{"id":22973,"date":"2025-08-29T04:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/?p=22973"},"modified":"2025-08-30T08:15:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T12:15:33","slug":"why-we-need-a-both-and-perspective-for-reading-the-gospels-and-epistles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/article\/concise\/why-we-need-a-both-and-perspective-for-reading-the-gospels-and-epistles\/","title":{"rendered":"Why We Need a \u201cBoth-And\u201d Perspective for Reading the Gospels and Epistles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How do we read the Gospels and Epistles together?[1]<\/a><\/sup> This is the question I want to address. Too many times we dichotomize the Gospels and the Epistles, thus a kind of either-or reading, when what we need is a both-and.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Readers will likely point out that Paul isn\u2019t the only letter writer in the New Testament. I\u2019m choosing to focus on Paul for two reasons. First, due to the length of this article, a comprehensive consideration of all the authors is impossible. Secondly, most questions about the compatibility of the Gospels and Epistles arise between the Gospels and Paul. <\/span><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Obviously, the two genres are different due, to a substantial degree, to the difference between narratives and letters, but these differences can be overstated too much. Sometimes people argue that the distinction between them is that the \u201cletters tell, but narratives show.\u201d In one sense this is true, but it is also false. Narratives, specifically the Gospels, may contain a lot of discourse (e.g., teaching) but they also tell<\/em> just as much as the letters do. We often speak, like Peter, of how difficult it can be to interpret Paul (2 Pet. 3:16), but practically I think the Gospels give us more trouble because we too often pit them against the letters, so then we turn quickly to the Epistles, instead of the Gospels for our preaching and teaching. In fact, students constantly ask me, \u201cHow does Romans 3 fit in with Matthew 5,\u201d or more commonly, \u201cHow does Matthew 5 fit in with Romans 3?\u201d In what follows, let me offer some brief comments how we need a both-and in terms of the Gospels relation to the Epistles, not an either-or by focusing on some examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, Mark emphasizes faith as necessary for healing, like with the paralytic and his friends in Mark 2:5, or the woman in Mark 5:34 to whom Jesus says, \u201cDaughter, your faith has made you well.\u201d In Matthew 18:35, Jesus tells his followers that unless they forgive from the heart, God the Father will not forgive them. He says it twice, the first time in the Lord\u2019s Prayer: \u201cforgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors\u201d (Matt. 6:12). On the other hand, Paul says that salvation is by grace through the gift of faith (Eph. 2:8\u20139). Whoever has faith in Christ is justified by God, full stop (Rom. 3:22\u201324). Even if these examples don\u2019t seem difficult to you, the question remains: how<\/em> do we read them together? A pastor preaching the parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:21\u201335 might say, \u201cJesus isn\u2019t saying forgiveness is conditional,\u201d then go on to quote Paul\u2019s confidence in God\u2019s salvation (e.g., Phil. 1:4). The problem isn\u2019t citing other texts to help explain the text at hand, but we tend to reach immediately for other texts or for biblical and systematic theology, rather than let an author speak for himself and interpret it in context. Perhaps someone would say that citing a \u201cclearer\u201d text to help with a \u201charder\u201d text is an application of Augustine\u2019s interpretive principle, found in his famous treatise On Christian Teaching<\/em>\u2014but using Paul to show what a text in the Gospels means or, in many cases, doesn\u2019t mean, isn\u2019t what Augustine had in mind in On Christian Teaching<\/em>. I don\u2019t think Augustine meant for us to use Paul as a bail-out for theologically sticky texts in the Gospels. The solution, however, is not that complicated, though it does mean hard work, and more thorough knowledge of the Bible. We can read in close context, taking of first importance what the Gospel writers say, but recognize that all the books of the Bible share a canonical context. We can, and should, also read theologically. In other words, we can follow in the steps of Christian readers throughout the history of the church. We should not choose and either\/or, but a both\/and approach to reading the Gospels and Epistles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Example of \u201cBoth\/And\u201d Reading <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Consider again Matthew 18:35. When Peter asks Jesus, \u201cLord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?\u201d (Matt. 18:21). Jesus rejects the idea of quantifying forgiveness and responds with the parable of the Unforgiving Servant. In the parable, a king forgives a servant who owes an astronomical debt. The servant then goes out and refuses, with extreme prejudice, to forgive a fellow servant who owes him a relatively minor amount of money. In response, the king condemns the servant and orders that he be \u201cthrown into prison until he could pay the debt.\u201d In other words, the servant will never come out of prison. Jesus warns his followers that this is exactly what God the Father will do to anyone who refuses to forgive others. A teacher or preacher knows the inevitable question that follows: \u201cIs my forgiveness conditional?\u201d One way to answer is, \u201cThat\u2019s not Matthew\u2019s concern here.\u201d True enough, but unlikely a satisfying answer. On the other hand, responding by only citing Paul, or referring to the larger doctrine of salvation, doesn\u2019t really answer the question either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Matthew, the parable is set in a larger context where Jesus focuses on teaching his disciples what it means to be his followers. In this case, his followers will be forgiving in light of the unimaginable forgiveness they receive. It is a warning. The idea being that the true followers will hear the warning and respond as his disciples<\/em>. They are reminded not only to forgive as they have been forgiven, but that Jesus calls them to a life of discipleship, a life defined by taking up the cross and following him. Refusing to forgive others is a refusal to take up one\u2019s cross and follow Jesus in the way of forgiveness. Anyone choosing that path is not worthy of Jesus (Matt. 10:38). The warning in Matthew 18 is meant to shape and form Jesus\u2019s followers. This fits perfectly Matthew\u2019s context. The Sermon on the Mount ends with a warning (Matt. 7:26\u201327). Whoever hears but does not practice Jesus\u2019s teaching is like a man who builds his house on sand. When the storm comes, the house will fall to ruins\u2014a warning on par with Matthew 18:35.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need to read this text in its biblical and theological context, not least including that of Matthew\u2019s Gospel. The goal is not simply so we can answer a question, but so we can become faithful readers and interpreters of the Bible. The warning in Matthew 18:35 is not a friendly reminder that we need to be more forgiving. Of course we need to be more forgiving, but how exactly do we become forgiving? Certainly not by resolving to do so, or out of fear for what happens if we refuse. The warning exposes our unforgiving hearts. That is the path to learning forgiveness. The warning flows from the command to forgive in Matthew 18:22. Warnings are inherent to commands, and this warning cannot be separated from the parable itself. We are like the unforgiving servant. We look for loopholes, or that point at which we can suspend forgiveness and turn to retribution. No amount of reminding ourselves how much we\u2019ve been forgiven, or fear of punishment alone, will change that. It is not unfaithful to Matthew if we then turn to Paul\u2019s teaching on the power and primary purpose of commands to condemn by exposing sin (Rom. 3:20\u201321; 5:20; 7:9, 13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The commands of Jesus, who is the fulfillment of the law, also work to expose. This is not simply an application of the commands, but the purposed work of the commands themselves; and example of the Word doing its own work. If we don\u2019t take that seriously, recognizing that if we are in the flesh we need the dark places of hearts exposed, then hope is hard to find. We\u2019ll opt instead for more pious resolutions to do better (even adding \u201cby the Spirit\u201d), or use grace as a safety net, resulting finally in delusion and\/or despair. Commands heard without exposure of sin essentially leave the cross behind. Commands, including Jesus\u2019s commands, should drive us to forgiveness in the cross of Christ. Only in the cross, God\u2019s justifying word of forgiveness and reconciliation, through which the Spirit is poured out in our hearts (see Rom. 5:1\u201310), can we follow Jesus in the way of showing forgiveness and grace to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One final thought. I am not suggesting that a sermon on Matthew 18 turn into a Bible lesson on Paul\u2019s teaching and theology. Such a sermon would not be faithful to the inspired, revealed word of God in Matthew, nor could it pass even remotely as expository preaching. What I\u2019m suggesting is that we ought to read the Gospels and Epistles (and all of Scripture) in concert, giving careful attention to both<\/em> the divinely inspired teaching of each author and,<\/em> together, as God\u2019s revelation of himself in Christ.[2]<\/a><\/sup> In other words, in thinking about the relationship between the Gospels and the Epistles, we need a both-and and not an either-or. Scripture, as God\u2019s inspired and authoritative word, is a unified revelation, despite its diversity of literature. We need to read both the Gospels and the Epistles as God\u2019s word that reveals to us the glory of Christ and the truth of the gospel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. For a more comprehensive example of how I view the relationship between the Gospels and Paul, particularly with regard to justification, see Brian Vickers, \u201cWhat Does Justification Have to Do with the Gospels?,\u201d in <\/span>The Doctrine upon Which the Church Stands or Falls: Justification in Biblical, Theological, Historical, and Pastoral Perspective<\/em>, ed. Matthew Barrett (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019), 179\u2013213.<\/span>
<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Too often the Gospels and Epistles are pitted against each other. In truth, both reveal the same gospel and must be read together for faithful discipleship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":22978,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Why We Need a \u201cBoth-And\u201d Perspective for Reading the Gospels and Epistles","_seopress_titles_desc":"Too often the Gospels and Epistles are pitted against each other. In truth, both reveal the same gospel and must be read together for faithful discipleship.","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[32,1974,12,38],"tags":[398,829,2275,102,1931,528,122,330],"scripture-reference":[],"post_folder":[],"ppma_author":[2112],"class_list":["post-22973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-august-2025","category-concise","category-theme","tag-bible","tag-discipleship","tag-epistles","tag-gospel","tag-gospels","tag-hermeneutics","tag-theology","tag-unity"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Why-We-Need-a-Both-And-Perspective-for-Reading-the-Gospels-and-Epistles-Brian-Vickers-scaled.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-01-13 11:27:17","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"authors":[{"term_id":2112,"user_id":21,"is_guest":0,"slug":"brian-j-vickers","display_name":"Brian J. Vickers","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vickers.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vickers.jpg"},"author_category":"1","job_title":"","church_city_state":"","last_name":"Vickers","first_name":"Brian","church_site":"","user_url":"","description":"Dr. Brian Vickers<\/strong> is Assistant Editor of The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology and also serves as Professor of New Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. A role he has held since 2004. He is actively involved in leading short-term mission trips from Southern to many overseas locations, including India, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, and Thailand. He is married to Denise, and they have one child."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22973"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22973\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23184,"href":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22973\/revisions\/23184"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22973"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-reference","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-reference?post=22973"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=22973"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=22973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}