Just before Easter, James Tabor and Simcha Jacobovici made all sorts of sensational claims about their discovery of a new ‘Patio’ tomb at Talpiot. These are the same guys who brought us the supposed ‘Jesus Family Tomb’ a couple of years ago. They produced a book and a documentary all about their new discovery just in time for the Easter season.

Dr. James Charlesworth of Princeton has an informative Q & A about the ‘Patio’ or Talpiot B tomb on Dr. Ben Witherington’s  blog:

“Dr. Jim Charlesworth on Talpiot Tomb B”

Ben makes the following comment about it:

“I think you will find it enlightening. It reminds us that archaeological evidence is often quite ambiguous and equally good scholars can come to different, even diametrically opposite conclusions about the same subject.”

The Q and A by Dr. Charlesworth clears up his association with the project and his conclusions reveal that he is far from convinced that the Talpiot tombs (A or B) have any relationship to Jesus, his family, or other notable New Testament characters like Joseph of Arimathea.            *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Easter Attacks on Christianity in the Media

               (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Its Easter season which means it’s time to seriously attack Christianity in the media.  Magazine articles, documentaries on TV, books, pseudo research into Christian origins and the Bible. All stacked heavily against traditional teachings about Jesus and the origins of Christianity. Each with a variety of professors supposedly exposing the real Christian origins as myths coming down to us from pagan traditions. Just to make it ‘fair’, they always throw in a couple of uneducated preachers to support the Bible and then add some liberal Bishops that support the ‘re-interpretation’ of historical Christianity.

First it was the new ‘patio Tomb’ by James Tabor and Simcha Jacobovici who brought us the supposed ‘Jesus Family Tomb’ a couple of years ago. The Patio Tomb supposedly supports Christian teaching of the resurrection but according to Tabor it is nothing like what the New Testament teaches. These are the same two which ‘proved’ Jesus was married and had a family with Mary Magdalene because of some names they found on a ossuary. Of course they rush their research to make the deadlines in printing their book and finishing their documentary for the Easter season and then complain about scholarly reviews that show up on websites.

Next a book by Thomas de Wesselow: "The Sign: The Shroud of Turin and the Secret of the Resurrection." Who claims that Jesus never appeared to the Apostles but that it was the sight of the burial shroud after the crucifixion that convinced the apostles to believe that Jesus came back to life. Therefore, the resurrection as recorded in the Gospels is nothing but an illusion. Wesselow’s theory is all conjecture with no real historical evidence to support it. He would have you believe that the Apostles spent their lives preaching a lie and went to their deaths all because of an image on a cloth? Ridiculous!

Finally, on the CNN Belief Blog there is a debate on whether Jesus was even a real person or only a myth: The Jesus debate: Man vs. myth

You know that your side is in trouble when the strongest argument for Jesus is made by an agnostic anti-Christian professor. Yet the CNN debate is as close as you can get to a fair hearing in today’s secular media.

Can you just imagine the outcry if Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran received similar attacks during Ramadan? Easter is the holiest time of the year for Christians and yet every year at this time we are subjected to anti-Christian propaganda in the form of ‘new’ discoveries that turn out later to be far different than originally presented after all the facts are in.

If you really want to know the facts surrounding the resurrection of Jesus, here is one of the best short and concise articles I have ever found on the issue:

“Did Jesus really rise from the dead?”

by William Lane Craig, professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology.            *Top

                                                   (Image via Wikipedia)

Today, the understanding of God as a Trinity is under assault from many different directions including atheists, Muslims, liberal Christians, and even Mormons.

Many like Atheist Richard Dawkins reject the doctrine as "sophistry", and incoherent at best. The problem is that many of these critics do not take the time to view all of the historical evidence and propositions written on the subject.

Here’s an excellent article by Peter S. Williams, presenting the philosophical case for the Trinity:

“Understanding The Trinity”

Unfortunately it is not ‘Trinity 101’ in 500 words or less but a very cogent and well documented advanced presentation. Well worth the time and effort to digest.

Here’s the conclusion for a taste:

Conclusion

Critics accuse the Christian idea of God as Trinity of incoherence, but as Peter Kreeft argues:

The doctrine of the Trinity does not say there is one God and three Gods, or that God is one Person and three Persons, or that God has one nature and three natures. Those would indeed be self-contradictory ideas. But the doctrine of the Trinity says that there is only one God and only one divine nature but that this one God exists in three Persons. That is a great mystery, but it is not a logical self-contradiction.[70]

Whatever the merits of the particular trinitarian model propounded herein, to believe in the Trinity is to believe in three co-eternal divine persons who together essentially constitute one divine personal being, and this doctrine is not logically incoherent.

Far from being the liability to Christianity that critics assume, the doctrine of God as Trinity is supported by a posteriori and a priori arguments that demonstrate the shortcomings of Unitarian theologies and which lend weight to the conclusion that Christian theism is the best worldview available to us. As theologians Pinnock and Brow state: "Loving is what characterizes God essentially… God is not a solitary monarch but a tripersonal mystery of love."[71]

*Top

Related Posts?:

1. -A Quick Summary: The Biblical Basis for The Trinity

(P52 Fragment via Wikipedia)

From the Christian Post:

Dallas Theological Seminary professor Daniel B. Wallace has said that newly discovered fragments from the Gospel of Mark could be the oldest New Testament artifacts ever found and date from the first century A.D., or during the time of eyewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. …

Wallace explained that the fragment was dated by one of the world’s leading paleographers. The oldest manuscript that had Mark in it was Papyrus 45 (P45), from the early third century (c. AD 200–250). This new fragment would predate P45 by 100 to 150 years, almost certainly placing it in the first century and making it the oldest of its kind, according to the professor. The other oldest known manuscript of the New Testament has been P52 (discovered in 1934), a small fragment from John’s Gospel, dated to the first half of the second century.

Response: This would an incredible discovery if the original assessments are correct. However, The official report and research on the fragments does not come out until sometime next year. This indicates that the scholars are being very careful and thorough in their research and are currently unwilling to commit to early speculation or assumptions about the manuscript fragments.

However, since the cat is out of the bag so to speak, they should be more forthcoming with some details about the MS fragments and the provenience of the discoveries. It would be nice to know at least what NT verses are covered by the fragments.

The potential importance of this discovery cannot be over stated and yet since we really know next to nothing about the fragments except what professor Wallace has revealed then speculation should be withheld until the preliminary research is completed and available. However, we can say this, if Wallace’s contentions are correct than it will go along way toward confirming a first century dating for the Gospel of Mark which most scholars have contended was the earliest of the gospels, written probably between 50-65 AD (CE).            *Top

                                                (Image via Wikipedia)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) has apologized for violating an agreement that they had with Jewish leaders not to posthumously ‘baptize’ victims of the holocaust. Here is the story:

CNN) – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has apologized for "a serious breach of protocol" in which the parents of the late Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal were posthumously baptized as Mormons.

The church also acknowledged that three relatives of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel were entered into the genealogy database, though not referred for baptism.

Asher Wiesenthal and Rosa Rapp were baptised in proxy ceremonies in temples in Utah and Arizona, according to the database records discovered by researcher Helen Radkey in Salt Lake City.

The Wiesenthal baptisms violated a 1995 pact in which the church agreed to stop baptizing Jewish Holocaust victims.

Here’s a response on the issue from LDS spokesman Michael Purdy:

“We sincerely regret that the actions of an individual member of the church led to the inappropriate submission of these names.”

"These submissions were clearly against the policy of the church. We consider this a serious breach of our protocol and we have suspended indefinitely this person’s ability to access our genealogy records."

Meanwhile one cannot over estimate the grief this has caused among Jews with family and relatives who were killed in the Holocaust. Here’s a reaction from Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, who had participated in the earlier negotiations with the Mormon Church over their practice of posthumously baptizing Jews:

"We are outraged that such insensitive actions continue in the Mormon Temples," said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, who participated in many of the high-level meetings between Jews and Mormon officials.

"Such actions make a mockery of the many meetings with the top leadership of the Mormon Church dating back to 1995 that focused on the unwanted and unwarranted posthumous baptisms of Jewish Victims of the Nazi Holocaust."

Here’s another wrinkle to this on-going story. On Tuesday, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney was called upon by Holocaust survivor and Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel to tell his church to stop doing proxy baptisms in the names of dead Jews, particularly Holocaust victims like Wiesel’s parents who were apparently found on a recent Mormon ‘ready to baptize’ list.

Response: ‘Baptism of the Dead’ is one of the practices secretly carried out by Mormons in their temples around the world. LDS members routinely search genealogical records for family members and relatives from the past and then submit the names to be baptized posthumously by proxy in temple ceremonies.

Mormons believe that in the after life folks are given the opportunity to know and accept the truth. Since baptism is a requirement according to LDS doctrine for the highest glory or kingdom in the afterlife, members of the Mormon Church are baptized in place of their dead relatives in order for them to qualify for the higher glories since it is presumed that most will accept ‘the truth’ (Mormon doctrine and teaching) in the life to come.

If you have relatives that are Mormons, chances are that your entire family tree has already been baptized posthumously into the Mormon church.

Regardless of the statements made by the church to discontinue baptizing Jews and particularly victims of the holocaust, some believe that the church will merely continue the practice under more controlled and secret conditions. However, the church has made public statements indicating that future violators of the agreement with the Jewish leaders will be disciplined severely by the LDS authorities.

This is a unique doctrine of the Mormon Church and it is considered a heretical teaching and practice by all Christian denominations including protestant, orthodox, and the Roman Catholic church.            *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Mormons & Evangelicals: Different Theology But Similar Values

                                          (Image via Wikipedia)

Over the years I have had dozens of folks tell me that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased (called Cessationism) with the close of the Apostolic age and with the writing of the last book of the New Testament. Many times the same Christians will quote 1Corinthians 13:8-10 as definitive proof.

I refuse to get into arguments over this issue or spend a great deal of time even discussing it since I have usually found it to be a waste of time.  I really don’t plan to get into the issue itself in this article.

I only want to take a look at 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 and show why it is really not a good text for supporting Cessationism.

1 Cor 13:8-13:

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
ESV

First of all, Paul begins his thoughts about spiritual gifts in chapter 12 and continues the teaching through chapter 14 so the passage must be viewed and understood in that larger context. Following the chapter 13 love passage Paul tells the Corinthians at the beginning of chapter 14 to follow the way of love by earnestly seeking spiritual gifting, especially prophecy. If some of the gifts were going to be discontinued in the next generation at the close of the apostolic age there is simply no clue from the larger text.

That brings us to 13:8-10 which many folks put forth as poof that at least prophecy and tongues will cease. The view revolves around the text- “when the perfect comes” and concludes by teaching that the ‘perfect’ was the New Testament. Therefore according to that view, when the last Apostle (John) completed the words of the last book of the New Testament and passed away, so did the need for the gifts of prophecy and tongues cease and pass away.

The problems with that interpretation are evident in the passage itself. Did knowledge pass away also? No. Did Christians finally know God as Moses did, face to face and come to a full understanding and knowledge of oneself? No, we still have only a partial understanding of things and we have a hard time clearly seeing ourselves as we truly are. We still don’t know much about what we are going to be doing for all eternity, only the necessary part that God has given us in his scriptures for now. A fuller understanding waits for the coming of Jesus.

The earliest interpretation of ‘the perfect’ (Gk: teleion – “that which is perfect”) in verse 10 was that it referred to Jesus and the time following his coming again. If you re-read the passage with the understanding that it is referring to Jesus and his second coming it all makes sense in context. When Jesus comes again everything will change and see the light of day. We will also have a much clearer understanding of ourselves, His Kingdom, and the future.

The gifting that brought us closer to him and his purposes will no longer be necessary since we will then receive everything we need directly from him face to face. Only the gift of love will continue on forever.            *Top

                             (Image via Wikipedia)

It has become culturally fashionable to make the claim that “Jesus never said he was God.”

Lots of folks would like to claim Jesus as their own but his divinity gets in the way. The Muslims claim Jesus was a great prophet to the Jews but far less than even their prophet Muhammad. Some Jewish folks would like to acknowledge him as an ancient Jewish rabbi teacher if they could leave out the God thing and ignore the terrible treatment many Jews have received from some of his misguided followers over the centuries.

Even Hindu and eastern gurus like to make the claim that Jesus traveled to India and learned everything from them. Then there is the strange case of Richard Dawkins who wants to claim that Jesus Would Be An Atheist Today.

The real problem is that the Bible gets in the way and supports the divinity of Jesus. Not only that, but Jesus clearly indicated on a number of different occasions that he was the “I am” God of the Old testament. The response of those who heard him at the time confirms it.

One is left to choose whether Jesus was a liar, just crazy, or whether he was telling the truth. Really there is no middle ground or justification for claiming that he was some kind of ethical teacher or prophet of God if he lied about something as basic as who he really was.

Here’s an excellent article from the Apologetics Guy summarizing what Jesus had to say about himself: “Did Jesus Say He Was God?”

If you happen to be talking to someone who makes the claim that “Jesus never said that he was God,” there are 3 key scriptures that I usually refer to in a pinch as a Biblical response:

1. John 8:58: “ Before Abraham was “I am” “

If you missed it, this is what the God of the Old Testament told Moses when he asked for a name. Those listening didn’t miss what he was claiming by their response in verse 9:

“they picked up stones to stone him”

2. John 10:30: “I and the Father are One”

Again those listening to him understood his claim and picked up stones to kill him (Verse 33):

“…for Blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

If you can’t remember where the first 2 scriptures are, here is the easiest one to find. Turn to the first book of the New Testament- Mark and find the record of his trial before the Sanhedrin toward the back of the book in chapter 14.

Here, the religious leaders respond to the claims of Jesus during his trial.

3.  Mark 14:61-65: The Trial of Jesus

Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"

"I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." 

The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked.

"You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"  They all condemned him as worthy of death. –NIV

Obviously the religious authorities believed that Jesus was claiming to be divine and deemed him worthy of death for his blasphemy.

These are just 3 key scriptures that prove that Jesus claimed to be God. Again, for more and for greater details and a good short summary of the Biblical evidence, read the Apologetics Guy’s article:

“Did Jesus Say He Was God?”                *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Jesus Would Be An Atheist Today?
2. -Early References to Jesus

                                           (Image via Wikipedia)

There are many differences that separate the two largest world religions- Islam and Christianity.

Some of the greatest disparity revolves around their very different understandings about the character of God (or Allah in the case of Islam) and how one can have a relationship with God the Father and receive eternal salvation.

The Following is a short summary.

1.  The Character of God

Christianity teaches that God loves the world and all mankind: *

     ”…God is love.” – I John 4:8;  “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son…” -I John 4:10;  “I have Loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” -Jer. 31:3;  ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his one only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  -John 3:16

Islam teaches that the love of Allah is conditional- he only loves those who believe and do good works:

     -Sura 19:96  Lo! those who believe and do good works, the Beneficient will appoint for them love.

Christianity teaches that God is righteous and treats all of his creatures with perfect justice.

“For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice” -Psalm 11:7; “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.” -Psalm 89:14; “He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.” -Psalm 98:9; ”I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.” -Acts 10:34

In Islam, Allah does as he pleases. Guiding some men to go the right way and tricking others to go astray.

“If we so willed, we could have brought every soul its true guidance, but the word from me will come true: ”I will fill hell with the jinn and mankind together” “. -Sura 32:13

2. Human Relationship with God

Christianity teaches that God loves humanity and that believers can have an actual relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ His Son. God the Father sends His Holy Spirit to live and abide with Believers to help them live and become adopted members of His family.

”But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” -John 1:12-13

In Islam, It is a one way relationship. No one can be certain that they have found favor with Allah. Muslims are called upon to love and respect Allah and be obedient to his laws without any expectation of any kind of response.

3. Eternal Destiny

Christianity teaches that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can be certain of their  salvation -that Heaven is their eternal destiny.

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” -1 John 5:13

 
In Islam, Muslims can never be certain that they have done enough to secure the favor of Allah and be received into Paradise following their death.

*Top 

                                           (Image via Wikipedia)

Here’s our best posts of 2011 based upon a combination of traffic and comments:

1.  -Losing the War of Ideas to Radical Islam?

2.  -Mormons & Evangelicals: Different Theology But Similar Values

3.  -Revolting Muslims Really Seeking New Caliphate and World Dominance?

4.  -Did 9/11 Change Attitudes About Religion?

5. -Radical Muslim Responses to Christmas

6.  -Judgment Day on May 21? I Don’t Think So

7.  -Independence Day: God Was There from the Very Beginning

8.  -Is Christmas Really a Pagan Holiday?

9.  -Camping Repents? Maybe -Maybe Not

10.  -Earliest Christian Writings in Existence Found in a Jordanian Cave?

*Top 

Related Posts?:

1. -Is Christmas Really a Pagan Holiday?
2. -Did 9/11 Change Attitudes About Religion?

With the new year, many want to improve their lives in 2012. One of the best ways to do that is to read the Bible daily in the new year.

Several polls taken during the last year have unfortunately demonstrated that American Christians are somewhat illiterate when it comes to the Bible and particularly Biblical teachings. One good way to reverse the trend is to set aside time to read the good book everyday. An excellent idea is to read through the whole Bible or at least the New Testament during 2011. There are a number of good programs to help you in the process. <<Read the rest on the Main Page>>

May God Bless us all in 2012.               *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -The Bible and Homosexual Marriage?