It is often said that the differences in the records of the four Gospels are accounted for by the prospectives of the “writers.” In other words, it is widely believed that each of the writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each saw the ministry of our Lord Jesus, from their own vantage point. They were not necessarily privy to the vantage point of the others, limiting their ability to give identical accounts.
Would this not mean that the words of these records were not God’s words, rather they were the words of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? How would this then square with II Timothy 3:16? “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
If the words of the records in our New Testament were the words of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, or James, what does II Peter 1:20-21 mean when it says, “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 spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost?”
I believe that The Bible is indeed The Word Of God. That indeed, “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation,” and this means that though humans wrote the words of these records, recording it for their present, and future generations, it was our Heavenly Father who provided the words through revelation, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
I believe that this is foundational for biblical, and spiritual benefit to the reader.
Am I misled, believing that the Bible is what it says that it is? Are we so carnally minded that we actually believe that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each saw the ministry of our Lord through their physical eyes, and were limited to recording it for its preservation through “those eyes?”
If this were true, how can we explain Mary’s meeting with Elisabeth before Jesus’ birth? Which one of the apostles knew Mary, or Elisabeth? Or, who was present when Mary was visited by the angel, or when Joseph was encouraged to take Mary as his wife? Where were they hiding as they listened in on these historic conversations, as each of these occurrences unfolded? Who heard Elisabeth tell of how the unborn John leapt in her womb at the presence of Mary?
This is only one of hundreds of occurrences preserved in the pages of our Bible that are totally inexplicable if these records were recorded from the vantage point of “the writer.” The only explanation that I see is that they were recorded by the writers, from the vantage point of GOD, through revelation, “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” II Peter 1:21.
It may seem a trivial contrast to many, but I submit that this represents the very contrast between truth, and error. Either the Bible is God’s word, or it is a compilation of men’s accounts of God’s works. There is a tremendous difference in those two possibilities, and I believe that our spiritual prosperity lies in the balance.
God bless you, Dave