Why are the words of Jesus printed differently in “red-letter” editions of the Bible?
Editions of the N.T. with Jesus’ words in red, first appearing in 1899, were intended as an aid to teach the world about Christ and the gospel. The implication, in the minds of many, is that the words of Christ are more inspired than the words in black. In this case, the words of John, Paul, and others deserve less study, or are even trivialized. Yet while Jesus Christ is supreme, the Spirit works through all scripture (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 3:16; John 14:26). To separate the “words of Christ” is to create a false dichotomy.
