Who Wrote The Gospels?

[headinhands]

"Matthew contains 606 of Markâ??s 661 verses. Luke contains 320 of Markâ??s 661 verses. Of the 55 verses of Mark which Matthew does not reproduce, Luke reproduces 31; therefore there are only 24 verses in all of Mark not reproduced somewhere in Matthew or Luke."

A good diagram here

BigDorrit the word, spirit, describes a phenomenon, which has been observed for the word to exist in the first place. The exact nature of that phenomenon is not completely understood. It is metaphysical, abstract.

But the phenomenon the word describes occurs, a least in some part as the word has a function in language, that is to describe a phenomenon, that has been observed. Just because the phenomenon is not fully understood does not mean it does not occur.

This is what I am saying.

Ah, just tear your wall down, I say, BigDorrit, it's looking like it's falling down anyway.

Psychology is also in it's infancy. Many dispute whether it is a 'true' science.

so much in psychology is not^ understood.

by most theological education

Most Christians don't study it though do they? I didn't and although I was an avid church goer for many yeas it was news to me that the gospels weren't written by who it says they were and that there were even other gospels at all! But ultimately that's my fault similarly having known these facts may not have changed anything anyway knowing how tricky it is to pick your way out of a long held position.

There's a lot to study head, and some of the learning is 'hands on', that is, it is experienced in life. All in all, a life's work.

a life's work

Not sure of the point you're making if any at all?

I find most christians pretty ignorant of the bible and their faith- but isn't the whole point to stay ignorant of knowledge- not to challenge or dispute?

head The point is that you don't understand all of God, in one go. Understanding grows and develops.

Some you might get from church, some reading the Bible, some you learn through reflecting on experiences, some from study around the subject, all lead by the Holy Ghost.

However all along the way are people, who are fallible. No one, apart from Christ, has all the answers. So we immerse ourselves, in what we know of Him.

Sitting in church, once a week, saying a few prayers, singing a few hymns, listening to a sermon, joining in with the ritual, is not all there is to being a Christian (although these things can strengthen Faith).

deep no, the whole point is not to stay ignorant of knowledge. Jesus said that 'they perished for lack of knowledge.' Christian Faith is more about recognising how much we don't know, and how much more there is to learn, more than we can ever learn without God.

So the tree of Knowledge is a good thing?

...because knowledge is powerful, it can be a destructive force as well as a creative one.

Cross post.

Yes, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is good. Going against God is not good. Having knowledge of good and evil, in the knowledge you went against God to get it, is what destroys. The end does not justify the means.

No. BigDorrit. Christ shows us this. He spoke of God His father. Christ spoke of being the same as God. god was n Christ and Christ in God, as we (Christians) are in Christ and Christ in us. He is 'the way, the truth and the life'. Christ and His followers are described as light.

Not Satan, who is a deceiver, a liar and a thief, who brings death and destruction.

www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=Lucifer&searchmode=none

Some would dispute Lucifer refers to Satan at all.

was news to me that the gospels weren't written by who it says they were

This is a good point headinhands. Although most ministers will know about the two- and three-source theories, the complex compositional history of the Pentateuch and so on, this often doesn't make it into sermons or other kinds of church teaching. It's not as if we are talking about revolutionary new discoveries -- most of this has been known for many decades. In my view it should. I think some people feel that knowing these things will destroy faith, but in my view that's not true.

BigDorrit you do know that Lucifer doesn't appear anywhere in the Bible, don't you?

BigDorrit I was writing of the divinity of Christ, and how He referred to Himself. Also how Christ refers to Satan as being evil.

What exactly do think there was that was bad about Christ? He fed the hungry, healed the sick, forgave, raised people from the dead, rose from the dead.

And if you think my words are soup you should try eating them, that is taking them in. My family are always complementing me on the the soup I serve....

go on, it's good for you!

More word soup

Or poetry, as we literary types like to call it. Just because you don't understand it, doesn't mean it isn't comprehensible.

Niminy It is funny, I have found pursuing my Christian beliefs has really increased my love of poetry.

ooh heck. So many points here.
Havent currently got time for them all.

niminy, you dont believe what is written at the beginning of Genesis.

I am with headinhands, there is no end to picking and chucking the bible once that is started.