IN SEARCH OF THE APOSTLES’ SCROLL

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42)

    The Israeli excavation site near Jerusalem was abuzz with speculation. Although it had thus far yielded few artifacts of interest, there was optimism that a monumental discovery was imminent. The recently-discovered parchments pointed to this site as the location of the ancient stone vault. Evidence indicated that within the vault was a solitary document that could solve one of history’s greatest mysteries. Centuries of dispute and controversy would be resolved, and long-held beliefs and creeds would either be validated or discredited. The schisms that had characterized Christianity for over 2,000 years would potentially end. The discovery of the Apostles’ Scroll would have far-reaching implications.

     The Apostles’ Scroll began as oral tradition. The remaining eleven of the original Twelve recounted the essential teachings they received firsthand from Jesus the Nazarene. The private instruction they received following his public teaching comprised the core fundamental beliefs that became the essential tenets of the Christian faith. As they recounted what they had been taught the priorities of his distinctive teachings became evident. A body of teaching that would serve the fledgling first-century movement began to take shape.

     The astounding growth of the freshly-birthed Church necessitated careful instruction of new converts in the essential teachings of Jesus. Orally relaying the Apostles’ teachings was inherently unreliable, with potential for misinterpretation as well as personal bias and commentary. Something more was needed – an accurate, reliable written instruction document. And thus came to be the Apostles’ Scroll – the irrefutable and comprehensive instruction manual of the teachings of Jesus as penned and recorded by his most reliable witnesses.

     The discovery of the Apostles’ Scroll makes for exciting drama, but finds little basis in concrete truth … or does it? Are the teachings of Jesus, as carefully taught to new converts by the original apostles, preserved in some form? Is there a “scroll” to be located that unravels centuries-old mysteries and resolves ancient conflicts and controversies? There is, and it is much closer than most people realize. It is as near as the New Testament writings of the Bible. But, discovering and extracting these fundamental teachings from the New Testament requires careful diligence. The task must be approached with an open mind; a willingness to let the body of teachings become self-evident, rather than squeezing teachings to fit predetermined suppositions. They will be discovered only through an objective fact-finding mission, and that is the doorway to The Truth Revolution – a rediscovery of the life-changing teachings of Jesus that has potential for dynamic impact and change such as the world has not seen since the first century.

Advertisement