Where in the Bible does it confirm that any of the original disciples could read or write and kept a Journal?

Question

Is Christianity all based on oral traditon and intuition?

The original twelve disciples are listed in Matthew 10:2-4, "These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him."

Among the 12 were fishermen, a tax collector, and a revolutionary. The Gospels record the constant failings, struggles, and doubts of these twelve men who followed Jesus Christ.

Other professions have been named by answers, but do not appear. As well, to make a point some wondered from the original 12.

I find nothing in any of the Bibles I own that any of the disciples any textual proof that any of the original disciples graduates of the synagogue schools where they were taught to write.

If you have proof of your assertions please edit your answer....also please remove your guesses, implications, and men who were not of the original 12.

You might also remove your insults. Insults have never proved a point.

Answer 1

It is mostly based on oral traditions. There is no evidence that any of the disciples kept any written record of the occurrences they were supposed to have witnessed. Dating of some of the earliest known evidence of written record of the gosples dates from over a century after the events they contain were supposed to have occurred. Also if you think about it in context with whom was supposed to be doing the writing and it doesn't seem likely that the disciples were even able to create a written account. Writing, learning to read was a privilege of the rich and powerful back then, it wasn't something the masses were able to do. The disciples weren't powerful or rich men, most had worked previously in menial jobs, fishermen, carpenters etc, not professions that would require them to have an understanding of written language, or the ability to write. Also paper/papyrus was extremely expensive, and not something that ordinary people would carry around with them. Their socioeconomic standing would have most likely prevented them from having the means and the ability to keep a written record of their what actually transpired.

Answer 2

Although the Bible never comes out and says that the disciples could read or write, in fact we read in Acts that they are called "unlearned". However, we should know from the context of scripture that Peter, John, and Matthew all wrote different books that are now in our cannon of scripture. We also know that if one was a tax collector that would have been a good clue that they were able to keep records and read.

Answer 3

The Apostle John, for whom the Gospel is named, writes in John 21: 24--"This is the disciple who testifieth of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true."

Two other Gospel writers: Luke was a physician and Matthew was a tax collector. Both professions required a person to be well educated.

The Apostle Paul had been a Pharisee and they were the religious leaders of the day who were also well scholared and looked up to.

Answer 4

Good question Terry, now after reading all the Christian answers who have definitely got their noses outta joint...
We see that there is the possibility of 3 or 4 who could read and therefore write....
They fail to speak in defence of the other 8 or 9 who more than likely could not....
I rest my case Your Honour...
Blessed Be... )O(

Answer 5

Jesus taught by oral tradition as did the Apostles.

As for their education, they were all Jewish men educated in the Torah etc.

All of them, except the Alpheus twins, were graduates of the synagogue schools, having been thoroughly trained in the Hebrew scriptures and in much of the current knowledge of that day. Seven were graduates of the Capernaum synagogue schools, and there were no better Jewish schools in all Galilee.

When your records refer to these messengers of the kingdom as being "ignorant and unlearned," it was intended to convey the idea that they were laymen, unlearned in the lore of the rabbis and untrained in the methods of rabbinical interpretation of the Scriptures. They were lacking in so-called higher education. In modern times they would certainly be considered uneducated, and in some circles of society even uncultured. One thing is certain: They had not all been put through the same rigid and stereotyped educational curriculum. From adolescence on they had enjoyed separate experiences of learning how to live.

http://www.urantia.org/papers/paper139.html

Answer 6

you missed the scripture that says All scripture is given by inspiration of God as he moved on holy men to write the words. and why assume they were all ignorant and illiterate? let me see, there were fishermen, tax collectors, doctors, farmers...that were disciples. Luke was a physician. Matthew was a tax collector. Mark was his brother. Why assume they were illiterate? is it because the Romans were more "educated"? we can see what happened to the Roman empire and all their religions. but the Jews seem to have a unbroken tradition through all of the persecutions. i think the Jewish people have proven they were not ignorant or illiterate in any time in history and these disciples were no different.

Answer 7

God himself, tells you the bible was inspired and written by men he chose to write it...Common sense tells you,God would not choose someone who could not read or write. They would not need to write them anyway, they could have a scribe write them. There used to be special people who could write really well, and they were paid to write for other people.

In 2 Peter 1:20-21, Peter reminds the reader to “know this first of all, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, … but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” The Bible itself tells us that it is God who is the author of His book.

Answer 8

Mattew was a tax collector, Luke was a doctor and Paul was a lawyer. Do you think this requires the ability to read or write. Also they did not have DNA testing but they knew who their children are ane the fathers of their children are. Do you read the Bible yourself or do you like so many others, just go to church and have the person on the pulpit tell you what it says and how you should interpret it?

Answer 9

Writing was an art back then. It was also expensive. Some of the disciples paid others to do the writing. They were scribes who made sure that everything was copied correctly.

Answer 10

Right. And the Dead Sea Scrolls were written some 400 years(or more) later.