How were Matthew, Mark, Luke and John able to know...?

Question

word for word what Jesus said and had said to him?

The Bible isn't like a history book that just tells stories of what happened, it has FULL CONVERSATIONS! how could they possibly know all of the conversations?

How could they possibly know what Jesus said to Judas?

Why do people treat these 'transcripts' as fact when they couldnt possibly be so?

tvigil - you pompous ****. what makes you think i haven't studied it. I have, and I have this question.

are you prepared to answer it now? or are you afraid?

jeanmarie - It isnt a history book. It may well have some historical accuracies in it, but that doesnt make the story truthful.

The Shining names ACTUAL roads and places (and historical events) within the story, it DOESN'T mean there is a haunted hotel and a boy that can read minds

Aynat_lol - surely Yahoo Answers is the perfect place to ask a question....

how retarded

The Cricket - yes but how many of these men you know have seen the films on numerous occasions? These conversations happened once. And (I could be wrong) but I believe they were written several generations after the event.

Remember, they didnt have tape recorders back then

The Cricket - ok, fair point. But these are conversations between people that were not part of the conversation. Did the author speak to every single person about every single conversation?

erm...i wrote that wrong

these are conversations that did not involve the author

erm...i wrote that wrong

these are conversations that did not involve the author

Lasuremartin - "Matthew and John were there."

For all the conversations? even the ones that didn't involve them?

Lucy - I'm not giving the human race much credit?

I'm being honest

I wouldnt know word for word a conversation that took place between two people when I wasn't with them, wuold you?

Nicky - so what about the stuff the roman emporers said to their generals and such when Jesus nor the apostles were around?

Answer 1

God is God, and His word is true... simply put. study the Bible without pre-concieved judgment, then you will gain knowledge and understanding... then if you have questions...ask. :-)

Answer 2

Matthew and John were 2 of Jesus' 12 apostles (Luke was a physician- and believer as was Mark-also called John Mark in the Bible). Jesus' apostles were with Jesus constantly (day and night) for the three years of his ministry. They all gave up everything- friends, family, possessions just to be with Jesus. They not only were eye witnesses of the so many miracles and healings that all the books in the world (of those days) couldn't contain accounts of them all but Jesus also gave them authority to do the same. Who wouldn't remember that?

Every human being I've ever met can repeat events and conversations that have dramatically affected them. Ask anyone who's been married, had a child, had a bad fight with someone, etc.- imagine being with someone like Jesus! Many people today can repeat accurately the events that are recorded in the Bible and certainly weren't there.

As far as what was said to Judas, what is recorded was when others were there as well.

These "transcripts" or books are known to be fact because there were not only the 12 apostles who verified all of the events throughout their lives but God Himself confirmed these truths by continuing the miracles and healings. As well, Jesus had a following of thousands of others who also heard and saw all these things.

Additional-regarding the comments by the Romans: Remember this is a group of people who believe that lying is a sin that can send you to hell. In fact, two believers are recorded as being struck dead by the Lord for lying to one of the apostles. So, although they weren't there, I'm assuming that they would have been very careful to not record something that was not true, especially since those comments aren't "vital to salvation".

Answer 3

The 12 apostles were ordained by Jesus, they were the first born of God, the Father, before the foundation of the world.

Many say they believe in Jesus, but they do not, for if they did they would know, that Jesus has the power to restore life to whosoever He will as does the Father who art in heaven.

For Lazarus was dead for 4 days as was the little girl and Jesus brought them back to life.

Is it beyond your belief that Jesus told the Apostles that some of you standing here shall never taste death until I come in my kingdom.

The Gospel of John (The Baptist) tells us that John was beheaded, this did not stop John the Baptist from witnessing while in spirit as he was on the LORD's Day, and than given a new life.

During the next lives of the apostles they were born with the Spirit of Truth within them, the knowledge of "PAST" lives.

All other spirits are not born with the Spirit of Truth, and when they return to their houses, they find that it has been "emptied/swept and Garnished" first and then all 8 of them enter into the house (baby) and dwell therein, and the last state of the man is worse than the first.

Emptied/Swept means all knowledge of a past life, heaven or hell has been taken from them. Garnished means the baby has been made male or female before they enter.

John the Baptist was the spirit of Isiah put into a new house.

Answer 4

It does sound like you have already made up your mind, but for what it's worth: If you want to understand how accurate the faithful keep the word of God you should do some research into the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Oh and with God you will find anything is possible. Though I'm not sure you are giving the human race very much credit either.

Answer 5

You'd be surprised. In the age of information, where everything we could possibly want to know is at our fingertips, we have no reason to memorize things. But back then, that's ALL people did.

I know men who can quote entire movies, line for line.

Why wouldn't men back then be able to remember the words of someone they worshipped?

And by the way, Luke wasn't there. He got his information from the other three.

Edit: No, it wasn't written several generations after the fact. It was thirty years, at the most.

What I was illustrating with men being able to quote lines of movies is that it CAN still be done. It's just that we don't concentrate on memorization like they did back then.

But I have an excellent memory, and if a conversation is important to me, I can quote it verbatim for several years after the fact. I can still remember many of the things my dad told me fifteen years ago, word for word.

The human mind is an AMAZING thing. We DO have the ability to memorize things the first time we hear them, we just don't usually try to anymore.

Answer 6

Jesus told them and it happened that when the holy spirit came on in at Pentecost (after Jesus ascended into heaven) that they would remember all things.

Oh and the bible IS a history book. Archeologists have used it for years. In fact I was just reading this morning a book that shows Archeological finds from the bible. The earliest one is from Abraham and a city called Ur. For years Archeologists said, the bible is so fake blah blah blah then poof they found the site. This happens time and time again.
†

Answer 7

Six factors I can think of...

some of the disciples knew Jesus very well. Also one has a tendency to remember dramatic things very well. Many of the events recorded - healings, the Passion are very dramatic events. I would certainly think over those things at night in reflection if I was party to them.

some of the compositors probably investigated very thoroughly (eg Luke says that, perhaps in Acts rather than Luke itself.) I.e interviewing many people. Many of the pharisees actually became believers in the early church, so would be able to report on the establishment side of events.

John was especially close to Jesus, and if the gospel named John (as is likely) sources from his wisdom and post-resurrection insights, its not surprising he has a fuller revelation.

There was probably much more done, as John's gospel says, so they may well hve selected the things that were most clear to them, in terms of memories and people interviewed. John for instance selects many miracles that weren't just miracles but also had spiritual significance - they were signs.

The Holy Spirit, according to John's gospel can assist the human memory. I.e reminded them of what happened.

Much of Jesus' teaching was probably taught many times. The disciples also taught basic messages at times, that Jesus taught them; that would make it even more firm to their memories.

Answer 8

People who heard His words told the evangelists. In those days a lot was passed on through word of mouth so they had better recall for what was said. Even if they didn't remember the exact words they would have been able to communicate what Jesus was saying.

Answer 9

1. The Apostles were prepared for their task from the begining of time. - proof for this if you need it is in the psalms and other prophecy.

2. By walking with JESUS they were prepared for the task they were to perform.

3. The Apostles were prepared in the HOLY SPIRIT particularly at Pentecost for those things which they were to do. The gift of tongues prepared them to talk to people of every language to spread the Gospel unto all nations.

4. THE HOLY SPIRIT reminds us of that which we need to know to teach THE TRUTH as witnesses of the LIFE OF CHRIST.

5. THE HOLY SPIRIT spoke through the Apostles that which they were prepared to do in their mission of creating the Early Church.

6. The HOLY SPIRIT was also given to the Early Church Fathers who continued the growth of the Church, as the Church like a vine did grow . . . you should read some of the Early Church Fathers as Saint Augustine.

7. The HOLY SPIRIT is being poured out over humanity. Keep the commandments. And ask for the HOLY SPIRIT and all things you can learn through THE HOLY SPIRIT.

-LOVE your neighbor as yourself.
Amen.

Answer 10

The person of faith has little problem with this question. Do you know what the dictionary definition of "inspired" is?
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http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/inspired
6. to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence: writings inspired by God.
7. to guide or control by divine influence.
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2 Timothy 3:16 Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for instruction, for reproof, for correction, for discipline in righteousness, (ACV)
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From the above it is fairly simple to understand what happened. The eyewitnesses to the events in the gospels were inspired by God giving them perfect recall and more than that, he used them as a human businessman would use his secretary.

In Luke's case, we see that Luke included the eyewitness accounts and research of others.

In regard to God, everything any human being does is recorded in exacting detail -- as we are told, he is aware if even a sparrow dies, and as it says, he knows what you and all others are going to say before they do it - he knows our very thoughts, even the number of hairs on our heads are known all the time.

Answer 11

John, Matthew, Mark and Luke where able to remember the whole life of Jesus because the Holy Spirt lighted their minds and told them what to write.!!!!!.