An Argument For The Trustworthiness Of The New Testament

          One factor that supports the integrity of the New Testament is that its authors distinguished between the words of Christ and their own words. Thus, they did not just attribute random sayings to Him. The disciples were concerned with actually preserving His teaching. Consider as a first example the words of Christ about sacrificial giving:

          "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35)

          The origin of this saying is unknown, but it must have been well-remembered and circulated in early Christian communities. Paul used the example of Christ to encourage others to engage in the kind of ministry that he himself had done.

          "Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her." (1 Corinthians 7:10-12)

          The Apostle Paul was especially careful not to attribute words to the Lord that He did not say in giving advice on marriage and divorce. This goes to show that he respected the teachings of Christ enough to not distort them. He had no hidden theological agenda of his own to advance.

          "Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

          Paul is once again careful to separate his words from sayings of Christ so as to not conflate them and mislead readers into giving him a wrongful sense of authority as an apostle.

          It can reasonably be inferred from the above cited texts that the earliest disciples of Jesus Christ reported history honestly. They took care to keep and protect the words of their Master. This factor increases the likelihood that the gospels faithfully and accurately record the teachings of Christ.