وجبـــــــة روحيـــــ(†)ــــــــــة يوميـــــــــة

[Mary Naeem]

he Source of Apostles' Teaching

If the apostles taught their own human opinions, then of course their teachings would be inferior to those of Jesus. But what was the source of the teachings the apostles revealed, as compared to the source of Jesus' teaching?
A. The Source of Jesus' Teaching

Jesus received His teachings from God.

Hebrews 1:1,2 - Before Jesus came to earth, God spoke through Old Testament prophets, but now God speaks through His Son.

John 12:49,50 - Jesus spoke exactly what the Father commanded to be spoken.

[John 7:16; 8:28; Acts 3:20-23; 10:38; Luke 4:1,14,17-21]
B. The Source of the Apostles' Teaching

Their teachings were also from God, given them through the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26; 16:13 - Jesus promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit would come and teach them all things, guide them into all truth, and remind them of Jesus' teachings.

Matthew 10:19,20 - When they taught, they were not teaching from themselves, but the Spirit of the Father spoke through them.

[2 Timothy 3:16,17; Acts 1:5,8; 2:1-4,33; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Peter 3:2; Revelation 1:1]

So the apostles' teachings came from the same source as did Jesus' teaching. All of them spoke the will of God as revealed to them by the Holy Spirit. The apostles' teaching was as accurate and as authoritative as was Jesus' teaching. All spoke with the infallible authority of God.

If this is not so, then in fact we do not even really know what Jesus Himself taught, since He never wrote any of the Bible. All we have are records which apostles and prophets wrote of what He said and did. If we accept what they record of Jesus' teachings, why not accept the other teaching that the Spirit guided them to write?
C. The Source of Paul's Teaching

What about Paul? Did His teaching come from the same source as did the teaching of Jesus and other apostles?

1 Corinthians 2:10-13,16 - The Holy Spirit revealed the things of God to Paul, so He taught in words the Spirit gave Him, just like the other apostles did. As a result, he knew the mind of Christ. [2:1-5]

1 Corinthians 14:37 - What Paul taught, therefore, were the commands of the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 - The teaching people received from Paul was, in truth, the Word of God, not the word of men.

2 Peter 3:15,16 - The apostle Peter classified Paul's epistles as "Scripture," right along with "other scripture." But "Scripture" is inspired by God and provides to all good works - 2 Timothy 3:16,17. Hence, Peter here confirms Paul's claim to be an inspired author of God's word.

The teachings of Paul came from the same source as did those of Jesus and of the other apostles. Therefore, they were equally as authoritative.

[Galatians 1:11,12; Ephesians 3:3-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; Romans 1:15,16; 15:15-19; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Acts 13:12; 16:32; 1 Cor. 11:23; 2 Corinthians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 5:27; 4:8]

[Mary Naeem]

The Source of Jesus' Teaching

Jesus received His teachings from God.

Hebrews 1:1,2 - Before Jesus came to earth, God spoke through Old Testament prophets, but now God speaks through His Son.

John 12:49,50 - Jesus spoke exactly what the Father commanded to be spoken.

[John 7:16; 8:28; Acts 3:20-23; 10:38; Luke 4:1,14,17-21]

[Mary Naeem]

The Source of the Apostles' Teaching

Their teachings were also from God, given them through the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26; 16:13 - Jesus promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit would come and teach them all things, guide them into all truth, and remind them of Jesus' teachings.

Matthew 10:19,20 - When they taught, they were not teaching from themselves, but the Spirit of the Father spoke through them.

[2 Timothy 3:16,17; Acts 1:5,8; 2:1-4,33; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Peter 3:2; Revelation 1:1]

So the apostles' teachings came from the same source as did Jesus' teaching. All of them spoke the will of God as revealed to them by the Holy Spirit. The apostles' teaching was as accurate and as authoritative as was Jesus' teaching. All spoke with the infallible authority of God.

If this is not so, then in fact we do not even really know what Jesus Himself taught, since He never wrote any of the Bible. All we have are records which apostles and prophets wrote of what He said and did. If we accept what they record of Jesus' teachings, why not accept the other teaching that the Spirit guided them to write?

[Mary Naeem]

The Source of Paul's Teaching

What about Paul? Did His teaching come from the same source as did the teaching of Jesus and other apostles?

1 Corinthians 2:10-13,16 - The Holy Spirit revealed the things of God to Paul, so He taught in words the Spirit gave Him, just like the other apostles did. As a result, he knew the mind of Christ. [2:1-5]

1 Corinthians 14:37 - What Paul taught, therefore, were the commands of the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 - The teaching people received from Paul was, in truth, the Word of God, not the word of men.

2 Peter 3:15,16 - The apostle Peter classified Paul's epistles as "Scripture," right along with "other scripture." But "Scripture" is inspired by God and provides to all good works - 2 Timothy 3:16,17. Hence, Peter here confirms Paul's claim to be an inspired author of God's word.

The teachings of Paul came from the same source as did those of Jesus and of the other apostles. Therefore, they were equally as authoritative.

[Galatians 1:11,12; Ephesians 3:3-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; Romans 1:15,16; 15:15-19; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Acts 13:12; 16:32; 1 Cor. 11:23; 2 Corinthians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 5:27; 4:8

[Mary Naeem]

The Importance of Accepting and Obeying Apostles' Teaching

Many people realize that great blessings come from accepting and obeying Jesus' teaching, and serious consequences follow from rejecting it. Do the same consequences accompany the apostles' teaching?
A. The Importance of Accepting and Obeying Jesus' Teaching

John 14:6 - No one can come to the Father except through Jesus.

John 6:63,68 - His words give eternal life. [Acts 4:12]

John 12:48 - We will be judged by His words at the last day.

Acts 3:20-23 - We must hearken to all things He speaks or be destroyed.

[John 14:15,21-24; 12:50; Matthew 7:24-27; 28:18]

The only way to please God and have eternal life is by believing and obeying Jesus' teaching. If we reject His teachings, we do so at the peril of destruction. This is true, because His teachings are the will of God. We can please God only by accepting those teachings, and we reject the will of God Himself if we reject His teachings.
B. The Importance of Accepting and Obeying the Apostles' Teaching

Acts 2:42 - The first disciples "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine." The teaching of the apostles was their standard of authority, because it was the word of God.

Luke 10:16 - If we accept the teaching of inspired prophets, we are listening to Jesus (because they taught His will). If we reject them, we reject Jesus and His Father, because Jesus and the Father guided them in what they taught. [This refers in context to the teaching of the 70, but the same would be true of the apostles' teaching.]

1 John 4:6 - Jesus called and sent the apostles to teach. They taught what God through the Holy Spirit guided them to teach. If we hear what they say, we are of God. Otherwise, we are not.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 - Apostles and prophets were "ambassadors for Christ." They carried His message to the world instructing and urging men to be reconciled to God. As when a country sends an ambassador to another country, insulting an officially commissioned ambassador is insulting the one who sent him.

So the consequences that follow from accepting or rejecting the apostles' teaching are the same consequences as follow from accepting or rejecting Jesus' teaching, because they are the same teachings from the same source. Hence, we must respect the teachings of the apostles just as we do those of Jesus.

[2 Peter 3:2; James 2:10; Revelation 22:18,19; 2 Timothy 3:16,17]
C. The Importance of Accepting and Obeying Paul's Teaching

What about Paul's teaching? Are the same consequences associated with accepting or rejecting his teaching as compared to the teaching of Jesus and other apostles?

Galatians 1:6-12 - The gospel Paul preached came from Jesus, not from man. Therefore, anyone who preaches a different gospel is accursed.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 - Men must hold fast the gospel as preached by Paul, because it is the means by which God calls people to salvation and to the glory Jesus offers. This includes holding fast Paul's written epistles.

2 Peter 3:15,16 - Paul's epistles are classified by Peter as "Scripture," right along with "other scripture." Those who twist and pervert it, do so to their own destruction. But we have already seen that "Scripture" is inspired by God and provides to all good works - 2 Timothy 3:16,17.

Again, the teachings of Paul carry as much weight as those of other apostles and as those of Jesus, because they are the teachings of Jesus. To reject them is to be lost. We can be saved only if we accept and obey them.

[2 Thessalonians 3:4,6,12,14; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 2:16]]

[Mary Naeem]

The Importance of Accepting and Obeying Jesus' Teaching

John 14:6 - No one can come to the Father except through Jesus.

John 6:63,68 - His words give eternal life. [Acts 4:12]

John 12:48 - We will be judged by His words at the last day.

Acts 3:20-23 - We must hearken to all things He speaks or be destroyed.

[John 14:15,21-24; 12:50; Matthew 7:24-27; 28:18]

The only way to please God and have eternal life is by believing and obeying Jesus' teaching. If we reject His teachings, we do so at the peril of destruction. This is true, because His teachings are the will of God. We can please God only by accepting those teachings, and we reject the will of God Himself if we reject His teachings.

[Mary Naeem]

The Importance of Accepting and Obeying the Apostles' Teaching

Acts 2:42 - The first disciples "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine." The teaching of the apostles was their standard of authority, because it was the word of God.

Luke 10:16 - If we accept the teaching of inspired prophets, we are listening to Jesus (because they taught His will). If we reject them, we reject Jesus and His Father, because Jesus and the Father guided them in what they taught. [This refers in context to the teaching of the 70, but the same would be true of the apostles' teaching.]

1 John 4:6 - Jesus called and sent the apostles to teach. They taught what God through the Holy Spirit guided them to teach. If we hear what they say, we are of God. Otherwise, we are not.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 - Apostles and prophets were "ambassadors for Christ." They carried His message to the world instructing and urging men to be reconciled to God. As when a country sends an ambassador to another country, insulting an officially commissioned ambassador is insulting the one who sent him.

So the consequences that follow from accepting or rejecting the apostles' teaching are the same consequences as follow from accepting or rejecting Jesus' teaching, because they are the same teachings from the same source. Hence, we must respect the teachings of the apostles just as we do those of Jesus.

[2 Peter 3:2; James 2:10; Revelation 22:18,19; 2 Timothy 3:16,17]

[Mary Naeem]

The Importance of Accepting and Obeying Paul's Teaching

What about Paul's teaching? Are the same consequences associated with accepting or rejecting his teaching as compared to the teaching of Jesus and other apostles?

Galatians 1:6-12 - The gospel Paul preached came from Jesus, not from man. Therefore, anyone who preaches a different gospel is accursed.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 - Men must hold fast the gospel as preached by Paul, because it is the means by which God calls people to salvation and to the glory Jesus offers. This includes holding fast Paul's written epistles.

2 Peter 3:15,16 - Paul's epistles are classified by Peter as "Scripture," right along with "other scripture." Those who twist and pervert it, do so to their own destruction. But we have already seen that "Scripture" is inspired by God and provides to all good works - 2 Timothy 3:16,17.

Again, the teachings of Paul carry as much weight as those of other apostles and as those of Jesus, because they are the teachings of Jesus. To reject them is to be lost. We can be saved only if we accept and obey them.

[2 Thessalonians 3:4,6,12,14; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 2:16]]

[Mary Naeem]

Love and Rebuke Expressed in Apostles' Teaching

Were the apostles less loving and more condemning in their teachings than Jesus was?
A. Love and Rebuke in Jesus' Teaching
Jesus taught the importance of love, and that love requires obedience.

Matthew 22:36-40 - Loving God and our fellowman are the greatest two commands.

John 14:15 - If we love Him, we will keep his commands.

[Matthew 7:12; John 13:34,35; 14:21-14]
Jesus plainly rebuked those who rebelled against the truth He taught from God.

John 8:24 - He said those who did not believe in Him would die in sin.

Matthew 22:29 - He said the Sadducees were in error for rejecting the resurrection.

Matthew 23 (esp. vv 14,15,25-28,33) - He plainly rebuked Pharisees for hypocrisy.

[Matthew 7:24-27; 15:1-14; Mark 16:16; 8:33,38; 12:27; John 5:42; 8:24,41-55; Matthew 21:12,13]
B. Love and Rebuke in the Apostles' Teaching
The apostles also taught the importance of love and that love requires obedience.

1 John 3:14-18 - Some people call John the "apostle of love," because he showed our need to love like Jesus loved. [4:7-5:2]

1 John 5:3 - But John taught that this is the love of God, that we keep his commands. [2 John 6]
The apostles also plainly rebuked people who rebelled against the truth they taught from God.

Acts 8:20-23 - Peter plainly rebuked a member of the church (Simon) for trying to purchase a power that he had no right to have.

2 John 9-11 - The apostle of love said anyone who would not abide in Jesus' teaching (which the apostles delivered), did not have God.

[2 Peter 2:1-22; 1 John 2:18-22; 4:6; James 2:10; Revelation 22:18,19]
C. Love and Rebuke in the Teaching of Paul

Did he show less love or more condemnation than did Jesus or the other apostles?
Paul also taught the importance of love and that love requires obedience.

1 Corinthians 13 - The chapter on love was written by Paul.

Galatians 5:6 - But what avails in Christ is faith working through love.

[Ephesians 5:25-33; Romans 8:35-39; 13:8-10]
Paul also plainly rebuked people who rebelled against truth he taught.

Acts 13:6-11 - He called Elymas a son of the Devil and an enemy of righteousness.

Galatians 1:6-9 - Those who preach a different gospel are accursed.

[2 Thessalonians 3:6-14; 1:7-9; Romans 16:17; Galatians 2:4,5,11]
Conclusion

The real lesson to be learned from a study such as this is, not the contrast between the teaching of Jesus and that of the apostles, but rather the harmony that exists. Regardless of what inspired man taught the message, it was consistent with and equally authoritative as other inspired teaching, because it all came from the same source.

The only real question that remains to be answered is whether or not we are willing to submit ourselves to the teaching. We receive the blessings the message offers and avoid the consequences it warns us about, only if we believe the message and obey it.

[Mary Naeem]

Love and Rebuke in Jesus' Teaching
Jesus taught the importance of love, and that love requires obedience.

Matthew 22:36-40 - Loving God and our fellowman are the greatest two commands.

John 14:15 - If we love Him, we will keep his commands.

[Matthew 7:12; John 13:34,35; 14:21-14]
Jesus plainly rebuked those who rebelled against the truth He taught from God.

John 8:24 - He said those who did not believe in Him would die in sin.

Matthew 22:29 - He said the Sadducees were in error for rejecting the resurrection.

Matthew 23 (esp. vv 14,15,25-28,33) - He plainly rebuked Pharisees for hypocrisy.

[Matthew 7:24-27; 15:1-14; Mark 16:16; 8:33,38; 12:27; John 5:42; 8:24,41-55; Matthew 21:12,13