Posted: Apr 23, 2017 11:18 pm
Alan B wrote:proudfootz wrote:Alan B wrote:proudfootz wrote: I suspect that the Jewish scriptures would still be included, because the letter writers constantly referred to them and the stories in them as doctrinal supports.
The letter writers were at a much later period after Jesus' death and had to include references to the Torah because Jesus said so...
Circular.
We differ here: the letter writers rarely refer to anything that indicates they had any awareness of a Jesus who might have walked the Earth and left a legacy of teachings or sayings which were widely known.
They certainly appear to be ignorant of the gospel tales, hence their reliance on interpreting Jewish scripture to derive their nonsense.
So, not circular on my part. Not at all.
Of course it isn't circular if, and only 'if', these letters are the only ones ever to have been written. I would suggest (and this is pure conjecture on my part) that these later writers, and there may have been more than what we know of, knew of the teachings of Jesus either by hearsay or of letters now lost. I do not think that is an unreasonable conjecture.
That statement of Jesus seems to be the link between the Christians and the inclusion of the Torah.
But until there is more evidence, it all remains 'up in the air'.
I quite agree - without the evidence the issue remains 'up in the air'.
Whether there might have been letter writers who actually did know about the gospel narrative(s) about Jesus or perhaps certain remarks by Him is not a wholly unreasonable conjecture.
But that there were letter writers whose theology does seem to be heavily dependent on Jewish scripture is plenty enough for me, even if a Jesus said anything about it one way or the other. Therefore I would hesitate to put any especial emphasis on something Jesus may or may not have said as being 'the' link between the christians and the Torah.