Tuesday, November 28, 2006
MM I have a question or two. We have recorded history for about 5,000 to 6,000 years, approx. The Old Testament was not written(started the Old Testament) until about 1400 BC, approx. Why did God wait so long to inspire someone to write the Old Testement? Why is the Old Testament not the Oldest Book in the world? before all the legends and stories from other civilizations? Would not God want the "Truth" out there from the beginning of time for man to read? Would not God want His flood story first? The Bible should be the origin of original thought, but it is not, why?
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The Bible writers claimed repeatedly that they were transmitting the very Word of God, infallible and authoritative in the highest degree. This is an amazing thing for any writer to say, and if the forty or so men who wrote the Scriptures were wrong in these claims, then they must have been lying, or insane, or both.
But, on the other hand, if the greatest and most influential book of the ages, containing the most beautiful literature and the most perfect moral code ever devised, was written by deceiving fanatics, then what hope is there for ever finding meaning and purpose in this world?
If one will seriously investigate these Biblical evidences, he will find that their claims of divine inspiration (stated over 3,000 times, in various ways) were amply justified.
Fulfilled Prophecies
The remarkable evidence of fulfilled prophecy is just one case in point. Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled, specifically and meticulously, often long after the prophetic writer had passed away.
For example, Daniel the prophet predicted in about 538 BC (Daniel 9:24-27) that Christ would come as Israel's promised Savior and Prince 483 years after the Persian emperor would give the Jews authority to rebuild Jerusalem, which was then in ruins. This was clearly and definitely fulfilled, hundreds of years later.
There are extensive prophecies dealing with individual nations and cities and with the course of history in general, all of which have been literally fulfilled. More than 300 prophecies were fulfilled by Christ Himself at His first coming. Other prophecies deal with the spread of Christianity, as well as various false religions, and many other subjects.
There is no other book, ancient or modern, like this. The vague, and usually erroneous, prophecies of people like Jeanne Dixon, Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, and others like them are not in the same category at all, and neither are other religious books such as the Koran, the Confucian Analects, and similar religious writings. Only the Bible manifests this remarkable prophetic evidence, and it does so on such a tremendous scale as to render completely absurd any explanation other than divine revelation.
Unique Historical Accuracy
The historical accuracy of the Scriptures is likewise in a class by itself, far superior to the written records of Egypt, Assyria, and other early nations. Archeological confirmations of the Biblical record have been almost innumerable in the last century.
Scientific Accuracy
Another striking evidence of divine inspiration is found in the fact that many of the principles of modern science were recorded as facts of nature in the Bible long before scientist confirmed them experimentally.
* Roundness of the earth (Isaiah 40:22)
* Almost infinite extent of the sidereal universe (Isaiah 55:9)
* Law of conservation of mass and energy (II Peter 3:7)
* Hydrologic cycle (Ecclesiastes 1:7)
* Vast number of stars (Jeremiah 33:22)
* Law of increasing entropy (Psalm 102:25-27)
* Paramount importance of blood in life processes (Leviticus 17:11)
* Atmospheric circulation (Ecclesiastes 1:6)
* Gravitational field (Job 26:7)
These are not stated in the technical jargon of modern science, of course, but in terms of the basic world of man's everyday experience; nevertheless, they are completely in accord with the most modern scientific facts.
It is significant also that no real mistake has ever been demonstrated in the Bible -- in science, in history, or in any other subject. Many have been claimed, of course, but conservative Bible scholars have always been able to work out reasonable solutions to all such problems.
Unique Structure
The remarkable structure of the Bible should also be stressed. Although it is a collection of 66 books, written by 40 or more different men over a period of 2,000 years, it is clearly one Book, with perfect unity and consistency throughout.
The individual writers, at the time of writing, had no idea that their message was eventually to be incorporated into such a Book, but each nevertheless fits perfectly into place and serves its own unique purpose as a component of the whole. Anyone who diligently studies the Bible will continually find remarkable structural and mathematical patterns woven throughout its fabric, with an intricacy and symmetry incapable of explanation by chance or collusion.
The one consistent theme of the Bible, developing in grandeur from Genesis to Revelation, is God's great work in the creation and redemption of all things, through His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible is unique also in terms of its effect on individual men and on the history of nations. It is the all-time best seller, appealing both to hearts and minds, beloved by at least some in every race or nation or tribe to which it has gone, rich or poor, scholar or simple, king or commoner, men of literally every background and walk of life. No other book has ever held such universal appeal nor produced such lasting effects.
One final evidence that the Bible is true is found in the testimony of those who have believed it. Multitudes of people, past and present, have found from personal experience that its promises are true, its counsel is sound, its commands and restrictions are wise, and its wonderful message of salvation meets every need for both time and eternity.
Again, just a couple of thoughts.
You did not answer my questions though.
Do not Muslims claim the same thing about the Koran as you say about the Bible Have read the Koran?
A book can not endorse itself.
From what I saw on the History Channel when they did a show about Nostradamus, some of what he said did not seem vague to me.
Anyways, I asked specific questions, if you have no thoughts on the subject then just say so.
The Bible is not homogeneous, I can find conflicts all over the Bible or as you say "tensions."
Cool, I am blogging from the doctors office, online everywhere.
Your questions are rooted in the authenticity of the Bible. I am telling you that the Bible is true.
No, I haven't read the Koran.
Of the 1000's of predictions of Nostradamus, I am sure I got something right - He made one prediction about Hitler - something like "there will be a very mean ruler rise us in Europe" - wow, I could probably make the same prediction - "there is will be a very nice guy rise up out of Europe in the next 100 years."
So, what are you doing around the 25th of December this year?
The Bible writers claimed repeatedly that they were transmitting the very Word of God, infallible and authoritative in the highest degree. This is an amazing thing for any writer to say, and if the forty or so men who wrote the Scriptures were wrong in these claims, then they must have been lying, or insane, or both.
Where do they claim this? All 40 of them claim this? And they needn't have been lying, insane, or both. Simply misguided, mistaken and very zealous.
We're celebrating Christmas on the 25th. What are you doing?
Ok, the Bible is true. Why would God waite so long before writing the Bible? That is my question. What purpose is served by waiting so long?
How is the Bible the most perfect moral code? I am not sure I understand this statement. How is it perfect as a moral code?
I beg to differ on the Historical accuracy. Some of the evidence is dubious, and some of the evidence is not there. From all the books that I have been reading, which is alot, I have an understanding about ancient history. All this stuff about the Bible, and whatever I know already, you have not told me anything that I have not read, of learnt in Church. Remember I was a Baptist before your were born. That makes me more Holy then you. :-) Only kidding, not.
The Bible has perfect unity? I think not. I have shown you examples were it does not have perfect unity, you called them "tensions." I call them something different.
What am I doing on Dec 25? Having Christmas, what are you doing? Plus, celebrating mine and Lily's 25th wedding anniversary.
Now, you say the Bible is true. Do mean that it is God’s Word – that every word is true and there are no mistakes – or do you believe that they are the just the words of God with a mixture of truth and error. This is foundational.
Out of the 10 Commandments and the Law spring forth the root of all of our moral and civil laws. Strip away all the judicial jargon and the law will come from the Law.
There is a precise science called Textual Criticism. Throughout the years, the practitioners of TC have discovered, preserved, catalogued, evaluated and published and amazing array of biblical manuscripts from the both the Old and New Testaments. In fact, the number of existing biblical manuscripts outdistances the existing fragments of any other ancient literature. By comparing text with text, the textual critic can confidently determine what the originally writing contained. There are over 5000 NT manuscripts and/or fragments. NT textual scholars conclude that 99% of the original writings have been reclaimed and the remaining 1% has no impact on any Christian doctrine.
Again, I come back to the thought of who are you reading. Are you reading authors that are predisposed to authenticity of the Bible or those that are out to prove it is wrong. If all your info is from a secular frame of mind, then of course you are going to have question after question. There are people who call themselves Christians that don’t believe in the virgin birth of Jesus - what slant of research are they going to present?
Why did God wait? I don’t know – His ways are not my ways. That’s why He is God and I am not. You are right, it would make sense to have it ‘written down first’ – but again, I am only a blip in time – now I don’t if I warp through that blip or not – He is the one in charge, I am not. I guess you can ask God when you get there – if you get there – if He is really there at all. I remember my last fight with AT1 – in the kitchen on Brownlee. Dad was right there watching at didn’t stop us. Just because he let us fight and learn didn’t mean that he wasn’t still in charge. He was, he just let me learn a lesson.
On the 25th of December – what are you celebrating about Christmas? The snow, the presents, the tree,“Happy Holidays” – what is Christmas all about?
An early congratulations on your wedding anniversary. I did not remember it was on Christmas – this is bad of me, but was I there?!?!?!? I don’t remember Christmas ’81 being to celebratory – maybe it was Christmas ’82?!?!
What are you celebrating at Christmas? If I remember right Christmas is a pagan holiday in honour of the winter equinox, and Jesus was born in the spring time not on Dec 25, if you want to get techincal.
After we were married, we were there for Christmas. I remember being home.
I am just reading history books, I have always been fasinated by anceint history. I go to the book store and buy a book and read it. So what part of history am I getting wrong?
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