Interesting Questions-15

"Things not written as proof"

Letter to the Editor:
GOD'S MESSAGE, April 2009, p.4

SAINT JOHN, IN the penultimate verse of his gospel, wrote that there are many other things which the Lord Jesus did, which if they are written one by one, the world cannot contain the books that should be written.

I take these words as proof of Christ's pre-existence. Am I wrong?

Eduardo L Paragas
Dagupan City, Philippines

Editor's reply:

Indeed,    the     apostle   John    has   a pronouncement that "there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written" (John 21:25, New King lames Version). However, we are astonished how one can be right in taking these words as proof that Christ had pre-existence.

And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. (John 21:25, NKJV) 

Aside from  being far-fetched,  such downplays the value of the written truth which is what matters in true Christian faith. Christ Himself emphasized the importance of adhering to the truth written in the Scriptures (Matt. 5:18-19).

"For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches [them,] he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ( Matthew 5:18, NKJV)

That a proponent of Christ's alleged pre- existence has to resort to things that were not written in the Bible to further his claim only proves that there is no real evidence in the Bible that Christ pre-existed with the Father, thus negating the claim that Christ is God.

As for Apostle John's statement that not everything that Christ did was written, the writer of the fourth gospel nevertheless said:

"And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples,  which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:30-31, NKJV)

Thus, while there are things that Jesus Christ did that were not written in the gospel, we, nonetheless,  must base our faith in Him on what were written—not on those that were not, for in the first place nobody among us knows what those are. Hence, for Christians not to have any false faith, the Bible has these significant admonitions:

"Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apoilos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one  against the other." (1 Cor. 4:6, Ibid)

"For I testify to everyone who hears   the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the book of Life, from the holy city, and from things which are written in this  book.' (Rev. 22:16-19, Ibid.)

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