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Should the teachings of Jesus be a higher priority than doctrines about Jesus?

When I first started working with scholars involved in the study of the Jewish Jesus it was pointed out that the "scriptural authority" upon which important Christian doctrines were based was the words of Paul. As institutional belief systems developed, adherence to the doctrines of the Church became the standard used to determine who was a "believer" and who was not. As time passed the words of Jesus, as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, seem to have been moved to a lower position of importance. Many people are able to say what should or shouldn't be believed about Jesus, but cannot explain what Jesus taught.

The question that I would like to have some feedback on is this -- Should understanding the words of Jesus, as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, be a highest priority than doctrines about Jesus?

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