Christ is our teacher.

Xeno.of.athens said:

John 13:13 tells us who our teacher is. What does he teach us?

Are the gospels the teaching of Christ? What about the letters; whose teaching are they?

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Well, this is my take on this:

John 13:13 reveals that Jesus identifies himself as both a teacher (Didaskalos in Greek) and Lord (Kyrios in Greek) to his disciples. According to the New Testament, Jesus taught his followers various moral values, spiritual truths, and God's plan of salvation through parables, teachings, and actions. The gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – are the primary sources of Jesus' teachings as recorded by his disciples and other eyewitnesses.

The gospels not only provide accounts of Jesus' teachings but also depict him as a model of love, compassion, and obedience to God. These teachings emphasize the importance of loving God with all one's heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30) and loving one's neighbor as oneself (Mark 12:31). They also cover topics such as forgiveness, prayer, faith, and the nature of God.

The letters or epistles in the New Testament were written by various apostles and other early Christian leaders to address specific issues within the early Christian communities. These letters provide further teachings, instructions, and exhortations on living a Christian life in accordance with Jesus' teachings. For example, Paul's letters focus on topics like faith, salvation, morality, and the role of the church in the world.

In summary, both the gospels and the letters contain teachings from Jesus and his early followers that provide guidance and inspiration for Christians to live a godly life.

Xeno.of.athens said:

John 13:13 tells us who our teacher is. What does he teach us?

Are the gospels the teaching of Christ? What about the letters; whose teaching are they?

Click to expand...

Well, we can start with Paul who received his teaching from Jesus Christ personally (Gal 1:11-12), as did the apostles.

And we can count on Jesus to keep his promise that the Holy Spirit would teach his disciples all things and remind them of everything he had said to them (Jn 14:25-26).

Xeno.of.athens said:

John 13:13 tells us who our teacher is. What does he teach us?

Are the gospels the teaching of Christ? What about the letters; whose teaching are they?

Click to expand...

"ALL scripture (not just the gospels) are "given by inspiration from God AND is to be used for doctrine, reproof.. " 2 Tim 3:16

Heb 8:6-12 says it is CHRIST speaking at Sinai.

John 14:8 Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own, but the Father, as He remains in Me, does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

John 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."

2 Pet 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

1 John 2:
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.
...
24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

Heb 3: 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; 6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the boast of our hope.
7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,

1 Pet 1:10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven

what happened when the magisterium of the one true nation-church started by God at Sinai - invented traditions and doctrines that went against the teaching of the Holy Spirit in God's Word?

Mark 7:
7 And in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘The one who speaks evil of father or mother, is certainly to be put to death’; 11 but you say, ‘If a person says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is, given to God),’ 12 you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13 thereby invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

Now a lot of Christians read that text above and don't mind seeing the non-Christian Jews of Christ's day get hammered in the teachings of Christ - but consider this.

1 Cor 10: 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

Things get blurry when gospel which simply means good news, starts getting applied to everything instead of the original which was the Gospel (good news) of the Kingdom. Diluting that in using the word gospel as if it was some sort of scared word to give other doctrines some sort of official seal of approval, has ruined its original intention, the only thing Jesus came to teach... that the coming of God to remove governance of man from man would be happening once again. That good news got set aside and another religion was born instead. Good news for those who would make a living from it and build kingdoms of their own.

Xeno.of.athens said:

John 13:13 tells us who our teacher is. What does he teach us?

Are the gospels the teaching of Christ? What about the letters; whose teaching are they?

Click to expand...

"They" are part of the Foundation where Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the chief Cornerstone.
Be blessed.

Xeno.of.athens said:

John 13:13 tells us who our teacher is. What does he teach us?

Are the gospels the teaching of Christ? What about the letters; whose teaching are they?

Click to expand...

We need to be taught. That was true under the OT with respect to the Law of Israel, and that has been true in the NT with respect to how Christ applies in the present era.

Christ was Israel's teacher while they were still under the Law, and indicated he was the Messiah to come. He did not try to teach unbelievers in Israel, but defended the Law against those in Israel who were lawbreakers.

As I said, the NT teachers explained how Christ applies in a new era when the Law of Moses is no longer applicable to Israel. The Gospel involves the teaching that Christ can be in us when we choose to live like him and to live in partnership with him.

I have been journaling on one each day.

Teachings & Commandments of Jesus

Jesus said, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. (John 8:31-32) And, “If you love Me, keep My commandments (John 14:15)

Remaining faithful to the teachings of Jesus and keeping His commandments begins with Knowing what they are. Here are 50 of them.

1. Repent
   “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15).

1. Rejoice
   “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:12, Luke 6:23).

1. Let Your Light Shine
   “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16, Luke 11:33).

1. Be Reconciled
   “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23–25, Matthew 18:15–17)).

1. Keep Your Word
   “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37).

1. Turn your cheek
   “But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. (Matthew 5:38–42, Luke 6:25).

1. Love Your Enemies
   “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5:44–46, Luke 6:27).

1. Be Perfect
   “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48, Luke 6:36).

1. Practice private Disciplines
   “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them.” (Matthew 6:1–18, MK 9;55, Luke 9:59).

1. Store Up Treasures in Heaven
   “But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” (Matthew 6:19–21, Luke 13:33).

1. Seek God’s Kingdom
   “But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” (Matthew 6:33, Luke 12:31).

1. Take the log from your eye
   “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:1–3, Luke 6:37).

1. Do not give what is holy to dogs
   “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6).

1. Ask, Seek, Knock
   “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9).

1. Do Unto Others
   “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31).

1. Beware
   “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15, Luke 6:31).

1. Pray for Laborers
   “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”(Matthew 9:37–38, Luke 10:3).

1. Be Wise as Serpents
   “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” (Matthew 10:16).

1. Fear Not
   “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” (Matthew 10:28, Luke 12:4).

1. Take My Yoke
   “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28–30).

1. Honor Your Parents
   “For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.” (Matthew 15:4).

1. Deny Yourself
   “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:24, Luke 9:23).

1. Avoid sin (Matthew 18:8, Mark 9:43)

"If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." (Matt 5:29-30)

1. Forgive Others
   “Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21–22, Mk 11:25, Luke 11:4).

1. Be a Servant
   “Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” (Matthew 20:26–28). "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet," (Matthew 23:11, John 13:14).

1. Ask in Faith
   “Jesus said to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, if you have faith and do not waver, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:21–22, Luke 17:6).

1. Care for the Poor
   “But when thou make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and you will be blessed; for they cannot recompense you: for you will be recompensed at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:12–14).

1. Render to Caesar
   “At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” (Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:17, Luke 20:25).

1. Love the Lord
   “He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. (Matthew 22:37–38, Mark 12:29, Luke 10:27).

1. Love Your Neighbor
   “The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:39–40).

1. Await My Return and be ready
   “You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” (Luke 12:40)

1. Be Born Again
   “Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.” (John 3:5–7).

1. Watch and Pray
   “Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41, Mark 13:35).

1. Baptize others
   “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20).

1. Don’t get angry

“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, "Raca," is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, "You fool!" will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21–22)

1. Remain in Me and I will remain in you

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." (John 15:4)

1. Do Not Swear

"But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yes; No: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." (Matt 5: 34-37)


38. How to pray

"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' (Matt 6:9-15).


39. Do not Worry or be anxious

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matt 6:25-26 NIV)."Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own," (Matt 6:34, 6:25, Luke 12:22).


40. Have Faith

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours," (Mark 11:22-24).


41. Be a Good Samaritan

"The expert in the law replied, 'The one who had mercy on him.' Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise," (Luke 10:30-37).


42. Love One Another

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you," (John 15:12).


43. Do this in Remembrance of Me

"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. " (Luke 22:19-20).


44. Be Merciful

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful," (Luke 6:36).


45. Welcome the Little ones

See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven. (Matthew 18:10)


46. Lend without expecting to be paid back.
Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your
goods do not ask back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return;and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.
For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. (Luke 6:30-35)


47. Follow me
But Jesus told him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”(Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17, Matthew 8:22, Luke 9:59)


48. Become childlike
But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:14-15)


49. Don’t be greedy
“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” (Luke 12:15).


50. Forgive others
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!(Matthew 18:22, Mark 11:25, Luke 11:4)

Luke 12:12