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morriec
Guest
but Jesus said he was I AM not a Bodhisattva.
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Bubba_Switzler
Guest
I think this is an excellent question, one I’ve pondered myself.
Note that writing is really not the issue. There were plenty of scribes in the day and he could easily have gotten one as a disciple to follow him around and record each and every move. In fact, he could have assembled 70 of them to create a New Septageneriat with such overlapping redundency so as to preclude any question of accuracy.
It seems clear, however, that he chose instead to work indirectly through his followers. And this is not a bug but a feature of Revelation. One need look no further than the very Jewish legalisms of the day to see why such a work would be pointless. No matter how long and detailed, people will always find loopholes and workarounds.
The other inescapable conclusion was that Jesus was calling on individuals in his day, and we would presume today, to make up their own minds about what they saw and experienced. This implies that there is something valuable about the process of discovery over and above the blind adherence to rules and regulations.
This is somewhat like the related question: why doesn’t God come down and knock heads from time to time and demonstrate who’s boss of the universe.
Note that writing is really not the issue. There were plenty of scribes in the day and he could easily have gotten one as a disciple to follow him around and record each and every move. In fact, he could have assembled 70 of them to create a New Septageneriat with such overlapping redundency so as to preclude any question of accuracy.
It seems clear, however, that he chose instead to work indirectly through his followers. And this is not a bug but a feature of Revelation. One need look no further than the very Jewish legalisms of the day to see why such a work would be pointless. No matter how long and detailed, people will always find loopholes and workarounds.
The other inescapable conclusion was that Jesus was calling on individuals in his day, and we would presume today, to make up their own minds about what they saw and experienced. This implies that there is something valuable about the process of discovery over and above the blind adherence to rules and regulations.
This is somewhat like the related question: why doesn’t God come down and knock heads from time to time and demonstrate who’s boss of the universe.
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frankblahnik
Guest
A very good reply post Bubba! Thank you for your interest in this thread. I believe you may have hit the nail on the head. Jesus knew exactly what he was doing by not writing a book. Even thinking about the notion of Him writing a book seems silly to me now. Look at the last book God personally wrote by His own hands, The Ten Commandments, and how many Jews misinterpreted the true meaning/reason for it. All in Gods masterplan I’m sure, He knows how awkward us humans are here on earth, and how we like to twist things to mean what we want them to. Jesus wanted us to discover Gods love for us ourselves and not through a book (although the Bible is great guide). The gift of the Holy Spirit is infinately more then any book we could ask for. Thank God for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the writing, interpreting, and compiling of the Holy Bible. Thank God, the Author of All the Laws of the universe, for the Love He has given us through Jesus Christ.
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anon5216
Guest
If God wanted to leave us with an indisputable text, it would have required Jesus writing it in his own hand in a manner that would physically survive the centuries.
But as others have said, even in that case people would manage to twist the words. It makes sense in that light that Jesus would not leave physical text behind.
That would also imply that writings by second hand human sources would be even less reliable - adding distortion to the text (as people interpreted Inspiration while writing) to outright misinterpretation of the text after being written down and disseminated.
Why wouldn’t God keep Truth in His own language and require us to learn it? No chance of misinterpretation there - although there would be no shortage of people claiming to know God’s language and misleading themselves if not many others as well.
The Path is truly narrow. No membership cards, no simple quoting of texts, no passing off responsibility to others, no strength in numbers. Just learn God’s language, pure and simple - but not easy.
May God bless you (and your circle of family, friends and acquaintances) in His own way with ever transcending spiritual growth, far beyond anything you or I or any religious authority can imagine.
But as others have said, even in that case people would manage to twist the words. It makes sense in that light that Jesus would not leave physical text behind.
That would also imply that writings by second hand human sources would be even less reliable - adding distortion to the text (as people interpreted Inspiration while writing) to outright misinterpretation of the text after being written down and disseminated.
Why wouldn’t God keep Truth in His own language and require us to learn it? No chance of misinterpretation there - although there would be no shortage of people claiming to know God’s language and misleading themselves if not many others as well.
The Path is truly narrow. No membership cards, no simple quoting of texts, no passing off responsibility to others, no strength in numbers. Just learn God’s language, pure and simple - but not easy.
May God bless you (and your circle of family, friends and acquaintances) in His own way with ever transcending spiritual growth, far beyond anything you or I or any religious authority can imagine.
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Bubba_Switzler
Guest
This presupposes that God has a language and that human writing adds no value. But, ultimately, humans have to understand it in their own terms, not just in terms of human language but individual human experience.
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anon5216
Guest
Yes, I suppose it does presuppose that God can communicate in a manner other than via one of the various languages made up by humans. You don’t think I’m stretching too far by that, do you?
And yes, I do believe that human writing takes away rather than adds value to God’s communication. Why anyone would think they can “add value” to God is beyond me.
Now, since the vast majority of humans have no clue as to communicating via God’s ‘language’, it makes sense to try and translate into one or more human languages. Of course, we can’t even translate from one human language to another without most of the subtleties of expression being lost in the process.
I agree with you 100% that we humans need to individually experience God. I would add, however, that the experience can’t be successfully communicated via mere human words. Words can hint, encourage, inspire, etc., but not directly communicate without distortion. It remains up to each and every one of us to individually experience Truth directly ourselves.
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Chaldean_Rite
Guest
in some sense, Jesus did write a book; through the Church.
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Deconi
Guest
Why didn’t Jesus write a book?
‘The Word’ of God is LIVING!
The ‘Personage’ LIVES!
His words can be, and have been, reduced to writting!
But it is not JUST ‘the words’ that He uttered that are FROM God, but HE, The Man, HIMSELF, in personage, example, teachings, ways, words, life, death and conquering death that ARE FROM GOD!
The LIVING WORD cannot be ‘restrained’ by the reduction to written form!
“Why didn’t He write a book?”
**BECAUSE HE IS THE BOOK!! **
‘The Word’ of God is LIVING!
The ‘Personage’ LIVES!
His words can be, and have been, reduced to writting!
But it is not JUST ‘the words’ that He uttered that are FROM God, but HE, The Man, HIMSELF, in personage, example, teachings, ways, words, life, death and conquering death that ARE FROM GOD!
The LIVING WORD cannot be ‘restrained’ by the reduction to written form!
“Why didn’t He write a book?”
**BECAUSE HE IS THE BOOK!! **
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anon5216
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Deconi,
What we have are translations of copies of copies of things someone wrote who said that “Jesus said” …
His words have not been put flawlessly to writing. Nice thought, but that can never be proved.
Not only that, but any “words” can and will be misinterpreted once spoken or written.
While there appears to be a fair number of people through history that seem to have been able to read “the book of Jesus”, my take is that number is likely less than 1,000.
(No, I can’t prove that either - it’s just personal opinion
).
I don’t count fans and followers as automatically literate when it comes to this book.
May God bless you (and your circle of family, friends and acquaintances) in His own way with ever transcending spiritual growth, far beyond anything you or I or any religious authority can imagine.
What we have are translations of copies of copies of things someone wrote who said that “Jesus said” …
His words have not been put flawlessly to writing. Nice thought, but that can never be proved.
Not only that, but any “words” can and will be misinterpreted once spoken or written.
While there appears to be a fair number of people through history that seem to have been able to read “the book of Jesus”, my take is that number is likely less than 1,000.
(No, I can’t prove that either - it’s just personal opinion
).I don’t count fans and followers as automatically literate when it comes to this book.
May God bless you (and your circle of family, friends and acquaintances) in His own way with ever transcending spiritual growth, far beyond anything you or I or any religious authority can imagine.
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Bubba_Switzler
Guest
I think you are mistaken on this point
And this is why.
The value that humans add, both in the writing of God’s revelation, and in individual experience, is their own understanding of God.
The question might be stated a different way: why didn’t God imprint his law directly into our brains? What is the purpose of life anyway? I think the answer goes back to free will and the fact that God desires that we both desire (for ourselves) and love (God and our neighbor).
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KingAlfred
Guest
“Why didn’t Jesus write a book?”
That wasn’t His mission. He didn’t come as ‘writer’ or ‘scholar’. He came as preacher, teacher, healer, and cosmic messenger. He came to sacrifice Himself, leading Man to the truth of God.
That wasn’t His mission. He didn’t come as ‘writer’ or ‘scholar’. He came as preacher, teacher, healer, and cosmic messenger. He came to sacrifice Himself, leading Man to the truth of God.
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anon5216
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caoindealbhan
Guest
But He did write a large collection of books called the Bible.
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Jesus was present before creation and created it.
He will judge us at the end of time.
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anon5216
Guest
I understand that you believe this so, but belief does not create or prove reality.
If this belief inspires you to become a better person and delve seriously into the spiritual life, then by all means keep believing it and live by it.
There are, however, those that use these same beliefs to justify and commit all sorts of acts from the merely selfish to outright atrocities, thinking they have membership in the right club and all is “authorized by God”. They will be cursed by those same beliefs - no matter which religion they follow or which name they use for “God”.
May God bless you (and your circle of family, friends and acquaintances) in His own way with ever transcending spiritual growth, far beyond anything you or I or any religious authority can imagine.
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frankblahnik
Guest
Hi anon,
Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut into this thread. May God bless and keep you on your spiritual journey through life.
Regarding the “Why” didn’t JESUS write a book Himself, with His own hands, signed by Him, signed with His blood, sweat and tears.
It’s hard to write a book with large nails through your hands. It’s hard to write a book when you know the wicked hearts of man and how they twist things to their own liking. What would of Jesus said in a book anyway? I mean really, what could Jesus say to us? His comandments are quite simple…but not easy. We all know what they are.
He talks to us in the wind that blows through the trees. He talks to us on the waves that crash into the shore. He talks to us through the church that was built in His name.
Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there.
Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut into this thread. May God bless and keep you on your spiritual journey through life.
Regarding the “Why” didn’t JESUS write a book Himself, with His own hands, signed by Him, signed with His blood, sweat and tears.
It’s hard to write a book with large nails through your hands. It’s hard to write a book when you know the wicked hearts of man and how they twist things to their own liking. What would of Jesus said in a book anyway? I mean really, what could Jesus say to us? His comandments are quite simple…but not easy. We all know what they are.
He talks to us in the wind that blows through the trees. He talks to us on the waves that crash into the shore. He talks to us through the church that was built in His name.
Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there.
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moondweller
Guest
Christ was not going to be a witness unto Himself. That was left to those who were eyewitnesses of His Person and work (Acts 1:8).
As for producing Divinely inspired writings, which the Scriptures are, that was not the job of God the Son, but God the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:26). He too is a witness of the Son.
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Saintlucy
Guest
Ordinary people of His day didn’t write books. There was no Amazon.com around. Are you serious? Jesus was God but He was also a man, a craftsman or carpenter. Who would He get to publish His book. Was He supposed to get a literary agent? He probably could read and write but I think He was far to busy saving us. He left it to others.
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John7
Guest
Sometimes I think that Jesus wrote “the Lamb’s book of life” in Rev 21:27…he’s the author. What kind of material it’s written on…I have no idea.
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puppypatrol
Guest
Answering a question with a question—
Who would he have written it for? Most of his followers couldn’t read or write so how would they have read what he had written.
Who would have published it? The only way things like the Torah got around was by someone hand writing copies which is why the average household wouldn’t have had one. If someone could have gotten ahold of a copy, It would have probably cost them 3-5 years wages, very pricey. Besides, the people doing the transcribing were the elders of the synogoge and I’m sure they would have LOVED to be passing on the word of Jesus.
Lastly. where would faith have come in? It wasn’t until many years later, approx 400, that anyone even thought to write and compile everything that had been told and taugh. By then there were so many believers a way was needed to pass on the Word to many in so many places. Until then, and even after, everyone accepted what they were given in oral tradition as what there was and believed it all to be true. There wasn’t the “prove it in writing” mentality we have today. (so sad)
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moondweller
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You’re under the impression that most of the Apostles couldn’t read and write? Are you kidding?
You think Paul was 400 plus years old when he wrote his letter to the church at Rome, to the Ephesians, to the Galatians, to those a Philippi? John was 400 plus years old when he wrote the Book of Revelation? Peter when he wrote to dispersed Jews?
Even while Paul was making his missionary journeys his letters were being copied and passed around to other churches. The earliest church writers, after the Apostolic age, quoted from most of the N.T. writings profusely. They were available.
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