Teachings in Scripture Not Reflected in Christ's Life

The New Testament records instances of teachings and events that, while part of Christian doctrine or tradition, are not explicitly depicted in the life of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels. This does not imply a contradiction but rather points to the broader scope of divine revelation and the development of Christian understanding.

One notable example is the saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." This statement, attributed to Jesus, is found in Acts 20:35 but is not recorded in any of the four canonical Gospels ^[8]. This suggests that not all of Jesus' words and actions were preserved in the written Gospels, a point also made by the Gospel of John, which states that Jesus did "many other signs... which are not written in this book" ^[3]. John Gill, commenting on John 21:25, further elaborates on this, suggesting that the sheer volume of Jesus' deeds would be too vast for books to contain if every detail were recorded ^[5].

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central tenet of Christian faith, yet the Gospels do not describe the event itself, only its aftermath and the empty tomb. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the resurrection as a preached truth, asking, "Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" ^{[2, 4]}. Adam Clarke notes that some false teachers in Corinth were attempting to blend Sadduceeism, which denied the resurrection, with Christian doctrines ^[9]. The preaching of the cross, encompassing the doctrine of salvation through a crucified Christ, is also a core message, as described by John Gill on 1 Corinthians 1:18 ^[10].

Furthermore, the teachings of Christ were not limited to his earthly ministry but continued through the Holy Spirit after his ascension. The book of Acts begins by noting that Jesus "began both to do and to teach, until the day on which, having given charge to the Apostles, whom He had chosen, by the Holy Spirit, He was taken up" ^[12]. This indicates a continuation of Christ's teaching through his apostles. Paul, for instance, asserts that his gospel was not received from man but "by the revelation of Jesus Christ" ^[13].

The New Testament also addresses teachings that are contrary to Christ's way. Ephesians 4:20 states, "For this was not the teaching of Christ which was given to you" ^[1]. This implies that there were teachings circulating among early Christians that deviated from what Christ had imparted. John Gill, commenting on Romans 15:17, suggests that false teachers often spoke of things not done by them or attributed to themselves what Christ had done through them ^[6]. He also notes that such individuals "serve not our Lord Jesus Christ," but rather seek their own interests, neglecting core doctrines like righteousness and peace ^[7].

The early church also encountered resistance to certain doctrines, such as the resurrection of the dead. In Athens, some mocked Paul when he spoke of the resurrection ^[11]. This highlights that not all teachings, even those central to the Christian message, were universally accepted or understood, and their articulation often involved addressing skepticism or alternative viewpoints.

Sources

Ephesians “Ephesians 4:20 (BBE) — For this was not the teaching of Christ which was given to you;”
1 Corinthians “1 Corinthians 15:12 (NASB) — Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?”
John “Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; -- John 20:30”
I Corinthians “I Corinthians 15:12 (Tyndale) — If Christ be preached how that he rose fro deeth: how saye some that are amoge you that ther is no resurreccion from deeth?”
John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 21:25: And there are also many other things which Jesus did,.... Which refer not to his doctrines and discourses, his sermons and prayers, and the conversation he had with his disciples, and others, on different accounts; but to the signs, and wonders, and miraculous operations, which were done by him, that are neither recorded in this, nor in any of the evangelists: the which, if they should be written everyone; with all the particular circumstances relating to them: I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. The Arabic versi”
Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 15:17: For I will not dare to speak of any of those things,.... He suggests that the false teachers did speak of things which were not done by them at all, and much less were what Christ had done by them; and signifies that he was a conscientious man, and could speak nothing but what was truth; his conscience would not suffer him, nor could he allow himself to make mention of anything, that was not done by him, as if it was; nor of anything that was done by himself, nor of anything that was done, as if it was done by himself, but as it was wrought by Christ; nor had he any ”
Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 16:17: For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ,.... They do not preach him, but themselves; they do not seek the things of Christ, his honour and glory, the spread of his Gospel, and the enlargement of his kingdom and interest; they seek their own things, worldly honour and applause, riches, wealth, and grandeur; they seek to please men, and so are not the servants of Christ: they introduced the observance of meats and drinks in to the kingdom of Christ, which it do not consist of, and neglected the doctrines of righteousness and peace, from whence springs jo”
Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 20:35: 20:35 ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’: This saying of Jesus is not recorded in the Gospels.”
1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 15:12: Now if Christ be preached, etc. - Seeing it is true that we have thus preached Christ, and ye have credited this preaching, how say some among you, who have professed to receive this doctrine from us; that there is no resurrection of the dead, though we have shown that his resurrection is the proof and pledge of ours? That there was some false teacher, or teachers, among them, who was endeavoring to incorporate Mosaic rites and ceremonies with the Christian doctrines, and even to blend Sadduceeism with the whole, appears pretty evident. To confute this mongr”
1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 1:18: For the preaching of the cross,.... Not of the Christian's cross, which he is to take up and bear for the sake of Christ; though this is a doctrine taught by Christ, and his apostles, and found to be true by the saints in all ages; and is what is had in great aversion and contempt, being very disagreeable to the natural man: but of the cross of Christ, the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Christ; or the doctrine of peace and reconciliation by the blood of his cross, and of righteousness, pardon, atonement, and satisfaction by the offering up of himself upon”
Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 17:32: We have here a short account of the issue of Paul's preaching at Athens. I. Few were the better: the gospel had as little success at Athens as any where; for the pride of the philosophers there, as of the Pharisees at Jerusalem, prejudiced them against the gospel of Christ. 1. Some ridiculed Paul and his preaching. They heard him patiently till he came to speak of the resurrection of the dead (Act 17:32), and then some of them began to hiss him: they mocked. What he had said before was somewhat like what they had sometimes heard in their own schools, and some notio”
CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: Homily I. Acts I. 1, 2 “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, concerning all things which Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day on which, having given charge to the Apostles, whom He had chosen, by the Holy Spirit, He was taken up.” To many persons this Book is so little known, both it and its author, that they are not even aware that there is such a book in existence. 3 3 St. Chrys. had made the same complaint at Antioch in the Homilies ( a.d. 387) in Principium Actorum, etc. t. iii. p. 54. “We are about to set before you a str”
Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 1:12: I neither received it of man - By means of any apostle, as was remarked Gal 1:1. No man taught me what I have preached to you. But by the revelation of Jesus Christ - Being commissioned by himself alone; receiving the knowledge of it from Christ crucified.”

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