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The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore
and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe
all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to
the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19-20).
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June 10, 2018
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Contents:
1) Myth or History? (Part 2 of 3) (Forrest D. Moyer)
2) News & Notes
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-1-
Myth or History?
(Part 2 of 3)
Forest D. Moyer
There are many effective ways to respond to the claims that the
Bible either contains or is made up of myths. For example, we can
show that the Scriptures have the mark of inspiration totally
(plenary inspiration). We can show that prophecy helps to prove the
authenticity of the Scriptures. However, the approach that I want to
use has to do with the person of Jesus Christ. If we can show that
Jesus was a historical person, we will have proven that He was not a
myth. If we can show that the claims that He made for Himself are
valid, we will have shown that His disciples did not, after His
leaving this earth, manufacture the claims of His Deity. If we can
show that Jesus is from God, then we will have also shown that
Genesis is an inspired account because Jesus looked upon Genesis as
actual history. We might state our approach in this manner:
1. Was Jesus a historical person or was He a myth?
2. If Jesus was a historical person, was He who He claimed to be --
Deity?
3. If Jesus is Deity, then Genesis is not a myth.
Was Jesus A Historical Person?
"Comparatively few recent scholars postulate that Jesus never lived.
Such positions are usually viewed as blatant misuses of the
available historical data."9
It is not within the scope of this paper to elaborate upon the
historical trustworthiness of the four gospels. However, they will
bear the scrutiny of the severest historical critic. They give
testimony to the fact that Jesus was a historical person.
All of the New Testament narratives were completed within sixty
years or so of the Lord’s death, and of the twenty-seven New
Testament books, no less than ten were penned by personal companions
of Jesus. Paul, an eye-witness of Christ, wrote at least thirteen of
the remainder. It used to be fashionable in liberal circles to
ascribe most New Testament books to the second century A. D., but
interestingly, even liberal critics are now admitting that the New
Testament documents are first-century sources of information. For
example, modernistic theologian John A. T. Robinson of England, in
his book, Redating the New Testament (1977), conceded that
all of the New Testament books were written within seventy years of
the death of Christ, and by men whose names they bear!10
Most skeptics claim that they want non-biblical proof of the
existence of Jesus. This, too, can be given.
While some believe that we know almost nothing about Jesus from
ancient, non-New Testament sources, this plainly is not the case.
Not only are there many such sources, but Jesus is one of the
persons of ancient history concerning whom we have a significant
amount of quality data. His is one of the most-mentioned and
most-substantiated lives in ancient times.11
(One book that contains much information about the historical Jesus
is He Walked Among Us by Josh McDowell, Here's Life
Publishers, San Bernardino, California. See pages 35-70 for
information on historical sources dealing with Jesus.)
The following information is from A Ready Defense (Josh
McDowell, Here’s To Life Publishers, San Bernardino, Ca., pp
198-208):
Ancient Secular Writers
Cornelius Tacitus was born circa A.D. 52-54 and was a Roman
historian. He alluded to the death of Jesus and to Christians in
Rome when he wrote:
"Hence to suppress the rumor, he (Nero) falsely charged with the
guilt, and punished with the most exquisite tortures, the persons
commonly called Christians, who were hated for their enormities.
Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius
Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius; but the
pernicious superstition, repressed for a time broke out again, not
only through Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the
city of Rome also" (Annals, XV. 44).
Lucian of Samosata was a satirist of the second century. He spoke of
Christ as:
"the man who was crucified in Palestine because He introduced this
new cult into the world… Furthermore, their first lawgiver persuaded
them that they were all brothers one of another after they have
transgressed once for all by denying the Greek gods and by
worshipping that crucified sophist Himself and living under His
laws" (The Passing Peregrinus).
Flavius Josephus was born A.D. 37 and was a noted Jewish historian.
He is quoted as saying:
"Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to
call Him a man, for He was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of
such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to Him
both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ,
and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us,
had condemned Him to the cross, those that loved Him at the first
did not forsake Him; for he appeared to them alive again in the
third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten
thousand other wonderful things concerning Him. And the tribe of
Christians so named from Him are not extinct at this day" (Antiquities,
xviii. 33).
In another place he refers to Jesus when he speaks of James "the
brother of the so-called Christ" (Antiquities XX 9:1).
Seutonius was another Roman historian and a court official under
Hadrian. He said, "As the Jews were making constant disturbances at
the instigation of Chrestus [another spelling of Christus], he
expelled them from Rome" (Life of Claudius, 25. 4).
McDowell quotes from Pliny the Younger, Tertullian, Thallus, Phlegon
and from a letter by Mara Bar-Serapion all showing the historical
evidence that Jesus was a historical person.
Jesus was not a myth. He was a historical person who lived during
the first century. "Very few scholars hold the view that Jesus never
lived. Even Rudolf Bultmann, one of the most influential critical
theologians of the twentieth century and exponent of demythologizing
the Scripture, said, ‘By no means are we at the mercy of those who
doubt or deny that Jesus ever lived.’"12
Virtually no writers have asserted that Jesus did not exist or have
attempted to cast virtually total doubts and obscurity on his life
and ministry. But, such efforts are refuted by the early and
eyewitness testimony presented by Paul and others, by the early date
of the Gospels, by the corresponding historicity and trustworthiness
of the Gospels, and by the failure of the mystery religions to
explain the Christian faith.13
*****
9. Gary R. Habermas, The Verdict of History, Thomas Nelson
Publishers. Nashville, p. 31.
10. Bert Thompson and Wayne Jackson, A Study Course in Christian
Evidences. Apologetics Press, Inc. Montgomery, AL. 1991, p.
140.
11. Josh McDowell, A Ready Defense. Here's Life Publishers.
San Bernardino, CA., p. 197.
12. Gary R. Habermas, op. cit., 36.
13. Ibid., p. 36.
— Via the bulletin of the La Vista church of Christ
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"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we
ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to
Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all
generations forever and ever. Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21, NASB).
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-2-
News & Notes
It is good to have Charles Crosby back with us today!
His doctor had reported no infection and that the knee has
healed. (UPDATE: This was also confirmed by the results of a
fluid-test from around the knee.)
Benny Medlock’s doctor advised him not to have the
procedure yet for his aneurysm, since it is still small. But they
will be keeping watch on it.
Bentley O'Berry, who is only 5 or 6, was admitted to the
hospital last Wednesday morning with stroke-like symptoms (paralysis
of the right side). But by that afternoon, his right side was
doing better, but not completely recovered. He returned home. It is
now thought that it was not a stroke, but a seizure. So he will be
seeing a neurologist to determine what kind.
Michael Crawford (Debra Carter Crawford’s husband) has
several health issues, one being a heart that is functioning at only
30%.
Though somewhat better, the muscle-pain in Danny Bartlett’s
leg is not completely gone.
Elizabeth Young Harden’s baby is due July 4.
Others to also pray for: Jim Lively, Shirley Davis, Deborah
Medlock, Pat & A.J. Joyner, Rex & Frankie Hadley,
Misty Thornton, Hannah Laughlin, Rick Cuthbertson, Tommy Lindsey,
Rhyan Thomas, Ginger Head, Michelle Rittenhouse, and Mary
Vandevander.
WordPress Version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2018/06/10/the-gospel-observer-june-10-2018/
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The
Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel, for that is how
faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John
8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts
8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of
sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal.
3:26-27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith, living for the Lord; for, if
not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2
Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
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