Most ancient books have been long forgotten but the Bible has proven itself a very memorable and unique book not only because it has been the most widely translated, distributed, and sold book of all time but because it accomplished all this despite unending attempts to destroy it.
19th-century theologian Albert Barnes reminds of these attempts to suppress and destroy it, saying, "No other books has received so much opposition as this, but it has survived every attack which power, talent, and eloquence have ever made on it.
Speaking of the many attacks on it he continues, "But no army every survived so many battles as the Bible....and still stood unmoved."
It has truly proved itself to be a unique book that can not be destroyed although many have tried even as it words were being written, such as the Israelite king, Jehoiakim who was provoked by Jeremiah's warning that Jerusalem would be destroyed because of the evilness the Jewish people at the time.
These attempts to destroy the Bible have continued by such people through the centuries but with no success.
(See Jeremiah 36: 1-23 for more information).
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
How About That Book of Beginnings?
What about that Book of Beginnings? Have you ever taken the time to look into the background of the Bible book of Genesis? It is an intriguing book of only 50 short chapters which contains a mine of information about the origin and early history of man.
It is not based on mythology as some critics have claimed, but a carefully researched, written and edited introduction to the Bible as the first book of the the Pentateuch which made up the first five books of the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures.
Moses, who edited or put all of this part of the Bible together made a careful investigation of the written and even oral histories of those who lived before him. As you read through Genesis you will see expressions called "colophons" identifying the author of the original document Moses used in compiling the early history of man.
A good example of this is the one at Genesis 5:12 where it says, "This is the book of Adam's history." These histories carried (and us) from the time of Adam and Noah in 4026 B.C.E. down to the time of Jacob in 1728 B.C.E.
You'll notice that from this point that what Moses wrote is not supported by such histories. However Moses still had a very reliable resource of information in his family.
His great grandfather, Levi, was the half brother of Joseph who lived during a part of the time covered in the last segment of Genesis. He no doubt what have shared what he knew with his family members. And God, through his Spirit, would have ensured that none of this history was lost or distorted.
Because of all of this we can be assured of the accuracy of all of Genesis -- the book of man's beginnings.
It is not based on mythology as some critics have claimed, but a carefully researched, written and edited introduction to the Bible as the first book of the the Pentateuch which made up the first five books of the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures.
Moses, who edited or put all of this part of the Bible together made a careful investigation of the written and even oral histories of those who lived before him. As you read through Genesis you will see expressions called "colophons" identifying the author of the original document Moses used in compiling the early history of man.
A good example of this is the one at Genesis 5:12 where it says, "This is the book of Adam's history." These histories carried (and us) from the time of Adam and Noah in 4026 B.C.E. down to the time of Jacob in 1728 B.C.E.
You'll notice that from this point that what Moses wrote is not supported by such histories. However Moses still had a very reliable resource of information in his family.
His great grandfather, Levi, was the half brother of Joseph who lived during a part of the time covered in the last segment of Genesis. He no doubt what have shared what he knew with his family members. And God, through his Spirit, would have ensured that none of this history was lost or distorted.
Because of all of this we can be assured of the accuracy of all of Genesis -- the book of man's beginnings.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Pony Express and Couriers in Bible Times
American Western movies used to create the idea that the earliest mail delivery was carried out by the hardy pony express riders who raced across mountains, deserts, and prairies fighting treacherous weather, outlaws,
and hostile Indians to deliver the mail and messages for the government sand private citizens -- but they were actually only continuing a long tradition began in the Middle East.
Many of these couriers in ancient Israel and other nearby countries were working unofficially being family members, friends, soldiers, or merchants who were travelling to the desired city or town.
The Apostle Paul, for instance, gave some of his letters to fellow Christians as Tychicus to deliver to the Ephesians. Obviously, depending on the nature of the letter or message such couriers would be selected carefully to ensure confidentially and delivery.
Governments, however, had more organized mail delivery systems. Esther 8:10, for example describes how Mordecai had a letter with King Ahasuerus official seal delivered by a royal courier riding, "sons of speedy mares."
And the Roman government also had such an official courier service for military and administrative mail or messages despatched throughout the Roman Empire.
So although the American mail delivery system might have begun with the Pony Express by then it was by then merely carrying on a long tradition of mail delivery by horseback (and other) couriers.
and hostile Indians to deliver the mail and messages for the government sand private citizens -- but they were actually only continuing a long tradition began in the Middle East.
Many of these couriers in ancient Israel and other nearby countries were working unofficially being family members, friends, soldiers, or merchants who were travelling to the desired city or town.
The Apostle Paul, for instance, gave some of his letters to fellow Christians as Tychicus to deliver to the Ephesians. Obviously, depending on the nature of the letter or message such couriers would be selected carefully to ensure confidentially and delivery.
Governments, however, had more organized mail delivery systems. Esther 8:10, for example describes how Mordecai had a letter with King Ahasuerus official seal delivered by a royal courier riding, "sons of speedy mares."
And the Roman government also had such an official courier service for military and administrative mail or messages despatched throughout the Roman Empire.
So although the American mail delivery system might have begun with the Pony Express by then it was by then merely carrying on a long tradition of mail delivery by horseback (and other) couriers.
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