Four authors known as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John penned quotes\u2014most likely originally spoken in Aramaic\u2014excerpted from an estimated three years of Jesus\u2019 preaching and teaching. Along with added explanatory details and commentary, their four books became known collectively as the \u201cGospels\u201d and are included with other religious texts in the book of books commonly referred to as \u201cThe Bible.\u201d Divided into an \u201cOld Testament\u201d selection of ancient Jewish holy books originally written mostly in Hebrew and a \u201cNew Testament\u201d selection of Christian holy books written mostly in Greek, copies of the Bible were later translated into Latin, English, and many other languages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the late 1890\u2019s, Louis Klopsch (1852-1910)\u2014then owner of Christian Herald<\/em> magazine and fervent proponent of people reading and understanding the Bible\u2014read these words of Jesus Christ, \u201cThis cup is the new testament in my blood, which I shed for you\u201d (Luke 22:20 KJV). Aware of the medieval stylistic practice of rubrication\u2014highlighting literary features to draw attention to specific headings, words, or phrases\u2014Klopsch decided to publish the Gospels highlighting the words of Jesus in red letters symbolizing the color of Jesus\u2019 shed blood). He first published The New Testament: With All the Words Recorded Therein, as Having Been Spoken by Our Lord, Printed in Color <\/em>(1899, New York: World Publishing Company) and then The Holy Bible: Red Letter Edition <\/em>(1901, New York: World Publishing Company). Others followed suit and have since published additional red-letter editions of the Bible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A more recent version is The Red Letter Gospel: All The Words of Jesus Christ in Red<\/em> (2009, 2014, 2017, 2021. Smart Publishing Ltd. Surrey, British Columbia Canada). Compiler Daniel John reports that people regularly ask, \u201cWhat percentage of the Gospel is just the words of Jesus Christ?\u201d He explains that those books in the English version of the New American Standard Bible (NASB) contain 83,680 words. Combining those into synoptic form and removing duplications reduces the word count to 65,460 words. Of those, original words spoken by Jesus recorded in the four Gospels total 31,426 words.1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Single annual State of the Union messages by U.S. presidents have averaged around 12,500 words. Harry Truman\u2019s 1946 written 27,500-word address almost equates the length the entire body of words the Gospel writers attribute to Jesus. Jimmy Carter\u2019s 1981 record 33,667-word State of the Union message exceeds them.2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Experts assert that people commonly speak at an average rate of 150 words per minute (wpm), although rates vary with context.3<\/sup> Presenters often range between 100\u2013150 wpm, audio book and radio\/podcast speakers between 150\u2013160 wpm, while auctioneers average 250 wpm and commentators 250\u2013400 wpm.4<\/sup> Taking the number of Jesus\u2019 original words recorded in the Gospels and dividing by a common 150 wpm rate approximates 3.5 hours.5<\/sup> A slow rate of 100 wpm amounts to just over five (5) hours.6<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Five hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Five hours\u2014the length of an afternoon\u2014that have influenced major world events, transformational communication technologies, the colonization of countries, the frameworks of governments, the purpose and vision of hundreds of thousands of organizations, and the lives and work of billions of people.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Yet, surely over the course of years in ministry Jesus spoke more than five hours. Studies indicate that some people talk that much in a day and most speak more than that weekly.7<\/sup> A pastor preaching 20-minute sermons for 50 Sundays a year for three years vocalizes approximately 50 hours of words.8<\/sup> A full-time college professor teaching for three years talks nearly 300 hours.9<\/sup> A full-time schoolteacher teaching 180 days per year for three years talks more than 2,000 hours.10<\/sup> An executive or employee talking four hours per day at work accumulates about 1,000 hours per year and 3,000 hours over three years.11<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n The author of the Gospel of John\u2014an apostle and close friend of Jesus\u2014asserted that Jesus did much more than what he wrote. \u201cJesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book,\u201d he summarized. \u201c<\/sup><\/strong>But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name\u201d (John 20:30-31).<\/p>\n\n\n\n He ended his Gospel reiterating the overwhelming content from among which he selected. \u201cJesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written\u201d (John 21:25).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, the other Gospel writers apparently excerpted key information from among a much larger volume of Jesus\u2019 words and deeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly<\/strong>, no apologist\u2014amateur or professional\u2014can claim with absolute certainty that Jesus NEVER said anything about something unless privy to the vast trove of records of everything Jesus EVER said. Earnestly claiming such either requires access to knowledge unattainable by most, ignorant arrogance, or unbridled hubris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Secondly<\/strong>, one may certainly assert that Jesus did not appear to directly and specifically address a certain subject in the Gospels. However, some subjects are referenced indirectly, and many are addressed elsewhere in Scripture. If Jesus is the Lord indeed and \u201cin Christ all the fullness\u00a0of the Deity lives in bodily form\u201d (Colossians 2:9), the words of the Lord throughout the whole Bible should be considered relevant before making any case utilizing the argument that \u201cJesus never said\u201d one thing or another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thirdly<\/strong>, countless topics are not explicitly mentioned among the red-letter words, and many not specifically addressed in the rest of the Bible either. Yet, some non-mentions have been considered significant and even claimed of divine import throughout history.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fourthly<\/strong>, Ezekiel offers a prophetic warning to vain usurpers who claim to speak for the Lord. \u201cTheir visions are false\u2026the Lord has not sent them,\u201d he writes, and \u201cthey lead my people astray\u201d (13:6,10). \u201cBy lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live\u201d (13:19). He conveys the Lord\u2019s promise of punishment \u201cbecause you disheartened the righteous with your lies,\u00a0when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives\u201d (13:22).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fifthly<\/strong>, claims that \u201cJesus never said\u201d regularly seem to appear in conjunction with excuses to pardon and often promote what elsewhere and otherwise is considered sinful. Thus, the danger harkened by Ezekiel seems as real today\u2014and probably as prevalent\u2014as in antiquity. Whether prophet or priest, preacher or part-time apologist, advocating \u201cJesus never said\u201d is a bold claim one should probably never make, certainly not flippantly, and if so, in full acceptance that doing so may fraudulently imperil souls, including one\u2019s own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Suggested Caution<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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