ARE THE GOSPELS OF MORE VALUE THAN THE EPISTLES?

Mr. Waddey:
Surely when answering a question about Christ you must take into account, first the actual recorded teachings of Christ according to those who walked with him, and second the teachings of Paul (which are a topic of controversy among most Christians today). Surely you know that the  basis of Jesus' life was to serve man's purpose and not his own. I suggest looking more into the teachings of Christ and not relying merely on letters to specific churches. Deana

Dear Deana:
 While some may question whether the writings of Paul are of equal value with the gospels, not all do and since the earliest days the mainstream of Christianity has viewed all 27 books of the New Testament as of equal value. Bible Translators and publishers, across the centuries, entitled their works with such words as, "The New Covenant commonly called The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..."  This is from the title page of my American Standard Edition of 1901.

The careful student of Scripture notes that the apostles did not of their own volition decide to write a book on religion and impose it on the teachings of Jesus. Rather the Master himself said, "...the words which thou (God) gavest me I have given unto them; and they received them...." (John 17:8).  To the apostles he said, "He that receiveth whosoever I send receiveth me..." (John 13:20). He sent the apostles forth under the Great Commission to make disciples, baptizing them, "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you" (Matt. 28:20).  Hence when I read what Peter, John or Paul wrote, I am reading what Christ himself told them to write.
  
To insure that the apostles did not forget, confuse or pervert his message, Christ sent them the Holy Spirit, in his name, with the promise, "he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you" (John 14:26). Paul wrote, "If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord" (I Cor. 14:37). Peter wrote, that "no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit" (II Pet. 1:21).  When John wrote the book of Revelation he said, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches" (Rev.2:29). These verses clearly show that the apostles, including Paul, were under the distinct impression that they were merely instruments to deliver the will of Jesus to humanity. No legitimate conflict can be shown between Paul or any other apostle and the Lord himself.

Many modern people simply don't like what Paul wrote, hence they try to discredit him to escape the obligation his teaching would impose on them.  I hope that is not your case.

You should reconsider your second statement, that Jesus came to "serve man's purpose and not his own." Perhaps you could point me to the Scripture that teaches or implies this.  I do read that he said, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work" (John 4:34). He prayed to God, "not what I will, but what thou wilt" (Mk. 14:36). Christ came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) and in doing that he gladly served humanity (John 13:14-15) but nowhere do we read that he came to serve man's purpose.

As a Christian, I believe that the God who created the universe is fully capable of giving and preserving for us, his will in a book that is accurate and dependable. All 27 books of our New Testament are of equal authority and value since all are the New Covenant of Jesus. In some 50 years of serious study of that Book I have yet to find a flaw in its message.