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The Christ of History. http://www.biblearchaeology.org/. The Bible and its Impact on Archaeology. The Bible and its Impact on Archaeology. Father of Archaeology – Sir William Ramsay.
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Father of Archaeology – Sir William Ramsay “I may fairly claim to have entered on this investigation without any prejudice in favor of the conclusion which I shall now attempt to justify…[i.e., the reliability of the Book of Acts]. On the contrary, I began with a mind unfavorable to it, for the ingenuity and apparent completeness of the Tübingen theory had at one time quite convinced me…but more recently I found myself often brought in contact with the book of Acts as an authority for the topography, antiquities, and society of Asia Minor. It was gradually borne in upon me that in various details the narrative showed marvelous truth. In fact, beginning with the fixed idea that the work was essentially a second-century composition, and never relying on its evidence as trustworthy for first-century conditions, I gradually came to find it a useful ally in some obscure and difficult investigations.” - Sir William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveler and Roman Citizen
Sir William Mitchell Ramsay “Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy, he is possessed of the true historic sense…In short this author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians.” Sir William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveler and Roman Citizen
The Wonderful Book of Acts Every location mentioned in Acts has been located archeologically!
The Wonderful Book of Acts This includes 32 countries, 54 cities, and 9 islands
The Wonderful Book of Acts There are 95 names mentioned in the Book of Acts; 62 of whom do not show up elsewhere in the New Testament
1. Who Wrote the New Testament? New Testament Writings are Eyewitness Accounts If any one who had been with the Apostles or where they had been… I questioned him in regard to the words of them,—what Andrew or what Peter said, or what was said by Philip, or by Thomas, or by James, or by John, or by Matthew, or by any other of the disciples of the Lord... For I did not think that what was to be gotten from the books (or second hand accounts) would profit me as much as what came from the living and abiding voice. – Papias, Expositions of the Oracles of the Lord
1. Who Wrote the New Testament? New Testament Writings are Eyewitness Accounts “… Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but afterward, as I said, he followed Peter, who adapted his teaching to the needs of his hearers, but with no intention of giving a connected account of the Lord’s discourses, so that Mark committed no error while he thus wrote some things as he remembered them. For he was careful of one thing, not to omit any of the things which he had heard, and not to state any of them falsely.” – Papias, Expositions of the Oracles of the Lord
1. Who Wrote the New Testament? New Testament Writings are Eyewitness Accounts “So then Matthew wrote the oracles in the Hebrew language, and every one interpreted them as he was able.” – Papias, Expositions of the Oracles of the Lord
1. Who Wrote the New Testament? New Testament Writings are Eyewitness Accounts “Matthew also published a gospel in writing among the Hebrews in their own language, while Peter & Paul were preaching the gospel and founding the church in Rome. But after their death, Mark, the disciple & interpreter of Peter, also transmitted to us in writing what Peter used to preach. And Luke, Paul's associate, also set down in a book the gospel that Paul used to preach. Later, John, the Lord's disciple --- the one who leaned on Jesus’ breast --- also set out the gospel while living at Ephesus in Asia Minor.” – Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.1.1
2. Did Jesus Exist? Roman Sources: "Consequently, to get rid of the report, 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....” – Tacitus, Annals 15: 44
2. Did Jesus Exist? Roman Sources: “A libel was sent to me, though without an author, containing many names [of persons accused]. These denied that they were Christians now, or ever had been.They called upon the gods, and supplicated to your image, which I caused to be brought to me for that purpose, with frankincense and wine; they also cursed Christ; none of which things, it is said, can any of those that are really Christians be compelled to do; so I thought fit to let them go.” – Pliny the Younger, Pliny’s Epistle to Trajan / Pliny’s Letters 10: 96
2. Did Jesus Exist? Roman Sources: "As the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instigation of Christus, he (Claudius) expelled them from Rome." – Suetonius, Life of Claudius 25. 4
2. Did Jesus Exist? Jewish Sources “Ananus (the High Priest) was of such a disposition, he thought he had now a good opportunity, as Festus was now dead, and Albinus was still on the road; so he assembled a council of judges, and brought before it the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ, whose name was James, together with some others, and having accused them as law-breakers, he delivered them over to be stoned.” – Josephus, Antiquities 20.9.1
3. Did Jesus Perform Miracles Jewish Sources "Jesus the Nazarene practiced (i.e., was able to work) magic and led Israel astray." – Talmud, Babylonian (Baraitha Bab. Sanhedrin 107b)
3. Did Jesus Perform Miracles Jewish Sources “On the eve of Passover Yeshu (Jesus) was hanged (i.e., crucified)…because he has practiced sorcery (performed the miraculous) and enticed Israel to apostasy." – Talmud, Sanhedron 43a
3. Did Jesus Perform Miracles Jewish Sources "Now about this time arose an occasion for new disturbances, a certain Jesus, a wizard of a man, if indeed he may be called a man, who was the most monstrous of men, whom his disciples call a son of God, as having done wonders such as no man has ever done.... He was in fact a teacher of astonishing works to such men as accept the abnormal with delight…" - Josephus, Antiquities XVIII: 33
4. Did Jesus Predict the Future? Greek Sources "Jesus hada knowledge of future events … as the results corresponded to his predictions.” - Phlegon, Chronicles
5. What Happened while He was on the Cross Early Historian Debate “And with regard to the eclipse in the time of Tiberius Caesar, in whose reign Jesus appears to have been crucified, and the great earthquakes which then took place…” – Phlegon, Chronicles ”(In reference to the eclipse under Tiberius Caesar) an eclipse of the sun happened, greater and more excellent than any that had happened before it; at the sixth hour, day turned into dark night, so that the stars were seen in the sky, and an earthquake in Bithynia toppled many buildings of the city of Nicaea." – Phlegon's 13th Book as quoted in Jerome's translation of Eusebius' Chronicle, 202 Olympiad “The darkness that fell upon Judah during the crucifixion…was an eclipse of the sun.” – Thallus, History from the Time of the Trojan War (Book 263)
5. What Happened while He was on the Cross Early Historian Debate "On the whole world there pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were rent by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down. This darkness Thallus, in the 263 third book of his History, calls, as appears to me without reason, an eclipse of the sun. For the Hebrews celebrate the Passover on the 14th day according to the moon, and the passion of our Savior fails on the day before the Passover (see Phlegon); but an eclipse of the sun takes place only when the moon comes under the sun. And it cannot happen at any other time but in the interval between the first day of the new moon and the last of the old, that is, at their junction: how then should an eclipse be supposed to happen when the moon is almost diametrically opposite the sun?" – Julius Africanus, Chronography, 18.1
6. Jesus and the Resurrection Jewish Sources "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 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." - Josephus, Antiquities XVIII:3
Eyewitness Testimony What Happened to the Twelve? Andrew: Crucified on an olive tree in Achaia (Greece) Bartholomew: Whipped and crucified upside down in Allanum (Armenia) James (the son of Alpheus): stoned to death in Jerusalem (was first thrown off a 100 ft Temple pinnacle) James (son of Zebedee): Run though with a sword under Herod – Acts 12: 2 John: Banished to the Greek Isle of Patmos, but later was released due to old age and died at Ephesus Matthew (Levi): Died from a sword wound received in Ethiopia Peter: Crucified upside down at Vatican site Philip: Crucified in Hierapolis (Turkey) Simon the Zealot: Died of old age after taking lead role in Jerusalem meeting Thaddeus (a.k.a. Judas the son of James): Martyred in Kara Kalisa (Parthia / Iran) Thomas: Thrust through with a spear at Calamene (India) Matthias, the Apostle chosen to replace Judas (see Acts 1: 26), was beheaded
Eyewitness Testimony What Happened to the Lord’s half-brothers, James and Jude? James, the Lord’s brother, was stoned by the Jews in Jerusalem – Josephus Jude, the Lord’s brother, was shot with arrows under decree of Trajan – Eusebius What Happened to Paul? Paul was beheaded along the Ostian Way outside of Rome under Nero – Irenaeus What Happened to Others? Mark was dragged by horses through the street in Alexandria, Egypt – Numerous Coptic Sources Luke may have been hung in Greece, although this is not conclusive Stephen was stoned to death in Jerusalem – Acts 7: 54 – 59 Barnabas was stoned most likely on Cyprus (although some conflicting sources say Thessalonica)
Why I Believe the Bible I believe the Bible because it is: (1) A reliable collection of historical documents (2) written by eyewitnesses (3) during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. (4) These eyewitnesses report supernatural events, (5) (many of) which took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies. (6) These writings claim to be divine, rather than human, in origin (7) and the evidence proves it to be TRUE! (modified approach based on that used by Voddie Baucham Jr.)
Of Jesus Christ “About the life and sayings of Jesus there is a stamp of personal originality combined with profundity of insight in the very first rank of men of sublime genius of whom our species can boast. When this pre-eminent genius is combined with the qualities of probably the greatest moral reformer and martyr to that mission who ever existed upon earth, religion cannot be said to have made a bad choice in pitching upon this man as the ideal representative and guide of humanity; nor even now would it be easy, even for an unbeliever, to find a better translation of the rule of virtue from the abstract into the concrete than to endeavor to live so that Christ would approve of our life.” “Jesus is a man charged with a special, express, and unique commission from God to lead mankind to truth and virtue.” • (selected quotes from) John Stuart Mill,Nature, the Utility of Religion, and Theism
Of Jesus Christ “It was reserved for Christianity to present to the world an ideal character which through all the changes of 18 centuries has inspired the hearts of men with an impassioned love; has shown itself capable of acting on all ages, nations, temperaments and conditions; has been not only the highest pattern of virtue, but the strongest incentive to its practice…. The simple record of these 3 short years of active life has done more to regenerate and soften mankind than all the disquisitions of philosophers and all the exhortations of moralists.” - William Lecky,History of European Morals from Augustus to Charlemagne
Of Jesus Christ “I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is not a man. Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires, and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and whatever other religions the distance of infinity…. Everything in Christ astonishes me. His spirit overawes me, and His will confounds me. Between him and whoever else in the world, there is no possible term of comparison. He is truly a being by Himself. His ideas and sentiments, the truth which he announces, His manner of convincing, are not explained either by human organization or by the nature of things…. The nearer I approach, the more carefully I examine, everything is above me - everything remains grand, of a grandeur which overpowers. His religion is a revelation from an intelligence which certainly is not that of man…. One can absolutely find nowhere, but in Him alone, the imitation or the example of His life…. I search in vain in history to find the similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history, nor humanity, nor the ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.” - Napoleon Bonaparte
Of Jesus Christ Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself... While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life. - Dr. James Allan Francis, One Solitary Life
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