Beyond the Red Letters

A sectarian once blurted out, “I only follow the words in red — Jesus’ words — because that’s what really matters.” You know the argument. It sounds pious. It sounds Christ-centered. But the truth is, this idea crumbles when you actually listen to Jesus and look at the testimony of the rest of the New Testament.

“For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit” (Jn. 3:34).

On the surface, John’s words might look like a “red-letter” supporter’s dream: See? Jesus speaks God’s words—others don’t have that same Spirit without measure. But Jn. 3:34 is actually far richer, and it leaves no room for slicing the New Testament into “more inspired” and “less inspired” parts.

There’s a few different interpretations floating around out there, but only one holds any water. First, some folks argue that since Jesus had the Spirit “without measure,” only His direct speech (the red letters) is completely authoritative. Apostles, prophets, and evangelists — though Spirit-filled — spoke and wrote with lesser authority, sometimes even “adding their own opinion.”

Alternatively, a few see “without measure” as referring only to the miraculous signs and works Jesus did, not His revelation. They suggest the apostles’ words could still be entirely authoritative even if they didn’t match His miracle-working capacity.

However, the broader context (vv. 31–36) is contrasting Jesus’ heavenly origin and authority with John the Baptist’s earthly limitations—why, as John says, Jesus “must increase, and I must decrease (Jn. 3:30). So “without measure” describes the communication of divine truth, not a quantity of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is never treated as a mere substance or impersonal force that’s parceled out.

Rather, unlike prophets or apostles, Jesus has no limit in His reception or operation of the Spirit. In Him we see the fulfillment of Is. 11:2:

“And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.”

Full Revelation — “…the only begotten God…has explained Him” (Jn. 1:18)

Full Authority — “All authority…has been given to Me” (Matt. 28:18)

Full Power — “God anointed Him…with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 10:38)

So John 3:34 is effectively saying: “The era of partial, measured revelation is over in Him. He embodies the complete, Spirit-filled disclosure of God.”

Before Christ, the Spirit was indeed given to people—but often for specific tasks:

Bezalel for craftsmanship in the tabernacle (Ex. 31:3)

Judges like Othniel, Gideon for military deliverance (Jdg. 3:10; 6:34)

Prophets received the Spirit’s message, but each had only part of the total revelation—“in many portions and in many ways”—“but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son” (Heb. 1:1-2).

From this backdrop, the idea of “measure” grew naturally—God empowered certain individuals for certain purposes. Jesus doesn’t get a partial, temporary empowerment—“For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him” (Col. 1:19).

John says that he recognized Jesus because the Spirit remained on Him—permanence and fullness (Jn. 1:33–34). John 3:34 clearly ties Jesus’ fullness of the Spirit to His speaking God’s words. Every word He speaks is the Father’s word (Jn 12:49–50), and He even promised to do so beyond His life on Earth. He would share further revelation through the Spirit: “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak from Himself, but whatever He hears He will speak… He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and disclose it to you” (Jn. 16:13-15). The Spirit doesn’t invent new doctrine — He takes what is Christ’s and delivers it to the apostles.

That means the apostolic writings are just as much “from Jesus” as the Sermon on the Mount (1 Cor. 14:37), and all Scripture is equally God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16-17). If Paul’s words are the Lord’s commands, then to reject them is to reject the Lord’s authority. “All” means “all” — whether it’s in red ink or black.

The “red letters only” position self-destructs because even the knowledge that Jesus spoke certain words comes from the apostolic writings the “red-letter” view would diminish. What I mean is the “red letters” exist because apostles (or their close companions) wrote them down. If you can’t trust their black-letter words, you can’t trust the red letters either.

Jesus, the One sent by God, perfectly and completely delivers God’s words because He has the Spirit without measure. Unlike the prophets before Him who received partial revelation, Jesus reveals God fully and flawlessly: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father (Jn. 14:9). And because He sent the Spirit to His apostles to bring His words to us, the entire New Testament—red or black—carries the same authority.

So what do we do this?

Trust the Whole New Testament

We don’t pit Paul against Jesus, Peter against John, or the epistles against the Gospels. They’re all carrying the same authority because they’re all carrying the same source — the Spirit of Christ.

Reject Partial Obedience

We can’t pick and choose which parts of the New Testament we obey. To reject apostolic commands is to reject Jesus Himself (Lk. 10:16).

Guard Against Tradition Over Scripture

Many religious traditions function like “black-letter Bibles”—paying lip service to Jesus’ authority while sidelining large portions of His revealed will.

Be Assured of His Promises

If all Scripture carries the same Spirit-given authority, every promise in the New Testament is as binding and trustworthy as if Jesus spoke it directly to you.

Walk By the Spirit

Our work and teaching must likewise be Spirit-shaped, grounded in God’s Word, not personal speculation or cultural trends (1 Cor. 2:4–5).

Jesus spoke God’s words perfectly, to obey Him is to obey God—and to ignore Him is to rebel against God: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (Jn. 1:1).

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk. 16:16).

If you haven’t submitted to Him yet, don’t delay. His words are life (Jn. 6:63). His commandments are not burdensome (1 Jn. 5:3). And His promises are sure—eternal life to those who follow Him, judgment to those who refuse.

The choice is clear: believe Him fully, obey Him completely, and live by every word He has given, for in Him the Spirit without measure still speaks.