A sinless, perfect Jesus?

[Elijah John]

It seems a common position in orthodoxy that Jesus was sinless and perfect. I'm wondering where do we get this doctrine? I see little evidence of this in the Gospels. Perhaps the unknown author of Hebrews? Or was it from Paul's letters?

The doctrine seems essential for Paul's blood-atonement theology or the doctrine of Jesus divinity, but really, why else would it matter?

Prophets, rabbis and teachers can be righteous, even if they are not perfect.

What is the New Testament evidence for Jesus perfection, pro and con?

[Avoice]

Off the top of my head:
He was rude to his mother. Always

[Avoice]

[Replying to post 6 by Eloi]

Presentation as the Messiah?

What happened at the baptism that convinced you Jesus is the Messiah?

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 11 by Elijah John]

DID THE APOSTLE PETER WRITE THE EPISTLES THAT BEAR HIS NAME?

Is there sufficient evidence to conclude the Apostle Peter wrote the Epistles that bear his name?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 85#p976785

Would the Aposle Peter have been capable of produceing the polished rhetoric in sophisticated Greek evidenced in the Epistles?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 87#p976787

Should Acts 4:13 be taken to mean Peter and his associates were illiterate?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 88#p976788

Does Galatians 2:9 indicate the Apostle could not have addressed the issues raised in the Epistles?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 00#p976800

For further reading go to


THE BIBLE , HERMENEUTICS* and ... BIBLE AUTHORSHIP & TRANSMISSION

* bible interpretation

[Elijah John]

Also, how would any of the NT writers know that Jesus never, ever sinned? After all, 30 years without a NT witness is a long time. And I'm sure his family had some stories to tell.

That's a LOT of assumption, EJ.

What is a lot of assumption is that some NT writers claim something they have no right to claim. That Jesus never ever sinned, in thought, word or deed. How could they know this?

[Elijah John]

Off the top of my head:
He was rude to his mother. Always

I don't know about "always" but in several of the instances recorded in the NT he sure seems to have been rude to her.

[Elijah John]

[Replying to post 11 by Elijah John]

DID THE APOSTLE PETER WRITE THE EPISTLES THAT BEAR HIS NAME?

Is there sufficient evidence to conclude the Apostle Peter wrote the Epistles that bear his name?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 785#976785

Would the Aposle Peter have been capable of produceing the polished rhetoric in sophisticated Greek evidenced in the Epistles?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 787#976787

Should Acts 4:13 be taken to mean Peter and his associates were illiterate?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 788#976788

Does Galatians 2:9 indicate the Apostle could not have addressed the issues raised in the Epistles?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 800#976800

For further reading go to


THE BIBLE , HERMENEUTICS* and ... BIBLE AUTHORSHIP & TRANSMISSION

* bible interpretation

Sure, it is in the realm of possibility that Peter learned to be eloquent in Greek. But not likely.

And even so...Peter did not know Jesus all his life. And he did not read minds. So how could he possibly know that Jesus never, ever sinned?

And in the letter attributed to him where he says that Jesus did not sin, that can be read as a poetic way of saying he was an innocent man. Innocent being a relative, not an absolute term.