i guess i can finally add my 2 cents in. My question is, regarding "spurious passages"; WHY is John 8:1-11 really a spurious one? i read where Ray actually spoke a little on it...
(quote) John 8:1-11 (all these verses)
That’s the woman taken in adultery. That whole story is not in the Sinaiticus or the Vaticanus, so maybe it’s not Scripture. I can explain it though, because up until last spring I thought it was Scripture.
I’ve got an explanation for it, because this is a way to show another contradiction in the Bible. That Christ did not obey the laws of God, that He broke them. Because the law of Moses said to stone her and they ask Him, “what do You say.” Christ said;
John 8:7 …He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.
v. 8 And again bending down, He wrote on the ground.
v. 9 And hearing, and being convicted by conscience, they went out one by one…
So how do you get around the fact that Jesus is breaking the commandment of Moses? Here was the woman caught in adultery, with eye witnesses and Moses’ law said to stone her. How did Christ get around that without breaking the law of Moses? Well I figured out how He did, that is if it is Scripture, it has to do with how Jesus will judge when He returns. Now that’s going to be an eye opener. (end quote, empasis MINE)
Now, i discovered how Jesus "got around" it by allowing the actual scriptures speak for themselves. Actually, John 8:1-11 is one of few moments, Jesus shows keen knowledge of the Law VS the Pharisees trying their best to "tempt" or test Jesus, and missing the full Law. Jesus, the Word made flesh, knew already the TWO distinct circumstances written in the law whether or not a woman, caught in adultery, was to be stoned. Deuteronomy 22:24, speaking of a "betrothed (engaged) damsel (virgin)", if caught in the act, was to be stoned along WITH the man. On the other hand, Jesus knowing their thoughts, knew that this Woman was most likely a man's WIFE, in which the law written in Numbers 5:11-31 speaks of ADULTERY WITHOUT stoning, which actually followed a complete set of instructions to cleanse her act. Jesus fulfilled all the acts of the priesthood and even simulated the "action" of writing (which could very well explain Jesus stooping down to write on the ground)
"and the priest shall
write these curses in a book, and He shall blot out with the bitter water" (Num 5:23)
My point is, after discovering the message of this story, it actually reveals the intentions of the Pharisees, their evil hearts, the need of a new covenant (Hebrews 8:7-9), new priesthood, and actually knowledge and agreement of the Law: Deuteronomy 22:23-24 vs Numbers 5:11-31. if John 8:1-11 is so Spurious why does it reveal such an even more wise savior?? Actually, indirectly throwing the Law of Moses in their face WITH the Law of Love. Maybe this is what Ray was on his way to discover but i dont see a contradiction of Jesus and the Law. She was most likely a man's Wife and all the actions of Numbers 5:11-31 were required and Jesus had already supplied her cleansing.
just my 2 cents on this particular spurious passage
Eugene