This is an internet article I found...im interested in getting your opinion. It is a bit jumbled, for some reason when I paste documents on the blog, it throws the formatting off. I have referenced the website I got it from.
Evolution versus a basic law of naturehttp://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-thermodynamics.html
Scores of distinguished scientists have carefully examined the most basic laws of nature to see if Evolution is physically possible - given enough time and opportunity. The conclusion of many is that Evolution is simply not feasible. One major problem is the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics.
law of science: basic, unchanging principle of nature; a scientifically observed phenomenon which has been subjected to very extensive measurements and experimentation and has repeatedly proved to be invariable throughout the known universe (e.g., the law of gravity, the laws of motion).
thermodynamics: the study of heat power; a branch of physics which studies the efficiency of energy transfer and exchange.1
Decaying buildings. Massive structures may appear to be capable of lasting almost forever, but they will not. The need for ongoing repairs stems, in part, from the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. (Scene from the ORIGINS motion picture series.)
The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics describes basic principles familiar in everyday life. It is partially a universal law of decay; the ultimate cause of why everything ultimately falls apart and disintegrates over time. Material things are not eternal. Everything appears to change eventually, and chaos increases. Nothing stays as fresh as the day one buys it; clothing becomes faded, threadbare, and ultimately returns to dust.2 Everything ages and wears out. Even death is a manifestation of this law. The effects of the 2nd Law are all around, touching everything in the universe.
Each year, vast sums are spent to counteract the relentless effects of this law (maintenance, painting, medical bills, etc.). Ultimately, everything in nature is obedient to its unchanging laws.
2nd law of thermodynamics: Physicist Lord Kelvin stated it technically as follows: "There is no natural process the only result of which is to cool a heat reservoir and do external work." In more understandable terms, this law observes the fact that the useable energy in the universe is becoming less and less. Ultimately there would be no available energy left. Stemming from this fact we find that the most probable state for any natural system is one of disorder. All natural systems degenerate when left to themselves.3
Cells and blood vessels—scene from the ORIGINS motion picture series.
It is well known that, left to themselves, chemical compounds ultimately break apart into simpler materials; they do not ultimately become more complex. Outside forces can increase order for a time (through the expenditure of relatively large amounts of energy, and through the input of design). However, such reversal cannot last forever. Once the force is released, processes return to their natural direction - greater disorder. Their energy is transformed into lower levels of availability for further work. The natural tendency of complex, ordered arrangements and systems is to become simpler and more disorderly with time.4
Evolutionism claims that over billions of years everything is basically developing UPWARD, becoming more orderly and complex. However, this basic law of science (2nd Law of Thermodynamics) says the opposite. The pressure is DOWNWARD, toward simplification and disorder. (Illustration from the ORIGINS series)
Thus, in the long term, there is an overall downward trend throughout the universe. Ultimately, when all the energy of the cosmos has been degraded, all molecules will move randomly, and the entire universe will be cold and without order. To put it simply: In the real world, the long-term overall flow is downhill, not uphill. All experimental and physical observation appears to confirm that the Law is indeed universal, affecting all natural processes in the long run.5
Naturalistic Evolutionism requires that physical laws and atoms organize themselves into increasingly complex and beneficial, ordered arrangements.6 Thus, over eons of time, billions of things are supposed to have developed upward, becoming more orderly and complex.7
However, this basic law of science (2nd Law of Thermodynamics) reveals the exact opposite. In the long run, complex, ordered arrangements actually tend to become simpler and more disorderly with time. There is an irreversible downward trend ultimately at work throughout the universe. Evolution, with its ever increasing order and complexity, appears impossible in the natural world.
Question 1: Open Systems
‘Someone recently asked me about the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, stating that they thought it was irrelevant to creation/evolution because the earth is not an isolated system since the sun is constantly pumping in more energy.
‘This does seem to be a valid point—do creationists still use this argument? Am I missing something here?’
Answer 1:
The Second Law can be stated in many different ways, e.g.:
· that the entropy of the universe tends towards a maximum (in simple terms, entropy is a measure of disorder)
· usable energy is running out
· information tends to get scrambled
· order tends towards disorder
· a random jumble won’t organize itself
It also depends on the type of system:
· An isolated system exchanges neither matter nor energy with its surroundings. The total entropy of an isolated system never decreases. The universe is an isolated system, so is running down— see If God created the universe, then who Created God? for what this implies.
· A closed system exchanges energy but not matter with its surroundings. In this case, the 2nd Law is stated such that the total entropy of the system and surroundings never decreases.
· An open system exchanges both matter and energy with its surroundings. Certainly, many evolutionists claim that the 2nd Law doesn’t apply to open systems. But this is false. Dr John
Ross of Harvard University states:
… there are no known violations of the second law of thermodynamics. Ordinarily the second law is stated for isolated systems, but the second law applies equally well to open systems. … There is somehow associated with the field of far-from-equilibrium thermodynamics the notion that the second law of thermodynamics fails for such systems. It is important to make sure that this error does not perpetuate itself.1
Open systems still have a tendency to disorder. There are special cases where local order can increase at the expense of greater disorder elsewhere. One case is crystallization, covered in
Question 2 below. The other case is programmed machinery, that directs energy into maintaining and increasing complexity, at the expense of increased disorder elsewhere. Living things have such energy-converting machinery to make the complex structures of life.
The open systems argument does not help evolution. Raw energy cannot generate the specified complex information in living things. Undirected energy just speeds up destruction. Just standing out in the sun won’t make you more complex—the human body lacks the mechanisms to harness raw solar energy. If you stood in the sun too long, you would get skin cancer, because the sun’s undirected energy will cause mutations. (Mutations are copying errors in the genes that nearly always lose information). Similarly, undirected energy flow through an alleged primordial soup will break down the complex molecules of life faster than they are formed.
It’s like trying to run a car by pouring petrol on it and setting it alight. No, a car will run only if the energy in petrol is harnessed via the pistons, crankshaft, etc. A bull in a china shop is also raw energy. But if the bull were harnessed to a generator, and the electricity directed a pottery-producing machine, then its energy could be used to make things.
To make proteins, a cell uses the information coded in the DNA and a very complex decoding machine. In the lab, chemists must use sophisticated machinery to make the building blocks combine in the right way. Raw energy would result in wrong combinations and even destruction of the building blocks.
I suggest that thermodynamic arguments are excellent when done properly, and the ‘open systems’ canard is anticipated. Otherwise I suggest concentrating on information content. The information in even the simplest organism would take about a thousand pages to write out. Human beings have 500 times as much information as this. It is a flight of fantasy to think that undirected processes could generate this huge amount of information, just as it would be to think that a cat walking on a keyboard could write a book.
For more information on mutation, variation and information, see our Question and Answer pages on these topics, or Refuting Evolution.
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Question 2: What about crystals?
To quote one anti-creationist, Boyce Rensberger:
If the Second Law truly prohibited local emergence of increased order, there would be no ice cubes. The greater orderliness of water molecules in ice crystals than in the liquid state is purchased with the expenditure of energy at the generator that made the electricity to run the freezer. And that makes it legal under the Second Law.2
Answer 2:
Rensberger is ignorant of the creationist responses to this argument. An energy source is not enough to produce the specified complexity of life. The energy must be directed in some way. The ice cubes of his example would not form if the electrical energy was just wired into liquid water! Instead, we would get lots of heat, and the water breaking up into simpler components, hydrogen and oxygen.
The ice example is thermodynamically irrelevant to the origin of life. When ice freezes, it releases heat energy into the environment. This causes an entropy increase in the surroundings. If the temperature is low enough, this entropy increase is greater than the loss of entropy in forming the crystal. But the formation of proteins and nucleic acids from amino acids and nucleotides not only lowers their entropy, but it removes heat energy (and entropy) from their surroundings. Thus ordinary amino acids and nucleotides will not spontaneously form proteins and nucleic acids at any temperature.
Rensberger also fails to distinguish between order and complexity. Crystals are ordered; life is complex. To illustrate: a periodic (repeating) signal, e.g. ABABABABABAB, is an example of order. However, it carries little information: only ‘AB’, and ‘print 6 times’.
A crystal is analogous to that sequence; it is a regular, repeating network of atoms. Like that sequence, a crystal contains little information: the co-ordinates of a few atoms (i.e. those which make up the unit cell), and instructions ‘more of the same’ x times. If a crystal is broken, smaller but otherwise identical crystals result. Conversely, breaking proteins, DNA or living structures results in destruction, because the information in them is greater than in their parts.
A crystal forms because this regular arrangement, determined by directional forces in the atoms, has the lowest energy. Thus the maximum amount of heat is released into the surroundings, so the overall entropy is increased.
Random signals, e.g. WEKJHDF BK LKGJUES KIYFV NBUY, are not ordered, but complex. But a random signal contains no useful information. A non-random aperiodic (non-repeating) signal—specified complexity—e.g. ‘I love you’, may carry useful information. However, it would be useless unless the receiver of the information understood the English language convention. The amorous thoughts have no relationship to that letter sequence apart from the agreed language convention. The language convention is imposed onto the letter sequence.
Proteins and DNA are also non-random aperiodic sequences. The sequences are not caused by the properties of the constituent amino acids and nucleotides themselves. This is a huge contrast to crystal structures, which are caused by the properties of their constituents. The sequences of DNA and proteins must be imposed from outside by some intelligent process. Proteins are coded in DNA, and the DNA code comes from pre-existing codes, not by random processes.
Many scientific experiments show that when their building blocks are simply mixed and chemically combined, a random sequence results. To make a protein, scientists need to add one unit at a time, and each unit requires a number of chemical steps to ensure that the wrong type of reaction doesn’t occur. The same goes for preparing a DNA strand in a correct sequence. See Q&A: Origin of Life.
The evolutionary origin-of-life expert Leslie Orgel confirmed that there are three distinct concepts: order, randomness and specified complexity:
Living things are distinguished by their specified complexity. Crystals such as granite fail to qualify as living because they lack complexity; mixtures of random polymers fail to qualify because they lack specificity. [L. Orgel, The Origins of Life, John Wiley, NY, 1973, p. 189]
Even the simplest known self-reproducing life form (Mycoplasma) has 482 genes, and it must parasitize more complex organisms to obtain the building blocks it cannot manufacture itself. The simplest organism that could exist in theory would need at least 256 genes, and it’s doubtful whether it could survive.3 See How Simple Can Life Be?
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Question 3: Did the 2nd Law begin at the Fall?
Answer 3:
No, I would not say that entropy/Second Law of Thermodynamics began at the Fall. The Second Law is responsible for a number of good things which involve increases in entropy, so are ‘decay’ processes in the thermodynamic sense but maybe not what most people would imagine are decay:
· solar heating of the earth (heat transfer from a hot object to a cold one is the classical case of the Second Law in action),
· walking (requires the highly entropic phenomenon of friction, otherwise Adam and Eve would have slipped as they walked with God in Eden!),
· breathing (based on air moving from high pressure to low pressure, producing a more disordered equalized concentration of molecules),
· digestion (breaking down large complex food molecules into their simple building blocks),
· baking a cake (mixing the ingredients produces a lot of disorder), etc.
What is contrary to Scripture is death of nephesh animals before sin, and suffering (or ‘groaning in travail’ (Rom. 8:20–22)). It is more likely that God withdrew some of His sustaining power at the Fall. He still sustains the universe (Col. 1:17) otherwise it would cease to exist. But most of the time He doesn’t sustain it in the way that He prevented the Israelites’ shoes and clothes from wearing out during the 40 years in the wilderness (Dt. 29:5). But this special case may have been the rule rather than the exception before the Fall. Return to top
References and notes
John Ross, Chemical and Engineering News, July 7, 1980, p. 40; cited in Duane Gish, Creation Scientists Answer their Critics Institute for Creation Research, 1993. Return to text.
Boyce Rensberger, ‘How Science Responds When Creationists Criticize Evolution’, Washington Post, 8 Jan 1997. See Response by AiG. Return to Text.
For a good discussion on thermodynamics; open, closed and isolated systems, order vs. complexity; and other difficulties for evolutionary origin of life scenarios, see Charles B. Thaxton, Walter L. Bradley and Roger L. Olsen, The Mystery of Life’s Origin, 1984, Foundation for Thought
http://www.answersingenesis.org/Docs/370.asp
Thursday, August 28, 2008
More Evidence for the Anthropic Principle(Creation)
As stated in some early post the anthropic principle speaks to how finely tuned Earth is for life. Why is that important? How can a natural process create something so specific? If you walked in your kitchen and you saw a message written in cereal that said "take out the trash...mom". Would you assume natural causes created that message? If you saw a watch laying in the grass would you assume natural causes created it? If I drop red, white, and blue confetti out of a plan, do you think it would form the American Flag if it landed on your lawn? Of course you would answer the preceding questions no because of the specificity of the designs would necessitate that it had to have an intelligent designer. The point I am making is that you have a higher probability for each of the previously stated things happening by natural causes than this world being created by natural causes. The design of this world is more complex (irreducibly complex) than anything. Listed below are 10 things (referred to as constants) to show how complex Earth is... now ask yourself... could a natural process create some this specific.
1. If the centrifugal force to planetary movements did not precisely balance the gravitational forces, nothing could be held in orbit around the sun.
2. If the universe had expanded at a rare one millionth more slowly than it did, expansion would have stopped, and the universe would have collapsed on itself before any stars had formed. If it had expanded faster, then no galaxies would have formed.
3. any of the laws of physics can be described as a function of the velocity of light (now defined to be 299,792,458 meters per second). Even a slight variation in the speed of light would alter the other constants and preclude the possibility of life on earth.
4. if water vapor levels in the atmosphere were greater than they are now, a runaway greenhouse effect would cause temperatures to rise to high for human life; if they were less, an insufficient greenhouse effect would make the earth too cold to support human life.
5. If Jupiter were not in its current orbit, the earth would be bombarded with space material. Jupiter’s gravitational field act as a cosmic vacuum cleaner, attracting asteroids and comets that might otherwise strike earth.
6. If the thickness of the earths crust were greater, too much oxygen would be transferred to the crust to support life. if it were thinner, volcanic and tectonic activity would make life impossible.
7. If the rotation of the earth took longer than twenty four hours, temperature differences would be too great between night and day. if the rotation period were shorter, atmospheric wind velocities would be too great.
8. The 23 degree axle tilt of the earth is just right. If the tilt were altered slightly, surface temperatures would be too extreme on earth.
9. if the atmosphere discharge (lighting) rate were greater, there would be too much fire destruction; if it were less, there would be too little nitrogen fixing in the soil.
10. if there were more seismic activity, much more life would be lost; if there were less, nutrients on the ocean floor and in river runoff would not be cycled back to the continents through tectonic uplift. (yes, even earthquakes are necessary to sustain life as we know it)
There are over 100 constants in this world. The slightest change in any of them would cause life to cease on Earth.
1. If the centrifugal force to planetary movements did not precisely balance the gravitational forces, nothing could be held in orbit around the sun.
2. If the universe had expanded at a rare one millionth more slowly than it did, expansion would have stopped, and the universe would have collapsed on itself before any stars had formed. If it had expanded faster, then no galaxies would have formed.
3. any of the laws of physics can be described as a function of the velocity of light (now defined to be 299,792,458 meters per second). Even a slight variation in the speed of light would alter the other constants and preclude the possibility of life on earth.
4. if water vapor levels in the atmosphere were greater than they are now, a runaway greenhouse effect would cause temperatures to rise to high for human life; if they were less, an insufficient greenhouse effect would make the earth too cold to support human life.
5. If Jupiter were not in its current orbit, the earth would be bombarded with space material. Jupiter’s gravitational field act as a cosmic vacuum cleaner, attracting asteroids and comets that might otherwise strike earth.
6. If the thickness of the earths crust were greater, too much oxygen would be transferred to the crust to support life. if it were thinner, volcanic and tectonic activity would make life impossible.
7. If the rotation of the earth took longer than twenty four hours, temperature differences would be too great between night and day. if the rotation period were shorter, atmospheric wind velocities would be too great.
8. The 23 degree axle tilt of the earth is just right. If the tilt were altered slightly, surface temperatures would be too extreme on earth.
9. if the atmosphere discharge (lighting) rate were greater, there would be too much fire destruction; if it were less, there would be too little nitrogen fixing in the soil.
10. if there were more seismic activity, much more life would be lost; if there were less, nutrients on the ocean floor and in river runoff would not be cycled back to the continents through tectonic uplift. (yes, even earthquakes are necessary to sustain life as we know it)
There are over 100 constants in this world. The slightest change in any of them would cause life to cease on Earth.
Why The "Radiation Echo" Is Important
Radiation Echo
Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, two physicists at the Bell Telephone Laboratories, discovered that the earth is bathed in a faint glow of radiation. For this they were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1978. The measurements taken by Penzias and Wilson demonstrated that the earth could not possibly be the source of this radiation glow. Their data indicated that they had found radiation left over from the initial explosion of the beginning of the universe, commonly refereed to as the Big Bang.
To help us visualize the radiation glow of a past event, think of what we see when we turn off a television set in a dark room. The television continues to glow (radiate) even after the source of power (electrons) has been cut off. The glow on the television tube is the radiation echo that was caused by electron beams bombarding the screen while the power was on.
Although they won the Nobel Prize, there were skeptics who resisted the idea of a beginning and wanted to discredit what they found, calling into question the accuracy of the data. However, within a few years cynics were silenced by another discovery that was celebrated as one of the most, if not the most, significant in the history of cosmology.
On November 18, 1989 a satellite name COBE was successfully launched into space with instruments aboard capable of measuring the radiation echo left behind from the Big Bang- if indeed it had actually happened. COBE was designed to measure the intensity of the radiation and its overall shape in order to determine what produced it.
In April of 1992 the final summation of COBE’s data was made public and hailed as unprecedented –even referred to as the Holy Grail of cosmology. George Smoot, University of California astrophysicist, said, “if your religious, its like looking at God.” The COBE mission successfully mapped out a picture of the cosmic background radiation caused by the initial explosion of the universe. Stephen Hawking called this discovery “the most important discovery of the century, if not all time. The most convincing aspect of this background radiation is the fact that it had the exact pattern and wavelength for the light and heat of an explosion calculated to be of the magnitude of the Big Bang. So I submit this observational evidence as Exhibit A in support of a theory of origin that affirms that the universe had a beginning.
Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, two physicists at the Bell Telephone Laboratories, discovered that the earth is bathed in a faint glow of radiation. For this they were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1978. The measurements taken by Penzias and Wilson demonstrated that the earth could not possibly be the source of this radiation glow. Their data indicated that they had found radiation left over from the initial explosion of the beginning of the universe, commonly refereed to as the Big Bang.
To help us visualize the radiation glow of a past event, think of what we see when we turn off a television set in a dark room. The television continues to glow (radiate) even after the source of power (electrons) has been cut off. The glow on the television tube is the radiation echo that was caused by electron beams bombarding the screen while the power was on.
Although they won the Nobel Prize, there were skeptics who resisted the idea of a beginning and wanted to discredit what they found, calling into question the accuracy of the data. However, within a few years cynics were silenced by another discovery that was celebrated as one of the most, if not the most, significant in the history of cosmology.
On November 18, 1989 a satellite name COBE was successfully launched into space with instruments aboard capable of measuring the radiation echo left behind from the Big Bang- if indeed it had actually happened. COBE was designed to measure the intensity of the radiation and its overall shape in order to determine what produced it.
In April of 1992 the final summation of COBE’s data was made public and hailed as unprecedented –even referred to as the Holy Grail of cosmology. George Smoot, University of California astrophysicist, said, “if your religious, its like looking at God.” The COBE mission successfully mapped out a picture of the cosmic background radiation caused by the initial explosion of the universe. Stephen Hawking called this discovery “the most important discovery of the century, if not all time. The most convincing aspect of this background radiation is the fact that it had the exact pattern and wavelength for the light and heat of an explosion calculated to be of the magnitude of the Big Bang. So I submit this observational evidence as Exhibit A in support of a theory of origin that affirms that the universe had a beginning.
The Bible: Human or Divine?
This is an article for Hank Hanegraaff... im interested to know what you think...
The Bible: Human or Divine? by Hank Hanegraaff
To defend the faith we must be equipped to demonstrate that the Bible is divine rather than human in origin. If we can successfully accomplish this, we can answer a host of other objections simply by appealing to Scripture. To chart our course I will use the acronym M-A-P-S. Since most Bibles have maps in the back, this should prove to be a memorable association.
M = Manuscripts. Since we don't have the original biblical manuscripts, the question is, "How good are the copies?" The answer is that the Bible has stronger manuscript support than any other work of classical literature-including Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Caesar, and Tacitus. The reliability of Scripture is also confirmed through the eye witness credentials of the authors. Moses, for example, participated in and was an eyewitness to the remarkable events of the Egyptian captivity, the Exodus, the 40 years in the desert, and Israel's final encampment before entering the Promised Land, all of which are accurately chronicled in the Old Testament.
The New Testament has the same kind of eyewitness authenticity. Luke says that he gathered the eyewitness testimony and "carefully investigated everything" (Luke 1:1-3). Peter reminded his readers that the disciples "did not follow cleverly invented stories" but "were eyewitnesses of [Jesus’] majesty" (2 Peter 1:16).
Secular historians--including Josephus (before A.D. 100), the Roman Tacitus (around A.D. 120), the Roman Suetonius ( A.D. 110), and the Roman governor Pliny the Younger ( A.D. 110)--confirm the many events, people, places, and customs chronicled in the New Testament. Early church leaders such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, Julius Africanus, and Clement of Rome—all writing before A.D. 250—also shed light on New Testament historical accuracy. Even skeptical historians agree that the New Testament is a remarkable historical document.
A = Archaeology. Over and over again, comprehensive field work (archaeology) and careful biblical interpretation affirms the reliability of the Bible. It is telling when a secular scholar must revise his biblical criticism in light of solid archaeological evidence.
For years, critics dismissed the book of Daniel, partly because there was no evidence that a king named Belshazzar ruled in Babylon during that period. Later archaeological research, however, confirmed that the reigning monarch, Nabonidus, appointed Belshazzar as his coregent while he was waging war away from Babylon.
One of the most well-known New Testament examples concerns the books of Luke and Acts. A biblical skeptic, Sir William Ramsay, was trained as an archaeologist and then set out to disprove the historical reliability of this portion of the New Testament. But through his painstaking Mediterranean archaeological trips, he became converted as, one after another, the historical allusions of Luke were proved accurate. Truly, with every turn of the archaeologist's spade we continue to see evidence for the trustworthiness of Scripture.
P = Prophecy. The Bible records predictions of events that could not be known or predicted by chance or common sense. Surprisingly, the predictive nature of many Bible passages was once a popular argument (by liberals) against the reliability of the Bible. Critics argued that various passages were written later than the biblical texts indicated, because they recounted events that happened sometimes hundreds of years later than when they supposedly were written. They concluded that, subsequent to the events, literary editors went back and "doctored" the original, nonpredictive texts.
But this is simply wrong. Careful research affirms the predictive accuracy of the Bible. For example, the book of Daniel (written before 530 B.C.) accurately predicts the progression of kingdoms from Babylon through the Medo-Persian Empire, the Greek Empire, and then the Roman Empire, culminating in the persecution and suffering of the Jews under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, his desecration of the temple, his untimely death, and freedom for the Jews under Judas Maccabeus (165 B.C.).
Old Testament prophecies concerning the Phoenician city of Tyre were fulfilled in ancient times, including prophecies that the city would be opposed by many nations (Ezekiel 26:3); its walls would be destroyed and towers broken down (26:4); and its stones, timbers, and debris would be thrown into the water (26:12). Similar prophecies were fulfilled concerning Sidon (Ezekiel 28:23; Isaiah 23; Jeremiah 27:3-6; 47:4) and Babylon (Jeremiah 50:13,39; 51:26,42,43,58; Isaiah 13:20,21).
Since Christ is the culminating theme of the Old Testament and the Living Word of the New Testament, it should not surprise us that prophecies regarding Him outnumber all others. Many of these prophecies would have been impossible for Jesus to deliberately conspire to fulfill—such as His descent from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:3 17:19); His birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); His crucifixion with criminals (Isaiah 53:12); the piercing of His hands and feet on the cross (Psalm 22:16); the soldiers’ gambling for His clothes (Psalm 22:18); the piercing of His side and the fact that His bones were not broken at His death (Zechariah 12:10; Psalm 34:20); and His burial among the rich (Isaiah 53:9). Jesus also predicted His own death and resurrection (John 2:19-22). Predictive prophecy is a principle of Bible reliability that often reaches even the hard-boiled skeptic!
S = Statistics. It is statistically preposterous that any or all of the Bible's specific, detailed prophecies could have been fulfilled through chance, good guessing, or deliberate deceit. When you look at some of the improbable prophecies of the Old and New Testaments, it seems incredible that skeptics—knowing the authenticity and historicity of the texts—could reject the statistical verdict: The Bible is the Word of God, and Jesus Christ is the Son of God, just as Scripture predicted many times and in many ways.
The Bible was written over a span of 1600 years by 40 authors in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), on hundreds of subjects. And yet there is one consistent, noncontradictory theme that runs through it all: God's redemption of humankind. Clearly, statistical probability concerning biblical prophecy is a powerful indicator of the trustworthiness of Scripture.
The next time someone denies the reliability of Scripture, just remember the acronym M-A-P-S, and you will be equipped to give an answer and a reason for the hope that lies within you. Manuscripts, Archaeology, Prophecy, and Statistics not only chart a secure course through the turnpikes of skepticism but also demonstrate conclusively that the Bible is indeed divine rather than human in origin.
From Appendix B of Hank Hanegraaff's The FACE That Demonstrates the Farce of Evolution [Word Publishing, 1998]
Thursday, September 27, 2001
The Bible: Human or Divine? by Hank Hanegraaff
To defend the faith we must be equipped to demonstrate that the Bible is divine rather than human in origin. If we can successfully accomplish this, we can answer a host of other objections simply by appealing to Scripture. To chart our course I will use the acronym M-A-P-S. Since most Bibles have maps in the back, this should prove to be a memorable association.
M = Manuscripts. Since we don't have the original biblical manuscripts, the question is, "How good are the copies?" The answer is that the Bible has stronger manuscript support than any other work of classical literature-including Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Caesar, and Tacitus. The reliability of Scripture is also confirmed through the eye witness credentials of the authors. Moses, for example, participated in and was an eyewitness to the remarkable events of the Egyptian captivity, the Exodus, the 40 years in the desert, and Israel's final encampment before entering the Promised Land, all of which are accurately chronicled in the Old Testament.
The New Testament has the same kind of eyewitness authenticity. Luke says that he gathered the eyewitness testimony and "carefully investigated everything" (Luke 1:1-3). Peter reminded his readers that the disciples "did not follow cleverly invented stories" but "were eyewitnesses of [Jesus’] majesty" (2 Peter 1:16).
Secular historians--including Josephus (before A.D. 100), the Roman Tacitus (around A.D. 120), the Roman Suetonius ( A.D. 110), and the Roman governor Pliny the Younger ( A.D. 110)--confirm the many events, people, places, and customs chronicled in the New Testament. Early church leaders such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, Julius Africanus, and Clement of Rome—all writing before A.D. 250—also shed light on New Testament historical accuracy. Even skeptical historians agree that the New Testament is a remarkable historical document.
A = Archaeology. Over and over again, comprehensive field work (archaeology) and careful biblical interpretation affirms the reliability of the Bible. It is telling when a secular scholar must revise his biblical criticism in light of solid archaeological evidence.
For years, critics dismissed the book of Daniel, partly because there was no evidence that a king named Belshazzar ruled in Babylon during that period. Later archaeological research, however, confirmed that the reigning monarch, Nabonidus, appointed Belshazzar as his coregent while he was waging war away from Babylon.
One of the most well-known New Testament examples concerns the books of Luke and Acts. A biblical skeptic, Sir William Ramsay, was trained as an archaeologist and then set out to disprove the historical reliability of this portion of the New Testament. But through his painstaking Mediterranean archaeological trips, he became converted as, one after another, the historical allusions of Luke were proved accurate. Truly, with every turn of the archaeologist's spade we continue to see evidence for the trustworthiness of Scripture.
P = Prophecy. The Bible records predictions of events that could not be known or predicted by chance or common sense. Surprisingly, the predictive nature of many Bible passages was once a popular argument (by liberals) against the reliability of the Bible. Critics argued that various passages were written later than the biblical texts indicated, because they recounted events that happened sometimes hundreds of years later than when they supposedly were written. They concluded that, subsequent to the events, literary editors went back and "doctored" the original, nonpredictive texts.
But this is simply wrong. Careful research affirms the predictive accuracy of the Bible. For example, the book of Daniel (written before 530 B.C.) accurately predicts the progression of kingdoms from Babylon through the Medo-Persian Empire, the Greek Empire, and then the Roman Empire, culminating in the persecution and suffering of the Jews under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, his desecration of the temple, his untimely death, and freedom for the Jews under Judas Maccabeus (165 B.C.).
Old Testament prophecies concerning the Phoenician city of Tyre were fulfilled in ancient times, including prophecies that the city would be opposed by many nations (Ezekiel 26:3); its walls would be destroyed and towers broken down (26:4); and its stones, timbers, and debris would be thrown into the water (26:12). Similar prophecies were fulfilled concerning Sidon (Ezekiel 28:23; Isaiah 23; Jeremiah 27:3-6; 47:4) and Babylon (Jeremiah 50:13,39; 51:26,42,43,58; Isaiah 13:20,21).
Since Christ is the culminating theme of the Old Testament and the Living Word of the New Testament, it should not surprise us that prophecies regarding Him outnumber all others. Many of these prophecies would have been impossible for Jesus to deliberately conspire to fulfill—such as His descent from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:3 17:19); His birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); His crucifixion with criminals (Isaiah 53:12); the piercing of His hands and feet on the cross (Psalm 22:16); the soldiers’ gambling for His clothes (Psalm 22:18); the piercing of His side and the fact that His bones were not broken at His death (Zechariah 12:10; Psalm 34:20); and His burial among the rich (Isaiah 53:9). Jesus also predicted His own death and resurrection (John 2:19-22). Predictive prophecy is a principle of Bible reliability that often reaches even the hard-boiled skeptic!
S = Statistics. It is statistically preposterous that any or all of the Bible's specific, detailed prophecies could have been fulfilled through chance, good guessing, or deliberate deceit. When you look at some of the improbable prophecies of the Old and New Testaments, it seems incredible that skeptics—knowing the authenticity and historicity of the texts—could reject the statistical verdict: The Bible is the Word of God, and Jesus Christ is the Son of God, just as Scripture predicted many times and in many ways.
The Bible was written over a span of 1600 years by 40 authors in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), on hundreds of subjects. And yet there is one consistent, noncontradictory theme that runs through it all: God's redemption of humankind. Clearly, statistical probability concerning biblical prophecy is a powerful indicator of the trustworthiness of Scripture.
The next time someone denies the reliability of Scripture, just remember the acronym M-A-P-S, and you will be equipped to give an answer and a reason for the hope that lies within you. Manuscripts, Archaeology, Prophecy, and Statistics not only chart a secure course through the turnpikes of skepticism but also demonstrate conclusively that the Bible is indeed divine rather than human in origin.
From Appendix B of Hank Hanegraaff's The FACE That Demonstrates the Farce of Evolution [Word Publishing, 1998]
Thursday, September 27, 2001
Can The Bible Be Trusted
Can The Bible Be Trusted
Test of Science:
The Bible says the universe has a beginning. It also states that the universe expanded. The Bible says God stretched out the Heavens. Isaiah 42:5 How accurate is the Bible? Alann Sande proved the universe is expanding.We use to think the world was flat and that if you went to far you would fall of. But the Bible always said that the earth was round, He that seated on the circle of the earth, Isaiah 40:22The Bible attest that the Earth is Hung in space. Job 26:11The universe was preadapted for human life Psa 8:3-4
Physics and Chemistry:Universe is running down (Psa 102:26)Human Body is composed of the earths basic elements (Gen 2:7)Water returns to its source (Ecc 1:7)
Archeology:The Assyrinan InvasionKing Jehu-mention in Black Obelisk 2 kingsKing Hezekiah Sennacherib invasion record 2 KingsHezekiah’s ‘tunnel undeground water found 2 Kings. I have been there.The Jewish captivity King Jehoiachins records 2 Kings 25The Census in Luke 2 Quirinius Census Lk 2:1-5Gallio, Proconsul of Achai-inscription of Delphi (Acts 18:12-17Erasuts- inscription near Corinth theater (Acts 19:22)The Nazareth Decree slab of stone with decree from Emperor Claudius Ad 41-54 not to move bodies under pain of deathYohanan A crucifixion victim from ad70 found 1968
Biology:Life does not emerge from non-life (Gen. 1:21)Life is incredibly complex (Gen 1:21,27)Life is in Blood (Lev 17:11)Proper sanitation avoid spread of disease (Lev. 12,14) it has been stated that if we still followed these laws we would have less disease in the world. A Dr. wrote a book on it called “None of These Diseases”All basic forms of life begin all at once (Gen 1) paleontological records and fossils prove this. In the Cambrian period.
Robert Jastrow (agnostic)
Now we see how the astronomical evidence leads to a biblical view of the beginning of the world… The chain of events leading to man commence suddenly and sharply at a definite moment in time, in a flash of light and energy.” He also states,” that there are what I or anyone would call supernatural forces at works is now, I think, a scientifically prove fact.The harmony of natural law.. Reveals intelligence of such superiority that compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection. Albert Einstein.
Test of Science:
The Bible says the universe has a beginning. It also states that the universe expanded. The Bible says God stretched out the Heavens. Isaiah 42:5 How accurate is the Bible? Alann Sande proved the universe is expanding.We use to think the world was flat and that if you went to far you would fall of. But the Bible always said that the earth was round, He that seated on the circle of the earth, Isaiah 40:22The Bible attest that the Earth is Hung in space. Job 26:11The universe was preadapted for human life Psa 8:3-4
Physics and Chemistry:Universe is running down (Psa 102:26)Human Body is composed of the earths basic elements (Gen 2:7)Water returns to its source (Ecc 1:7)
Archeology:The Assyrinan InvasionKing Jehu-mention in Black Obelisk 2 kingsKing Hezekiah Sennacherib invasion record 2 KingsHezekiah’s ‘tunnel undeground water found 2 Kings. I have been there.The Jewish captivity King Jehoiachins records 2 Kings 25The Census in Luke 2 Quirinius Census Lk 2:1-5Gallio, Proconsul of Achai-inscription of Delphi (Acts 18:12-17Erasuts- inscription near Corinth theater (Acts 19:22)The Nazareth Decree slab of stone with decree from Emperor Claudius Ad 41-54 not to move bodies under pain of deathYohanan A crucifixion victim from ad70 found 1968
Biology:Life does not emerge from non-life (Gen. 1:21)Life is incredibly complex (Gen 1:21,27)Life is in Blood (Lev 17:11)Proper sanitation avoid spread of disease (Lev. 12,14) it has been stated that if we still followed these laws we would have less disease in the world. A Dr. wrote a book on it called “None of These Diseases”All basic forms of life begin all at once (Gen 1) paleontological records and fossils prove this. In the Cambrian period.
Robert Jastrow (agnostic)
Now we see how the astronomical evidence leads to a biblical view of the beginning of the world… The chain of events leading to man commence suddenly and sharply at a definite moment in time, in a flash of light and energy.” He also states,” that there are what I or anyone would call supernatural forces at works is now, I think, a scientifically prove fact.The harmony of natural law.. Reveals intelligence of such superiority that compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection. Albert Einstein.
Doctrin Of The Trinity
The doctrine of the Trinity arose from the need for Christians to distinguish Jesus from God, and to identify Him with God. In 325 the Council of Nicea was called by the Emperor Constantine to deal with Arianism, which threatened the unity of the church. After listening to the charges against Arius, the three hundred bishops present sought to develop a formula that would express Christian orthodoxy. Their creed affirms that Jesus Christ is the Sonf of God, begotten of the Father, only begotten, that is of the substance (ousia) of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begooten not made, of one substance (homoousion) with the Father. The formula emphasized that the Father and the Son are distinct in existence, though essentially one. Although the doctrine was framed at the council… the teaching is clearly evident in Scritpure.
The word “Trinity” is a combination of tri-, meaning “three,” and unity, meaning “one.” A “trinity,” then, is a three-in-one, or one-in-three. To be sure, the word “trinity” is not found in the Bible, but the truth is taught there (cf. also Matt. 28:19–20; John 14:16–17, 26; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4–6). Christians do not believe that there are three gods. They believe that one God exists in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Nor do Christians believe merely that one God reveals Himself in three different ways, much as one man may be a husband, a father, and a son. No, the Bible teaches that God is one but that He exists in three Persons. One teacher of doctrine used to say, “Try to explain the Trinity and you may lose your mind. But try to explain it away and you will lose your soul!” The Old Testament constantly insists that there is only one God, the self-revealed Creator, who must be worshiped and loved exclusively (Deut. 6:4-5; Isa. 44:6– 45:25). The New Testament agrees (Mark 12:29-30; 1 Cor. 8:4; Eph. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:5) but speaks of three personal agents, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, working together in the manner of a team to bring about salvation (Rom. 8; Eph. 1:3-14; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 1 Pet. 1:2). The historic formulation of the Trinity seeks to circumscribe and safeguard this mystery (not explain it; that is beyond us), and it confronts us with perhaps the most difficult thought that the human mind has ever been asked to handle. It is not easy; but it is true. The doctrine springs from the facts that the New Testament historians report, and from the revelatory teaching that, humanly speaking, grew out of these facts. Jesus, who prayed to his Father and taught his disciples to do the same, convinced them that he was personally divine, and belief in his divinity and in the rightness of offering him worship and prayer is basic to New Testament faith. Jesus promised to send another Paraclete (he himself having been the first one), and Paraclete signifies a many-sided personal ministry as counselor, advocate, helper, comforter, ally, supporter (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15). This other Paraclete, who came at Pentecost to fulfill this promised ministry, was the Holy Spirit, recognized from the start as a third divine person: to lie to him, said Peter not long after Pentecost, is to lie to God (Acts 5:3-4).
When my Lord ministered on earth, Jewish leaders often asked Him to perform some sign to prove that He was indeed their Messiah; and Jesus refused. But the false prophet will perform deceptive signs that will lead the world into devil-worship (see 2 Thes. 2:9). His greatest sign will be “the abomination of desolation” mentioned by Daniel (Dan. 9:27; 11:36), Jesus (Matt. 24:15), and Paul (2 Thes. 2:4). [2]
[3]
[1]Packer, J. I.: Concise Theology : A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House, 1995, c1993
[2]Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Re 13:11
[3]Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. 1 Jn 1:1
Salvation
Salvation: Christian Perspective
In discussing the process of salvation, the work of Christ is supreme in achieving man’s salvation. Primarily, it involves the death of Christ as a substitutionary atonement for sin in securing man’s release from the penalty and bondage of sin and meeting the righteous demand of a holy God. Many passages of Scripture affirm that man’s only responsibility in salvation is believing the gospel (John 1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; 11:25–26; 12:44; 20:31; Acts 16:31; 1 John 5:13, and so forth). But what is faith? What does it mean to believe the gospel? Faith may be succinctly defined as “confiding trust.”20 John’s use of the word faith is similar to Paul’s use in describing faith as believing “into Christ.” For John, faith “is an activity which takes men right out of themselves and makes them one with Christ.”[1] The Son has redeemed the believer (Eph. 1:7), removed the wrath of God from the believer (Rom. 3:25), justified the believer (Rom. 5:1), provided forgiveness (Col. 2:13), and sanctified the believer (1 Cor. 1:2). Moreover, Christ prays for believers to be with Him (John 17:24); He continues to be their Advocate at God’s bar of justice (1 John 2:1); and He continues to make intercession as the believer’s High Priest (Heb. 7:25). If a believer could be lost it would imply Christ is ineffective in His work as the believer’s Mediator. The NT clearly teaches how gentiles are grated in through faith in Christ. Through belief in Christ we become the seed of Abraham by adoption. he death of Christ was substitutionary—He died in the stead of sinners and in their place. This is also described as vicarious from the Latin word vicarius meaning “one in place of another.” The death of Christ “is vicarious in the sense that Christ is the Substitute who bears the punishment rightly due sinners, their guilt being imputed to Him in such a way that He representatively bore their punishment.”2 There are many passages that emphasize Christ’s substitutionary atonement in the place of mankind. Christ was a substitute in being made sin for others (2 Cor. 5:21); He bore the sins of others in His body on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24); He suffered once to bear the sins of others (Heb. 9:28); He experienced horrible suffering, scourging, and death in place of sinners (Isa. 53:4–6).
There are two Greek prepositions that emphasize the substitutionary nature of Jesus’ death. The preposition anti, translated “for,” means Christ died “instead of” sinners (Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). The preposition huper, also translated “for,” means Christ died “in behalf of” or “in place of” sinners (Gal. 3:13; 1 Tim. 2:6; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 3:18). Philemon 13 shows that huper must mean “in place of.”
The doctrine of substitution is important in that through Christ’s death the righteous demands of God have been met; it was a legal transaction in which Christ dealt with the sin problem for the human race. He became the substitute for humanity’s sin.
Salvation is through faith in Christ. Faith is stressed in Acts 10:43 do not need to first become Jews; they receive forgiveness and salvation simply through believing (cf. Acts 11:21; 14:23; 16:31).
Believing involves repentance. On numerous occasions the gospel heralds exhorted the people to believe in Christ; on other occasions they urged the people to repent (cf. Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 8:22; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20). This indicates the terms should be understood synonymously.5 Paul’s statement, “repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21), suggests repentance is bound up in faith. To have faith is to repent; without repentance faith is not possible.
Salvation is through the grace of God. When Paul came to Achaia he helped those who had believed “through grace” (Acts 18:27). In this way God in time manifested His grace to Lydia (Acts 16:14) and to others (Acts 13:48) what had been resolved before time began.
Salvation is apart from any works. The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 resolved that Gentiles did not need to be circumcised nor observe the law of Moses to be saved. They were saved by faith alone.
s has been noted in the preceding discussion, Peter emphasizes Christ in His work of salvation: He was a perfect sacrifice, like a spotless, unblemished lamb (1 Pet. 1:19); He committed no acts of sin (1 Pet. 2:22); He died as a substitute once for all, the innocent for the guilty (1 Pet. 3:18). Peter emphasizes the act—He was killed for us.
The pronouns emphasize that Christ died in the place of sinners (1 Pet. 2:24). He ransomed4 them from slavery to sin (1 Pet. 1:18).
Christ’s salvation was planned in eternity past (1 Pet. 1:20) but revealed in history. He completed salvation through His resurrection, giving believers a living hope (1 Pet. 1:3).
[2]
[3]
20 20. William G. T. Shedd, Commentary on Romans (Reprint. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980), p. 76.
[1]Enns, Paul P.: The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago, Ill. : Moody Press, 1997, c1989, S. 332
2 2. Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1941), p. 392.
5 5. Charles C. Ryrie, Biblical Theology of the New Testament (Chicago: Moody, 1959), pp. 116–17.
4 4. The word “ransomed” is elutrothete from lutroo, meaning “to release, to procure a release by a ransom, to deliver by the payment of a price, to redeem.” For the Jews, the picture of redemption would be God’s deliverance from Egypt. For the Gentiles it would be the picture of a slave whose freedom was purchased with a price.” Fritz Rienecker, Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament, edited by Cleon Rogers (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982), p. 748.
[2]Enns, Paul P.: The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago, Ill. : Moody Press, 1997, c1989, S. 127
[3]Enns, Paul P.: The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago, Ill. : Moody Press, 1997, c1989, S. 96
In discussing the process of salvation, the work of Christ is supreme in achieving man’s salvation. Primarily, it involves the death of Christ as a substitutionary atonement for sin in securing man’s release from the penalty and bondage of sin and meeting the righteous demand of a holy God. Many passages of Scripture affirm that man’s only responsibility in salvation is believing the gospel (John 1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; 11:25–26; 12:44; 20:31; Acts 16:31; 1 John 5:13, and so forth). But what is faith? What does it mean to believe the gospel? Faith may be succinctly defined as “confiding trust.”20 John’s use of the word faith is similar to Paul’s use in describing faith as believing “into Christ.” For John, faith “is an activity which takes men right out of themselves and makes them one with Christ.”[1] The Son has redeemed the believer (Eph. 1:7), removed the wrath of God from the believer (Rom. 3:25), justified the believer (Rom. 5:1), provided forgiveness (Col. 2:13), and sanctified the believer (1 Cor. 1:2). Moreover, Christ prays for believers to be with Him (John 17:24); He continues to be their Advocate at God’s bar of justice (1 John 2:1); and He continues to make intercession as the believer’s High Priest (Heb. 7:25). If a believer could be lost it would imply Christ is ineffective in His work as the believer’s Mediator. The NT clearly teaches how gentiles are grated in through faith in Christ. Through belief in Christ we become the seed of Abraham by adoption. he death of Christ was substitutionary—He died in the stead of sinners and in their place. This is also described as vicarious from the Latin word vicarius meaning “one in place of another.” The death of Christ “is vicarious in the sense that Christ is the Substitute who bears the punishment rightly due sinners, their guilt being imputed to Him in such a way that He representatively bore their punishment.”2 There are many passages that emphasize Christ’s substitutionary atonement in the place of mankind. Christ was a substitute in being made sin for others (2 Cor. 5:21); He bore the sins of others in His body on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24); He suffered once to bear the sins of others (Heb. 9:28); He experienced horrible suffering, scourging, and death in place of sinners (Isa. 53:4–6).
There are two Greek prepositions that emphasize the substitutionary nature of Jesus’ death. The preposition anti, translated “for,” means Christ died “instead of” sinners (Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). The preposition huper, also translated “for,” means Christ died “in behalf of” or “in place of” sinners (Gal. 3:13; 1 Tim. 2:6; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 3:18). Philemon 13 shows that huper must mean “in place of.”
The doctrine of substitution is important in that through Christ’s death the righteous demands of God have been met; it was a legal transaction in which Christ dealt with the sin problem for the human race. He became the substitute for humanity’s sin.
Salvation is through faith in Christ. Faith is stressed in Acts 10:43 do not need to first become Jews; they receive forgiveness and salvation simply through believing (cf. Acts 11:21; 14:23; 16:31).
Believing involves repentance. On numerous occasions the gospel heralds exhorted the people to believe in Christ; on other occasions they urged the people to repent (cf. Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 8:22; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20). This indicates the terms should be understood synonymously.5 Paul’s statement, “repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21), suggests repentance is bound up in faith. To have faith is to repent; without repentance faith is not possible.
Salvation is through the grace of God. When Paul came to Achaia he helped those who had believed “through grace” (Acts 18:27). In this way God in time manifested His grace to Lydia (Acts 16:14) and to others (Acts 13:48) what had been resolved before time began.
Salvation is apart from any works. The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 resolved that Gentiles did not need to be circumcised nor observe the law of Moses to be saved. They were saved by faith alone.
s has been noted in the preceding discussion, Peter emphasizes Christ in His work of salvation: He was a perfect sacrifice, like a spotless, unblemished lamb (1 Pet. 1:19); He committed no acts of sin (1 Pet. 2:22); He died as a substitute once for all, the innocent for the guilty (1 Pet. 3:18). Peter emphasizes the act—He was killed for us.
The pronouns emphasize that Christ died in the place of sinners (1 Pet. 2:24). He ransomed4 them from slavery to sin (1 Pet. 1:18).
Christ’s salvation was planned in eternity past (1 Pet. 1:20) but revealed in history. He completed salvation through His resurrection, giving believers a living hope (1 Pet. 1:3).
[2]
[3]
20 20. William G. T. Shedd, Commentary on Romans (Reprint. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980), p. 76.
[1]Enns, Paul P.: The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago, Ill. : Moody Press, 1997, c1989, S. 332
2 2. Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1941), p. 392.
5 5. Charles C. Ryrie, Biblical Theology of the New Testament (Chicago: Moody, 1959), pp. 116–17.
4 4. The word “ransomed” is elutrothete from lutroo, meaning “to release, to procure a release by a ransom, to deliver by the payment of a price, to redeem.” For the Jews, the picture of redemption would be God’s deliverance from Egypt. For the Gentiles it would be the picture of a slave whose freedom was purchased with a price.” Fritz Rienecker, Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament, edited by Cleon Rogers (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982), p. 748.
[2]Enns, Paul P.: The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago, Ill. : Moody Press, 1997, c1989, S. 127
[3]Enns, Paul P.: The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago, Ill. : Moody Press, 1997, c1989, S. 96
Was Christ Name Really Jesus
In my down time I often go to various apologetic sites to engage in some intellectual exchange with atheist, agnostics, and people of various cults. I often get attack with the fact that Christ name was not Jesus and that there is not a J in the Hebrew language. My cousin called me told me to listen to Michael Baisden, he had a guy on his show saying the same things. So i thought I would post some research on it....
The name ‘Jesus’ is derived from a Hebrew word that means ‘savior’ (see Matt. 1:21), and the title ‘Christ’ (Heb., ‘messiah’) means ‘anointed,’ and refers to one commissioned by God for a special task.[1] This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which was originally Hoshea (Num. 13:8, 16), but changed by Moses into Jehoshua (Num. 13:16; 1 Chr. 7:27), or Joshua. After the Exile it assumed the form Jeshua, whence the Greek form Jesus. It was given to our Lord to denote the object of his mission, to save.[2] The first letter in the name Yeshua ("Jesus") is the yod. Yod represents the "Y" sound in Hebrew. Many names in the Bible that begin with yod are mispronounced by English speakers because the yod in these names was transliterated in English Bibles with the letter "J" rather than "Y". This came about because in early English the letter "J" was pronounced the way we pronounce "Y" today. Yeshua ("Jesus") is the yod. Joshua and Jesus are the same names in different languages. Its the difference between a translation= version in another language and a transliteration= to represent letters or words written in one alphabet using the corresponding letters of another. The yod is often transliterated into a j for pronunciation purposes. Like the name Joyan that is pronounced Yohan. The Y spelling is pronounced like a J. The name Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלַיִ in english is spelled with a J but in Hebrew it is a yod which translates with a y. The name yeshua is transliterated into Joshua which means salvation. Joshua is the Greek transliteration of the name Jesus. Thus, such Hebrew place names as ye-ru-sha-LA-yim, ye-ri-HO, and yar-DEN have become known to us as Jerusalem, Jericho, and Jordan; and Hebrew personal names such as yo-NA, yi-SHAI, and ye-SHU-a have become known to us as Jonah, Jesse, and Jesus.
Heb. Hebrew
[1]Achtemeier, Paul J. ; Harper & Row, Publishers ; Society of Biblical Literature: Harper's Bible Dictionary. 1st ed. San Francisco : Harper & Row, 1985, S. 475
[2]Easton, M.G.: Easton's Bible Dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996, c1897
The name ‘Jesus’ is derived from a Hebrew word that means ‘savior’ (see Matt. 1:21), and the title ‘Christ’ (Heb., ‘messiah’) means ‘anointed,’ and refers to one commissioned by God for a special task.[1] This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which was originally Hoshea (Num. 13:8, 16), but changed by Moses into Jehoshua (Num. 13:16; 1 Chr. 7:27), or Joshua. After the Exile it assumed the form Jeshua, whence the Greek form Jesus. It was given to our Lord to denote the object of his mission, to save.[2] The first letter in the name Yeshua ("Jesus") is the yod. Yod represents the "Y" sound in Hebrew. Many names in the Bible that begin with yod are mispronounced by English speakers because the yod in these names was transliterated in English Bibles with the letter "J" rather than "Y". This came about because in early English the letter "J" was pronounced the way we pronounce "Y" today. Yeshua ("Jesus") is the yod. Joshua and Jesus are the same names in different languages. Its the difference between a translation= version in another language and a transliteration= to represent letters or words written in one alphabet using the corresponding letters of another. The yod is often transliterated into a j for pronunciation purposes. Like the name Joyan that is pronounced Yohan. The Y spelling is pronounced like a J. The name Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלַיִ in english is spelled with a J but in Hebrew it is a yod which translates with a y. The name yeshua is transliterated into Joshua which means salvation. Joshua is the Greek transliteration of the name Jesus. Thus, such Hebrew place names as ye-ru-sha-LA-yim, ye-ri-HO, and yar-DEN have become known to us as Jerusalem, Jericho, and Jordan; and Hebrew personal names such as yo-NA, yi-SHAI, and ye-SHU-a have become known to us as Jonah, Jesse, and Jesus.
Heb. Hebrew
[1]Achtemeier, Paul J. ; Harper & Row, Publishers ; Society of Biblical Literature: Harper's Bible Dictionary. 1st ed. San Francisco : Harper & Row, 1985, S. 475
[2]Easton, M.G.: Easton's Bible Dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996, c1897
Can The Bible Be Trusted
Can The Bible Be Trusted
Test of Science:The Bible says the universe has a beginning. It also states that the universe expanded. Both of these has been proven by Science. The Bible says God stretched out the Heavens. Isaiah 42:5 Alann Sande proved the universe is expanding. All pointing to the accuracy of the bible.
We use to think the world was flat and that if you went to far you would fall of. But the Bible always said that the earth was round, Isaiah 40:22 says, “He that seated on the circle of the earth,” In addition, the Bible attest that the Earth is Hung in space as noted in Job 26:11 The anthropic principle shows that the universe was preadapted for human life Ps 8:3-4
Physics and Chemistry:
Universe is running down (out of energy) which means that it started with a specific amount (Psa 102:26). We no know that the human body is composed of the earths basic elements which is in accord with the bible. (Gen 2:7)Water returns to its source (Ecc 1:7)
Archeology: We have archeology to support all of these accounts in scripture.The Assyrinan InvasionKing Jehu-mention in Black Obelisk 2 kingsKing Hezekiah Sennacherib invasion record 2 KingsHezekiah’s ‘tunnel undeground water found 2 Kings. I have been there.The Jewish captivity King Jehoiachins records 2 Kings 25The Census in Luke 2 Quirinius Census Lk 2:1-5Gallio, Proconsul of Achai-inscription of Delphi (Acts 18:12-17Erasuts- inscription near Corinth theater (Acts 19:22)The Nazareth Decree slab of stone with decree from Emperor Claudius Ad 41-54 not to move bodies under pain of deathYohanan A crucifixion victim from ad70 found 1968
Biology:Life does not emerge from non-life (Gen. 1:21)Life is incredibly complex (Gen 1:21,27)Life is in Blood (Lev 17:11)Proper sanitation avoid spread of disease (Lev. 12,14) it has been stated that if we still followed these laws we would have less disease in the world. A Dr. wrote a book on it called “None of These Diseases”All basic forms of life begin all at once (Gen 1) paleontological records and fossils prove this. In the Cambrian period.
Robert Jastrow (agnostic)
Now we see how the astronomical evidence leads to a biblical view of the beginning of the world… The chain of events leading to man commence suddenly and sharply at a definite moment in time, in a flash of light and energy.” He also states,” that there are what I or anyone would call supernatural forces at works is now, I think, a scientifically prove fact.
The harmony of natural law.. Reveals intelligence of such superiority that compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection. Albert Einstein.
Test of Science:The Bible says the universe has a beginning. It also states that the universe expanded. Both of these has been proven by Science. The Bible says God stretched out the Heavens. Isaiah 42:5 Alann Sande proved the universe is expanding. All pointing to the accuracy of the bible.
We use to think the world was flat and that if you went to far you would fall of. But the Bible always said that the earth was round, Isaiah 40:22 says, “He that seated on the circle of the earth,” In addition, the Bible attest that the Earth is Hung in space as noted in Job 26:11 The anthropic principle shows that the universe was preadapted for human life Ps 8:3-4
Physics and Chemistry:
Universe is running down (out of energy) which means that it started with a specific amount (Psa 102:26). We no know that the human body is composed of the earths basic elements which is in accord with the bible. (Gen 2:7)Water returns to its source (Ecc 1:7)
Archeology: We have archeology to support all of these accounts in scripture.The Assyrinan InvasionKing Jehu-mention in Black Obelisk 2 kingsKing Hezekiah Sennacherib invasion record 2 KingsHezekiah’s ‘tunnel undeground water found 2 Kings. I have been there.The Jewish captivity King Jehoiachins records 2 Kings 25The Census in Luke 2 Quirinius Census Lk 2:1-5Gallio, Proconsul of Achai-inscription of Delphi (Acts 18:12-17Erasuts- inscription near Corinth theater (Acts 19:22)The Nazareth Decree slab of stone with decree from Emperor Claudius Ad 41-54 not to move bodies under pain of deathYohanan A crucifixion victim from ad70 found 1968
Biology:Life does not emerge from non-life (Gen. 1:21)Life is incredibly complex (Gen 1:21,27)Life is in Blood (Lev 17:11)Proper sanitation avoid spread of disease (Lev. 12,14) it has been stated that if we still followed these laws we would have less disease in the world. A Dr. wrote a book on it called “None of These Diseases”All basic forms of life begin all at once (Gen 1) paleontological records and fossils prove this. In the Cambrian period.
Robert Jastrow (agnostic)
Now we see how the astronomical evidence leads to a biblical view of the beginning of the world… The chain of events leading to man commence suddenly and sharply at a definite moment in time, in a flash of light and energy.” He also states,” that there are what I or anyone would call supernatural forces at works is now, I think, a scientifically prove fact.
The harmony of natural law.. Reveals intelligence of such superiority that compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection. Albert Einstein.
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