Original Word Hunting

[Rey Reynoso]

I keep seeing variations of the same quote. Something like "Christ didn't leave a book when he ascended into heaven" followed by either "he left a meal" or "he left his apostles". 

 

I've seen the argument (in either one of the iterations) employed by Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, and even Mormons--but where is it from. Surely each of these people have heard it somewhere since it's just way too coincidental on its phrasing, but the question is where is it originally from?

 

So (1) where have you seen it that you use it and (2) do you know where is the earliest usage of this argument?

 

I put this into Church History just because it has some history on the interwebs.

[Rey Reynoso]

Here's a variation used by a RC in 2006.

[Rey Reynoso]

2008 in a book

[Daniel]

I must hang around different people because that one is new to me.  Never heard it before.

[Rey Reynoso]

Has been used here on Theologica since the site's inception.

[JRKH]

It has no "source" that I know of...

It's part of tradition...or maybe "oral" tradition....  ;-)

 

Peace

James

[Rey Reynoso]

rofl: LIKE! or PLUS1. Whatever the kids are calling it nowadays.

[Char]

It's pretty common amongst RCs-finishing with "he left the church". But there is also the variation "he never wrote a book". That's going to take you back a lot farther. There is a poem/essay called "One Solitary Life"-it is likely the source. For some time the author was unkown but is often attributed to James A Francis, a Baptist minister, in the mid to late 20s (he died in 1928). There does appear to be a trail back to him for the work. It's definitely being quoted in the mid-50s, but exploded in the 70s.

[Rey Reynoso]

That's pretty good. It makes sense since it points to Christ's earthly activity. I wonder, if this is it, where it shifted to be something that is supported by liberals and roman catholics.

[Rayner Markley]

Rey, I'm curious why you're asking this question. It's pretty clear to anyone what Jesus left behind and didn't leave behind.  It's also clear what He sent in His place--His Spirit.

[Rey Reynoso]

Because I want to know why people use a variation of the same words.

[JRKH]

I wonder how many different ways there are to say that, "Jesus did not write a book"....???  :-)

 

Peace

James

[Rey Reynoso]

Ugh, how vapid. The variation of the words in the OP is a poetic one liner that is delivered in various places. So just like you would ask a (ridiculous) question like "I wonder how many different ways there are to say that "It's raining cats and dogs" I can point out that the phrase as a whole has recent popularity and variations which hint at an origin.