Any ideas why Jesus Christ didn't leave any written records?

Question

Am I right that Socrates did not leave any written records either? Was it because he did not exist?

Answer 1

First, we would worship anything He wrote and the Vatican would have locked it away with incense and candles burning around it. Shards of its paper would have been sold to build a new wing on St. Peter's, etc. etc.

So why didn't Jesus write a gospel?

We call the gospels a "testament". This is a legal term. It is a writ of testimony given as a witness for a coming trial. In the legal circles, you give a witness and a person writes down the testimony as heard for use in a coming trial. We are given the evidence before hand, and make our judgments accordingly. How we respond to the testimony will govern the results of our coming trial before the court of judgment.

In the Jewish law, there needed to be the voice of two testators to be established as fact (ref. Deut 19:15 & John 8:17). The gospels double that with four.

John 21:24
This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

Answer 2

Jesus Christ delivered sermons, verbally. His words were later written down as the Gospels of Mark, John Luke and Matthew.
The Gospels, are in effect, Jesus Christ's written words, as transcribed by his disciples.
It is important to note that was Jesus Christ's style: he was a public speaker.
There is a Roman record of his crucifixion, because the Romans kept written records of events and people.
In the Apocrypha, there is also at least one book purported to be a Roman history document which tells about the Roman thought on killing Jesus Christ at the time.

Answer 3

Kidd, I know that you are a Christian, and are trying to get people to think and flush out negative questions, but there are really a bunch of non-believers who are just taking advantage of your question. Jesus wanted others to write what they saw and heard, as witnesses to his miracles and his life. Jesus being God in the flesh, knew that what would happen would be written down and passed down through the Bible. People are more impressed with what others witnessed, than the actual words. Jesus gave the deciples some of his gifts to be able to spread the word, and knew they would do it in such a way that it would impress others. Witnessing was what they were doing when they wrote their share of the Bible, and were the words spoken by Christ in written form. The Bible was the testament of his word.

Answer 4

He was a carpenter - he would have learned the bible by memory - he may not have been able to read or write. In fact most of what we have from that time were written down 50-100 years later. Very likely that only 1-2 of the disciples could write.

Answer 5

The holy spirit that inspired the writing of the bible provided the records written by men, but Jesus read from records that were left by the prophets like Isaiah and he read from that book of a prophecy that he fulfilled.

Answer 6

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He did leave records here through the Holy Spirit with the Bible. On Socrates I don't know. Maybe he did, and maybe he didn't. Maybe it just wasn't important. Or maybe they are still buried.

Answer 7

My dear Kidd... it is very late... and I am looking for the article to share with you... but I remember watching a broadcast dealing with the expanded discoveries of writings found at Qumran... the only book of the New Testament found, was Matthew - and it was among many scrolls of maps, letters and histories.

The Archaeologists said the material it was with - and condition of the parchment, etc., indicated it was penned within 20 years of Jesus' death.

I really would love to find an online reference for you.
If I do - before you close the question - I will edit it in.

Peace.

Answer 8

Most ancient philosophers were too busy spreading their beliefs, rather than putting it down to words.
Considering the majority of people who were illiterate, there was not much use of writing their ideas down.

Considering other historical figures like Buddha or Socrates, they to did not leave any written material. Even Tao Te Ching, which was supposedly the only written material by Lao Tze, cannot be definitely attributed to him, for there were much editing done by later scholars, especially in the second half.

However, for me, what i doubt is the divinity of Jesus. Much like what happened to Buddha, Jesus disciples exaggerated his claims. Buddha claimed he was only a man and teacher, but legends of him, able to walk soon after he was born or flowers bloomed from his footprints, sounded too much like fiction

Answer 9

For his time he probably did, it was common during his day. But like so many other writing it was "misplaced" like the book of Thomas. It was supposedly removed because it gave a different resurrection account. After reading it my self ( a copy of it was discover in the 30s ) it under cut the authority of an organized church by saying any where you want to worship is OK, i.e. Pick up a rock I am there, cut down a tree I am there.

Answer 10

Jesus did exist, the quran and the bible and many other religious texts exist to prove this without a doubt

he's actions and advice were obviously recorded by his followers

Prophet Muhammed (SAW) wasn't able to read or write yet every account of his life was accounted for by the people who followed his every movement.

I don't think prophets were sent to become authors of their own existence, throughout their lives they practiced what they wanted to preach to humanity, whether we took any notice was really up to us