John 18

[DylanO]

I was curious to know how the writers of the Gospels would have known certain
things that they wrote about in the Gospels, such as the conversation between
Christ and Pilate in John 18 and other occasions similar to that. Seeing that the
Apostles who wrote the Gospels where not there when this occurred, how would
they have known what was said?

Thanks in advance.

 

[NotWorthy]

How does a newspaper reporter know what is said at an event that he has not attended?

Remember, Jesus spent 40 days with the Apostles after his Resurrection. They probably talked about more than just the weather, I would imagine.

 

[puzzleannie]

I was curious to know how the writers of the Gospels would have known certain
things that they wrote about in the Gospels, such as the conversation between
Christ and Pilate in John 18 and other occasions similar to that. Seeing that the
Apostles who wrote the Gospels where not there when this occurred, how would
they have known what was said?

Thanks in advance.

the context shows that John did in fact hang around while the events of the arrest and trial were going on and in fact stayed with Mary and the other holy women until Christ died. He evidently had friends or relations in the sanhedrin and may have had an “in” to witness these events.

 

[DylanO]

Thanks for the replies!

 

[NotWorthy]

For Luke’s infant narratives, it’s thought that he was able to talk to Mary at some time to hear those stories, for instance.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

For Luke’s infant narratives, it’s thought that he was able to talk to Mary at some time to hear those stories, for instance.

Note Luke 1:1-3

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, 2* just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, 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,

 

[COPLAND_3]

Therre were some very practical replies, very good! I do want to add that the authors of the Sacred Scriptures were guided by the Holy Spirit when they wrote. So whatever they did not learn through word of mouth or saw, the Holy Spirit told them what to say.

1 Thessalonians 2:13: “For this cause also we thank God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe.”

2 Timothy 3:16: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

2 Peter 1:20-21: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

 

[epostle]

It is believed by some that Pilate and his wife became Christians, but the evidence is unreliable. Maybe the info came from them.

From the Catholic Encyclopedia:

The tendency, already discernible in the canonical Gospels, to lay stress on the efforts of Pilate to acquit Christ, and thus pass as lenient a judgment as possible upon his crime, goes further in the apocryphal Gospels and led in later years to the claim that he actually became a Christian. The Abyssinian Church reckons him as a saint, and assigns 25 June to him and to Claudia Procula, his wife. The belief that she became a Christian goes back to the second century, and may be found in Origen (Hom., in Mat., xxxv). The Greek Church assigns her a feast on 27 October. Tertullian and Justin Martyr both speak of a report on the Crucifixion (not extant) sent in by Pilate to Tiberius, from which idea a large amount of apocryphal literature originated. Some of these were Christian in origin (Gospel of Nicodemus), others came from the heathen, but these have all perished.

newadvent.org/cathen/12083c.htm

 

[NotWorthy]

Therre were some very practical replies, very good! I do want to add that the authors of the Sacred Scriptures were guided by the Holy Spirit when they wrote. So whatever they did not learn through word of mouth or saw, the Holy Spirit told them what to say.

I’m not sure if they were aware of any divine guidance when they were writing. Paul, for instance, does not sound like he’s aware his books were going to eventually wind up in Scriptures.

 

[jallen]

The apostles had to have known. They, themselves, were not perfect, but scripture is devine and holy as the previous writer prescribed as quoting scripture. We are called to “test all things” - 1Thes. 5:21 - as compared to scripture…not with finite persons.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is (name removed by moderator)rired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Thanks.

 

[jallen]

The apostles had to have known. They, themselves, were not perfect, but scripture is devine and holy as the previous writer prescribed as quoting scripture. We are called to “test all things” - 1Thes. 5:21 - as compared to scripture…not with finite persons.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is (name removed by moderator)rired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Thanks.

 

[TMC]

the context shows that John did in fact hang around while the events of the arrest and trial were going on and in fact stayed with Mary and the other holy women until Christ died. He evidently had friends or relations in the sanhedrin and may have had an “in” to witness these events.

I have also heard some speculate that John was young enough that the sanhedrin didn’t view him as a threat, and that may also be why he was with the women at the foot of the cross, but the other disciples were not.

In any event, there are several possible sources - John, and Pilate’s wife, but also just court gossip, these things get out. The more difficult event to source is Jesus’ prayers before his arrest, e.g. Matt 26:39-45. The source for this can only be Christ; He must have relayed what happened after his resurrection.