The New Testament is not the word of God— Bishop calls for a third testament to be added to the Bible and the New Testament removed

A prominent bishop has sparked widespread discussion after sharing her views on the structure and interpretation of the Bible.

Yvette Flunder, the senior pastor of City of Refuge United Church of Christ in Oakland, California, and Presiding Bishop of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, made the remarks during a recent message for the Center for Public Theology & Public Policy.

During her message, she suggested that both the Old and New Testaments should be reconsidered, describing certain passages as problematic. She also proposed the idea of introducing a “Third Testament” to reflect a different understanding of faith and scripture.

She said: “This a very dangerous thing that I’m about to say now… a bit dangerous. I’m of the opinion that we need a Third Testament. Because the Bible has become problematic. ‘Slaves obey your masters as you do the Lord’- It’s a text. ‘Let the women keep silent in the churches and if they have any questions let them ask their husbands at home.’

“Now I’m a believer. My whole heart, I trust God with my whole heart. I wake up in the morning talking to God and God talking to me.

“But I am completely frustrated with the ways in which the text speaks to the kind of vitriolic God that makes those kinds of things.

“And people will say, ‘well, it’s in the book.’ And I said, then we need to pull that page out.

“And they said, well, you can’t do it. It’s the Word of God. I said, no, it’s words about God. Come on now. But is it the Word of God? No. It is not the Word of God.

“The New Testament is NOT the word of God”

See below…………

Bishop Yvette Flunder Sparks Debate with Call for “Third Testament” pic.twitter.com/q8smdnO1Ki

— Iamelizabeth (@elizabethblogng) April 20, 2026