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[willie]

Hi,
so in class we are talking about Jesus' teachings in the NT, more specifically through Luke and Paul. My professor says that there are a lot of differences between the way that Jesus' teachings are presented by Paul and Luke, but he goes on to say that it creates a major tension and inconsistency in the NT. I have to write an essay on the two different teachings and why it creates a tension in the Bible. I dont really feel that its inconsistent though...
thanks

[jimwalton]

There was a helpful article in Christianity Today about the same issue. December 3, 2010, by Scott McKnight. Here's the link: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/201 ... /9.25.html

You may want to read that to get some ideas for your paper. Here's his conclusion: "My contention, then, is simple: If we begin with kingdom, we have to twist Paul into shape to fit a kingdom vision. If we begin with justification, we have to twist Jesus into shape to fit justification. But if we begin with gospel, and if we understand gospel as Paul does in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, then we will find what unifies Jesus and Paul—that both witness to Jesus as the center of God's story. The gospel is the core of the Bible, and the gospel is the story of Jesus. Every time we talk about Jesus, we are gospeling. Telling others about Jesus leads to both the kingdom and justification—but only if we begin with Jesus."

It sounds like your professor, through this and other things you wrote, is bound a determined, dead-set on discrediting the Bible to his students. I'm glad you're seeking out the truth and not just swallowing his deceptions.

[willie]

Ok, so I read/skimmed through the article and I am seeing if I get what he was talking about there?
So the vision of Jesus and Paul compliment each other and you can have two different approaches to this...using Pauls teachings and implementing Jesus' teaching into it or vice versa?

[willie]

So in reading this I am trying to understand what exactly is going on ....so correct me if I am wrong...
In the teaching of Jesus in Luke, the Kingdom of God is emphasized...this refers to the Holy Spirit and those that believe that Jesus is the Son of God and accept Him into their heart will have an everlasting life in the Kingdom of God.

In the teaching of Jesus by Paul, justification by faith is emphasized...meaning that if you believe and are born again and have circumcised your heart from the world then you are forgiven of your sins.
So it seems like to me that these are similar and I guess I dont see why theres such a difference between Luke and Paul??
I mean if they both teach that you have to believe and have the Holy Spirit in you and have God working in your life to be born again in the Kingdom of God then arent they kind of saying the same thing just in a different way?
But I also noticed that Paul doesnt really say anything about the Kingdom of God and Jesus doesnt mention much about justification through faith ...
Thanks!!

[jimwalton]

Absolutely. You understand it correctly. But just because Paul doesn't mention the kingdom of God, and Jesus doesn't mention justification by faith, doesn't mean that they are at odds with each other or that there is inconsistency. They both preach the same gospel—Jesus from the vantage point of his presence as King, and Paul from his vantage point of teaching the belief system (theology) to his Jewish and Gentile audience.