https://thepreachersword.com/2017/01/24/why-the-black-letters-are-just-as-important-as-the-red-letters/#more-10110
Why The “Black Letters” Are Just As Important As The “Red Letters”
Local man Brian Reed was startled Monday to learn from an internet
search that the black letters in his Bible are every bit as
authoritative as the red letters.
“I (thought sure) the words of Jesus were, like, extra inspired,” he explained to sources. “Except for Revelation 2 and 3. He sounds a little peeved there.”
“(Wow), I even returned a Bible to Family Christian one time after realizing there were no red letters in it. I totally thought it was defective.”
Reed, who recently completed a Red-Letters-In-A-Year reading plan for the third year in a row, admits he is intimidated by the implications of his discovery. “Man, I’m really going to have to buckle down and get reading. I can’t believe the Son of God has spoken to me in 62 other books.”
Reflecting on the apparent God-breathed authority of black letters long avoided, Reed was solemn. “I can’t believe I’m saying this as a follower of Jesus, but I guess I have to obey the words of Paul too. I’ve heard rumors that he’s a little harsh.”
“Pray for me,” he added.
The above story is from The Babylonian Bee, billed as “Your trusted source for Christian News Satire.” In other words it’s fictional, not factual.
The Bee, created by Adam Ford and launched in March of 2016, has been received with mixed reviews. However, it often exposes some commonly held, but misguided ideas both in culture and among the evangelical community.
This notion that the “red letters” are more valuable than the “black letters” because they are the words of Jesus, is one that I’ve encountered through the years.
Numerous Bible passages expose the error of such an idea.
Following the last supper, Jesus promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit would come upon them after he ascended back to the Father (John 14-16). There are 7 things He said the Holy Spirit would do for them.
(1) The Holy Spirit would serve as their advocate or helper in the place of Jesus’ presence. (Jn 14:6)
(2) The Spirit would teach the apostles as well as remind them of the things Jesus taught, not all of which are recorded in the 4 biographical books. (Jn 14:26)
(3) The Holy Spirit would testify to them and through them of the Deity of Jesus as the Son of God (Jn. 15:26)
(4) Through the apostles’ preaching the Holy Spirit would convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (Jn. 16:7-10)
(5) The Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth (Jn 16:13)
(6) The Spirit would also reveal “things to come.” (Jn.16:14) Future events. The falling away. The hope of heaven. And the fate of the unbeliever.
(7) In summary all that the Spirit did for the apostles would glorify Jesus as the Christ (Jn. 16:14).
This short summary is pregnant with meaning and implications that are far reaching. Greater in application than a blog post. They underscore the affirmation of Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
He further affirmed that his source of writing was via the Holy Spirit. “How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets” (Eph. 3:3-5).
Both the red and black letters are God-breathed. All are authoritative. Equal in importance. Identical in source. And harmonious in doctrine.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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