Why didn’t Jesus write any books in the Bible?

Answer

Many wonder why Jesus did not write any books or why anything He may have written was not preserved. Conspiracy theorists suggest His texts were hidden for nefarious reasons. Given the importance of the written Word, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16), it’s natural to ask why Christ didn’t record anything in writing. Scripture doesn’t give us an exact answer. Still, we can make educated guesses. The most likely reason relates to humanity’s habit of over-emphasizing certain things and ideas, while losing sight of the larger picture.

Speaking to the disciples at the Last Supper, Jesus said that He was going to leave the physical world, “But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?” (John 16:5). Then, shockingly, He said that His leaving was to their advantage, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7). That would have been hard to understand at the time. However, it does make sense in hindsight.

So long as Jesus was physically present, the disciples would always rely on His presence to control their faith. Only when Jesus left, and the Holy Spirit came, would the disciples rely on a personal, internal connection to God’s will. If Jesus had stayed physically present in this world, their every decision would have been delayed until they could ask Him His advice in person. The reach of the gospel would be limited by where.He was, physically, present at any given time. Obedience to God and the outworking of faith would have been centered on seeing or hearing a physical Christ—excluding interaction with other Christians or heeding the voice of the Holy Spirit.

When we ponder why Jesus didn’t write any books of the Bible, similar principles may apply. Despite having the Bible, some disregard or minimize everything in Scripture other than the words of Jesus: the “Red Letter” groups. Although “red letters” are not specified in the original texts, this approach to the Bible can lead to neglecting important teachings from God. It’s a misguided attempt to prioritize some of God’s Word over other parts. In reality, all Scripture is from Jesus, as it all originates from God.

If we possessed texts personally penned by Jesus, many would not only honor them but also set aside all other words of Scripture. Having a “book of Jesus” would encourage people to overlook inspired statements outside that text.

If the physical scrolls of any book of the Bible had survived, people would treat those objects as idols—similar to how they do with alleged “relics” associated with Christ. Jesus’ only earthly possessions when He died were His clothes; these were immediately taken by indifferent Romans (John 19:23-24). If He had left anything else, including writings, the relics would have quickly sparked idolatrous tendencies. A comparable situation occurred in the Old Testament when people fixated on an item linked to Moses (Numbers 21:4-9;2 Kings 18:1-4).

Considering human nature, God may have intentionally refrained from giving us objects to worship. This could clarify why we have limited knowledge about Jesus’ childhood or His appearance. Such specifics would likely present more temptation and distraction than offer essential insights about God.

WWe don’t have an explicit answer about why Jesus never left writings of His own. Still, human weakness seems the best explanation. Discipleship relies on individual understanding and an appreciation for all of God’s Word. If we had a book of the Bible written by Jesus, we would be tempted to obsess over and even idolize it. As much as the disciples would have loved Jesus to stay with them, and as much as we’d love to have His handwritten words, our sin nature determines that not having those things is, ironically, better for us and our relationship to God.