“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received” (1 Corinthians 15:3 ESV).
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word” (John 17:20 ESV).
The Apostle Paul told the Christians at Corinth that the gospel they had received from him was exactly what he himself had received. In other words, he was passing on the eye-witness testimony of Jesus crucified, buried and risen.
Taken with what Jesus prayed in John 17 about those “who will believe” in him through the word of his followers, it got me to thinking about the unbroken chain of witnesses that have carried the gospel across the centuries. At first I thought of how long 20 centuries is, but then I started naming witnesses and I noticed that really there are only about 38 people between me and those who were eye-witnesses.
Consider this. The Apostle John was the last living apostle. He wrote the Gospel of John probably towards the end of his life. It has that kind of feel and perspective to it. It is like a Magnus Opus to Christ. Among his disciples was Ignatius who was martyred in the Colosseum in 108 AD. Among Ignatius’ followers was Polycarp who may have also studied under John. Polycarp was martyed in Smyrna in 155 AD. One of the followers of his preaching was Irenaeus who wrote the famous work Against Heresies, a work against gnosticism that had all the markings of one who had been a student under one who studied under John. Irenaeus died in 202 AD.
Notice that it only took three witnesses to pass on the gospel across 169 years (33 AD to 202 AD). If we just round that off to 150 years, then it takes a witness for every 50 years.
Looking back at who brought me the gospel, the most influential were my mother and grandmother. My grandmother was born in 1912 and I was born in 1958 (46 years between us, or rounded, 50). Her grandfather, Rev. Campbell H. Barker, was born in 1858 and died in 1931. He was a farmer and a church planter. He actually planted and built the Willow Branch Baptist Church where I was baptized at age eleven (This plaque about him hangs in the church). I’m sure he had a great influence on my grandmother’s coming to faith.
I find it ironic that my great, great grandfather was born exactly 100 years before me (1858-1958) and that we both became baptist preachers and church planters. I look forward to meeting him someday.
I also look forward to being reunited in heaven with all 38 links of the unbroken chain of witnesses between me and Jesus someday. If we all held hands in a line, we could only stretch across 200 feet or so, but as each handed off the gospel to the next generation, 20 centuries went past. I’m thankful for every link in that unbroken chain.
Now, Lord help me to do my part and pass on what I’ve received.