Posted on 01/30/2016 8:51:32 AM PST by Salvation
Christ's hidden years
Question: One of my great frustrations with Scripture as an historical source is that it leaves so much out. Almost 30 years of Jesus’ life receive no mention at all. How can this be that the life of the most pivotal figure in history receives such vague biographical treatment?— Name, location withheld,
Answer: Part of the answer to this is to understand that the Gospels do not propose to be chronological histories of the Lord’s life. The Gospels do record the things that Jesus actually said and did, but they do so in a selective way. St. John says why near the end of his Gospel: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name” (Jn 20:30-31).
And, thus, the material was selected to focus on those things most necessary for us to understand that Jesus is the longed-for Messiah and the true Son of God. As such, the Gospel writers selected a lot of their material based on its indication of the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and on events that show forth the divinity of Christ.
Another reason the Gospels do not seek to cover every aspect of Jesus’ life may be more practical. Modern methods of setting forth history comprehensively presuppose the possibility of lengthy books that can be cheaply reproduced.
But in the centuries prior to the invention of the printing press, books were copied out by hand. Further, papers and parchments were expensive. Brevity, therefore, was far more necessary. And since books and scrolls were expensive and hard to come by, most early preachers had to rely more on memory than today. Therefore, short, memorable stories focused on the essentials of Christ’s life and message were of greater use.
As to the hidden years of Christ, there is great mystery to be sure. But the silence, while explained above as theological and practical, does have a possible advantage. Most of us live lives that are hidden, but this hiddenness of our lives to the sweep of history does not diminish our dignity. That Jesus lived in obscurity for 30 years is testimony to the dignity of every human person, even the most hidden and forgotten.
The Lord of all creation himself chose to spend the majority of his walk among us in a hidden, humble and ordinary life. It is a silent testimony to the dignity of the ordinary.
You are quite right.
And I apologize for any distraction I introduced. I am not exception to the need to learn where I must stop. God is awesome and the more we ponder His works, the more we see the awesomeness in it. God has not let there be any shortage of BAD examples in the world, so we can see where we might be if it were not for His grace.
Answer: Part of the answer to this is to understand that the Gospels do not propose to be chronological histories of the Lordâs life. The Gospels do record the things that Jesus actually said and did, but they do so in a selective way. St. John says why near the end of his Gospel: âNow Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his nameâ (Jn 20:30-31).
Now, if all catholics could understand this we'd be getting somewhere.
We have everything we need to know about how to have eternal life in the Scriptures. Catholic tradition is not needed.
No, I didn't do any mining.
I once asked a few to explain how THEIR denomination was different than Catholicism, other than the papcy, and how their denomination was different from the others.
Sadly, no one really knew any answers except it ab incunabulis.
Why don't they spent the equal time extolling their own denomination of Protestantism? There have been tens of thousands of them. We would get a glimse of their diversity.
They must be very impressed with the Church to pay SO much attention to it: maior e longinquo reverentia.
“why canât he even dust it up once with the playground bully”
In the same way that He dusted it up with the money changers?
I can see Him knocking a bully in the dirt if it were the right thing to do.
Christianity is neither a suicide pact nor insanely pacifistic.
“Any time you post something about our faith a few of the standard Catholic bashers come out of the woodwork.”
Rust and Satan never sleep.
“Question: One of my great frustrations with Scripture as an historical source is that it leaves so much out. Almost 30 years of Jesusâ life receive no mention at all. How can this be that the life of the most pivotal figure in history receives such vague biographical treatment?â Name, location withheld,”
What’s really funny is that the Holy Scripture is even more vague about Mary, but the RCC has volumes made up about her. Just make it up your good a fairy tales.
Not bashing just telling the truth IAW the Holy Scriptures.
I can agree with that.
“It might have ended up being the target of idolization, for all we know.”
Can you just IMAGINE what a certified soiled diaper relic would have gone for???
What “Catholic bashing”?
This is getting bathetic.
Holy poo...
The whole journey was one so fraught with risk, that He needed a significant prefatory period before even daring to do it. We know that as the Old Testament. C. S. Lewis’s description even sounds kind of funny; he describes it as hammering. Centuries of it.
And when it happens, it is like poof, in and out in the twinkling of an eye. If you blink, historically speaking, you will miss it.
But this is the move that turned the world upside down.
It's kind of like the "hokey-pokey." You remember:
"You put your right foot in; you put your right foot out; you put your right foot in and shake it all about."
Then with hands in the air, forefingers pointing up and turning slowly in a circle you say:"You do the hokey-pokey and your turn yourself about. THAT'S what it's all about."
Then, you continue with all the body parts and SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT!"
Got it? Whenever you hear of "Catholic bashing" you simply do the hokey-pokey!
Never fails.
THAT'S for sure.
Satan, the Adversary. May he rot in hell....oh, that's right, he already does. He is without God for all eternity. THAT is the definition of hell.
What a goofy answer! Since you couldn’t point anything out, I guess then you do the Chicken Little?
If a trip to England were ever to happen for me, Glastonbury would be on the must see list.
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