The Credibility of the New Testament - Ingo Sorke · PDF filemethods can be only inadequately achieved.” Rudolf Schnackenburg, Jesus in the Gospels: A Biblical Christology, 316

The 1844 Study Bible Introduction to the New Testament

The Credibility of the New Testament

"The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isa 40:8) "The Scripture cannot be broken." (Jn 10:35) “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2Tim 3:16 NKJV) “Intimate friendship with Jesus, on which everything depends, is in danger of clutching at thin air.” Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), Jesus of Nazareth, xii “I believe that this Jesus - the Jesus of the Gospels - is a historically plausible and convincing figure.” Ibid. “A reliable view of the historical figure of Jesus of Nazareth through scientific effort with historical-critical methods can be only inadequately achieved.” Rudolf Schnackenburg, Jesus in the Gospels: A Biblical Christology, 316 "A thousand times over, the death knell of the Bible has been sounded, the funeral procession formed, the inscription cut on the tombstone, and committal read. But somehow the corpse never stays put. No other book has been so chopped, knived, sifted, scrutinized, and vilified. What book on philosophy or religion or psychology . . . of classical or modern times has been subject to such a mass attack as the Bible? With such venom and skepticism? With such thoroughness and erudition? Upon every chapter, line, and tenet? The Bible is still loved by millions, read by millions, and studied by millions." Bernard Ramm, Protestant Christian Evidences (Chicago: Moody Press, 1957), pp. 232-233 General Revelation Special Revelation

1. Nature 2. Conscience (lat. "with knowledge"!) 3. Providence

1. Bible (2 Tim 3:16-17) 2. Jesus Christ (Heb 1:1-2)

Authorial Reliability Matthew: Fiscal Accuracy women and doubting men = authenticity Mark: Roman Precision Mk 10:46-52 blind Bartimaeus = acoustic reporting Luke: Medical Exactness klinidion, Malchus' right ear, Herod: tetrarch John: Seasoned Reflection the "Beloved" = insider info Acts: Historical Foundation 32 countries ~ 54 cities ~ 9 islands - 0 mistakes!

The Science of Salvation Introduction - p. 1 © Ingo Sorke 2014


Prophetic Precision Daniel 2 Daniel 8-9

The New Testament vs. Literature in Antiquity: Quality + Quantity Book/Author Date Copy Interval Quantity

"Iliad" - Homer 900 BC 400 BC 500 643

Euripides 450 BC AD 1100 1500 9

Sophocles 450 BC AD 1000 1400 193

“History” - Herodotus 450 BC AD 900 1,350 8

Catullus 54 BC AD 1550 1550 3

“Gallic Wars” - Julius Caesar 50 BC AD 900 950 10

“Annals” - Tacitus AD 100 AD 1,100 1,000 20

“Natural History” - Pliny AD 100 AD 850 750 7

New Testament Manuscripts & oral culture

AD 50-100 AD 120 (Rylands)

1-2 generations

>5,000 >50,000

Variant Readings "the disciples"

"his disciples"

"they" -

Church Fathers 1st century >99%

Survey of Secondary Sources that mention Jesus/Christians/NT Events/Parallels “He [Ananias] convened a meeting of the Sanhedrin and brought before them a man named James, the brother of Jesus, who was called the Christ, and certain others. He accused them of having transgressed the law and delivered them up to be stoned.” Josephus, Ant. 20.200 - AD 93 “About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man [. . .]. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. [. . .] When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing among us, had



condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not give up their affection for him. [. . . ], for the prophets of God had prophesied these and countless other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.” Testimonium Flavianum 18.3.3 [disputed;; “authentic nucleus”] Test. Flav. 18.5.2: reference to John the Baptist’s imprisonment and death. “Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome . . . . Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty: then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind.” Tacitus “I have asked them if they are Christians, and if they admit it, I repeat the question a second and third time, with a warning of the punishment awaiting them. If they persist, I order them to be led away for execution;; for, whatever the nature of their admission, I am convinced that their stubbornness and unshakable obstinacy ought not to go unpunished. . . . They also declared that the sum total of their guilt or error amounted to no more than this: they had met regularly before dawn on a fixed day to chant verses alternately amongst themselves by oath, not for any criminal purpose, but to abstain from theft, robbery, and adultery. . . . This made me decide it was all the more necessary to extract the truth by torture from two slave-women, whom they called deaconesses. I found nothing but a degenerate sort of cult carried to extravagant lengths.” Pliny the Younger, AD 111 [ancient Roman lawyer, author, magistrate] “This phenomenon, evidently, was visible in Rome, Athens, and other Mediterranean cities. According to Tertullian . . . it was a “cosmic” or “world event.” Phlegon, a Greek author from Caria writing a chronology soon after 137 A.D., reported that in the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad (i.e., 33 A.D.) there was “the greatest eclipse of the sun” and that “it became night in the sixth hour of the day [i.e., noon] so that stars even appeared in the heavens. There was a great earthquake in Bithynia, and many things were overturned in Nicaea.” (Paul Maier, Pontius Pilate, 1968) - Historian Thallus, AD 52, quoted in Julius Africanus, AD 221

Archaeological Aspects 1. Gospel of Luke “Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.” (Luke 1:1 NKJV)



2. The Harbor of Herod (Acts 23:35) Problem: Harbor of Herod the Great not as big as harbor of Athens, Piraeus, as claimed by Josephus Solution: underwater excavations 3. Lysanias, tetrarch of Abilene (Lk 3:1) Problem: no Lysanias ½ century earlier Solution: Inscription during Tiberius (AD 14-37): “Lysanias, tetrarch of Abilene near Damascus”, and another Lysanias! 4. Acts 14:1-6: Lystra and Derbe in district of Lycaonia, but Iconium in different district Problem: contra Cicero: Iconium in same district Solution: 1910, Sir Walter Ramsey: inscription: 1st c. Iconium under Phrygia from AD 37 - AD 72! 5. “Politarch” (Acts 17:6) Problem: no “politarch” in Roman documents Solution: Inscription: “in the time of the politarchs” (35 in Thessalonica;; British Museum) 6. Pool of Siloam (Isa 8:6;; 22:9;; Jn 9:7, 11) Problem: destroyed in AD 70 Solution: uncovered, stair-steps found in 2004 7. Lk 18:35 vs. Mk 10:46 “Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho [ἀπὸ Ἰεριχὼ] with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.” (Mk 10:46 NKJV)

“Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho [εἰς Ἰεριχὼ], that a certain blind man sat by the road begging.” (Lk 18:35 NKJV)

Problem: apparent contradiction Solution: translation, geographic peculiarity



8. Quirinius (Lk 2:1) Problem: didn’t rule Syria till AD 6 Solution: coin: Quirinius was governor 2x: 4 BC - AD 1;; AD 6-10 9. Pool of Bethesda (John 5) Problem: What pool?! Solution: Conrad Schick, 19th c. 10. Census Problem: there are no examples of a nation-wide census Solution: “Seeing that the time has come for the house to house census, it is necessary to compel all those who for any cause whatsoever are residing out of their provinces to return to their own homes, that they may both carry out the regular order of the census and may also attend diligently to the cultivation of their allotments.” (Governmental order, AD 104, Gaius Vibius Maximus, Prefect of Egypt)

11. Nazareth Problem: not mentioned in OT, but 63 other Galilean towns are cited;; not in Josephus, but 45 Galilean towns are cited, including Japha, 1 mile from Nazareth;; no ancient historian or geographer mentions Nazareth, and the first literary appearance is in a 7th century AD poem. Solution: Aramaic listing describes 24 priest families who relocated after burning of temple AD 70;; one lists Nazareth! Also: 1st century tombs in vicinity of Nazareth, and pre-Christian remains under modern Nazareth. 12. The Slaughter of Bethlehem Problem: no independent confirmation of occurrence Solution: Bethlehem was small, “only” 20-30 babies killed;; Herod the Great killed many people (joke: it’s better to be Herod’s pig [hus] than his son [huios] Melius est Herodis porcum esse quam filium - Macrobius, Saturnalia, 2:4:11);; no modern media/mass communication 13. The Dead Sea Scrolls Problem: no mention of Jesus Solution: Mt 11:3, then 4-5: missing in Isa 61 quote, but present in 4Q521 "Of the 166 words in Isaiah 52, there are only seventeen letters in question. Ten of these letters are simply a matter of spelling, which does not affect the sense. Four more letters are minor stylistic changes, such as conjunctions. The remaining three letters comprise the word 'light,' which is added in verse 11, and does not affect the meaning greatly . . . Thus, in one chapter of 166 words, there is only one word (three letters) in question after a thousand years of transmission." Norman Geisler and William Nix, A General Introduction to the Bible (Chicago: Moody Press: 1968), 26.



Isa 61:1 Mt 11:3-5

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor;; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound”

"The blind see and the lame walk;; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear;; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. (Mat 11:5 NKJV)

4Q521

"We have given practical proof of our reverence of our own Scriptures. For, although such long ages have now passed, no one has ventured either to add, or to remove, or to alter a syllable;; and it is in instinct with every Jew, from the day of his birth, to regard them as the decrees of God, to abide by them, and, if need be, cheerfully die for them. Time and time again ere now the sight has been witnessed of prisoners enduring tortures and death in every form in the theatres, rather than utter a single word against the laws and the allied documents." "Flavius Josephus Against Apion" "We may rest assured that the consonantal text of the Hebrew Bible . . . has been preserved with an accuracy perhaps unparalleled in any other Near Eastern literature." William F. Albright, in H. H. Rowley, Old Testament and Modern Study, p. 25 14. The Caiaphas Ossuary high priest A.D. 18-36 (Jn 11:49-53) Inscription: Joseph, son of Caiaphas

אפיק רב ףסוי Josephus: “Joseph, who is called Caiaphas of the high priesthood” (Ant. 18:35;; cf. 23.25, 39) 15. The James Bone Box: Fact or Fiction? [resource: Craig Evans, Jesus and the Ossuaries (2003)] Background Ossuary: bone box (usually limestone, a catalyst) Ossilegium: practice of putting decayed body (bones) into box 1 year post-mortem



- ¾ contain no inscription - mostly infant skeletons (high mortality rate) - Jesus came as healer! Patina: material deposit over time Oded Golan: antiquities collector André Lemaire: archaeologist who recognized its potential value Why Bone Preservation? Messianic Hope! “The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley;; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley;; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know." 4 Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them,`O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 `Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 "I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you;; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD."'" 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded;; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling;; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over;; but there was no breath in them. 9 Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath,`Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."'" 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.” (Ezek 37:1-10 NKJV) or . . . supply = demand: many ossuaries available in 1st c. BC - AD 70: rejects from building program (cost: a day’s wages) Ossilegium Procedure If 2 hours daylight: washed, cleaned, perfumed or next day;; then 7-day funeral Limestone acts as decomposition catalyst Inscriptions: Informative (“son of . . . ”;; trade);; Humor: “Miriam, wife of the cow” Historical Practice Rabbi Elezar bar Zadok: “Thus spoke father at the time of his death: ‘My son, bury me first in a grave . . . In the course of time, collect my bones and put them in an ossuary;; but do not gather them with your own hands.’ And thus did I watch him: Johanan entered, collected the bones, and spread a sheet over them. I then came in, rent my clothes for them, and sprinkled dry herbs over them. Just as he attended his father, so I attended him.” The Role of James Option 1: full brother: Joseph + Mary → Jesus, James, Joseph, Simon, Jude, Salome, Mary Option 2: half brother: Joseph + previous wife → James, Joseph, Simon, Jude, Salome, Mary Joseph + Mary . . . child: Jesus Option 3: cousin: Joseph + Mary → Clopas = brother of Joseph + Mary of Clopas . . . children: James, Joseph, Simon, Jude, Salome, Mary



Fact or Fiction? Dr. Amnon Rosenfeld, Dr. Shimon Ilani, The Geological Survey of Israel (Jerusalem): “It is worth mentioning that the patina does not contain any modern elements (such as modern pigments) and it adheres firmly to the stone. No signs of the use of a modern tool or instrument was found. No evidence that might detract from the authenticity of the patina and the inscription was found.” Letter to Herschel Shanks, ed. BAR, Sept. 17, 2002 Relevance: Discipleship Urgency Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." (Lk 9:59 NKJV) = FOLLOW ME NOW! 16. Apollonius of Tyana: Problem: exorcised demons;; raised young girl from the dead;; appeared to followers after he died Solution: biographer Philostratus wrote 1 ½ cent. after A., and in 3rd cent. A.D. in Cappadocia – Christianity already present! Apollonius: Political embellishment for temple dedication Gospels and Paul can be cross-referenced;; not so A. Gospels claim eye witnesses;; A: “It is reported that” Commonality Dependence=/ Comparison to Book of Mormon “. . . No Book of Mormon cities have ever been located, no Book of Mormon person, place, nation, or name has ever been found, no Book of Mormon artifacts, no Book of Mormon scriptures, no Book of Mormon inscriptions . . . Nothing which demonstrates the Book of Mormon is anything other than myth or invention has ever been found.” (John Ankerberg) The Jesus Seminar: The Quest for the Historical Jesus “5 Gospels”: Red: yes (2%) Pink: may be (0%) Grey: could have (16%) Black: no (82%) "The Gospels are now assumed to be narratives in which the memory of Jesus is embellished by mythic elements that express the church's faith in him, and by plausible fictions that enhance the telling of the gospel story for first-century listeners who knew about divine men and miracle workers firsthand." Robert Funk Example: - Lord’s Prayer: only “Our Father” is original to Jesus - comparison to Abraham Lincoln, cutting the chains of a slave - presupposition: no supernatural occurrences The Gospel of Thomas - why not included in the canon? “Let Mary go away from us, because women are not worthy of life.” “Lo, I shall lead her in order to make her a male, so that she too may become a living spirit, resembling you males. For every woman who makes herself male will enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus condemned a boy to die because he knocked him over. Other Gospels?



“So, if anyone who had served the elders came, I asked about their sayings in detail—what Andrew or Peter said, or what was said by Philip or Thomas or James or John or Matthew or any other of the Lord’s followers.” Papias of Hierapolis, AD 110 (quoted in Eusebius, 3:39) Hypnotism? - Too many people to hypnotize - Worked among skeptics and doubters - Empty tomb despite Roman guard - Water to wine: quick miracle! - Instant healings (cp. Brit. Med. Journal, 1952, 16-year old with ichtyosis took 5 days to heal after h.) - Hypnotism not mentioned or alluded to Summary: “Archaeology has not produced anything that is unequivocally a contradiction to the Bible.” John McRay Appendix: Other Gospels Gospel of . . . Time (AD) Info

Basilides mid 2nd lost;; Gnostic

Ebionites 2nd c. variation of Gospel of Hebrews;; theology of sect “Ebionites”: Jesus only human, adopted by God at baptism

Egerton 2nd c. fragments of four stories similar to Mk 1:40-45;; 12:13-17;; Jn 5:39-47;; 10:33-39)

Egyptians 2nd c. dialogue between Jesus and Salome;; encourages celibacy

Coptic Gospel of the Egyptians late 3rd Gnostic myth: Jesus as reincarnation of Seth (3rd son of A+E)

Eve 3rd? Lost Gnostic writing;; quoted by Epiphanius of Salamis (also Gospel of Perfection)

the Hebrews 1st early Aramaic summary of Jesus’ life by Matthew? (also Gospel of Nazoreans)

Infancy Gospel of James late 2nd account of Mary by James, in which Mary remains a virgin

Acts of John Docetic?, late 2nd

retellings of John

Judas late 2nd Judas heroic betrayer, catalyst of Cross event



Jesus: “You will exceed all of them”

Lord Marcionite, mid-2nd

Marcion adaption of Gospel of Luke

Mary Gnostic, late 2nd/early 3rd

which Mary?

Matthias 2nd authorship unclear;; used by Gnostics

Nicodemus 4th forgery (also Acts of Pilate)

Oxyrhynchus 3rd or earlier papyrus fragment of confrontation between Jesusand Pharisees;; expansion of Mk 7:1-23

Apocalypse of Peter 2nd

Coptic Apocalypse of Peter 2nd “the one whose hands and feet they nailed to the cross [was] only a fleshly substitute”

Philip 3rd summarizes the views of followers of Gnostic leader Valentinus

the Savior early 3rd Papyrus Berlin 22220, adaption of Gospel of Peter (also known as Vision of the Savior)

Thomas mid-2nd similarity to NT Gospels.

Infancy Gospel of Thomas mid-2nd boy Jesus uses miracles for his own benefit;; style of writing and lack of knowledge about Jewish traditions

Truth late 2nd Nag Hammadi in 1940s;; Gnostic retelling of the creation story and of the life of Jesus (Gospel of Valentinus)

Authoritative Christian Writings that accepted all 4 Gospels/27 NT books: - Fragment of Muratori (mid-2nd, Rome) - Codex Claromontanus (late 3rd, Egypt/N. Afr.) - Eusebius of Caesarea’s Church History (early 4th) - Letter of Athanasius (AD 367) Recognized but questioned: Apocalypse of Peter, Epistle of Barnabas, The Shepherd of Hermas, Acts of Paul;; Eusebius: James, Jude, 2 Peter, 2, 3, John Rejected: All except 27 (incl. Laodiceans, Alexandrians, Shepherd of Hermas, etc.) Matthew, Mark, Luke, John accepted;; other Gospels not!



Cohesion of the Textus Receptus branch

Backgrounds to the New Testament

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son.” Gal 4:4

Time Space People

Judaism The Temple - Torah, Tradition, Theology Synagogue:

- 10 married Jews - sacrifice → prayer and Bible study - Shema (Deut 6:4-9) דחא הוהי וניהלא הוהי לארשי עמש - Prayer, Songs, OT, sermon?, blessing, qualified visitors invited to speak (Jesus, Paul!)

The Agricultural Cycle & the Religious Calendar



Spring Holidays

Purim (Esther) survival of the remnant Passover (Exodus) Jesus’ death Unleavened Bread Sabbath rest First Fruits Resurrection

↓ 50 days Egypt → Sinai ↑

Pentecost (Weeks) Holy Spirit Fall Holidays

Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) civil new year;; early rain Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) highest holy day;; day of judgment Tabernacles (Booths, Ingathering) Exodus;; grape/olive harvest Lights (Hanukah) 168 BC;; Antiochus Epiphanes, 8 days of light

Groups

Pharisees “separated ones”;; counter-cultural against Hellenization stronghold: synagogue Nicodemus (Jn 3:1);; Paul (Phil 3:5)

Sadducees politically influential;; only Pentateuch;; no angels, spirits, immortality of the soul, resurrection body (Acts 23:3!) stronghold: temple, rituals, priesthood

Essenes ascetic reaction to Pharisaic externalism and Sadducaic worldliness celibacy;; monastic communities (Qumran) 2-3 year probation;; communal property/wealth white robes;; against war, slavery “elect remnant living in the last days” (el remanente final de Dios)

Scribes professional class;; “teachers of the law”;; mostly Pharisees endless rabbinic quotes (contra Jesus: “Amen I say” Mt 7:28-29;; Jn 7:46)

Zealots uprising lead to destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70) Lk 6:15;; Acts 1:13;; 21:20;; 22:3

Herodians small political minority in Galilee;; cooperation with Rome (Mt 22:15-22)

Sanhedrin Jewish Supreme Court (“council”)

Diaspora dispersion of Jewish people Hebraists ↔ Hellenists (Acts 6!)



Social Dynamics

Monotheistic Judaism Pagan Syncretism Pax Romana Touch: Social Space and Power Sphere (Mt 6:6;; Lk 13;; Jn 13:23-27;; Rom 16:16) Emotions: hearts inside out Caesar’s eulogy for young wife: “so that they were fond of him, as a man who was gentle and full of feeling”;; wept when he thought of death of Alexander the Great and his mortal enemy Pompey Jesus: Mt 9:36;; 15:32;; 20:34;; Mk 6:34;; 8:2 Love ↔ Hate (Mt 6:24;; 12:30;; Mk 9:40;; Lk 9:50;; 14:26;; 16:31;; Jn 12:25) “In-Group”: “Component households in a quarter assume that they share a certain moral unity so that in some respects social space in their quarter can be regarded as an extension of their own households. This closeness is symbolized in a number of ways: the exchange of visits on feast days, assistance and participation in the activities connected with births, circumcisions, weddings, and funerals . . . This also included friends of friends!” Bruce Malina, Windows to the World of Jesus

in-Group: all disciples from Galilee (Jn 1:44;; Acts 1:13) Mt 5:43-48 Enemies? "You have heard that it was said,`You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you1, 45 "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 "And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (NKJV) EGW: “Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.” COL 69 Mt 28:18-20 Global “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.” (NKJV) Mt 27:46 The Ultimate Relationship “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (NKJV)



Mk 3:31-35 New Family “Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him;; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." 33 But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" 34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 35 "For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." (NKJV) Nicodemus: “we” Jn 3:2 Peter: group-think/single-think (Mt 26:35;; Mk 14:29;; Lk 22:33) no potluck with Gentiles (Acts 10) Gangs: socio-relational surrogate family Time Jesus’ birth: time period, not point (Lk 2:2 “while Quirinius was governor of Syria”) 10 virgins (Mt 25): focus not on delay but arrival Western Eastern



Historical Background to the New Testament

The Battle for World Dominion

Babylon Medo-Persia Greece Rome

Nebuchadnezzar Darius, Cyrus Alexander the Great Pagan, Papal

605-539 539-331 331-168 168 BC - AD 476

Revelation Armageddon Greek Language New Testament Early Church

Medo-Persia Issues of Conflict between Jewish Thought & Life and Culture - animal sacrifice disliked by Persians + Egyptians - Zoroastrians: fire is sacred - not to be desecrated by burning flesh (sacrifice) - Jewish temple in Egypt destroyed - Jews from Babylon to Jerusalem: clash of thought + life (liberal half-pagan vs conservatives - rival Samaritan cult on Mt Gerizim;; see John 4 - Samaritans still exist today (˜500?) - birth of Jewish synagogues, rabbinic interpretations (contra Mt 7:28-29)

Greece Persian losses: battle of Marathon (490);; Salamis (480);; Plataea (479);; Peloponnesian War (431);; Philip II (Philippians!) assassinated Alexander the Great - battle at Granicus River (334 BC) - battle at Issus (333 BC) - to Alexandria, culture + earning, then Egypt, crowned pharaoh, rides on donkey!



- rapid conquest towards India (Greek script in Sanscrit!);; reason NT is written in Greek! - † June 13, 323 BC (~ 30!) "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! . . . Behold, your King is coming to you;; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zech 9:9) "Tell the daughter of Zion,`Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.'" (Mt 21:5) Prophetic Descriptions of Alexander the Great

Daniel 2:39: "But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours;; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.”

Daniel 7: In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts. 2 Daniel spoke, saying, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. 3 "And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. 4 "The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off;; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man's heart was given to it. 5 "And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it:`Arise, devour much flesh!' 6 "After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.” Daniel 8: Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high;; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him;; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great. 5 And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground;; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6 Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power. 7 And I saw him confronting the ram;; he was moved with rage against him, attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him;; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand. 8 Therefore the male goat grew very great;; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven. 9 And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. Alexander’s Empire divided among 4 generals (diadochi):

- Macedonia: Cassander - killed - Egypt: Ptolemy I Soter (“Savior”!) - Thrace: Lysimachus - killed - Asia Minor: Seleucus - killed

- Jews to Alexandria → Hellenization → Septuagint (LXX) via Ptolemy II + high priest Eleazar



- 80% of OT quotes in NT from LXX? - Sample: “God is my rock” → “God is my strength”;; compare Hab 2:4 MT/LXX vs NT Rom 1:17

Rome

Pax Romana - but church + state = death of Jesus;; death of the church (compare to Rev 13!) Antiochus IV Epiphanes: plundered temple, ended morning/evening sacrifice, sacrificed swine on altar (Dec 167 BC;; 1 Mc 1:54, 59;; 2 Mc 6:2), forbid circumcision, Sabbath;; promoted Zeus, Dionysus, and pigs. theological resistance: rise of Hassidim and Pharisees political resistance: Maccabean Revolt;; trigger: Mattathias killed compromising Jew;; son Judas Maccabeus (“the hammer”) took over. 25th of Kislev (164 BC): rededication of temple (Hanukkah, Feast of Lights) John 10:22: “Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter” (cf. Jos. Ant. xii.7.6).



Top 10 Reasons why Antiochus Epiphanes is not the little horn of Dn 8: 1) 2,300 morning-evenings = 2,300 days (6 years 4 ⅔ months), not 1,150 (AE persecution: years 10 days 2) Medo-Persia: not two successive kingdoms 3) AE arises before Rome (Seleucid);; the little horn arises out of the 4th beast (Rome) 4) “to be great” once with MP, Greece;; 3x with little horn ≠ AE, who ruled limited territory 5) directions of LH conquest: south, east, Palestine;; AE: south: temporary, limited;; east by predecessor, died during re-conquest!;; Palestinian forces were beaten (1 Macc 3:57;; 4:29);; Jews reconquered temple (1 Macc 5:52);; AE died 163 BC (1 Macc 6:15) 6) despite pig sacrifice, AE never damaged the temple (Dn 8:11) 7) LH: “at the latter time of their kingdom” (Dn 8:23);; AE: 8th of 20 Seleucid kings (311-65 BC;; AE 175-163 BC) 8) LH: time of the end;; AE? 9) origin: “out of one of them” = plural antecedent is “four winds of heaven”, not 4 generals

Resources: www.1844madesimple.org;; William Shea, Jacques Doukhan, Sdravko Stefanovic www.biblehistory.com From Caesar to Christ: Mark Anthony vs Octavian (“Augustus” = magnificent)/Caesar and Herod Antipater (Edomite, Idumean) = Herod the Great (Lk 1:5;; Mt 2:1-8). Herod executed 45 nobles, many Sanhedrin members: reorganization: Pharisaic majority (Jn 3:1). When he almost died, people rejoiced, so when he recovered from sickness he herded Jews in the Hippodrome to be slaughtered at his death so people would mourn! His sister Salome released them though. He died after the Bethlehem massacre in 4 BC.


http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.1844madesimple.org&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHQiuWPheMRhslP16D2nvAdgM_8EA

http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biblehistory.com&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGL3s2D2fN8UzpTI2tYDxT-DsWyBw


The Synoptic Problem Which came first, the chicken or the egg?



Enriching Spiritual Exercise: Compare Gospel Stories! Comparisons - Contrasts

Matthew Mark Luke

Syn-Optics = "Viewed together", Matthew + Mark + Luke Key Question: - Are verbatim (or similar) wordings coincidence or the sign of a common source? - Who wrote first, Mt, Mk, or Lk? - Are the Gospels translations? - Who knew who? - Why 4 Gospels, not 1? - Why is John so different? Example 1: "Let the reader understand" (Mt 24:15) . . . "Let the reader understand" (Mk 13:14)



Matthean priority: Griesbach, church tradition (Irenaeus, Eusebius, Augustine: Mark an "abridgment", Clement of Alexandria) Griesbach: Markan Redundancies

"When evening came, as the sun was setting" (Mk 1:32)

"When evening came" (Mt 8:16) "while the sun was setting" (Lk 4:40) Example 2: "Is a lamp brought in order to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed?" (Mk 4:21)

"They do not set under a bushel basket" (Mt 5:14) "Nor set it under a bed" (Lk 8:16) The Priority of Mark Verse Quanity - Mark: 661 97.2% in Matthew;; 88.4% in Luke - Matthew: 1,068 - Luke: 1,149 Mark omits birth accounts, Sermon of the Mount, Lord's Prayer, resurrection appearances, etc. - common argument: it's easier to think that Mt + Lk added to Mark rather than Mark omitting much of Mt + Lk, but abridgments are common in literature - common accounts between Mt + Mk + Lk are longer in Mk = no abridgement! - Mark's Greek is unrefined;; more likely that Mt/Lk improved it, rather than Mk taking good Greek and making it worse Mark 4:41: "hears/obeys" sg after plural nouns Mk 5:9-10: "he begged" with pl. "we" - writer to Greek/Roman audience would have omitted Aramaic expressions in abridgement - simplification of theology:

"Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone." (Mk 10:17-18) "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good." (Mt 19:16)

Unique Patterns - Mt-Mk against Lk - Lk-Mk against Mt



- but few Mt-Lk accounts against Mk, both verbal and order - Mt/Lk abbreviations of Mk accounts - Mk "for" = 34x;; Mt 10x, all shared with Mk! - Mk "Lord" = 6x;; Mt same 6x loci, but +24;; also Lk - Mt/Lk have materials not in Mk - source? - Lk did not know Mt because material in 3 but unique Mt elements, those Mt elements not in Lk! - Material in 3, but unique Lk not in Mk never in Mt! - Matthew does not mention the fall of Jerusalem (Mt 22:7 a common occurrence, not necessarily AD 70) - 8 healing miracles in Mt + Lk, but Mk 10. Both Mt + Lk miss the saliva miracles (see Mark 7:32-35 and 8:24). - Mt + Lk use participles (from LXX?);; Mk past tense = smoothened narrative Sample similarities/differences:

"No one can serve two masters;; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will beloyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Mt 6:24)

"No servant can serve two masters;; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he willbe loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Lk 16:13)

For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, hisbrother Philip's wife. (Mt 14:3)

For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John,and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias,his brother Philip's wife;; for he had married her. (Mk 6:17)

Matthew Mark Luke John

methodical, systematic conversational, colloquial, graphic, concise, abrupt, realistic, action-oriented

artistic, graceful, social, medical, women, children

abstract, profound, double-meanings, 92% unique (except 5,000!)



Appendix: Ellen White on Bible Study “Never should the Bible be studied without prayer. Before opening its pages we should ask for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and it will be given. . . . Jesus will see us also in the secret places of prayer if we will seek Him for light that we may know what is truth. Angels from the world of light will be with those who in humility of heart seek for divine guidance.” SC 91 “As we study the Scriptures, we should pray for the light of God’s Holy Spirit to shine upon the word, that we may see and appreciate its treasures.” COL 113 “The Scriptures are the great agency in the transformation of character. . . . If studied and obeyed, the word of God works in the heart, subduing every unholy attribute.” COL 100 “The word of God is to be our study. We are to educate our children in the truths found therein. It is an inexhaustible treasure;; but men fail to find this treasure because they do not search until it is within their possession.” COL 109 “The Scriptures need not be read by the dim light of tradition or human speculation. As well might we try to give light to the sun with a torch as to explain the Scriptures by human tradition or imagination. God’s holy word needs not the torchlight glimmer of earth to make its glories distinguishable. It is light in itself - the glory of God revealed, and beside it every other light is dim. But there must be earnest study and close investigation. Sharp, clear perceptions of truth will never be the reward of indolence. No earthly blessing can be obtained without earnest, patient, persevering effort. If men attain success in business, they must have a will to do and a faith to look for results. And we cannot expect to gain spiritual knowledge without earnest toil. . . . No halfhearted, indifferent work will avail. It is essential for old and young, not only to read God’s word, but to study it with wholehearted earnestness, praying and searching for truth as for hidden treasure. Those who do this will be rewarded, for Christ will quicken the understanding. . . . Our salvation depends on a knowledge of the truth contained int he Scriptures. It is God’s will that we should possess this. Search, O search the precious Bible with hungry hearts. Explore God’s word as the miner explores the earth to find veins of gold. Never give up the search until you have ascertained your relation to God and His will in regard to you.” COL 111 “If you search the Scriptures to vindicate your own opinions, you will never reach the truth. Search in order to learn what the Lord says. If conviction comes as you search, if you see that your cherished opinions are not in harmony with the truth, do not misinterpret the truth in order to suit your own belief, but accept the light given. Open mind and heart that you may behold wondrous things out of God’s word.” COL 112 “No one can search the Scriptures in the spirit of Christ without being rewarded. When man is willing to be instructed as a little child, when he submits wholly to God, he will find the truth in His word. If men would be obedient, they would understand the plan of God’s government.” COL 114

“The appreciation of the Bible grows with its study.” COL 132



“Let every student take his Bible and place himself in communion with the great Teacher. Let the mind be trained and disciplined to wrestle with hard problems in the search for divine truth.” COL 334 “We should come with reverence to the study of the Bible, feeling that we are in the presence of God. All lightness and trifling should be laid aside. While some portions of the word are easily understood, the true meaning of other parts is not so readily discerned. There must be patient study and meditation and earnest prayer. Every student, as he opens the Scriptures, should ask for the enlightenment of the HOly Spirit;; and the promise is sure that it will be given.” . . . “Young men should search the Scriptures for themselves.” TM 108-109 “We must study the truth for ourselves. No man should be relied upon to think for us. No matter who he is, or in what position he may be placed, we are not to look upon any man as a criterion for us. We are to counsel together, and to be subject one to another;; but at the same time we are to exercise the ability God has given us, in order to learn what is truth. Each one of us must look to God for divine enlightenment. We must individually develop a character that will stand the test in the day of God. We must not become set in our ideas, and think that no one should interfere with our opinions.” TM 109 “When a point of doctrine that you do not understand comes to your attention, go to God on your knees, that you may understand what is truth and not be found as were the Jews fighting against God. While warning men to beware of accepting anything unless it is truth, we should also warn them not to imperil their souls by rejecting messages of light, but to press out of the darkness by earnest study of the word of God.” TM 110 “By rising early and economizing their moments, ministers can find time for a close investigation of the Scriptures. They must have perseverance, and not be thwarted in their object, but persistently employ their time in a study of the word, bringing to their aid the truths which other minds, through wearing labor, have brought out for them, and with diligent, persevering effort, prepared to their hand. There are ministers who have been laboring for years, teaching the truth to others, while they themselves are not familiar with the strong points of our position. I beg of such to have done with their idleness. It is a continual curse to them. God requires them to make every moment fruitful of some good to themselves or to others. “Not slothful in business;; fervent in spirit;; serving the Lord.” “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” 2T 500 “God’s precious Word is the standard for youth who would be loyal to the King of heaven. Let them study the Scriptures. Let them commit text after text to memory and acquire a knowledge of what the Lord has said.—My Life Today, 315 (1887). We may not have Christ’s physical presence today, but we are told, “The Bible is God’s voice speaking to us, just as surely as though we could hear it with our ears. If we realized this, with what awe would we open God’s Word, and with what earnestness would we search its precepts! The reading and contemplation of the Scriptures would be regarded as an audience with the Infinite One.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 393 "The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant



church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure. 1SM 204 "The study of the Bible is superior to all other study in strengthening the intellect." MYP 253 “It was his design that his disciples should take the plain, unadulterated truth for the guide of their life. They were not to add to his words, or give a forced meaning to his utterances. They were not to put a mystical interpretation upon the plain teaching of the Scriptures, and draw from theological stores to build up some man-made theory. It was through putting a mystical meaning upon the plain words of God, that sacred and vital truths were made of little significance, while the theories of men were made prominent. It was in this way that men were led to teach for doctrines the commandments of men, and that they rejected the commandment of God, that they might keep their own tradition.” (RH June 2, 1896, par. 7) “In the Saviour’s parable teaching is an indication of what constitutes the true “higher education.” Christ might have opened to men the deepest truths of science. He might have unlocked mysteries which have required many centuries of toil and study to penetrate. He might have made suggestions in scientific lines that would have afforded food for thought and stimulus for invention to the close of time. But He did not do this. He said nothing to gratify curiosity, or to satisfy man’s ambition by opening doors to worldly greatness. In all His teaching, Christ brought the mind of man in contact with the Infinite Mind. He did not direct the people to study men’s theories about God, His word, or His works. He taught them to behold Him as manifested in His works, in His word, and by His providences. . . Christ did not deal in abstract theories, but in that which is essential to the development of character, that which will enlarge man’s capacity for knowing God, and increase his efficiency to do good. He spoke to men of those truths that relate to the conduct of life, and that take hold upon eternity.” (COL 23) “In our day, as of old, the vital truths of God’s word are set aside for human theories and speculations. Many professed ministers of the gospel do not accept the whole Bible as the inspired word. One wise man rejects one portion;; another questions another part. They set up their judgment as superior to the word;; and the Scripture which they do teach rests upon their own authority. Its divine authenticity is destroyed. Thus the seeds of infidelity are sown broadcast;; for the people become confused and know not what to believe. There are many beliefs that the mind has no right to entertain. In the days of Christ the rabbis put a forced, mystical construction upon many portions of Scripture. Because the plain teaching of God’s word condemned their practices, they tried to destroy its force. The same thing is done today. The word of God is made to appear mysterious and obscure in order to excuse transgression of His law. Christ rebuked these practices in His day. He taught that the word of God was to be understood by all. He pointed to the Scriptures as of unquestionable authority, and we should do the same. The Bible is to be presented as the word of the infinite God, as the end of all controversy and the foundation of all faith. The Bible has been robbed of its power, and the results are seen in a lowering of the tone of spiritual life. In the sermons from many pulpits of today there is not that divine



manifestation which awakens the conscience and brings life to the soul. The hearers can not say, “Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32. There are many who are crying out for the living God, longing for the divine presence. Philosophical theories or literary essays, however brilliant, cannot satisfy the heart. The assertions and inventions of men are of no value. Let the word of God speak to the people. Let those who have heard only traditions and human theories and maxims hear the voice of Him whose word can renew the soul unto everlasting life.” COL 40

"Never attempt to search the Scriptures unless you are ready to listen, unless you are ready to be alearner, unless you are ready to listen to the Word of God as though His voice were speaking directly

to you from the living oracles." MS 13, 1888


The Credibility of the New Testament - Ingo Sorke · PDF filemethods can be only inadequately achieved.” Rudolf Schnackenburg, Jesus in the Gospels: A Biblical Christology, 316

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