into practice for them, such as their inability to deal with the demonized boy (núi 17:14 [Mk 9:14, Lk 9:37]) and Peter’s failure to walk on water, despite Jesus’ command (núi 14:28).
• Their own failure to understand Jesus’ message and mission:
  • concerning what Jesus told them about his death and resurrection (Jn 2:19, núi 17:22 [Mk 9:31, Lk 9:44], núi 16:21 [Mk 8:31, Lk 9:22], núi 20:17 [Mk 10:32, Lk 18:31], Jn 16:16-32, núi 28:17, Mk 16:8,11,13,14, Lk 24:11,25, Jn 20:2,25).
  • Peter being told as a result, ‘Get thee behind me, quỷ Satan,’ bởi Chúa Giêsu (núi 16:23 [Mk 8:33])
  • suggesting they call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village (Lk 9:54).
  • Peter’s inane remark on the mount of transfiguration (núi 17:4 [Mk 9:5, Lk 9:33]),
• Their failure to even stay awake when Jesus was in Gethsemane (núi 26:36 [Mk 14:32, Lk 22:40])
• The disciple’s insistence they would never deny Jesus(núi 26:31 [Mk 14:27, Lk 22:31]), followed by their abandonment of him (núi 26:56 [Mk 14:50], núi 26:69 [Mk 14:66, Lk 22:54])
• The assault on the high priest’s servant (núi 26:51 [Mk 14:47, Lk 22:50])
• The reports that the disciples stole the body (núi 28:11)

Material which opponents could use to criticise Jesus

• His own family’s unbelief (Jn 7:5), even thinking he was insane (Mk 3:21)
• All the insults and allegations made against Jesus (too many to list) some of which were explained at the time, and some not.
• Failure to perform miracles at Nazareth (núi 13:58 [Mk 6:5, Lk 4:23]
• His exasperation with the disciples (núi 17:17 [Mk 9:19, Lk 9:41])
• His forcible eviction of the money-changers (Jn 2:14, núi 21:12 [Mk 11:15, Lk 19:45])
• Allowing the devils to enter the Gadarene swine (núi 8:38 [Mk 5:11, Lk 8:32])
• His treatment of the Syrophoenician woman (núi 15:22 [Mk 7:25])
• His admission that he didn’t know the timing of his own return (Mk 13:32 [núi 24:36])
• His fear and near refusal of the cross in Gethsemane (núi 26:37 [Mk 14:33, Lk 22:41])
• His cry from the cross, ‘My God, Chúa ơi, tại sao bạn lại bỏ rơi tôi?’ (núi 27:46 [Mk 15:34])
• Telling the disciples to carry swords on the night of his arrest (Lk 22:36)

Material which reflected badly on the church

• Church wrangles over widows (hành vi 6:1) and circumcision (hành vi 11:2, 15:1).
• Paul’s arguments with Barnabus (hành vi 15:37) và Peter (Gal 2:11).
• Their failure to believe in Peter’s deliverance from prison, even when told (hành vi 12:12).

Quay lại bài viết chính.