Chapter 17
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Conflicting writings regarding whether Christ appointed a successor.
In online discussions, some
Baha'i scholars have suggested that the writings in "The Promulgation
of Universal Peace" are not authenticated, and
should not be considered authoritative. Also, Abdu'l-Baha
states, "Any narrative that is not
authenticated by a Text should not be trusted". With that background, passage 1 below from "The Promulgation
of Universal Peace" indicates Christ did not appoint a
successor, "a gateway of truth" to expound his teachings, whom
Christians were to follow. In passages 2 - 8, based on the Bible and other writings of Abdu'l-Baha, Peter and the rest of the Twelve
Apostles were Christ's divinely inspired successors who continued his
teachings after his martyrdom. A number of prophecies about the coming of Muhammad and the
12 Imams, The Bab, and Baha'u'llah were revealed by the Twelve
Apostles.
1)
After the departure of Christ many appeared who were instrumental in
creating factions, schisms and discussions. It became difficult to know
which one was following the right path. One of these disturbers was
Nestorius, a Syrian, who proclaimed that Christ was not a Prophet of
God. This created a division and sect called the Nestorians. The
Catholics declared Jesus Christ to be the Son of God, even pronouncing
Him to be Deity itself. The Protestants announced the doctrine that
Christ embodied two elements: the human and the divine. In brief,
divisions were created in the religion of God, and it
was not known which was pursuing the right pathway because there was no
appointed center to whom Christ referred everyone, no successor whose
word was a gateway to the truth. If Christ had revealed a
Covenant with some soul, commanding all to cling to his word and
interpretation as correct, it would have been evident which belief and
statement was valid and true.
Inasmuch as there was no appointed explainer of the Book of Christ,
everyone made the claim to authority, saying, "This is the true pathway
and others are not." To ward off such dissensions as these and
prevent any person from creating a division or sect the Blessed
Perfection, Bahá'u'lláh, appointed a central authoritative Personage,
declaring Him to be the expounder of the Book. This implies that the
people in general do not understand the meanings of the Book, but this
appointed One does understand. Therefore, Bahá'u'lláh said, "He is the
explainer of My Book and the Center of My Testament." In the last
verses of the Book instructions are revealed, declaring that, "After
Me," you must turn toward a special Personage and "whatsoever He says
is correct."
-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 381
1431. Any Narrative not Authenticated by a Text should not be Trusted
"Thou has written
concerning the pilgrims and pilgrims' note. Any narrative that is not
authenticated by a Text should not be trusted. Narratives, even if
true, cause confusion. For the people of Baha, the Text, and only the
Text, is authentic."
('Abdu'l-Bahá: from a previously untranslated tablet)
-- Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 437
2)
These twelve gates surround the entire world, that is they are a
shelter for all creatures. And further, these twelve gates are the
foundation of the City of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and on each one
of these foundations is written the name of one of the Apostles of
Christ. That is to say, each one maketh manifest the perfections, the
joyous message, and the excellency of that holy Being.
-- Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá p. 166.
3)
In each cycle the guardians and holy souls have been twelve.
So Jacob had twelve sons; in the time of Moses there were twelve heads
or chiefs of the tribes; in the time of Christ there were twelve Apostles; and in the time of Muhammad there were twelve Imáms.
But in this glorious manifestation there are twenty-four, double the
number of all the others, for the greatness of this manifestation
requires it. These holy souls are in the presence of God seated on
their own thrones, meaning that they reign eternally.
[1 Rev. 11:16-17.]
-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 57.
4)
6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
6:14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
6:15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
6:16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
6:17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the
company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all
Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which
came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
-- Bible: Luke,
5)
1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the
Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
-- Bible: Acts.
6)
16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock
I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it.
16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
-- Bible: Matthew,
7)
The Word which the Son concealed is made manifest. It hath been sent
down in the form of the human temple in this day. Blessed be the Lord
Who is the Father! He, verily, is come unto the nations in His most
great majesty. Turn your faces towards Him, O concourse of the
righteous... This is the day
whereon the Rock (Peter) crieth out and shouteth, and celebrateth the
praise of its Lord, the All-Possessing, the Most High, saying: `Lo! The
Father is come, and that which ye were promised in the Kingdom is
fulfilled!...'
-- Bahá'u'lláh, Proclamation of Baha'u'llah, p. 84-85
8)
2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ...
2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow
citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
-- Bible: Ephesians
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