Why start with the Gospel according to John?

[Janet_S]

Just a wild guess, but I would say they like to start people with John’s Gospel because it (seems like it) supports their distinctive brand of catechesis which they want to imprint on new Christians. The Gospel of John happens to contain many of the favorite “catch-phrases” that support their distinctive doctrines, such as:

**John 3:16, which (to them) suggests Eternal Security

John 5:39 supporting (they think) Sola Scriptura

John 6:28-29 which is erroneously thought to prove Sola Fide

John 6:63 which they try to interpret as a denial of the Sacraments

John 20:31 which (when you neglect to mention verse 30) also seem to prove (to them) Sola Scriptura.**

The list can go on, but you get the drift.

Not saying it’s necessarily so – just an idea.

Good guess, and I think you’re right.

Read this article on Luther. He created a “canon within a canon.”

stolaf.edu/people/edwards/luthbibl.htm

 

[teachccd]

Is it possible that reading certain books of the Bible without the proper background could skew your interpretation of Scripture? What if you read Ecclesiastes first and your perception of the rest… all things are vanity, after all!

Very good point! I was just alluding to the idea that it would be better to read any book of the bible than to not read it at all. But, in context of this thread, there should be direction when one begins reading Scripture. Thank you for the good example…God Bless…teachccd