Gospels vs. Epistles

[neon_knights]

Are the Epistles to be considered as important as the Gospels?

I was recently talking with someone who believes that the Epistles should be held as "second place" to the Gospels. What do you all think about this?

 

[Michael G]

The Epistles are the writings of the first Christians. The Gospels are the life of Christ. The Gospels thus rank first.

 

[gzt]

Seconding Michael here. The Gospels have the saying of Jesus Christ himself, while the Epistles don't.

 

[katherine2001]

Only the Gospels are on the altar, and only the priest or deacon chants the Gospel reading, whereas the Epistle reading is chanted by a Reader.

 

[Gregorios]

Agreeing with everyone but of course we aren't saying the Epistles aren't important, they are still kept in a similar casing as the Gospel and given a place of honor, but yes the Gospels would rank first in importance.

 

[Protoevangel]

The gemstone serendibite has sold for as much as $14,300 per carat. The jeremejevite has sold for $14,000. While the serendibite is worth more than the jeremejevite, the jeremejevite is not less of a gem, or less beautiful.

It is the same with the Gospels and the Epistles. The Gospels hold the highest possible position in the Crown Jewels. That however, takes nothing away from the Epistles. They are still Holy Scripture; God's very Breath in human words.

 

[ArmyMatt]

The gemstone serendibite has sold for as much as $14,300 per carat. The jeremejevite has sold for $14,000. While the serendibite is worth more than the jeremejevite, the jeremejevite is not less of a gem, or less beautiful.

It is the same with the Gospels and the Epistles. The Gospels hold the highest possible position in the Crown Jewels. That however, takes nothing away from the Epistles. They are still Holy Scripture; God's very Breath in human words.

this

 

[Michael G]

Yeah, what everyone else has said. The Gospels are the words of Christ, but that does not take away from the value of the Epistles!

 

[wayseer]

I thought I read somewhere where 'all scripture' was profitable to one's soul.

 

[Protoevangel]

I thought I read somewhere where 'all scripture' was profitable to one's soul.

Has anyone here said anything even remotely contrary to that?

 

[wayseer]

Has anyone here said anything even remotely contrary to that?

It is not so much as what anyone has said as what has not been said.

The reason the Gospels are given prominence is that they contain the words of Christ (Apart from 1 Cor 11 that is) and it is this aspect that is venerated, not that the Gospels are somehow more 'important' than other scripture.

 

[Michael G]

I thought I read somewhere where 'all scripture' was profitable to one's soul.

When that was written, "scripture" was considered to be the Old Testament. No one here is saying the Epistles are in any way lacking and not profitable to our souls, but at the same time they do not contain the very words of Christ and thus are secondary to the Gospels.