How Were the Gospel Writers Able to Accurately Record Jesus' Words?

Direct Answer

Yes — the Gospel writers recorded Jesus' words accurately because they wrote as the Holy Spirit moved them, not from human memory or research.

Les Feldick points to Peter's statement that holy men of God wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, and he applies that principle to the entire New Testament. He insists that no word of Scripture came from men collecting material, and that Paul's letters were not the product of human reasoning. Paul even quoted Jesus' words before the Gospels were written, showing the same Spirit-led accuracy.

Key Scriptures

2 Peter 1:21 — This verse directly states that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, which is the foundation of Les's explanation for accurate Scripture.

John 21:25 — John's closing note explains that only a portion of Jesus' words and works was written, so the Gospel records are selective rather than exhaustive transcripts.

What Does the Bible Say?

2 Peter 1:21 says, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." This verse connects accurate scriptural testimony to the Holy Spirit rather than human memory or intention. John 21:25 also records that not everything Jesus did was written: "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." So the Bible itself makes clear that the Gospels do not claim to be exhaustive transcripts.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About How the Gospel Writers Recorded Jesus' Words?

Les Feldick teaches that the Gospel writers, like every writer of Scripture, did not rely on what they had been able to collect or remember. He quotes Peter's statement about holy men of God being moved by the Holy Spirit and stresses that it applies to the New Testament as much as to the Old. Paul's personality shows through his letters, but he did not sit down and meditate on what to write; he wrote as the Holy Spirit moved him. Les also observes that Paul quoted Jesus' words before any Gospel was in print, which proves he was moved by inspiration. God has brooded over His Word so completely that no gross error has entered it, giving us a miraculous, trustworthy Bible. Les also explains that differences between Gospel accounts are not contradictions but different events, since John said only a small portion of Jesus' miracles was recorded.

Did the Gospel Writers Depend on Memory or Research?

Les Feldick says no word of Scripture came from men collecting material. Every writer of the Book wrote as he was moved by the Holy Spirit. Paul did not sit down and reason out what he would write; he wrote as the Spirit moved him.

Does the Holy Spirit's Inspiration Apply to the New Testament Too?

Les says Peter's statement about holy men of God being moved by the Holy Spirit was not just the Old Testament but the New as well. Paul wrote by revelation from the ascended Christ, and John wrote Revelation by Holy Spirit inspiration. Every word of the Book, from cover to cover, is the Word of God.

How Could Paul Quote Jesus Before the Gospels Existed?

Les notes that none of the Gospels were written yet when Paul was winning converts and starting congregations. Paul quoted words of Jesus anyway, so he must have been moved by inspiration. God used gifted men and prophecy to feed those early believers until the New Testament came into print.

Do Differences Between the Gospel Accounts Undermine Accuracy?

Les says the writers are not contradicting one another. One may be describing an event that another writer does not mention, or they are describing different occasions. John said only a small portion of Jesus' miracles was recorded, so the Gospels give us the highlights, not an exhaustive record.

From the Teaching

Why Did Israel Miss the Messiah? Romans 9:25-33 Explained

dead religion with no spiritual life whatsoever. And so then you come on up to even the end of Christ's earthly ministry, and again I always like to use the Scripture because some of these statements are rather graphic. I know they are. Come back to Acts chapter 1, verse 15, and here we are after Christ's three years of earthly ministry, up and down the highways and byways of the little nation of …

Holy Spirit Moved All Scripture Writers

Les says Peter's 'moved by the Holy Spirit' applies to the New Testament as much as the Old, so the Gospel writers were Spirit-inspired.

No Scripture Came from Human Collection

Les rejects the idea that writers assembled Scripture from what they could collect; every writer was moved by the Holy Spirit.

Paul's Words Are Spirit-Inspired

Every word Paul wrote is Holy Spirit inspired; he moved as the Spirit moved.

Paul Writes as the Spirit Moves

Paul did not write from learned meditation but as the Holy Spirit moved him, while his personality still showed through.

Paul Quotes Jesus Before the Gospels

Paul quoted Jesus' words before any Gospel was written, proving he was moved by inspiration, not copying existing documents.

God Preserved His Word

God has brooded over His Word so no gross error has come into it, even in translation, so the written record can be trusted.

Gospel Writers Report Different Events

Differences in Gospel accounts do not mean mistakes; the writers are describing different events, and John said only a portion was recorded.

Bible Verses

2 Peter 1:21: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

This is the key verse Les cites to show that Scripture writers were moved by the Holy Spirit rather than human will.

John 21:25: And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

This verse shows the Gospels are a selective record of Jesus' works, which Les uses to explain differences between accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Les Feldick say the Gospel writers had written notes?

No. He says no word of Scripture came from what men had collected. Every writer, including Paul and the Gospel writers, wrote as he was moved by the Holy Spirit.

Does the Holy Spirit's inspiration apply to the New Testament?

Yes. Les says Peter's statement was not just the Old Testament, it was the New as well. The Apostle Paul wrote by revelation from the ascended Christ, and John wrote Revelation by Holy Spirit inspiration.

Why do the Gospel accounts sometimes seem different?

Les says they do not contradict one another. The writers are reporting different events, and when they record the same event the details fit. John noted that only a small portion of Jesus' miracles was written down.

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Watch the Teaching: Why Did Israel Miss the Messiah? Romans 9:25-33 Explained