Chapter 6. 19
The Redacted Gospels
J Jehovah Source – E Elohim Source – D Deuteronomist Source
P Priestly Source – Q Quelle Source – R Redacted Source
First
Word
As
we read through the scriptures, we began to notice that many of the
authors of the
Book use the SAME phrases, precepts and concepts. It is as though they all had the same source
of information before them. Scholars
have put together a theory known as the Documentary Hypothesis or “DH”
that explains the origin and composition of the Torah.
The Torah or
Pentateuch is the first five books of the Christian
Bible; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, all believed to be
the work on one author. This is a series
of documents, believed to be absolutely divinely inspired and transmitted to us
with the highest possible standard of accuracy. Scholars have put forth the theory that the Torah
was not the unified work of one author, but was made up of many
sources, homogenized over many
centuries by many hands; compiled
and joined together and edited over time by many “REDACTORS”.
The first time I ever heard the term “REDACTED” was after a two year investigation
of President Donald J. Trump to find out if he had colluded with the Russians
to influence the outcome of the election results. The report that was issued was REDACTED with some
information EDITED; BLACKED OUT. This study will look at a source called “R”; “REDACTED”.
REDACTED Source
Three of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke are known as the SYNOPTIC
GOSPELS
because of a strong parallelism; they include many of the same stories in
similar wording and similar sequence as compared to John
whose wirings were very distinct from the others.
Synoptic means “seeing all
together” or giving accounts from the same view point and
perspective. It is widely taught in both
Jewish, Hebrew and Christian religious schools the theory that there were four unknown major sources of information that influenced our Bible
writers. These sources are known as the JEDP theory that was passed down through the ages and influenced
the writings of the authors of the scriptures; each source with different
perspectives and details. There seems
also to be a “Q”
source just for the sayings of Jesus and an “R”
source that REDACTS or corrects all
the other sources.
Of
the four Gospels, Matthew was a Tax collector for Rome[1]
and John
was a fisherman; both were of the special inner circle
of the 12 Disciples. Luke was a medical doctor[2] and
Mark
was essentially a general purpose assistant to Peter, Paul and Barnabas.[3] The first time we encounter Mark
is when he is a very young follower of Jesus in the Garden. Just before Jesus is arrested, a soldier grabs
Mark
by his long linen shirt and he slips out of it and RUNS
OFF NAKED.[4] We know it was Mark because no one else reports
on this story except for Mark in his own Gospel.
Another story says that Mark
DESERTED Paul
at some point which made for bad feelings, so Mark went with his cousin Barnabas
on the missionary journeys.[5] Later
on all fences are mended with Paul and Mark, then later Peter fondly refers to Mark
as his own son.[6]
Mark
is credited with establishing a number of churches and is the second writer of
the Gospels.
It is theorized that it was MARK’S WRITINGS that influenced
both Matthew
and Luke’s
Gospel as the Gospel of John was written totally independent
of the others. The story of Mark
ends with the thought that God chooses the weak and foolish to
confound the wise. The purposes and plans of God are carried out
by fallible
people. He can use all of us in spite of our failures and
short comings; that would be
you and ME. It’s in the Book
JEDP Source
Scholars
have defined the “JEDP”
sources as follows:
J source: Jehovah “J” consistently uses the word “Yahweh”
for Jehovah
God. “J” is credited as the source for the Song of
Deborah, the Jewish woman warrior in the Book of Judges. Some
scholars believe the “J” source is a woman because it is more
colorful, folkloric and humorous and is the best story teller than the other
three. The Hebrew Bible has no vowels, so YHWY in the English version
became Yahweh
when the vowels were added...
“J”
is also called Yahwist or Jahwist.
(“J” was
written in the 7th century BC or later.)
E source: Elohim “E” is thought to be noted for the author’s use
of the word “Elohim”
which is the Hebrew name for God. El-Shaddai; God Almighty. In Genesis the “E’” contribution picks up with the narrative
of Abraham. In Judges “E” picks up with a version of Deborah’s story
similar to J’s
version, but less colorful. (The
“E” source was written in the late 9th
Century BC.)
D
source: Deuteronomist
“D”
is believed to be written independently of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers of the Torah; the Tetrateuch. “D”
is thought to be responsible for a great deal of the book of Deuteronomy
as well as shaped the historical books of
Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings and probably Ruth. “D” explains Israel’s success for their
faithfulness and obedience as well as their failures for disobedience and God’s
punishment for Sin. “D”
expresses concern for the Widows and fatherless; treatment for the neighbor and
the poor. Some scholars theorize that
the writer was Jeremiah the prophet who
lived during that time. - (“D”
written in the early 7th century BC to the later 6th
century BC.)
P
source: Priestly “P” overall concern seems to be for the LAW, origins
of shrines and rituals and genealogies. It is deemed the independent source for most
of the book of Leviticus.
“P” seems to divide history into four areas;
1)
Covenants of God at the
beginning of creation and with Noah.
2)
Covenants with Moses and
Abraham, including stories about Isaac and Jacob.
3)
Covenants and the relationship of God with Israel His
chosen people.
4)
The
Priestly kingdom; concerns with the holiness of the people; preserving ritual
purity through rules and rituals and its identity as a people of Israel
stressing staying separate and avoiding interracial marriage with
non-Israelites. “P” also provides the instructions for constructing the
Tabernacle. It is also known as the Holiness Code of Leviticus. It is written to show that God remains present
even when all seems lost. (The
“P” source was written around the 6th
to 5th century BC.)
Q
source: Q Gospel
“Q”
is from the German word “Quelle” which means “source”; a hypothetical
collection of sayings primarily by Jesus.
It propagates the TWO SOURCE HYPOTHESIS that Mark and “Q” were the two sources of material that Matthew
and Luke used
as they wrote independently their worldview of the Good News of the Gospel.
The “Q” source is thought to be
drawn from the ORAL traditions of the early church that were eventually
written down in Koine Greek. The sayings
of Jesus were paraphrased in order to avoid misunderstandings. “Q” was devised as the most likely explanation
behind the common sayings found in the synoptic Gospels
Matthew, Mark and Luke.
The Two Source Hypothesis has retained
wide support even though it has been widely challenged. It is also called the Q document or the Q Hypothesis.
Scholars believe “Q” was written before Matthew, Mark and Luke and is a collections of sayings and quotations of
Jesus. If “Q” ever existed, it was LOST as
we have no record of it.
R
source: Redactor
“R”
seems to be an additional individual or group of individuals that redacted
or EDITED, COMPLIED AND
SPLICED
together the four existing JEDP sources.
Here
is where we are; JEDP influenced the OT; and Q the NT; and R redacted all of it.
The Take Away
Conspiracy theorist have often
thought that God told Adam SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE that were passed down through his
descendants. Some see the secrets
revealed in the
Book as certain tribe’s excelled
in different disciplines’ and special abilities.
The Free Masons believe that Noah
was the father and founder of the Masonic system of theology. They believe that Hiram
Abiff was the master
architect of King Salomon’s temple and possessed secret knowledge and secret
special words imparted by God to Adam and passed down to Noah and onto Hiram Abiff, who was then murdered to get this secret
masonic knowledge.
Did God pass
secrets, special knowledge to Adam,
down through the Godly line of Seth and on to Noah then finally to Moses?
Knowledge
to make instruments of music, knowledge of instruments of iron for
cultivating the soil as well as instruments of war. Knowledge of weaving, planting, farming and
hunting, construction and building the Great Pyramid.
Is this secret
knowledge the source that links
the entire Bible
together?
If your worldview is a “Forever Trumper”,
then when the PRESIDENT does
something good for the nation, a cry of ‘Hallelujah’ goes up. If your worldview is a “Never Trumper” then a cry of “Impeach Him”
goes up. Such is the worldview of the
theory JEDP
Bible
sources; if your world view is as a “Born again Believer”,
then a cry goes up “The Bible is inerrant”; praising God for His
omniscience. The Flip Side; if your
worldview is as a C&E Christian; a Christmas and Easter “Make Believer”, then a cry goes up “The Bible has been
corrupted”.
External
sources
are believed to have influenced the Gospels of the New Testament, as well as
influenced the Prophets of the Old Testament.
The
Book says that God does not do
anything that He does not first reveal His plans to His Servants.
The Gospel of Mark confirms that
many people have written accounts about God’s chosen people and the events that
have been fulfilled among them. Mark
says that after having CAREFULLY
INVESTIGATED
everything from the beginning, including the eyewitness reports that circulated
among the early disciples, he had decided also to write a CAREFUL account so they could be CERTAIN of the TRUTH that had been
taught.
Hearing about JEDP Bible sources only
underscores the fact that God has continued to reveal Himself to man from the first earth age to the last.
“R” Redacted GOD
IS OUR REDACTOR, He has compiled and edited the scriptures through the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit. His hand is on The Books Of
Life, compiling our works, redacting, editing and deleting our sins and
adding His righteousness, grace and mercy.
The Book says ALL Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is TRUE and to make us
realize what is wrong in our lives. It
corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God has provided us down through the
centuries, many
WITNESSES to His unchanging inerrant plan; assuring
us that the “original manuscripts” transmitted to us are
without error or fault in all its teaching.
The Bible is the very breath of God
Redacted
by the Holy Spirit
[1] Mark 2:14 – Matthew Levi tax collector
[2] Colossians 4:14 – Luke the medical doctor
[3] Acts 13:5 – Mark was in training as an assistant -- Philemon
23-24 – Mark a fellow worker
[4] Mark 14:50-52 – Mark runs away naked
[5] Acts 15:36-39 – Teenager
Mark screws up and deserts them -- Colossians 4:10 – Mark’s Cousin was Barnabas
[6] 1 Peter 5:12-13 – LATER Peter considers Mark as
his SON -- 2 Timothy 4:11-12 – Things change; Paul
wants Mark to help him
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