INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL APOLOGETICS

INTRODUCTION:

The attacks against G-D and the Bible are increasing in number and intensity. This course evaluates the arguments used by critics to deny that G-D is Creator and that the Bible is G-D’s Word. This course also presents significant evidences that confirm G-D as Creator and the Bible as God’s scientifically, doctrinally, and historically accurate Word.

Most of the evidence I favor of G-D and the Bible was discovered in the 20th Century. Some of the lessons in this course reveal amazing new discoveries that have only recently been uncovered and that are not yet known by the general public. The students should be prepared for an exciting intellectual and spiritual journey that will enable them to see new places, new concepts, and new evidences that will challenge their minds and strengthen their faith.

LESSON AIM:

to give the students a preview of the entire course that is designed to strengthen their faith, equip them to answer the arguments of the critics, and convince the honest and humble of heart that G-D is Creator, Jesus is His Son, and that the Bible is His Word.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will…

Learn five sources of evidences or fountains of faith.
Understand the attitude of mind and heart that is necessary to perceive the logical and spiritual significance of the many evidences available.
Preview Lessons 2 – 24 to see the scope of the evidences in this course.
For many more evidences for Christ and the New Testament, the student is referred to Ed Wharton’s Course, Historical Christian Evidences…. This is the first course we teach… competed a number of months ago, after that we had the video tour, and the truth project in which we are about to complete. All these courses will be repeated as time goes on.

THE TECHNICAL SUBJECT OF THIS COURSE: BIBLICAL APOLOGETICS

Definition of “Apologetics”
“The branch of theology having to do with the defense and poofs of Christianity.”
Apologetics Comes from the Greek Word, Apologia
Apologia: apo = from; logia = reason. Apologetics presents logical reasons and evidences that support our faith.
The Need to Defend G-D, Christ, and the Bible
1. Paul was set for the “defense (apologia) and confirmation of the gospel” (Philippians 1:7, 16),
2. “always be prepared to give an answer (apologia = defense) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15)

FIVE SOURCES OF EVIDENCES OR FOUNTAINS OF FAITH

Special Revelation
The written testimony of inspired men (John 14:26; 20:30 – 31).
1. The Scriptures are self-authenticating and are sufficient to convict
2. Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of G-D for the salvation of everyone who believes.”
Natural Revelation
Evidence for G-D in the Universe, matter and living beings.
1. “The heavens declare the glory of G-D; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” (Psalm 19: 1-4)
2. “For since the creation of the world G-D’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20)
Historical and Archaeological Testimony
1. Histories of other nations.
2. Testimony of eyewitnesses (the apostles and others).
3. Archaeological discoveries.
G-D’s Word Demonstrated in the Lives of His People.
1. “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14)
2. The Christian life, good or bad, is evidence for or against the Bible and G-D.
3. Christian women can convert their unbelieving husbands by the testimony of their godly and spiritual beauty (1 Peter 3: 1 – 3)
4. Answered prayers and answered promises of G-D’s Word in the life of His children demonstrate the validity of our faith (Matthew 7:7)
Logical Reasoning Based on Evidence and Common Sense.
1. G-D Himself said, “Come now, let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18)
2. Paul “reasoned” with the Thessalonians from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2)
3. Paul reasoned with Jews who disagreed with him (Acts 18:19)

EVIDENCE FOR AND AGAINST GOD AS CREATOR

Attacks Against GOD as Creator
1. During the last 20 years’ scientists, have made an intensive attack against belief in G-D as Creator.
2. Biology text books openly affirm that the origin of the universe was a “Big Bang” about 10 billion years ago, and that all life on earth gradually evolved over millions of years.
3. The government will not permit creation to be taught in the public schools.
4. University professors ridicule Christian, Jewish and Muslim students who maintain their belief in an omnipotent Creator.
Attacks Against GOD’s Law of Morality
1. Related to this growing unbelief in GOD is rampant immorality, perversion and violence in the public schools and universities.
2. Romans 1: 20 – 31 says that rejection of G-D as Creator leads to rejection of GOD’s law of morality and to the practice of violence, perversion, and every other imaginable sin.
Philosophical Arguments for and Against GOD
1. Most classes on philosophy in universities are designed to destroy faith in God.
2. Philosophy is largely based on logical reasoning.

EVIDENCES FOR AND AGAINST THE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE

Many are Not Aware of the Scholarly Rejection of Old Testament History
1. Genesis 4: 17 – 22 affirms that from Adam to Noah, men developed rapidly in technological progress, building cities, raising livestock, and inventing the harp, the flute, and all kinds of tools of bronze and iron.
2. Scholars claim this was the Stone Age, when cave men did not build cities, could not play, much less make, musical instruments and were ignorant of bronze and iron
3. Genesis 6 – 8 claims that a universal flood covered the globe in Noah’s time.
4. Scholars reject the Biblical stories of Noah and the flood, Abraham, and others.
5. For the past 10 years, the inerrancy of Scripture has been a main issue discussed in the Southern Baptist Convention.
6. The faith of some of the brightest and most talented preachers has been weakened and sometimes destroyed by institutions of higher learning.
7. Bible critics classify those who believed in the inerrancy of the Scriptures as being legalistic, ignorant, naïve, and close minded.
Evidence for Bible History from Adam to Moses
1. Remarkable evidence as been discovered that supports Bible history from Adam to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
2. 210 points of Biblical history from Joseph to the Exodus in documents of the 12th Dynasty of Egypt have been found.
3. The end of the 12th Dynasty is dated 300 years prior to the Biblical Exodus, which 1 Kings 6:1 dates to 1446 B.C.
4. Scholars claim Egyptian history is astronomically dated and cannot be revised.
5. Fallacies found in the entire system of dating Egyptian history (see lesson 19 /part 2 lesson 7)
New Evidence to Confirm Biblical History from the Exodus to Solomon
1. Lessons 17 and 18 contain new discoveries that identify the true locations of Mt. Horeb (Sinai) and the Red Sea Crossing.
2. Lesson 20 shows how a three- century revision of Egyptian history results in amazing evidence for Israel’s conquest of Canaan.
3. Lesson 20 shows how the Biblical history of the period of the Judges runs parallel with Egyptian Dynasties 13 through 18.
4. This three- century revision of Egyptian history causes the Amarna Letters of the late 18th Dynasty to synchronize with Israel’s monarchy under Kings David and Saul.
5. The archaeological evidence in Canaan linked to the end of the 18th Dynasty confirms the richest period in the history of Palestine at the time of Solomon.
6. Biblical history from Solomon to the Babylonian Quest has been confirmed by the astronomically dated documents of Assyrian and Babylonian history (lesson 21).
Evidence for the canonicity and Preservation of the Bible
1. Internal and external evidences.
2. The Bible itself explains the process by which G-D revealed, inspired, confirmed, collected, and preserved His word.
3. Both Old and New Testament writers believed they were writing the permanent and eternal Word of G-D.
  1. Isiah 40: 6 – 8 and 1 Peter 1:23 – 25 state, “The Word of the Lord will endure forever.”
  2. Matthew 24: 35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”
4. Significant evidence, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, support the accurate preservation of the texts of the Bible.

COURSE OUTLINE OF APOLOGETICS II

New Discoveries That Confirm Our Faith

INTRODUCTION
1. Lesson 1 Introduction to the Biblical Apologetics
EVIDENCE FOR GOD AND CREATION
EVIDENCE CONFIRMING THAT THE BIBLE IS GOD’S INSPIRED WORD
EVIDENCE THAT CONFIRM OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
EVIDENCE FOR THE CANONICITY AND PRESERVATION OF THE BIBLE
1. Lesson 23 Canonicity and Preservation of The Old Testament
2. Lesson 24 Canonicity and Preservation of The New Testament

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

What has happened to our society as a result of its rejection of G-D as Creator?
What verse of Scripture vividly describes the consequences of a society that has rejected G-D as Creator?
What should the Church do, since public schools and universities are not permitted to teach Creation as an optional possibility for the origin of the universe?
Name another area of education in universities that is designed to destroy faith in G-D.
What educational institutions especially attack belief in the Bible as G-D’s infallibly inspired word?
What three things are necessary to find solutions for Biblical problems?
What period of Old Testament history is rejected as mythical by most liberal Bible scholars, historians, and archaeologists?
What two kind of evidences will be presented to prove the genuineness and Canonicity of both the Old Testament and New Testament?
What Old Testament verse is quoted in 1 Peter 1:23-25 that affirms, “The Word of the Lord will endure forever?”
What did Jesus say about His words in Matthew 24:35?

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ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE:

LESSON 2: MIND or MATTER?

INTRODUCTION

Which is eternal: mind or matter? Scientist are convinced that the Universe could not have come into existence in any way which would indicate an Eternal Being. The scientific world cannot logically and reasonable supply evidence as to the origin of the Universe. Evidence must be presented for whatever claim is made for the world’s existence. In this lesson evidence will be presented both for the claim of super-natural creation and to disprove the scientific claim of accidental explosion existence.

LESSON AIM:

To investigate the evidence presented and determine the origin of the Universe and all it contains.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will:

Examine evidence which substantiates that matter is not eternal but was created by an Eternal G-D.
Determine by logic, reason and evidence that the organized universe did not happen by blind chance but by an intelligent designer.
Learn that organized matter is a result of divine design not accidental formation.

WHICH IS ETERNAL: MIND OR MATTER?

Axiom of Eternity
1. Something cannot come from nothing (self-evident proposition).
2. Therefore, something always was or nothing could now exist.
Two Options of Eternity: Intelligent Mind or Mindless Matter
1. Most scientists believe matter is eternal and accidentally formed the universe.
2. Christians believe G-D (super-intelligent mind) always existed and designed and created the universe and all life
Scientists Reject the Eternity of God Because Creation is “Miraculous”
1. Webster defines a miracle as “an event or action that apparently contradicts known scientific laws.”
2. Most scientists have concluded that creation is “anti-scientific.”
God’s Miracles Follow Superior Scientific Laws
1. God has many laws of science that man cannot understand (Job 9:10)
2. God has even higher laws of science that govern the heavenly realms (Isaiah 55-9).
3. G-D’s miracles appear to contradict scientific laws, but they actually follow these higher scientific laws.
Scientists’ Theory of the Eternity of Matter Contradicts Their Own Scientific Laws
1. First Law of Thermodynamics: Energy Conservation:
  1. Energy can be converted into different forms, but cannot be created or destroyed.
  2. Since the whole universe is in a state of conservation, it could not have created itself.
2. Second Law of Thermodynamics: Energy Decay:
  1. Every energy system moves from order to disorder and will eventually reach the state of equilibrium when all energy will be exhausted.
  2. Scientists have concluded that the universe had a beginning.
  3. The decay process is gradually wearing away the universe so that one day it will cease to exist in its present form.
3. Since matter will have an end, it is not eternal.
4. Since something must be eternal in order for anything to exist now, and since matter is not eternal, only one option is left: Eternal Mind (G-D)
God’s Eternal Pre-existence and His Creation of the Universe are Consistent with the Laws of Thermodynamics
1. First Law of Energy Conservation harmonizes with the Bible miracle of creation (Genesis 2: 1 – 3).
2. Second Law of Energy Conservation harmonizes with G-D’s curse of creation with decay (Genesis 3: 1 – 9; Romans 8:20 – 23).
3. The universe is headed toward extinction taught by Jesus and Peter (Matthew 24: 35: 2 Peter 3: 7 – 12).
4. Since God is Spirit (John 4:24) and preexisted creation, He is separate from, and therefore not subject to, the two Laws of Thermodynamics.
5. An eternal mind (G-D) harmonizes with the scientific Laws of Thermodynamics.
6. The scientific belief in the eternity of matter contradicts these laws.

THE ORGANIZED UNIVERSE: BLIND CHANCE OR INTELLIGENT DESIGN?

Faith of Christians: That a Super-intelligent, Super-Powerful G-D Designed and Created the Amazingly Organized Universe (Genesis 1:1).
1. G-D designed and created the universe, and all life, including intelligent man within six days (Genesis 1:1 – 2:1).
2. “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day” (Exodus 20:11).
3. It is more reasonable to believe that an intelligently designed universe indicates an intelligent Designer rather than a mindless explosion of unorganized matter.
Objections of Scientists to the Christian Faith in Creation
1. Webster defines science as “systematized knowledge drived from observation, study and experimentation.”
2. Claim: Creation is unscientific because it has never been observed and it cannot be repeated in the laboratory.
Faith pf Scientists” universe Was Formed by Blind Chance from “The Big Bang”.
1. All the universe was once compacted into a single, tiny molecule which accidentally exploded from an unknown cause and expanded into the present universe.
2. The universe continues to expand laterally (not vertically) in two opposite directions from a common center.
3. This expanding debris accidentally organized itself into millions of separate galaxies, each composed of billions of stars.
4. This expanding debris accidentally formed the Milky Way Galaxy close to the center of the supposed explosion.
5. A minuscule bit of the debris that formed the Milky Way Galaxy accidentally formed our sun, one of its billion stars, and also the solar system, including the tiny planet earth.
6. Planet earth had just the exact correct composition and climate conditions to produce spontaneously by blind chance living plants and animals, which in turn accidentally evolved into higher life forms.
Objections to the faith of Scientists in Relation to the Origin of the Universe
1. The Big Bang Theory would be a miracle greater than creation. Mindless matter would accomplish what intelligent scientists have been unable to do in the laboratory.
2. Scientists have never observed, nor demonstrated by experiment, how all the matter of the universe could be compacted into a single molecule.
3. Scientists have never observed or experimented with a molecule that exploded by itself.
4. All experiments with explosions of molecules destroy.

ORGANIZED MATTER: DIVINE DESIGN OR ACCIDENTAL FORMATION?

Matter is Composed of Invisible, Intelligently Designed Atoms
1. Non-living matter is composed of invisible components of highly intelligent design: “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (Hebrews 11:3) (consider the quark)
2. Non-living matter is composed of at least 109 elements.
3. Each element is composed of atoms of a unique molecular design.
4. 20th century scientists learned how to split the atom and discovered on the inside of each atom a nucleus of unique molecular design.
5. Nuclear scientists learned how to split the nucleus and this discovery led to the bomb.
6. Scientists discovered in the nucleus of each atom of each element a unique number of combinations of neutrons, protons, and other elements.
7. Scientists found that each element has a different number of protons inside the nucleus from 1 to 109, without skipping a single number. (New Encyclopedia Britannica, 1991 Ed., 1,678)[i]
8. Each element (gold, silver, iron, etc.) can be identified by the number of protons inside the nucleus of its atoms.
9. Random formation of elements by chance could not produce such orderly sequences (1 to 109) without gaps. An intelligent designer could do this.
Organized Non-living Matter Could Not Have Evolved by Chance
1. Non-living matter is unable to reproduce itself.
2. Non-living matter is in a state of decay and will eventually exhaust all of its energy and reach a state of motionless equilibrium in obedience to the 2nd Law of Thermo-dynamics.
3. Scientists are unable to explain how a mass of unorganized matter organized itself by chance into 109 elements, each with a highly intelligent, complex molecular design of protons, neutrons, and particles.
The Complex Intelligence Seen in Non-living Matter Demands an Intelligent Creator
1. Our sun is one of the stars of the Milky Way Galaxy and forms the solar system in which 9 planets refvolve around the sun.
2. The earth is 93 million miles for the sun, perfectly sustaining life on earth. A million miles closer to the sun would burn up all life. A million miles farther away would freeze all life on earth.
3. The earth rotates around the sun every 365.21299 days, causing a constant solar year for man to count time.
4. The moon’s rotation around the earth permits man to have light on the earth at night so that both man and animals can operate after the sun sets.
5. The speed of the moon’s rotation enables earth’s inhabitants to divide the solar year in 12 lunar months.
6. The moon’s distance from the earth creates a gravitational pull on the earth, giving it a constant 23⁰ tilt on its axis.
  1. This tilt, plus the varying distance from the sun during earth’s rotation around it, produces the four seasons on earth for planting, growing, harvesting, and resting.
  2. Mars, which has two moons, wobbles back and forth on its axis, making it impossible to have four seasons and to sustain life.
  3. The same gravitational pull of the moon controls the times of the oceans. [ii]
7. The amazing water cycle on earth that enables the growth and survival of all plant and animal life.
  1. Subterranean water provides fresh water wells in dry areas.
  2. Salt water oceans provide the necessary habitat for salt water sea life and salt water plants to thrive.
  3. Fresh water lakes proved the habitat for fresh water fish and plants.
  4. Fresh water evaporates from the oceans and lakes, is carried by the clouds over land and dropped as fresh rain water or snow.
  5. The streams and rivers run back into the ocean, recommencing the continual water cycle that brings moisture to the earth.
8. The earth’s atmosphere has the proper balance of carbon and oxygen to sustain life.
  1. Plants use the carbon in the atmosphere and exhale the oxygen.
  2. Animals use the oxygen in the atmosphere and exhale the carbon.
  3. This cycle continually replaces the proper carbon/ oxygen in the atmosphere.
9. The food cycle to sustain all life includes plants for animals, man, and fish to eat, insects for fish and birds to eat, fish, birds, and small animals for wild animals and humans to eat.
The Total Model of Our Solar System Demands a Divine Designer
1. Benjamin Franklin once attended a scientific conference in France where a model of the solar system was erected on a table. A colleague admired the word and asked Franklin who made it. Franklin replied, “oh, it just happened.” (Batsell Barrett Baxter, I Believe Because, Baker, 1971, p. 54)[iii]
2. Imagine how offended would be the scientists who constructed that model of the solar system for someone to say that the model fell together by chance after their hours of precise calculations and careful construction.
3. Which indicates an intelligent designer? The model needs a humanly intelligent designer, but the real thing needs a super-intelligent designer.

CONCLUSION

The Heavens and The Earth All Shout That There Is a Divine Creator (Psalm 19: 1 – 4)
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
1. As we travel outward to the most distant stars, we see His handiwork.
2. As we travel upward to the sun, moon, and stars, we see His foot-prints.
3. As we travel downward into the depths of the sea and earth, we find His intelligent designs.
4. As we travel inward into the tiny recesses of the nucleus of an atom, we find His fingerprints
May Praise and Glory Be Given to Our Omniscient and Omnipotent Creator!

[i] “Atomic Weight,” New Encyclopedia Britannica, 1991 Ed., 1,678.

[ii] The moon is app 234,000 miles away from the earth, and it is moving away from the earth at a rate of 1.4 inches a year. If the earth is 6,000 years old it has moved away from the Earth app 700 feet, no big deal, however if the earth is 2 billion years old, the minimum amount of time needed for evolution to occur, it would have 50,000 miles closer to the earth, and the seasons, the tilt of the axis, the tides of the ocean would have made it impossible for the life to exist, if 10 billion years old, the moon would have been rolling around on the face of the earth, a ridiculous proposition.

[iii] Batsell Barrett Baxter, I Believe Because, Baker, 1971, p. 54

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Lesson 3: Evolution: Fact or Fiction?

INTRODUCTION

Our public schools and universities teach that evolution is the only scientific explanation for the origin of life on earth. The government will not permit creation to be taught in the public schools and universities as an alternative explanation for the origin of life. A rare exception occurred in 1984 when the National Honor Society of Lubbock High School decided to study both sides of the issue. The members of the Honor Society invited Dr. Robert Baker, a nationally known biologist from Texas Tech University, to present the case for evolution. They invited Ted Stewart to present scientific arguments against evolution and for creation. Ted was not permitted to use the Bible in the debate. This lesson presents Ted’s critique of Dr. Baker’s case for evolution, plus addition evidence against evolution that Ted had learned in the years since the debate. Dr. Baker did not attempt to answer any of the arguments against evolution, not the arguments for creation. The main arguments for creation appear in the next lesson.

LESSON AIM:

To enable the students to refute the scientific arguments for evolution and to turn the scientific evidence into arguments for Creation.

LESSON OBJECTIVE: You will…

Investigate the evidences presented by scientists in favor of Spontaneous Generation and determine it is myth rather than scientific truth.
Examine the argument on Homology and conclude that similarity of structure indicates a common Divine Designer, not common ancestors.
Evaluate mutations and determine that they lead to inferior degradation or death, not superior evolution.
Analyze the fossil record and see that it supports creation, not evolution.
Realize that belief in atheistic evolution is the sin of idolatry.
Learn how to turn arguments for evolution into arguments for Creation.

INTRODUCTORY WORDS ABOUT EVOLUTION

Practical Biology has made great advances in revealing the complex chemical and physical processes that permit plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses to function.
Theoretical Biology presents Evolution as the origin and method by which these complex living organisms came into existence.
Where You Came from Determines Who You Are, Why You Are Here, and Where You Are Going.
1. Are you an evolutionary accident or created in God’s image?
2. If you are a son of a chimp, you can live by the law of the jungle.
3. If you are a child of God, you were created in the image of God and have the privilege and duty to live by the law of God!
4. Did you evolve without purpose or meaning, or were you created with a divine purpose and a heavenly goal?
Two Kinds of Evolution
1. Micro-Evolution (small evolution) causes variable colors, shapes, and sizes of the same species; it is observed in nature and is accepted as scientific fact by Evolutionists and Creationists.
2. Macro-Evolution (Big Evolution) is theoretical, not factual, and proposes that non-living material accidentally evolved into plant and animal life and that inferior plant and animal life accidentally evolved into higher forms of life.

SPONTANEOUS GENERATION: TRUTH OR MYTH?

Spontaneous Generation: The Basic Premise on Which Evolution Stands
Evolution is based on the premise that life suddenly emerged from non-living material.
Spontaneous Generation Has Never Been Observed
1. Scientists of the late 19th century believed that maggots were spontaneously generated from the deterioration of garbage.
2. Louis Pasteur demonstrated in the laboratory that garbage did not produce maggots when protected under a glass covering.
3. Unprotected garbage attracted flies that laid their eggs on the garbage and later hatched into maggots, which are fly-larvae.
4. He concluded that spontaneous generation is unscientific and that life always comes from previous life, not from non-life.
5. Yet, modern evolutions are still advocating the same unscientific view of spontaneous generation that Pasteur refuted.
The Miller and Urey Experiment
Miller and Urey, artificially created a few amino acids and other DNA components as well as other organic substances, claiming they created life in the test tube.[i]
1. These organic substances are not living matter, but only some of the components that make up life.
2. Even these lifeless amino acids were produced not naturally, as spontaneous generation requires, but in the laboratory under closed conditions.
3. The process required that water be inserted at one point of the experiment and that the resulting substances be protected from water later in the process
4. In an open environment, these organic substances would have been destroyed by rain, wind, etc. as rapidly as they were formed.
5. Miller and Urey also utilized electric shocks to form these substances, on the basis that lightning provides the same shock in nature.
6. The Miller and Urey experiment showed that intelligent man can produce a few of the components that make up life in a closed atmosphere. They did not demonstrate how nature could produce amino acids in an open atmosphere.
The Complicate Process by Which Non-living Material Could Evolve into Living Plants and Creatures
1. In order to form by chance a simple plant, the protons and neutrons in the nuclei of non-living substances would have to be miraculously replaced with a DNA molecule of a plant.
2. Other non-living matter would need to be miraculously combined and their nucei replaced with different DNA so as to produce bacteria, fungi, and other forms of animal life.
3. Plants would have to undergo dramatic changes in the DNA.
4. Sea Life must undergo complex DNA changes to become land creatures.

HOMOLOGY: A COMMON ANCESTOR OR A COMMON DESIGNER?

Biologists Claim: Similar Structure in Different Animals Proves Evolution
Similarity of Humans to Monkeys, Chimps, and Apes Proves Evolution
1. Modern biologists now believe “remarkable biochemical similarities of chimpanzee and human proteins” testify to their “incredibly close biological relationship.”[ii]
2. Since a chimpanzee is the closest animal in similarity to man, we would expect it to have some of the same proteins that humans have
The Evolution of a Chimp Into A Human Violates Scientific Observation
1. “Species” is defined by biologists as having “potential in nature to interbreed and produce fertile offspring and possess similar inherited characteristics.”
2. Different Species of the same genus sometimes can interbreed, but they do not produce fertile offspring.
3. The horse and donkey, different Species of the same Genus, can interbreed, but their offspring is a mule, that is infertile and cannot reproduce.
4. In no case can Species of different Genera interbreed and produce a new Genus or a new species.
5. The Chimpanzee is from the Genus called Pan and from the species called Troglodytes, whereas the Orangutan is from the Genus called Pongo and the species called Pygmaeus, and man is the species Homo Sapiens of the Genus Homo.
6. No one has ever observed a chimp give birth to a superior species of its own Genus (Pan), much less a species of a superior Genus (Homo). If it ever occurs, it will be miraculous, contrary to scientific observation.
The Evolution of A Chimpanzee into A Human Violates the Scientific Law of Cell Reproduction
1. Law of Reproduction: “Cells of each species possess a characteristic number of chromosomes: human cells have 46, cotton plants 52, turkeys 82, and some ferns 1,000. During normal cell division, the two daughter cells must receive the same number of chromosomes.”[iii]
2. Since two daughter cells must have the same number of chromosomes in order to reproduce, reproduction cannot occur if either of the parents has a different number of chromosomes.
3. Chimpanzees have 48 Chromosomes in their DNA.[iv]
4. Humans have 46 Chromosomes with a different number and order of the bands of genes, as well as different genes on each band of each chromosome.
5. A Chimp of 48 chromosomes cannot produce a fertile offspring of 46 chromosomes because it would violate the scientific Law of Cell Reproduction.
6. Chimpanzees cannot interbreed with humans and produce any offspring; how much less could two chimps or a chimp and another animal of the same genus produce a human being.
7. Intelligent scientists cannot cause a chimp to produce a superior species, much less a man.
8. Since a chimp’s producing a superior species has never been observed and violates the scientific law of cell reproduction, it is anti-scientific.
The Biblical View of the Fixity of the Species is More Scientific Than Evolution
1. Genesis 1:21,24 says “God created…every living and moving thing…according to their kinds.”
2. The Bible teaches the fixity of the species or kind, as observed by scientists and in conformity with the law of cell reproduction.
3. The Biblical law of fixity of species conforms to scientific law, whereas evolution contradicts it.
Homology Indicates A Common Designer, Not a Common Ancestry

MUTATIONS: EVOLUTION OR DEGRADATION?

Laboratory Experiments Show That Radiation Can Modify (Cause Mutations) In the Molecular Structure Of DNA
1. 95% of mutations are fatal or seriously injure the creature so that it is inferior, not superior.
2. Mutations might cause a different variation of the same species, but in no case have mutations been observed to produce a new species.
Scientist’ Accomplishments with Modifications or Repair of the DNA
1. Scientists have learned how to repair defective genes, but they have been unable to modify the DNA to create a superior species.
2. Scientists have developed better quality plants and animals by cross breeding but have never been able to produce a new species of animal or plant.
Scientists’ Failures in Experimenting with DNA
1. Scientists have continually experimented with radiation treatments to modify the DNA to produce a new species, but have never succeeded.
2. Scientists have experimented with modifications of DNA of fruit flies by inserting multiple copies of an eye gene into fruit-fly embryos.[v]
  1. 14 eyes appeared on the fruit fly’s wings, legs, and antennae.
  2. Scientists produced a Frankenstein fruit fly who is grossly inferior to a normal fly.[vi]

THE FOSSIL RECORD: EVOLUTION OR CREATION?

Scientists Claim: The Fossil Record Proves Evolution
1. Many Biology text books leave the impression that only lower forms of life appear in the earliest strata of earth and that the higher forms of life gradually appear in successive strata in later ages of earth’s history.
2. The evidence actually shows both simple and advance animals suddenly appeared in the Cambrian Age, the first period when life is found.
3. The famous evolutionist, G.G. Simpson, writes, “All these phyla…begin in the Cambrian…. There is little logical order in time of appearance. The Arthropoda appear in the record as early as undoubted Protozoa, although by general consensus the Protozoa are the most primitive phylum and the Arthropoda the most advances.”[vii]
4. The Encyclopedia Britannica calls this phenomenon “an evolutionary explosion; Yet, it claims it “cannot be” and that life must have existed in Pre-Cambrian Ages, although no evidence of life appeared in earlier ages.[viii]
5. C. Simpson admits that the absence of Pre-Cambrian fossils is the “major mystery of the history of life.”[ix]
6. Advance and simple life existing side by side in the earliest age of earth confirms the Biblical description of creation, but contradicts evolution.
The Evolutionary Picture Presented by Scientists Would Be Miraculous if True
(Notice the chart of evolution in the World Book Encyclopedia, 1970 edition).
1. Life on earth begins with a reptile, who miraculously evolved from a fish, which is cold blooded, has scales, with fins, no lets, no jaw, and lives in water.
2. Reptiles are: Cold blooded, have scales, 4 legs, and 6 bones in the lower jaw, live on land and have 18 more differences
3. The reptile miraculously turned into a bird; birds are warm-blooded, with feathers, 2 wings and 2 legs, with a beak and 18 more differences.
4. If this reptile’s legs evolved into wings, in the interim he could neither walk nor fly and would have died before he could ever evolve into a bird.
5. The same reptile miraculously turned into a snake that has scales, but no legs and 18 other differences. In the process of losing his legs, the intermediate would have died before it produced a snake.
6. This same amazing reptile produced another kind of reptile who miraculously turned into a mouse, which is a mammal, who miraculously evolved into a horse, who incredibly evolved into a monkey.
7. Mammals are warm-blooded instead of cold-blooded, have fur or skin, give birth to the child out of birth track instead of hatching eggs, have 1 bone in the lower jaw (instead of 6) and have 18 more differences.
8. Everyone of these miraculous creatures of evolution violated the definition of a species and contradicted the molecular law of Cell Reproduction that requires that the DNA of each animal have the same number of chromosomes of the parents.
9. None of these asserted evolutionary changes have ever been observed, nor have they been scientifically produced in the laboratory.
Missing Transitional Fossils Disprove Evolution and Confirms Creation
1. If evolution is true there should be hundreds of examples of transitional fossils between phyla of insects, spine creatures, and worms, and even more transitional fossils between mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds.
2. G. Simpson, admits, “Transitional types are not invariably lacking in the record. A multitude of them are known between species, many between genera, a few between classes, but none is true, between phyla.[x]
3. Sir Fred Hoyle, who won the Nobel Prize in Astronomy, says, “The evolutionary record leaks like a sieve.”[xi]
4. If man descended from a chimp there should be thousands of fossils of half-chimp/ half-humans, but there are none.
The Absence of Living Intermediate Animals Disproves Evolution
1. If modern man evolved from a Chimp the intermediate half-chimpanzee/half-human would be superior in intellectual power to modern chimps, and thus millions of them should still be living in our modern world.
2. According to the Darwin’s theory of the Survival of the Fittest, these transitional beings should have survived better than the chimp. Yet, not one of them survived. Why is the Chimp present in abundant numbers, but his superior evolutionary product is nowhere to be seen?
The Fossil Record Indicates Creation and Fixity of Species, Not Evolution

OUTDATED ARGUMENTS STILL USED BY SOME BILOGISTS

Embryology: Scientists Claim the Human Embryo Proves Past Evolution
1. Scientists once claimed that the embryo of a human passes through states of its evolutionary past from fish, to animal, to human.
2. A human embryo first appears with a tail like that of a fish, then loses its tail and prduces legs, supposedly demonstrating its past evolutionary history.
3. Study of the DNA shows that the design of a human is encoded so that it embryo will gradually develop into a full grown human being.
4. The DNA in a human has no similarity whatsoever to the DNA in a fish.
5. Informed scientists no longer use this argument, but many freshman biology textbooks still teach that embryology is proof of evolution.
Vestigial Organs: No Proof of Evolution (Organs for which no useful function has been found)
1. 1960 biology textbooks listed 200 vestigial structures of the human body, including the thyroid and pituitary glands, all as evidence of evolution.
2. By 1990 modern biology found useful functions for all 200.[xii]
Natural Selection and Survival of the Fittest: Does not Create A New Species.
1. Natural selection produces micro-evolution.
  1. Flowers can change colors but not into different plants.
  2. Animals can change shapes and colors, but their species remains unchanged.
2. Survival of the Fittest also produces only micro-evolution; not macro-evolution.
  1. Mutations can cause a plant to become sturdier, but not to turn into a different species of plant.
  2. Moths of a certain color survive better than other moths because of environment, but don’t produce a different species.
  3. Animals can become stronger and prettier based on survival of the fittest, but do not produce different species.
3. New discover nullifies Darwin’s main argument about the Giraffe.
  1. Darwin claimed that Giraffes suffered successive famines and that only the ones with long necks survived.
  2. Scientists have discovered that tiny blood pumps cover the entire lenth of the Giraffe’s neck. Without these pumps the heart could not pump the blood to the head and the Giraffe would die.
  3. Thus, the DNA would have to be altered to add these blood pumps to the Giraffe’s growing neck to circulate the blood all the way to the Giraffe’s head and back to the heart.
  4. No natural could rewrite DNA to include these blood pumps; therefore Giraffes have always had those blood pumps.

EVOLUTION: THE SIN OF IDOLATRY!

Man’s Homage to Mother Earth and Animals as His Maker is Idolatry.
1. Romans 1: 21 – 25 says that the “wise” (evolutionistic scientists and philosophers), “became fools” when they rejected God as Creator and worshiped animals as their makers.
2. Men who believe all life evolved naturally from the dust of the earth worship Mother Earth as their creator.
3. Men who believe reptiles evolved into chimps foolishly give credit to repitles and chimps as their father and maker.
4. “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20).
The Gospel of Christ Calls Men Out of Idolatry (Evolution), (Acts 14: 8 – 20).

CONCLUSION

The scientific evidence contradicts evolution. Only an omnipotent, omniscient creator can satisfy the scientific evidence.

[i] L. Wysong, The Creation-Evolution Controversy, pp. 220-21

[ii] Wessels & Hopson, Biology (Random House, 1988, pp.1223 ff.)

[iii] Ibid.,p.203

[iv] Internet site: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/07/3/l_073_47.html

[v] Time, April 3, 1995, p.61.

[vi] with all the advances in Science, mutations (DNA changes) still result in inferior life forms http://www.harunyahya.com/en/Books/973/the-errors-the-american-national/chapter/3216

in 2017 the New Yorker published an article about two modern day scientist experimenting with white-footed mice so they would stop the spread of a disease… not much advancement in all these years. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/01/02/rewriting-the-code-of-life

[vii] G.C. Simpson, The Meaning of Evolution, 1949, p. 3,1.

[viii] 1956 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, in its article on “Paleontology.”

[ix] G.C. Simpson, op.cit., p. 18.

[x] Ibid.,p. 233.

[xi] Fred Hoyle, Evolution From Space, p77.

[xii] Jerry Bergman and George Howe, “Vestigial Organs Are Fully Functional” (Terre Haute, Indiana: Creation Research Society Books, 1990)

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Lesson 4: FINGERPRINTS OF THE CREATOR

INTRODUCTION

Most people believe in God as Creator. A survey showed 70 to 80% of Americans believe in creation instead of evolution, in spite of the fact that only evolution is taught in public schools. Why is this true? Romans 1:20 – 22 explains; “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men ae without excuse.” This lesson points out God’s fingerprints on some of the many creatures He designed and formed.

LESSON AIM:

To see the amazing fingerprints of God in every living creature and to be motivated to glorify Him, serve Him, and tell the world about His profound intelligence and awesome creative power.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will…

Learn about new discoveries of the amazing DNA and RNA molecules, which testify eloquently to the existence of a super-intelligent Creator.
Examine the Creator’s fingerprints on the basic building blocks of life that are to complex that they could never have formed by chance.
Marvel at the complexity and efficiency of man’s brain, nervous system, and his circulatory, respiratory, and immune systems
Consider the human eye, one of God’s most remarkable inventions, which even Darwin admitted could never have evolved by mere chance.
Stand amazed at the intelligent complexity and efficiency of numerous insects, birds, fish and animals, which evolution could never produce.

GOD’S FINGERPRINT ON DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

DNA Is Located in the Nucleus of Every Cell of the Human Body and All Other Living Creatures and Plants.
Each DNA Molecule in a Human Is Composed of a Spiral Helix of Two Intertwined Strands (Like Two Computer Tapes Twisted Together)
1. Each of the two strands is subdivided into 23 chromosomes, which make up a total of 46 chromosomes.
2. Inscribed on each strand are 3.5 billion 3-letter words (7 billion on both strands) that spell out the hereditary genes of instruction for the composition, structure, and maintenance of every part of the human body.
3. The New Encyclopedia Britannica, 1991 edition, averages about 7,900 letters per page, about 900 pages per volume, with 29 volumes for a total of 206,190,000 letters.
4. The 21 billion letters on DNA is equivalent to 101.8 sets of The New Encyclopedia Britannica, a total of 2,656,980 pages.
Only God Could Inscribe So Much Intelligent Information of Such A Tiny Computer Tape.
1. Sir Fred Hoyle compared the likelihood of improving the genetic code by chance to a monkey on a type writer improving Shakespeare.
2. Compare the probability of composing the 7 billion words of genetic information on DNA to that of a chimp tying on a computer and producing 101 sets of the New Encyclopedia Britannica.

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS ON RNA (Ribon-Nuclic Acid

RNA is Also Located in the Nucleus of Every Cell of the Human Body, but is Produced by DNA
1. RNA enters the nucleus and receives information from the DNA, then leaves the nucleus, enters the cytoplasm of the cell and transmits instructions to cell agents as to what to produce and how and when to do it.
2. DNA transmits to RNA only those instructions that apply to that particular bart of the body where the cell is found
3. For example, if you cut your finger, RNA receives instructions from DNA in the nucleus as to how to repair the damaged cell.
4. RNA transmits instructions to some cell workers to coagulate, stop the bleeding, and form a temporary scab.
5. RNA instructs other cell workers to look for alien substances (bacteria, etc.) and to destroy them.
6. RNA informs other cell workers to produce certain proteins necessary to rebuild damaged cell walls and produce new skin for the finger.
7. Thus, RNA serves like a prophet of DNA to transmit instructions to cell workers to repair and sustain the cell.
God’s fingerprints Are Obviously Found All over RNA

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS ON PROTEINS, AMINO ACIDS, AND ENZYMES

Nothing More Complex and Intelligent Has Been Found than DNA
However, the substances produced by DNA also demonstrate phenomenal intelligence that chance evolution could not have produced.
“Proteins Are Highly Complex Substances That Are Present in All Living Organisms”[i]
1. “About 20 different amino acids occur naturally in proteins.”[ii]
2. Sir Fred Hoyle, winner of the Nobel Prize in Astronomy, calculated that the odds of getting one correct Amino Acid by mere chance are 1 in 10 to the 60th power, 10 with 60 zeroes after it
3. Statistical experts say any event with a probability of 1 in 10 to the 50th power is zero possibility.
4. Proteins are more complex than Amino Acids. Charles Guye, Swiss Physicist, calculated the probability of forming by chance a single protein composed of 12 amino acids, and 288 peptide bonds: “1 in 10 to the 243rd power years with a material volume the size of the earth, shaken at the speed of light.[iii]
5. Scientists claim that the earth is 5 billion years old, 5 with 9 zeros after it; yet, the time needed to get one protein is 10 with 243 zeros years (in addition, remember the moon is moving away from the earth at 1.4 inches per year, if the earth was five billion years old the moon would have been 125,000 miles closer to earth than it is now which is only 234 – 239,000 miles away… what would that have done to the tilt of the earth or tidal waves?)
6. Earth is too young for even proteins, much less DNA, to have evolved by chance.
7. James Coppedge calculated that a simple living being has 239 Protein molecules and that the odds of producing this number of Proteins is 1 in 10 to the 71,700th power (10 with 71,700 zeroes added).[iv]
8. Coppedge concluded that evolution is impossible.
9. God’s fingerprints are clearly evident in Proteins and Amino Acids.
Enzymes Are Too Abundant and Too Complex to Occur by Chance
1. The human body contains about 2,000 different enzymes.
2. One of these enzymes combines different elements in the body to produce glucose, an important body substance essential to life. Its precise jig saw puzzle shape is necessary to produce the correct catalytic reaction.
3. Sir Fred Hoyle has calculated that each enzyme has a chance probability factor of 1 in 10 to the 15th power for forming and 1 in 10 to the 5th power to be in the right place with other substances to accomplish its task; this gives a total probability factor of 1 in 10 to the 20th
4. Sir Fred Hoyle has calculated the odds of producing all 2,000 enzymes at 1 in 10 to the 40,000th power, “an outrageously small probability that could not be faced even if the whole universe consisted of organic soup.”[v]
5. God’s fingerprints are all over enzymes.

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS ON THE HUMAN BRAIN AND ITS NERVOUS SYSTEM

Complexity of the Human Brain
1. Isaac Asimov: “In man is a s three-pound brain which, as far as we know, is the most complex and orderly arrangement of matter in the universe.”[vi]
2. Actually, DNA is more complicated than the brain because it includes the entire design of the brain, plus all the other body systems and parts.
3. The brain has “about 10 billion neurons, each with its own identity.”[vii]
4. The human brain controls and maintains the vital functions of all the body’s amazing systems, most of them without man’s consciousness.[viii]
5. Except for mathematical computation, the human brain performs faster than any man-made computer, and without overheating.
6. The brains dense network of neurons operates at petaflops or higher levels. Yet the whole device fits in a 1 liter box and uses only about 10 watts of power. (a petaflop is computer speed equal to accomplishing one quadrillion floating point operations per second)[ix]
Memory and Analytical Ability of the Brain
1. Man’s brain stores memories of words, colors, sights, events, ideas, concepts, feelings and every other human experience.
2. Man’s brain is able to analyze these ideas and organize them into different classifications and orders, something animals cannot do.
3. Man’s brain is able to devise, plan, invent, and crate objects ans schemes.
4. Man’s brain is able to recall to memory all that man has thought and to communicate his ideas in intelligible speech, something no animal can do.
5. Man’s brain is capable of comprehending and appreciating beauty, moral and thical and spiritual values and concepts
6. Man’s brain is capable of conceiving of a Creator and worshiping and serving Him with all his heart, or of rejecting Him.
The Nervous System
1. “The brain receives data from, and transmits instructions to, all of the other body systems through the spinal cord and its associated membranes, fluids, and blood vessels, which span out to every…. part of the body.”[x]
2. No central intelligence communications system works better than the human brain and its attached nervous system.
  1. Which indicates an intelligent designer A computer network or the human brain and its nervous system? Answer: Both!
  2. Which indicates a super-intelligent designer? Answer: The human brain and nervous system.

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS ON CIRCULATORY, RESPIRATORY, AND IMMUNE SYSTEMS

The Circulatory System[xi]
1. The heart, an amazingly efficient and durable pump, beats an average of 70 times per minute, 100,800 times daily, 36.8 million times annually, 2.2 billion times in 60 years, and almost 3 billion times in 80 years.
2. The heart circulates the blood to every cell of the body through arteries and capillaries and then pumps the blood back to the heart through other capillaries and veins, a total journey of about 60,000 miles.
3. There are about 10 billion capillaries that reach every cell in the human body.
4. Before reentering the heart the blood from the spleen, stomach, pancreas, and intestine passes through the liver where the blood is cleansed and reprocessed with body building substances.
5. The blood also passes through the lungs where carbon-dioxide waste us released and oxygen is picked up by the reprocessed blood before the heart pumps it back in two different streams (upper and lower body) on its life sustaining journey.
6. Only a super-intelligent scientist could devise man’s circulatory system.
The Respiratory System
1. The nose and air passages in the throat funnel air to the lings, where blood picks up oxygen and circulates it to every cell in the body.
2. The lungs then exhale the carbon dioxide waste that is harmful to humans, but beneficial to plants.
3. Man has designed respiratory machines for people with damaged lungs, but they do not compare with the superior respiratory system of the human body.
4. While biologists admit, an intelligent inventor designed the inferior respiratory machine, they inconsistently attribute the superior system to blind chance.
The Immune System, God’s Defense System
1. When enemies, such as germs, viruses or toxic poisons, enter the physical body, an alarm is set off by the surrounding cells notifying the immune system of the intrusion and the nature and size of the enemy.
2. Immediately, the immune system sends specially trained attack soldiers to destroy the enemy and rescue squads to repair damage.
3. If unexpected enemies enter the scene and succeed in making the person sick, the immune system registers the characteristics of the victorious enemy and builds up an anti-serum to destroy it if it appears again.
4. Thus, most people who catch measles, chicken-pox, etc. never catch the disease again because the immunity system learned how to defend against the disease.

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS ON MAN’S SENSORY SYSTEM

The Sensory System is Composed of Tasting, Smelling, Feeling, Motion Sensation, Hearing, and Seeing.
Seeing: The Eye Transmits Visual Signals to the Brain That Enables Man to See Rapidly, Accurately and in Full Color.
1. The human retina calculates in 10 milliseconds what a super computer would take several minutes to do. These rapid calculations of the retina occur many times every second.[xii]
2. Charles Darwin admitted, “To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.”[xiii]
3. No scientist has been able to develop a theory how an eyeless creature could accidentally evolve half eyes, and half eyes accidentally evolve into full eyes.
4. No fossil with half eyes has ever been found.
5. What rational man can conclude that an intelligent optician designed the camera; yet believe that the superior human eye was designed by blind chance with no knowledge of optics?
6. The human eye is living testimony to a super-intelligent optician.

The Proper Reaction

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:14)

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS SEEN IN ANIMAL LIFE

The Honey Bee and the Midge
1. Aeronautically, the honey bee’s shape and weight should not fly.
2. However, its wings beat at the rate of 200 beats per second, allowing it suspend itself in the air like a helicopter, while it sucks out the nectar of lowers to make honey.
3. The Midge (a tiny gnat-like fly) flaps its wings at the rate of 1,046 beats per second, the fastest rate known.[xiv]
4. Modern commercial aircraft, that are propeller driven, cruise at about 2400 revoltions per minute, which is only 40 times per second.
5. Perceptive thinkers attribute the superior speed of the Midge to a super-intelligent aeronautical engineer.
The Seeing Worm
1. A compound eye with multi-lenses has been found in fossilized worms.[xv]
2. This fossilized worm was found in such an early geological stratum that it had no time to evolve such a complex eye.
3. Only a highly-educated camera maker could produce such lenses.
The Sophisticated Eyes of the Trilobite
1. Trilobites, considered by evolutionists as one of the earliest forms of life, had “the most sophisticated eye lenses ever produced by nature.[xvi]
2. Trilobites have between 100 and 15,000 lenses in their eyes (depending on the sub-species), enabling them to see very accurately under water.[xvii]
3. Scientists claim the Trilobite became extinct 230 million years ago.
4. How did the Trilobite develop more complicated eyes than man has in such a short time?
5. Only a super-ingenious optician could devise such complex lenses.
The Ten Eyes of the Horse Shoe Crab
1. This large crab has nine complex eyes stationed at strategic positions over his hard shell and a tenth eye on the end of his tail.
2. All ten eyes are linked to a sophisticated brain that sends neurons to all ten eyes at night so that the eyes can be modified to see in the dark.
3. A stronger argument could not be made for an ingenious Creator
The Kangaroo’s Inimitable Pouch[xviii]
1. After a few weeks, the fetus of a kangaroo is born less than an inch long.
2. By instinct alone, the tiny fetus crawls six inches from the uterus into the pouch without help from its mother.
3. The baby kangaroo lives in its mother’s pouch until it is an adult.
4. The Kangaroo’s pouch defies chance evolution, but harmonizes perfectly with an imaginative Creator.
The Sea Wise Salmon
1. A salmon born in the shallows of a stream bed in Oregon leaves her home to head down streams and rivers until she finally reaches the Pacific Ocean.
2. She wanders sometimes for 2,000 miles in the ocean before heading home.
3. She instinctively returns to the same river mouth she left to enter the ocean.
4. She turns into the correct tributary of the river from which she came.
5. She continues to the very stream and spot where she was born.
6. There, where she began life, she lays her eggs and dies, that her children may follow in the same pathway she left for them.
7. Such remarkable instinctive ability fits well with a remarkable, creative designer.
The Prison Flower and The Fly
1. The prison flower is found on a plant that produces two kinds of flower clusters, male and female.
2. When a fly enters the male flower, it closes on him, causing the fly to flap his wings wildly, covering himself with pollen.
3. Then the flower releases the fly.
4. When the same fly enters the female flower, it also closes on the fly and the flaps of it’s wings pollinate the female flower.
5. Not caring whether the fly escapes or not, the female often keeps the fly captive and nourishes itself on its decayed remains after it dies.
6. This instance demonstrates the necessity of plants and insects co-existing from the beginning (in contrast to the evolutionary theory that plants existed millions of years before insects evolved).
7. Such a unique method of pollination has all the ear marks of a super-imaginative agriculturist.
Two Digestive systems of the Bear
1. Bears store up fat during the summer and hibernate during the winter.
2. Bears have one digestive and waste system for the summer and a second digestive system for the winter.
3. When the bear hibernates, the first digestive system shuts down and a second takes over, converting the stored fat into energy without creating waste material that needs to be excreted.
4. As soon as spring arrives, the bear’s second digestive system shuts down, and back comes the first system.
5. An imaginative Creator is the only logical answer to this phenomenon.
The Radar System of the Bat[xix]
1. Bats are blind, but can hear frequencies of sound of 150,000 cycles per second whereas man can only her 15,000 cycles per second.
2. The bat emits radar sound of 70,000 cycles per second at a rate of 100 impulses per second when in flight.
3. The bat has special muscles that close the ear to his own emitted sounds, but opens them to receive the echo.
4. The bat’s radar system is so effective that it can detect the echo from fruit flies 100 feet away, enabling the blind bat to catch five flies in one second.
5. Modern scientists copied the bat’s radar system, that God, had invented 6,000 years earlier.

CONCLUSION

God Has Amply Demonstrated His Creative Genius in the Universe (Romans 1:20).
All living Creatures Testify to the Existence of Their Divine Creator (Psalm 148:1 -14)

[i] New Encyclopedia Britannica, 1991 Ed., 14.859.

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] Cited by Pierre du Nouy, Human Destiny, pp. 33, 34

[iv] James Coppedge, Evolution: Possible or Impossible, pp. 440-114.

[v] Fred Hoyle, Evolution: Possible or Impossible, pp. 110-114

[vi] Smithsonian, Aug., 1970, p. 10.

[vii] New Encyclopedia Britannica, 1991 Ed., 24.779

[viii] Ibid.

[ix] Ivars Peterson, Science News, April 15, 1995m p. 235.

[x] New Encyclopedia Britannica, 1991 ED., 24.798

[xi] Main Source: New Encyclopedia Britannica, 1991 Ed., 16.390-99.

[xii] John K. Stevens, “Reverse Engineering the Brain, “Byte, April, 1985, p. 287, cited by Walt Brown, In The Beginning, p. 40.

[xiii] Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, p.75.

[xiv] Huse, Collapse of Evolution, p.103.

[xv] Donald Mikulic, “A Silurian Soft-bodied /biota”, Science, Vol. 228, May 10, 1985, pp. 715-717; cited by Walt Brown, In The Beginning, p.40.

[xvi] Lisa Shawver, “Trilobite Eyes: An Impressive Feat of Early Evolution,” Science News, Vol. 105, Feb.2, 1974 p. 72

[xvii] Scott Huse, Collapse of Evolution, p. 95.

[xviii] John N. Clayton, The Source (Mentone, Ind.: Superior Printing, 1978). P.65.

[xix] R.L. Wysong, The Creation/ Evolution Controversy, pp. 340-341, 288.

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Lesson 5: EVIDENCE FOR A YOUNG EARTH AND UNIVERSE

INTRODUCTION

Scientists claim the earth and universe are billions of years old. This lesson defends the Bible claim of creation of about 6,000 to 7,000 years ago. This lesson evaluates the scientific evidence for a ten-billion-year-old universe and a five billion year old earth and finds it self-contradictory and based on unproved assumptions.

A growing number of scientists, including Sir Fred Hoyle, winner of the Nobel Prize in Astronomy, have made new scientific discoveries that indicate the universe and the earth are less than 10,000 years old. This lesson presents many of these new scientific discoveries that confirm the Bible affirmation of a young universe and young earth.

The Aim of this Study:

To convince the students that the Bible claim, that God created the earth and the universe in six days about six to eight thousand years ago, is scientifically and logically true.

We will…

Investigate Biblical evidence that the “six days” of creation are literal, twenty-four hour periods and not vast amounts of time.
Evaluate alternative interpretations of the Bible that allow billions of years of age and find them inadequate.
Examine new evidence from the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens volcano that destroys the assumptions by which geologists date the Grand Canyon and other geological strata.
See how population growth demonstrates man is less than 7,000 years old.
Consider significant new scientific discoveries that clearly indicate that the earth, our solar system, and the universe are less than 10,000 years old.

THE BIBLICAL EXPLANATION OF THE CREATIONOF THE UNIVERSE

Five Factors Necessary for the Present Universe in Genesis 1:1
1. “in the Beginning” (Time)
2. God (Intelligent Designer)
3. Created (Energy)
4. The Heavens (Space)
5. And, the Earth (Matter)
Six Factors Necessary for Life on Earth in Six Days (Genesis 1:2 – 2:3)
1. Day 1 – Light, 1,3-5
2. Day 2 – Sky, 1: 6 – 8
3. Day 3 – Dry Land and seas, 1: 9-10; Plants and trees, 1:11 – 13
4. Day 4 – Sun, Moon, and stars 1: 14 – 19
5. Day 5 – Sea life and birds, 1: 20 – 23
6. Day 6 – Animal life, 1:24 – 31
7. Day 7 – God rested from a finished creation, 2: 1 – 3
Biblical Evidence for a Literal Six Days of Creation
1. “Six days you shall labor and do all your work… For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them” (Exodus 20:9 – 11)
2. “At the beginning the Creator made them male and female” (Matthew 19:1)
3. “The first man Adam became a living being” (1 Corinthians 15:45).
Alternative Interpretations of Genesis One Permitting Vast Amounts of Time
1. Gap Theory:
  1. Explanation; In the beginning (perhaps billions of years ago) God created the heavens and the earth. In verse 2 this original creation “become void” (rather than “was void”) because of the sin of its prior inhabitants, and then God started all over with our present earth, beginning with verse 3, in a new creation of six days.
  2. Strengths:
    1. If scientists have “proved” that the earth is actually 5 billion years old, this interpretation could harmonize with such a view.
    2. If scientists have “proved” that fossils in the layers of earth were laid down millions of years ago, this interpretation would harmonize with such a view.
  3. Weaknesses:
    1. Exodus 20:11 says that in six days God created the heavens, the earth and “everything” in them. This would appear to include all of the fossils in the earth as well.
    2. In Matthew 19:1, Jesus said that God created man and woman “in the beginning.” Thus, the beginning did not occur billions of years before Adam and Eve were created.
  4. Day-Age Theory:
    1. Explanation: Each day is not 24 hours, but an age of long duration.
    2. Strengths:
      1. Sun, moon, and stars were not created until 3rd Therefore, the previous days were not necessarily 24 hours
      2. Harmonizes with scientific claims of millions of years.
    3. Weaknesses:
      1. Exodus 20:11 says that God crated everything in 6 days and that man should work for 6 days. Twenty-four hour days are obviously menat in the case of man.
        Why not God?
      2. Most plants cannot survive without insects’ pollination. The plants were created on day 3; the insects on day 5; if millions of years separated these two “days”, the plants needing insect pollination would have become extinct.
      3. Plants cannot survive without carbon dioxide provided by animal life. Since plants were created on day 3, and animals did not appear until day 6, all plants would have become extinct if millions of years separated these two “days”.
    4. Six days of revelation:
      1. Explanation: Moses received the revelation of God’s creation in six days; it actually took billions of years for creation to be complete.
      2. Weakness: Moses said God created everything in six days in Exodus 20:12, not that He revealed in six days what He created over billions of years.

CRITIQUE OF A FIVE-BILLION-YEAR-OLD EARTH

How Geologists Date the Grand Canyon
1. Geologists believe the Grand Canyon was formed by the gradual removal of earth by the Colorado River.
2. They measure the amount of debris per year that the Colorado River removes from the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
3. They then use this rate to calculate 70 million years as the time needed to remove the earth down to its present depth.
4. Scientists call this method of dating “uniformitarian” on the basis that the Colorado River has always removed earth from the Canyon at the same rate.
Refutation of Geologists’ “Uniformitarian” Method of Dating the Grand Canyon
1. Steven Austin, PhD in Geology, and chairman of the department of Geology at Creation Research Institute, has researched the 1980 eruption of the Mt. St. Helens volcano and found scientific evidence that refutes geologists’ “uniformitarian” method of dating the Grand Canyon at 70 million years
2. Austin found that the 1980 eruption of the Mt. St. Helens volcano formed 5 canyons in 5 days. The canyons averaged a depth of about 100 feet, 1/40th the size of the Grand Canyon.
3. The largest canyon was 125 feet deep, 1,500 feet wide and 3,200 long, and was gouged out of solid rock laid down by an ancient lava flow.
4. The second steam blast leveled a forest of 150 square miles in 6 minutes and deposited 150 feet of land slide and volcanic ash, leaving 65 feet of mud ¼th of a mile wide.
5. The volcano explosion caused 600 feet of strata to form in the different canyons, a phenomenon that modern geologists attribute normally to hundreds of millions of years based on “Uniformitarianism.”
Geologists’ Claim the Rocks in the Strata of Grand Canyon Vary in Age from 10 million to 2.6 Billion Years.
1. Geologists use the following radiometric methods of dating rocks
  1. Rubidium-87 has a half-life to 48.8 billion years, decaying into strontium-87.
  2. Uranium-238 has a half-life of 4.47 billion years, decaying into lead-206, and is “useful for the time-period between 100,000 and 1,200,000 years.
  3. Potassium-40 has a half-life of 1.25 billion years and gradually decays into Argon-40 and Calcium and dates rocks from 20,000 to 4.5 billion years.

1. 1. 1. Geologists used all three of these methods to date the rocks of different strata of Grand Canyon between 10 million and 2.6 billion years.
    2. Geologists thus conclude that the dates of the rocks of these strata confirm the 70 million-year process of the formation of the Grand Canyon by removal of strata by the Colorado River.
Weaknesses of Radiometric Dating
1. Different dating methods used on rocks in the same (top) strata of the Grand Canyon differ in their dates by 2.59 billion years.
  1. The Potassium/Argon method gave dates between 10 million and 117 million years.
  2. The Rubidium/Strontium method gave varied ages between 1.27 and 1.39 billion years.
  3. The Uranium/Lead method gave an isotope age of 2.6 billion years, 1.26 billion years older than the age indicated by the Rubidium/Strontium method and 2.59 billion years more than the youngest date of the Potassium/Argon method.
2. The rocks in the older (lower) strata (Cardenas Basalt and Diabase Sills) are located one mile below the Uinkaret Plateau. These two strata are both Pre-Cambrian (before life appeared on Earth).
  1. These Pre-Cambrian rocks dated between 715 million and 1.07 billion years.
  2. Thus, the top, youngest layer of the Grand Canyon has rocks that are dated older by 130 million years to 1.5 billion years than the Pre-Cambrian rocks at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
  3. Geologists tell us that the lowest or oldest strata must contain the oldest rocks and yet the plateau one mile above the canyon contains the oldest rocks.
  4. These contradictory dates for Grand Canyon rocks demonstrates that radiometric methods are not reliable in dating rocks.
3. Diamonds from Zaire were dated by the potassium/argon method at 6 billion years, a billion years older than the earth is dated,
4. 200-year old lava flows in Hawaii were dated by the potassium/argon method at 3 billion years old, 2.9999 billion years more than reality.
5. These enormous differences in radio-active dating demonstrate that the radiometric methods are unreliable for obtaining real dates of rocks.
Likely Explanation for the Differing Radio-Metric Dates
1. God likely created varying ratios of rubidium /strontium, uranium/lead, and potassium/argon, knowing that man would need both the parents and daughters (lead for example) immediately after He created man.
2. Man, did not need to wait billions of years for uranium to produce lead; God created both uranium and lead simultaneously, knowing man needed both.
3. Thus, the abundance of daughter elements (lead and argon) from decayed uranium and potassium, have an appearance of great age, but have a real age of less than 10,000 years.

God Could Have Crated the Universe Out of Old and New Matter
1. Solomon’s Temple
  1. When Solomon built the Temple of God in Jerusalem, he used newly cut timbers from Lebanon (1 Kings 5:6).
  2. Yet, Solomon placed a 480-year old ark of the covenant inside the temple.
  3. Thus, the temple contained both young and old wood when it was constructed.
2. Adam’s body
  1. The word “create” in Hebrew (barah) means to “form, fashion by cutting, shape out, …make, create”.
  2. Moses used barah in Genesis 1:1 for the creation of the universe and in Genesis 1:27 for the creation of man and woman in His own image.
  3. A synonym is yatsa, which means to “form, fashion, carve, frame, devise, plan, preordain”
  4. Moses used yatsa in Genesis 2:7 – 8 to say that He “formed” Adam out of the dust of the ground.
  5. God used pre-existing matter to create Adam’s body.
  6. When Adam was only a day old (real age), he probably looked 20 or 30 years’ old Possible creation of the universe out of old and new matter.
    1. God had always existed in Eternity, before He created our present Universe.
    2. Who knows how many worlds God created before He created our own.
    3. God could have used preexisting materials from prior creations when creating the present universe, just as Solomon built the Temple and its furniture out of both old and new materials
    4. If God did use pre-existing materials to create the universe, we should expect to find evidence of billions of years of age and other evidence for less than 10,000 years of age.
    5. Also, by speeding up the formation of the universe for the benefit of man, the universe now appears to be billions of years, but is actually only about 7,500 years in age.

POPULATION GROWTH RATES INDICATE A YOUNG EARTH

Biblical Dates and Growth Rates from the Dates for the Flood
1. The Bible says all, except 8 people died in the flood; therefore, the population rate should be calculated from 8 at the flood to 6 billion in A.D. 1996.
2. Differing Hebrew and Greek manuscripts date the Flood from 4,294 to 5,175 years ago (See lesson 11 for proof of these dates)
3. Eight people growing to 6 billion people in 4,294 years is .47% growth, very low in comparison to the current growth rate of about 1.6%. The growth rate is only about .37% if the time period is 5,175 years ago.
4. This growth rate indicates that all humanity was wiped out c 4,300 to 5,175 years ago,.
Biblical Dates and Growth Rates from the Dates for Creation
1. Differing Hebrew and Greek manuscripts give a range of dates between 3,955, and 5,441 B.C. for the date of creation (see lesson 11 for details).
2. Adding on A.D. 1996 (the date of this writing), the Biblical age of the earth ranges between 5,951 and 7,437 years.
3. On the basis that a flood did not occur, mankind grew from 2 (Adam and Eve) to 6 billion in either 5,941 years or 7,437 years.
  1. 5,941 years gives a growth rate of .36%, a very slow rate in contrast to the present growth rate of 1.6%.
  2. 7,437 years gives a growth rate if .2939% an extremely slow rate in contrast to the present growth rate of 1.6%.
  3. These low growth rates imply that mankind has not been on the earth more than 7,000 years.
4. Projected Growth of Only .2% over Periods from 10,000 to 1 million years
  1. Starting with 2, growing at the extremely low rate of .2% growth, would give the following populations in A.D. 1996
  2. 10,000 years = 951 million people.
  3. 15,000 years = 20,472 trillion people
  4. 20,000 years = 452,335.0 trillion people
  5. 100,000 years = 1,184 with 87 more zeroes after it, thousands of trillions more people than the earth could possibly hold.
5. Conclusion: The Earth could Not Be More than 7,000 years old.

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT INDICATES A YOUNG EARTH

Cosmic Dust Deposits Indicate A Young Earth[xviii]
1. Cosmic dust falls on the earth at the rate of 13 million tons per year.
2. If the same amount of dust fell over a period of 5 billion years, the age given to the earth by scientists, there would be a layer of this 182 feet thick.
3. The moon was found to have a layer of only 1/8 of an inch, in contradiction to scientific prediction.
4. This cosmic dust has high concentrations of nickel. The amount of nickel found in the earth’s crust and in the oceans, indicates an age of only a few thousand years.
Depletion of the Earth’s Magnetic Field[xix]
1. Thomas Barnes, Pro. Emeritus of Physics at the University of Texas in El Paso, calculated the decay rate of the earth’s magnetic field as having a half-life of 1,400 years, meaning that 1,400 years ago the earth’s magnetic field was double what it is now.
2. The earth must be less than 10,000 years old; otherwise, the magnetic field would have been so strong 50,000 years ago that it would have ruptured the earth and cracked it open.
Polonium Halos[xx]
1. Polonium 218 is considered a daughter element of the natural decay of uranium; but it has now been found in substances that are not in the presence of uranium.
2. Polonium has a half-life of only three minutes.
3. Polonium halos have been found in granite rock from the bedrock of the earth’s core.
4. If the earth is 5 billion years old, this granite was supposed to have been in a molten condition for millions of years before it cooled into its present form.
5. Halos cannot form in rocks when they are in a molten condition.
6. With a half-life of 3 minutes, the polonium would have decomposed in a few hours and not exist when the rocks cooled millions of year later.
7. Robert Gentry says that these polonium halos are proof that the granite rocks were created instantaneously within minutes and did not exist in a molten condition for even years, much less millions of years.
Rotation of the Earth[xxi]
1. The earth’s rotation rate is gradually slowing down.
2. If the earth is five billion years old, the centrifugal force would have slung off much of its contents and its shape would be like that of a pancake
Mississippi River Delta Deposits[xxii]
1. The Mississippi River annually deposits 300 million cubic yards of sediment into the Gulf of Mexico.
2. The thickness of sediment in the Mississippi Delta indicates that it is only about 4,000 years old.

EVALUATION OF THE SCIENTIFIC CLAIM OF TEN BILLION YEARS FOR THE AGE OF THE UNIVERSE

The Big Bang and 10 Billion Years of Expansion
1. Scientists theorize that the present universe was originally a single molecule which exploded and hurtled the universe outward in lateral directions.
2. Before 1995 astronomers calculated that it took the most distant stars 20 billion years to reach their present distance from the center.
3. In 1996 photographs from the Hubble telescope indicated that astronomers made a 10 billion-year mistake
Inconsistency of the Big Bang Theory in Regard to the Dating of the Universe.
1. The Milky Way Galaxy, of which our solar system is a part, is located generally in the center of the known universe (though not in the exact center).
2. If the entire universe were encapsulated in a single molecule at the time of the Big Bang, then the material from which the earth is composed is the same age as that of distant galaxies.
3. Yet, the earth is dated by the uranium/lead process at 5 billion years, while the distant galaxies are dated at 10 billion years.
4. If the matter of the earth and stars were all in the same molecule and exploded at the same time, as scientists maintain, all matter should be the same age.
5. The outer portions of the explosion obviously were only faster, not older, and the inner portions of the molecule obviously were slower, not younger.
6. If matter were wrapped around a bomb and detonated, the outer layer of matter would fly out farther from, and the inner layer would flout closer to, the point of the blast, but the age of bother layers would be the same.
7. Scientists have confused age with distance and speed
Inconsistency of the Time for Light to Arrive at Earth
1. Scientists have calculated the age of the universe on the basis of the time it takes for light to travel from the most distant star to the earth.
2. If the Big Bang is true, as scientists maintain, it would mean that the light of the fleeting stars would always be seen from its center of origin (where the earth is relatively located)
3. The light of the stars was always in sight of the earth, if the Big Bang were true.
Present Speed of Light and of Expansion Is Not the Original Speed
1. The speed of light and of expansion is slowing down according to the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
2. At creation, the stars could have expanded faster than the speed of light, but now has slowed down to the present rate of expansion.
3. Scientists have assumed light travels faster than anything else, but scientists do not know how fast the big Bang hurtled out matter.
Real Age and Apparent Age
1. Based on the speed of light, the universe appears to be ten billion years old.
2. Based on the multiplied speed of God’s creation, the universe is actually less than 10,000 years old.

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE FOR A 7,000-YEAR OLD UNIVERSE

While the Universe Appears to Be Very Old in Some Ways, it Actually Appears to Be Very Young in Even More Significant ways.
The Shrinkage of the Sun[xxiii]
1. The sun is shrinking at the rate of .1% each century
2. At .1% a century, the sun was 10% larger 10,000 years ago, likely producing a tropical climate at the poles and unbearable heat at the equators.
3. 20,000 years ago, the sun would have been 20% larger than it is now and life on earth could not have survived the unbearable heat.
4. 100,000 years ago, the sun would have doubled its present size and Mars, Venus and the Earth would have burned to a crisp.
5. The sun is presently 864,950 miles in diameter and averages a distance of 92,957,000 miles from the earth[xxiv] The sun would have to double its size (going back in time) 108 times to cover the present distance between the sun and earth; 92,957,000 divided by 864,950 = 108.
6. Since the Sun doubles in size each 100,000 years, the sun would have extended beyond the earth’s present position 10,800,000 years ago, and the distant planets of our solar system would have burned up.
7. Therefore, it is impossible that the earth could have existed even 100,000 years ago, much less 10,800,000 years ago.
8. The scientific calculation of 5 billion years for the age of the earth is scientifically impossible and ridiculously absurd.
9. A 6,000 to 7,000 year range for the Earth’s age allows life to have comfortable temperatures for plants to grow and animals and humans to survive; thus, the scientific rate of the shrinkage of the sun is in complete harmony with the Biblical age of the solar system.
Hydrogen Converted into Helium[xxv]
1. Hydrogen is constantly being converted into helium in space at the rate of 3 x 10 to the eleventh power grams per year.
2. However, space is composed almost entirely of hydrogen, with the presence of only small amounts of helium
3. Since no source is known to produce hydrogen in space, most of the hydrogen should have turned into helium if the universe is really 10 billion years old.
4. Because of this abundance of hydrogen and sparsity of helium, Sir Fred Hoyle, who won the Nobel Prize in Astronomy, concluded that the universe is only thousands of years old rather than billions of years.
5. Helium enters the earth’s atmosphere by escaping from cracks in the earth’s crust from the decay of uranium and thorium at the rate of 3×10 to the 11th power grams per year.
6. The amount of helium in earth’s atmosphere is 3.5×10 to the 15th At the rate helium is entering earth’s atmosphere, the earth should be about 10,000 years old.
Disintegration Rate of Comets[xxvi]
1. Comets are gradually disintegrating from the heat of the sun.
2. The rapid rate of disintegration indicates that their age could not be more than 10,000 years old.
3. No comets would exist if our solar system were really five billion years old.
Speed of Star Clusters[xxvii]
1. Star clusters contain thousands of stars swarming in different directions at enormous speeds.
2. They are moving so fast that these clusters cold not have held together for millions of years, much less billions of years.

CONCLUSION

Many other evidences indicate that the universe and the earth are not more than 10,000 years old and thus within the range of the biblical range of dates for Creation.

[i] Steven A. Austin, Grand Canyon, Monument to Catastrophe, 1994, p. 88

[ii] Mt. St. Helens: Explosive Evidence for Catastrophe Video on site, Institute of Creation Research, 1994.

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] Steven A. Austin, Grand Canyon, Monument to Catastrophe, 1994, p. 113.

[v][v] New Encyclopedia Britannica, 1991 Ed., 12.196.

[vi] Steven A. Austin, Grand Canyon, Monument to Catastrophe, 1994, p. 126.

[viii] Ibid.

[ix] Ibid.

[x] The Uinkaret volcanic field is an area of monogenetic volcanoes in northwestern Arizona, United States, located on the north rim of the Grand Canyon

[xi] Steven A. Austin, Grand Canyon, Monument to Catastrophe, 1994, p. 126.

[xii] Ibid., p. 128

[xiii] Henry Morris, Scientific Creationism, pp. 151-2

[xiv] New Brown Driver Briggs Gesenius Hebrew Aramaic English Lexicon, p. 134.

[xv] Ibid.,p. 427.

[xvi] Personal Comment: Adam was not created as a baby, regardless of the age he appeared, and this proves that God could have created things to appear old when they were not.

[xvii] I personally do not agree with these statements, just that God created everything, the entire universe and all that is in it at one time, with some appearing to older than it actually was, just as Adam was created as a full grown man.

[xviii] Huse, Collapse of Evolution, pp. 22-23.

[xix] Bert Thompson, Essays in Apologetics, 1.78; Collapse of Evolution, pp. 20-21

[xx] Robert Gentry, Creation’s Tiny Mystery.

[xxi] Huse, Collapse of Evolution, p. 25

[xxii] Ibid., p.23.

[xxiii] Bert Thompson, Essays in Apologetics, 1.78-79.

[xxiv] “The Sun,” New Encyclopedia Britannica, 1991., 11.387.

[xxv] Bert Thompson, op. cit., 1.79-80.

[xxvi] Huse, op. cit.,p.28.

[xxvii] Ibid., p 29.

TOP

Lesson 6: PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST God

INTRODUCTION

Many modern philosophers and psychologists are atheists because they believe they can prove by mere logic that the G-d of the Bible cannot exist. Christian philosophers have also made philosophical arguments for G-d that have not always been logically sound. This lesson evaluates philosophical arguments both for and against G-d and finds that most of these arguments are filled with inherently illogical fallacies, or only possible, rather than necessary, inferences. However, man’s religious capacity and sensitivity and his moral conscience of right and wrong are all found to be totally consistent with G-d’s creation of man in His own image.

LESSON AIM:

To enable the students to analyze and refute logically the philosophical arguments against G-d and to perceive the weaknesses and strengths in the philosophical arguments for G-d.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will….

Evaluate and refute Freud’s psychological argument against G-d.
Analyze and refute atheist’ philosophical argument that the existence of evil and the Christian G-d cannot be logically reconciled.
Learn how to answer the atheists’ claim that G-d is unjust to condemn impenitent sinners to an eternal hell.
Recognize the inherent weaknesses in Anselm’s ontological argument for G-d.
Perceive the weaknesses and strengths of Augustine’s argument for G-d on the basis of man’s religious “instinct.”
Consider the evidence from the moral law and the human conscience as consistent with a moral governor of conscience (G-d).

FREUD: “MAN CREATED G-D”

Sigmund Freud Argued that G-d is an Illusion Created by Helpless Humanity[i]
1. Man’s fear of nature (Storms, etc.) Prompted him to imagine a G-d who could control nature.
2. Man, interpreted disasters as sent by an angry G-d who needed to be appeased.
3. Man, suffered under the oppression and brutality of his fellow man and thus wished for a G-d who would punish evil doers and save the sufferer.
4. Man, conscious of his mortality, wished for a G-d to give him eternal life.
5. Freud thus concluded, “Man created G-d; G-d did not create man.
Objections to Freud’s Thinking[ii]
1. Freud’s argument does not disprove G-d’s existence.
2. Man’s need for G-d confirms the Biblical teaching that G-d created man.
3. Batsell Barrett Baxter suggests that men like Freud possess great pride in their achievements and come to believe they are the most intelligent people in the universe and thus worship themselves instead of G-d.[iii]
4. Men like Freud want total freedom to live as they desire and refuse to subject themselves to God’s moral restrictions.[iv]

DOES THE EXISTENCE OF EVIL DISPROVE THE EXISTENCE OF God?

Atheistic Philosophers Claim That the Following Four Statements Cannot Be Harmonized Consistently, Proving That the God Defined in the Bible Cannot Logically Exist.
1. G-d is Omnibenevolent and thus desires only good.
2. G-d is Omniscient and thus knows how to eliminate evil.
3. G-d is Omnipotent and thus has the power to eliminate evil.
4. Evil exists.
From These Four Statements, Atheistic Philosophers Reason as Follows
1. Either G-d does not desire to eliminate evil and is not omnibenevolent.
2. G-d does not know how to eliminate evil and is not omniscient.
3. He does not have power to eliminate evil and is therefore not omnipotent.
4. An omnibenevolent, omniscient, omnipotent G-d does not exist.
Philo Claimed That Epicurus’ Questions Have Never Been Answered
1. Is He willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then He is impotent
2. Is He able but not willing? Then He is malevolent.
3. Is He both able and willing? Whence then is evil?

REFUTATION OF THE ATHEIST’S ARGUMENT ON G-d AND EVIL

Man’s Inability to Harmonize the Coexistence of G-d and Evil Does Not Necessarily Disprove G-d, but May Prove Man’s Inferiority in Intelligence to God
1. The fact most men cannot explain the process of nuclear fission or nuclear fusion does not mean that these processes do not exist.
2. The fact that I cannot understand how a brown cow can eat green grass and produce white milk does not prove that the brown cow does not exist or that white milk does not exist.
Atheists’ Argument on Evil is Wrong Because They Have Not Properly Defined Evil
atheists define evil as including all pain and suffering
The Cause and Results of Suffering
1. Much of the pain and suffering of the world is good rather than evil.
2. Much pain occurs because of natural law made to help man
  1. Law of gravity can prevent injury or cause injury.
  2. The fire that warms and cooks can burn and destroy.
3. Suffering produces spiritual strength.
  1. “Consider it pure joy, by brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:3)
  2. The strongest steel passes through the hottest flame (1 Peter 1: 6 – 7)
  3. Fish that struggle in the running water of a river or stream have firmer flesh than lake fish who live in calm water. “And the G-d of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5: 10 – 11).
4. Suffering teaches us humility and to trust in G-d’s power (2 Corinthians 12:7).
5. Suffering is G-d’s discipline to train His children (Hebrews 12:10 – 11)
6. By contrast, atheists’ concept of suffering offers hopeless despair.
  1. Accept evil, suffering and death as an evolutionary accident.
  2. Depend on your own intellect and strength rather than G-d’s superior wisdom and power.
  3. Accept with courage the fate of eternal extinction instead of hope in eternal life.
7. Why Atheists Cannot Adequately Define Evil
  1. If man is only matter in motion, then there is no objective good or evil.
  2. An atheist becomes a god to himself, determining what is right and what is wrong.
8. Atheists Think Believers Are Inconsistent in Harmonizing G-d and Evil, but They Cannot Themselves Consistently Harmonize Evil and Evolution.
  1. If man is only an accidental development from mindless matter, then there is no objective good or evil.
  2. Evolution teaches that “good” is what each man has evolved in his own mind.
9. Atheists Have Trouble Condemning Hitler for Having Committed “Moral” Evil since They Do Not Believe There Is an Absolute Standard for Good or Evil
  1. The Nuremberg Trials condemned Hitler because he violated a “higher law” than Hitler’s national law of his own making.
  2. That “higher law” is G-d’s law revealed in nature (Romans 2:14 – 15).
  3. Most atheists condemn Hitler because it offends their own sense of morality.
  4. If moral evil is merely an evolution of thoughtless chance, who is to say that some atheists’ morality is superior to Hitler’s morality.
  5. In atheistic philosophy, each man decides his own morality according to his own wishes and desires.

IS GOD UNJUST IN SENDING IMPENITENT SINNERS TO HELL?

How Can Atheists Argue That G-d is Unjust When They Refuse to Include His Justice in Their Argument Related to the Existence of Evil?
1. The principal philosophical argument against G-d on the basis of the existence of evil leaves out G-d’s justice.
2. Atheists’ argument states that G-d is Omnibenevolent, Omniscient, Omnipotent, but does not state He is just.
3. However, the Bible frequently describes G-d as just.
  “Will not the Judge of all the earth do, right?”(Genesis 18:25)
  “He will judge the world I righteousness; He will govern the peoples with justice” (Psalm 9:8).
4. Justice demands that sin be punished. “The LORD will judge His people and have compassion on His servants… (Deuteronomy 32:35 – 36).
5. A totally just G-d provides suffering as a means of enforcing justice and punishing sin.
6. Atheists will not talk of G-d’s justice, because it contradicts their liberal ideas of “goodness”
Atheists’ Idea That A Good God Should Eliminate Evil from the Earth Would Result in the Annihilation of All Men, Because All Men Have Sinned (Romans 3:23)
Atheists Ignore G-d’s Choice to Create Man with A Free Will That Can Choose Good or Evil.
1. The only way G-d could satisfy the atheist is to make man a robot without free choice so that he could not sin.
2. G-d chose to give His creatures freedom of choice to love Him or hate Him, to follow Him or reject Him.
3. God chose to tolerate evil men temporarily when He created man with free will.
Atheists Do Not Understand G-d’s Eternal Plan to Create Man, Knowing That Man Would Sin.
1. Before G-d created the universe, He planned to create a special people to live with Him for eternity, not in the present earth, which will be destroyed (in agreement with the 2nd law of Thermo-dynamics), but in a new heavens and new earth that will not be subject to the law of decay and destruction (Romans 8:17 – 25; Titus 1: 1 – 2; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21).
2. G-d created the present universe and earth as the testing ground to prove man’s trust and love for G-d in a world of temptation and suffering (1 Peter 5:10).
3. Those who persevere to the end in loving trust and obedience are thus prepared and qualified to live with G-d forever in the new heavens and new earth prepared for them (2 Peter 3:11 – 13; Revelation 2:10).
4. Since G-d made all men so that they could choose to sin, He knew that one day all men would choose to sin and would thus die as a consequence.
5. The Bible defines death not merely as physical, but also as spiritual separation form G-d. “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear, but your iniquities have separated you from your G-d” (Isaiah 59: 1 – 2). “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world” (Ephesians 2: 1 – 2).
6. The Bible speaks of “the second death” (Revelation 20: 6, 14 as being “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25: 46), That is, eternal separation from G-d.
7. “He will punish those who do not know G-d and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1: 8 – 9)
8. But G-d does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9) and desires that all men be saved (1 Timothy 2:4)
9. G-d so loved sinful man that He sent His Own Son to save men from their sins to prepare them for eternal life in heaven (John 3:16; Ephesians 1: 4 – 7)
10. G-d knew that fallen and sinful man would appreciate G-d’s love, grace, and mercy even more than those who had never sinned.
11. Jesus Christ, the Son of G-d, and also the Son of Man, was the only adult person who lived on earth without sin. Because of His sinless purity, G-d accepted His sacrificial death as the penalty for the sins of all who would trust in His blood (Romans 3:22 – 26); 2 Corinthians 5:21).
12. Christ’s death satisfied both the justice of G-d (Penalty for sin) and the love and mercy of G-d for sinners.
13. The Bible beautifully reconciles both justice and mercy in Christ’s loving sacrifice of His own life to save a world of sinners (Romans 3:25 – 26; 5: 5 – 8).
14. G-d is just and loving by sending the message of salvation to all sinful men (Mark 16: 15 – 16; Matthew 28: 18 – 20)
15. Jesus established His church as the family of G-d, where saved Christians could learn to love one another, serve G-d, and carry the message of salvation to the rest of the lost world (1 Peter 1:22; 2: 9 – 10).
16. G-d chose the church as the proving round for Christians to show their love and fidelity to G-d. Those who remain faithful to Christ until the end (Revelations 2:10) will receive the crown of life and live eternally in G-d’s heavenly abode (2 Peter 3:13).
17. For both fallen angels and those who reject G-d’s love and G-d’s Son, G-d has prepared an eternal abode called Hell, which has far worse conditions and suffering than our present world (Matthew 25:41; Mark 9: 47-48)
18. G-d does not want anyone to perish in Hell, and He has made the maximum effort to save mankind by sending His most precious gift from Heaven, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2: 4 – 5; 2 Peter 3:9).
19. If men purposefully reject His son, they have no one to blame but themselves (John 3:16 – 18; Mark 16:16)

ANSELM’S ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT FOR GOD

The Ontological Argument For G-d by Anselm[v]
1. Definition of God: “G-d is that which nothing greater can be conceived.”
2. Axiom: Man, can conceive the idea of “that which nothing can be greater.”
3. Axiom: The existence of “that which there is nothing greater” is even greater than the conception of the idea.
4. Conclusion: “By very definition G-d must exist.”
Holes in Anselm’s Reasoning
1. Definitions do not prove reality.
2. Anselm’s argumentation does not follow the logical method of syllogistic deduction.
Anselm’s Reasoning Reduced to A Syllogism Requires This Major Premise
1. Major Premise: “Everything man’s mind can conceive must exist” or “Man cannot conceive of anything that does not exist.”
2. Minor Premise: “Man has conceived of the existence of G-d who is that than which nothing is greater”
3. Conclusion: G-d must exist.
Disproof of Anselm’s Major Premise
1. We can conceive of an eternal Devil that is more powerful than anyone else. Does this prove he exists? NO!
2. We can conceive of a seven-person eternal G-d head that together are more powerful than anyone or anything else. Our conception does not prove of his existence.
3. We can conceive of a seven-headed eternal man who is 100 feet tall, who among men is that which there is no greater. Does this prove the existence of such? NO!

AUGUSTINE’S ARGUMENT ON MAN’S RELIGIOUS INSTINCT

Augustine’s Proof for Man’s Religious Instinct
1. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “G-d has set eternity in their heart.”
2. Romans 2:14 in the NASV says, “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the law.”
3. Most people of the world believe in the supernatural (G-d or many gods)
4. Therefore, Augustine concludes that man’s built-in religious instinct proves that God exists.
Arguments against Religious Instinct or Intuition
1. If man believes in G-d instinctively, then why have most men of past history believed in many gods instead of the one true G-d, and why do many others reject belief in G-d altogether?
2. Bears instinctively hibernate for the winter, and do not have the choice to stay awake. How can the religious nature of man be instinctive in the same manner, when many men are irreligious?
3. If man instinctively understands eternity, why do many people reject the idea of eternal life?
4. Ecclesiastes 3:11 likely means “G-d set eternity in their heart” by giving man the capacity to understand eternity though nature and God’s Word.
5. Romans 2:14 is better translated in the NIV, “When Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the Law, they are a law unto themselves.”
6. Romans 1:20 says that God’s “eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.”
7. Based on these passages it is clear that we learn of God’s nature by studying nature.
8. These passages do not teach that man has a built-in instinct to be religious.

EVIDENCE FOR GOD FROM THE MORAL LAW AND THE HUMAN CONSCIENCE

The moral Law of God
1. Paul says in Romans 2:14 – 15 – “When Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law unto themselves since they show the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness.
2. Paul mentions two things that man has that animals do not have:
  1. Ability to study nature and perceive G-d’s moral law.
  2. A conscience that judges man’s actions and thoughts and determines guilt or innocence.
3. Man, without the Bible, can study nature and know that it is wrong for someone else to steal his car, to rape his daughters, to mutilate his children, to commit adultery with his wife, and to slander him be accusing him of wrongs he did not do.
4. From infancy children learn by nature that its wrong for an older brother to injure his younger brother, etc.
5. Man, without the Bible, can learn G-d’s Moral Law by studying nature.
6. S. Lewis the atheist/ philosopher who became a Christian believed the Moral Law seen in human nature and in the laws of most nations testifies to a Moral Law Giver who made the law, and wrote it into nature and upon men’s hearts.[vi]
7. Paul equates God’s moral law to the moral and ethical standard of the Law of Moses.
  1. While Moses’ law is lower than Christ’s law, it is the moral standard by which
    G-d judges the non-Christian world (Romans 2:14).
  2. The moral standard of Moses’ Law is the standard that is found in most of the world’s nations and cultures.
8. At the Nuremberg trials, Judges of all nations determined that Hitler’s attempt to exterminate the Jews violated not Germany’s Laws, but a higher Law that governs all nations.
9. Every law necessitates a law maker; therefore, the higher moral law recognized by the judges of Nuremberg demands a superior moral governor to whom all nations must answer.
10. Immanuel Kant wrote, “Two things fill the mind with…admiration and awe…the starry heavens above and the moral law within.”[vii]
11. The Law of the heart in Romans 2:14 is thus confirmed by the moral law of most nations of the world, and testify to an omniscient Law Maker.
The Conscience of Man
1. Paul also said in Romans 2: 14 – 15 that man’s conscience judges his own conduct and heart as to innocence or guilt.
2. The conscience acts as man’s brain as a moral regulator to judge his thoughts and actions as good or bad.
3. It is inconceivable that an animal without ability to perceive G-d’s moral law in nature and without a conscience to judge its actions could have accidentally evolved this perception and conscience.
4. The moral regulator (conscience) in man testifies to the existence of a moral governor (G-d) who wrote His moral law in nature.

[i] Future of an Illusion, 1953, cited by Baxter, I Believe Because, p. 32-33

[ii] Baxter, op. cit., pp. 34-35 for some of the ideas in this section.

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] Ibid.

[v] Repeated by Batsell Barrett Baxter, I believe Because, pp. 41 – 42.

[vi] C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, pp. 3 – 8.

[vii] Kant, Great Books of Western World, Vol. 42, p. 361.

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Lesson 7:THE BIBLE’S CLAIM TO BE GOD’S INSPIRED WORD

INTRODUCTION

In Lesson 2 thru 6 we studied evidences for the Biblical teaching about G-D as Creator. Lesson 7 introduces a new section on the Divine Inspiration of the Bible. As scientists attack the Bible teaching of G-D as Creator, so also many critical scholars oppose the Bible claim to be G-D’s inspired Word. In this lesson, we want to see what these critics say against the divine inspiration of the Bible and compare their claim with the Bible claim about its own inspiration. Then, Lesson 8 contains marvelous evidence that confirms the Bible claim of being G-D’s inspired word.

LESSON AIM:

To capacitate the student to analyze the theories of inspiration advocated by critical scholars who attack Biblical inspiration and to compare these theories with the Bible’s own explanation of its Divine inspiration.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will…

Consider the principal theories of Biblical inspiration by critical scholars.
Learn the Biblical distinction between revelation and inspiration.
Read for yourself to see that the Bible claims all its contents (Old and New Testaments), not part of its contents, are Divinely inspired.
See that the entire Bible claims to be G-D’s Words, not man’s words.
Observe that the Bible’s claims to contain unerring Truth, the Bible teaching is error-free.
Recognize the Bible claim that the Bible is complete and all-sufficient Truth regarding G-D’s will for man.
Realize that the Bible warns against any alteration of its teaching.
Experience the Bible claim that His word brings precious blessings upon all who read it with the proper attitude.

THEORIES OF CRITICAL SCHOLARS ABOUT BIBLICAL INSPIRATION

Claim: Deliberate Deception: The Old Testament prophets, Jesus and the apostles deliberately lied when they claimed their messages were from G-D.
Comment: Imposters and liars are not willing to die for their faith
Claim: Self-Deluded Sincerity: These men sincerely believed their message was from G-D, but were self-deluded.
Comment: Self-deluded men are unable to predict accurately future history 100’s of years before it occurs.
Claim: Evolution of Thought: The Bible records man’s continued development of thought from each preceding generation rather than GOD’s gradual revelation to man.
Comment: Paul claimed that his knowledge of Christ did not come from any man, but by a direct revelation of Christ himself (Galatians 1:12).
Claim: Existential Inspiration: The Bible is a record of differing experiences of men of G-D who interpreted their experiences and GOD’s will in different ways.
Comment: The Bible teaches that G-D had different laws and covenants with man throughout past ages Jeremiah 31:31 predicted a new and better covenant, which Jesus, the Messiah fulfilled with His New Covenant (Hebrews 8:7-12). Jude 3 says this covenant represents not different faiths, but “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Claim: Genius Inspiration: Like Shakespeare, talented men wrote the Bible.
Comment: Uneducated shepherds, Galileans and fishermen joined their books with educated men like Moses, Isaiah, and Paul.
Claim: Gradual Illumination: The Bible represents the gradual illumination of truth that occurs in the lives of all religious people.
Comment: Since the first century A.D. no Jew or Christian has written or received any illumination that is superior to the teaching found in the Bible.
Claim: Partial Inspiration: The Penmen of the Bible were sometimes inspired with Divine ideas and at other times wrote errors that were not inspired by God. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7:10, “not I, but the Lord” and in 7:12, “I, not the Lord” are cited in favor of the theory of Partial Inspiration.
1. Comment: Jesus said in John 16:12-13 that He taught only part of His will to the apostles during His earthly ministry and the Holy Spirit would reveal additional teachings and guide them into “all the truth.”
2. Comment: Paul’s statement, Not I, but the Lord,” refers to what Jesus taught on earth (1 Corinthians 7:10-11) and his statement, “I, not the Lord,” refers to additional revelation of the Holy Spirit which Jesus did not teach on earth.
3. Comment: Paul said all he taught was from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10-14) and all his commands were “the Lord’s commands” (1 Corinthians 14:17).
Claim: Embellished Truth: The core of history was embellished by alleged miracles, which are really myths.
Comment: These scholars are evolutionists and do not believe in the miracle of creation or in any other miracle and consider all the Bible’s miracles as myth.
Claim: Thought Inspiration, But Not Verbal Inspiration: G-D inspired the thoughts, but the writers often made errors in attempting to express these thoughts into words.
1. Comment: These scholars are honest enough to admit that the Bible does contain remarkable ideas and predictions that could only come from God.
2. Comment: 1 Corinthians 2:13 says; Paul’s words, not just his thoughts, were inspired.
Claim: Dictation Inspiration: Some ultra-conservative scholars believe that every single word was dictated by the Holy Spirit into the mind of the prophets as they wrote.
1. Comment: At times revelation and inspiration occurred simultaneously in the form of dictation, as Jesus said in Matthew 10: 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
2. Comment: In most cases G-D allows the author to do his own research, as Luke did (Luke 1: 1-4), and to express the ideas in his own unique style (Dr. Luke used the language of a physician), but guided the writing to guarantee its truth (John 16:13).
Claim: Plenary Inspiration: Plenary means “complete.” Conservative Bible scholars believed the Bible is completely inspired without errors.
Comment: The rest of the lesson is devoted to what the Bible actually says about its own inspiration as being indeed complete, adequate and without error.

THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN REVELATION AND INSPIRATION

Different Word Meanings
1. Revelation means “uncovering” or “revelation” in both Hebrew (galah) and Greek (apocalupsis).
2. Inspiration of G-D means: breathed into by G-D in both Hebrew (ruwach Shaddai) and Greek (theopneustos).
  1. Job 32:8 But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
  2. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is G-D -breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
  3. Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD G-D formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
  4. G-D breathed into Scripture and it became the living word of G-D Hebrews 4:12 “The word of G-D is living and active.”
3. Examples of Revelation
  1. Visions and Dreams: Numbers 12:6 he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.
  2. Face to Face speaking. numbers 12:7-8 But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
  3. Taught directly by Christ: Galatians 1:11-12 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
  4. Angels: Revelation 1:1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which G-D gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
4. How Inspiration Relates to Revelation
  1. When Moses wrote down the revelation G-D spoke, the Holy Spirit inspired him to remember and write accurately what G-D had said. Thus, Exodus 24:4 says, “Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said.”
  2. Jesus promised in John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
  3. When Paul preached or wrote, the Holy Spirit inspired him to remember precisely what Jesus directly revealed to him, 1 Corinthians 2:13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
  4. When John wrote his gospel, the Holy Spirit reminded John of what he had heard Jesus say and what he had seen Jesus do, just as Jesus promised (14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.)
  5. When John wrote the book of Revelation, the Holy Spirit reminded John of what the angel had said and shown to him (The revelation from Jesus Christ, which G-D gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,)

GOD INSPIRES ALL SCRIPTURE, NOT PART OF THEM

All Scripture is “G-D -breathed…is Inspired by G-D.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is G-D -breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of G-D may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
All Scripture Includes Old Testament Scripture. When Paul said, all Scripture is inspired, he specifically noted the Old Testament Scriptures.
All Scripture Includes the New Testament Scripture
1. Paul believed New Testament writing also is inspired Scripture, because Paul quoted Luke 10:7 as “Scripture” in 1 Timothy 5:18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” The first verse is from Deuteronomy 25:4 and the 2nd verse contain the exact Greek words of Luke 10:7. Thus, Paul called both the Old Testament and the New Testament “Scripture.”
G-D -breathed Scripture Includes Both Old and New Testament Writings.

THE INSPIRED BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE GOD’S WORDS, NOT MAN’S

The Old Testament Claims 3,800 Times to Be G-D’s Word
1. David in 2 Samuel 23:2 “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.
2. “This is what the Lord says” (Isiah 66:1).
3. “The word of the Lord came to me saying” (Jeremiah 1:4).
4. Ezekiel 1:1 “I saw visions of G-D,” 2:1 and 3:1 “And He said to me”
5. “There is a G-D in heaven who reveals mysteries (Daniel 2:28).
New Testament Scripture Claims to Be G-D’s Word
1. Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. John 7:16
2. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. John 14:24
3. If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 1 Corinthians 14:37
4. And we also thank G-D continually because, when you received the word of G-D, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of G-D, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
5. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of G-D. 24 For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. 1 peter 1:23-25
6. Peter quotes Isaiah 40: 6-8 as G-D’s word and then claims that his own writing is the same Word of G-D that Isiah taught.
7. In 2 Peter 1: 20-21, Peter denied that Scripture is of Human Origin.

THE BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE UNERRING TRUTH (without errors)

The Bible claims to Speak Only the Truth
1. G-D is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19
2. Yet you are near, LORD, and all your commands are true. Psalm 119:151
3. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17
Jesus Claimed All Old Testament History to Be True (Matthew 23:35) that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Abel is in Genesis, the first Old Testament book and Zechariah is in 2 Chronicles, the last Old Testament book in the Hebrew Bible.
Jesus Claimed the Old Testament Predictions as G-D’s Inspired Word.
1. Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24:25-27
2. Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Luke 24:44-45
Jesus Claimed Old Testament Miracles Were G-D’s Inspired Truth.
1. Creation of the universe (Mark 10:29; 13:19).
2. Creation of all living creatures (Matthew 10:29-30)
3. Creation of man (male and female) in His own image (Matthew 19: 4-6)
4. The Flood, Noah, and the Ark (Matthew 24: 37-39; Luke 17:26-27).
5. Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning Sulphur (Luke 17: 28-30).
6. Lot’s wife turning to salt (Luke 17:32).
7. G-D speaking to Moses out of the burning bush (Luke 20:37).
8. G-D’s provision of manna from heaven (John 6:49-51).
9. Elijah’s miraculous support of the widow in Zarephath (Luke 4:24-26)
10. Elisha’s miraculous cleansing of the leprosy of Naaman (Luke 4:27).
11. Jonah’s deliverance from the belly of the big fish (Matthew 12:40).
Jesus Said, “Scripture Cannot Be Broken” (John 10: 34-35).

THE BIBLE CLAIMS COMPLETE AND ALL SUFFICIENT TRUTH

The Bible Claims to Reveal ALL the Truth That G-D Wants Man to Have
Old Testament Covenant
1. “The secret things belong to the Lord our G-D, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29
2. and he said to them: “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law. 47 For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.” Deuteronomy 32: 46-47
3. Isaiah predicted a coming King who would make a new covenant with a people of G-D who would include the Gentiles (non-Jewish nations). Luke 4:18 Jesus quotes Isaiah 42 and refers this promise to Himself (Isaiah 42: 1-7).
4. Jeremiah predicted that G-D would one day make a new covenant with His people, that would be different than Moses’ Law (Jeremiah 31:31).
5. The Hebrew writer explains that this covenant is the New Testament of Jesus.
New Testament Covenant
1. Jesus Christ charged His apostles to teach all of His truth to the whole world (Matthew 28: 18-20).
  1. Jesus has all authority as Lord and King.
  2. G-D’s people are to include all nations.
  3. The apostles were to teach “everything” Christ commanded.
2. The Holy Spirit would remind the apostles of all He taught (John 14:26)
3. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John 16:12-13
4. Toward the end of Paul’s life, he told the Ephesian elders, Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of G-D. Acts 20:26-27
5. as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 2 Peter 1:3
6. Jude 3 urges Christians to contend for “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints”
7. All Scripture is given by inspiration of G-D, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of G-D may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3: 16-17
  1. There is not truth G-D wants us to teach or believe that is not revealed in Scripture.
  2. There is no work or act of worship that G-D commands us to perform that is not recorded and authorized in Scripture.
  3. Through the knowledge of Scripture, the man of G-D can be completely adequate to serve, obey, and please G-D.

BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE INALTERABLE TRUTH (cannot be changed)

Old Testament Commands Could Not Be Deleted or Changed
1. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your G-D which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2
2. Jesus condemned the Jews who followed religious tradition rather than G-D’s word in the Old Testament, He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of G-D because of your tradition? Matthew 15:3
3. Jesus considered religious tradition as a dangerous addition to G-D’s word.
The New Testament Covenant: Complete and Adequate
1. Paul said that he was a minister of the New Testament, not the old Testament (2 Corinthians 3:6-18)
2. Paul said that Christian Jews die to the Old Law when they are baptized into Christ and come under the Covenant of Christ (Romans 7:1-6).
3. Paul prohibited Christians from practicing or teaching anything that went beyond the teaching of the Scriptures: Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 1 Corinthians 4:6
  1. In the context, the Corinthians were calling themselves by the names of men, not by the name of Christ (1 Corinthians 1-4)
  2. Paul had taught that Christians should do everything in the name of Christ, not the name of man (Colossians 3:17).
  3. Paul commanded them not to go beyond Scripture by exalting men in the place of Christ.
  4. Thus, Paul prohibited the church from appointing any man in the place of Jesus Christ.
4. Paul condemned any modification of the gospel of Christ: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1: 8-9).
  1. Paul the apostle did not have the right to change the gospel.
  2. An angel does not have the right to change the gospel. Neither does the Pope!
  3. Man, cannot change the gospel without incurring the condemnation of eternal damnation.
5. The last book of the New Testament gives a solemn warning not to add or take away from Scripture (Revelation 22: 18-19)

BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE COMPLETELY PRESERVED TRUTH

The Old Testament is Preserved. Jesus taught that every word and letter of the Old Testament would be preserved until every prophecy is fulfilled (Matthew 5: 17-20).
The Bible Endures. Isaiah 40: 6-8 said that G-D’s word (Old Testament) endures forever.
1. Jesus said, “My words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
2. Peter said the Word of G-D he taught would “endure forever” (1 Peter 1:22-25).

BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE PRECIOUS AND PRACTICAL TRUTH

What Men of God Think about this Book
1. Book of Wisdom (Deuteronomy 4:6; Ephesians 3: 3-5).
2. Book of Life (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4).
3. Book of eternity (John 6:68; Ephesians 3:9-11).
4. Book of Love (1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 3:9).
5. Book of light (Proverbs 6:23; John 8:12; Psalms 119:1-5).
6. Book of strength and power (Psalms 119:50; Acts 20:32).
7. Book of Hope (Romans 15:4; Psalms 119:81).
8. Book of God’s word and G-D’s truth (Psalms 119:142; 160; John 8:32).
9. Above all, it is a book of G-D’s Son and God’s people (John 20:30-31).
What Modern Man’s Attitude Should Be Toward this Book.
1. Study it and mediate on it as G-D’s Word (Psalm 1:2).
2. Believe it as G-D’s Word (Mark 16: 15-16).
3. Obey it is as G-D’s Word (Acts 2:36-39).
4. Share it as G-D’s Word (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
5. Defend it as G-D’s Word (1 Peter 3:15).

SUMMARY: The Bible clearly claims to be G-D’s Inspired and Inerrant Word. Since Jesus and the apostles believed the Bible is G-D’s Inspired and Inerrant Word, how can any true Christian believe less? Do we know more than Jesus?_

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Lesson 7:THE BIBLE’S CLAIM TO BE GOD’S INSPIRED WORD

INTRODUCTION

LESSON AIM:

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will…

Consider the principal theories of Biblical inspiration by critical scholars.
Learn the Biblical distinction between revelation and inspiration.
Read for yourself to see that the Bible claims all its contents (Old and New Testaments), not part of its contents, are Divinely inspired.
See that the entire Bible claims to be G-D’s Words, not man’s words.
Observe that the Bible’s claims to contain unerring Truth, the Bible teaching is error-free.
Recognize the Bible claim that the Bible is complete and all-sufficient Truth regarding G-D’s will for man.
Realize that the Bible warns against any alteration of its teaching.
Experience the Bible claim that His word brings precious blessings upon all who read it with the proper attitude.

THEORIES OF CRITICAL SCHOLARS ABOUT BIBLICAL INSPIRATION

Claim: Deliberate Deception: The Old Testament prophets, Jesus and the apostles deliberately lied when they claimed their messages were from G-D.
Comment: Imposters and liars are not willing to die for their faith
Claim: Self-Deluded Sincerity: These men sincerely believed their message was from G-D, but were self-deluded.
Comment: Self-deluded men are unable to predict accurately future history 100’s of years before it occurs.
Claim: Evolution of Thought: The Bible records man’s continued development of thought from each preceding generation rather than GOD’s gradual revelation to man.
Comment: Paul claimed that his knowledge of Christ did not come from any man, but by a direct revelation of Christ himself (Galatians 1:12).
Claim: Existential Inspiration: The Bible is a record of differing experiences of men of G-D who interpreted their experiences and GOD’s will in different ways.
Comment: The Bible teaches that G-D had different laws and covenants with man throughout past ages Jeremiah 31:31 predicted a new and better covenant, which Jesus, the Messiah fulfilled with His New Covenant (Hebrews 8:7-12). Jude 3 says this covenant represents not different faiths, but “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Claim: Genius Inspiration: Like Shakespeare, talented men wrote the Bible.
Comment: Uneducated shepherds, Galileans and fishermen joined their books with educated men like Moses, Isaiah, and Paul.
Claim: Gradual Illumination: The Bible represents the gradual illumination of truth that occurs in the lives of all religious people.
Comment: Since the first century A.D. no Jew or Christian has written or received any illumination that is superior to the teaching found in the Bible.
Claim: Partial Inspiration: The Penmen of the Bible were sometimes inspired with Divine ideas and at other times wrote errors that were not inspired by God. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7:10, “not I, but the Lord” and in 7:12, “I, not the Lord” are cited in favor of the theory of Partial Inspiration.
1. Comment: Jesus said in John 16:12-13 that He taught only part of His will to the apostles during His earthly ministry and the Holy Spirit would reveal additional teachings and guide them into “all the truth.”
2. Comment: Paul’s statement, Not I, but the Lord,” refers to what Jesus taught on earth (1 Corinthians 7:10-11) and his statement, “I, not the Lord,” refers to additional revelation of the Holy Spirit which Jesus did not teach on earth.
3. Comment: Paul said all he taught was from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10-14) and all his commands were “the Lord’s commands” (1 Corinthians 14:17).
Claim: Embellished Truth: The core of history was embellished by alleged miracles, which are really myths.
Comment: These scholars are evolutionists and do not believe in the miracle of creation or in any other miracle and consider all the Bible’s miracles as myth.
Claim: Thought Inspiration, But Not Verbal Inspiration: G-D inspired the thoughts, but the writers often made errors in attempting to express these thoughts into words.
1. Comment: These scholars are honest enough to admit that the Bible does contain remarkable ideas and predictions that could only come from God.
2. Comment: 1 Corinthians 2:13 says; Paul’s words, not just his thoughts, were inspired.
Claim: Dictation Inspiration: Some ultra-conservative scholars believe that every single word was dictated by the Holy Spirit into the mind of the prophets as they wrote.
1. Comment: At times revelation and inspiration occurred simultaneously in the form of dictation, as Jesus said in Matthew 10: 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
2. Comment: In most cases G-D allows the author to do his own research, as Luke did (Luke 1: 1-4), and to express the ideas in his own unique style (Dr. Luke used the language of a physician), but guided the writing to guarantee its truth (John 16:13).
Claim: Plenary Inspiration: Plenary means “complete.” Conservative Bible scholars believed the Bible is completely inspired without errors.
Comment: The rest of the lesson is devoted to what the Bible actually says about its own inspiration as being indeed complete, adequate and without error.

THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN REVELATION AND INSPIRATION

Different Word Meanings
1. Revelation means “uncovering” or “revelation” in both Hebrew (galah) and Greek (apocalupsis).
2. Inspiration of G-D means: breathed into by G-D in both Hebrew (ruwach Shaddai) and Greek (theopneustos).
  1. Job 32:8 But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
  2. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is G-D -breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
  3. Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD G-D formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
  4. G-D breathed into Scripture and it became the living word of G-D Hebrews 4:12 “The word of G-D is living and active.”
3. Examples of Revelation
  1. Visions and Dreams: Numbers 12:6 he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.
  2. Face to Face speaking. numbers 12:7-8 But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
  3. Taught directly by Christ: Galatians 1:11-12 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
  4. Angels: Revelation 1:1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which G-D gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
4. How Inspiration Relates to Revelation
  1. When Moses wrote down the revelation G-D spoke, the Holy Spirit inspired him to remember and write accurately what G-D had said. Thus, Exodus 24:4 says, “Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said.”
  2. Jesus promised in John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
  3. When Paul preached or wrote, the Holy Spirit inspired him to remember precisely what Jesus directly revealed to him, 1 Corinthians 2:13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
  4. When John wrote his gospel, the Holy Spirit reminded John of what he had heard Jesus say and what he had seen Jesus do, just as Jesus promised (14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.)
  5. When John wrote the book of Revelation, the Holy Spirit reminded John of what the angel had said and shown to him (The revelation from Jesus Christ, which G-D gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,)

GOD INSPIRES ALL SCRIPTURE, NOT PART OF THEM

All Scripture is “G-D -breathed…is Inspired by G-D.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is G-D -breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of G-D may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
All Scripture Includes Old Testament Scripture. When Paul said, all Scripture is inspired, he specifically noted the Old Testament Scriptures.
All Scripture Includes the New Testament Scripture
1. Paul believed New Testament writing also is inspired Scripture, because Paul quoted Luke 10:7 as “Scripture” in 1 Timothy 5:18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” The first verse is from Deuteronomy 25:4 and the 2nd verse contain the exact Greek words of Luke 10:7. Thus, Paul called both the Old Testament and the New Testament “Scripture.”
G-D -breathed Scripture Includes Both Old and New Testament Writings.

THE INSPIRED BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE GOD’S WORDS, NOT MAN’S

The Old Testament Claims 3,800 Times to Be G-D’s Word
1. David in 2 Samuel 23:2 “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.
2. “This is what the Lord says” (Isiah 66:1).
3. “The word of the Lord came to me saying” (Jeremiah 1:4).
4. Ezekiel 1:1 “I saw visions of G-D,” 2:1 and 3:1 “And He said to me”
5. “There is a G-D in heaven who reveals mysteries (Daniel 2:28).
New Testament Scripture Claims to Be G-D’s Word
1. Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. John 7:16
2. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. John 14:24
3. If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 1 Corinthians 14:37
4. And we also thank G-D continually because, when you received the word of G-D, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of G-D, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
5. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of G-D. 24 For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. 1 peter 1:23-25
6. Peter quotes Isaiah 40: 6-8 as G-D’s word and then claims that his own writing is the same Word of G-D that Isiah taught.
7. In 2 Peter 1: 20-21, Peter denied that Scripture is of Human Origin.

THE BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE UNERRING TRUTH (without errors)

The Bible claims to Speak Only the Truth
1. G-D is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19
2. Yet you are near, LORD, and all your commands are true. Psalm 119:151
3. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17
Jesus Claimed All Old Testament History to Be True (Matthew 23:35) that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Abel is in Genesis, the first Old Testament book and Zechariah is in 2 Chronicles, the last Old Testament book in the Hebrew Bible.
Jesus Claimed the Old Testament Predictions as G-D’s Inspired Word.
1. Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24:25-27
2. Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Luke 24:44-45
Jesus Claimed Old Testament Miracles Were G-D’s Inspired Truth.
1. Creation of the universe (Mark 10:29; 13:19).
2. Creation of all living creatures (Matthew 10:29-30)
3. Creation of man (male and female) in His own image (Matthew 19: 4-6)
4. The Flood, Noah, and the Ark (Matthew 24: 37-39; Luke 17:26-27).
5. Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning Sulphur (Luke 17: 28-30).
6. Lot’s wife turning to salt (Luke 17:32).
7. G-D speaking to Moses out of the burning bush (Luke 20:37).
8. G-D’s provision of manna from heaven (John 6:49-51).
9. Elijah’s miraculous support of the widow in Zarephath (Luke 4:24-26)
10. Elisha’s miraculous cleansing of the leprosy of Naaman (Luke 4:27).
11. Jonah’s deliverance from the belly of the big fish (Matthew 12:40).
Jesus Said, “Scripture Cannot Be Broken” (John 10: 34-35).

THE BIBLE CLAIMS COMPLETE AND ALL SUFFICIENT TRUTH

The Bible Claims to Reveal ALL the Truth That G-D Wants Man to Have
Old Testament Covenant
1. “The secret things belong to the Lord our G-D, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29
2. and he said to them: “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law. 47 For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.” Deuteronomy 32: 46-47
3. Isaiah predicted a coming King who would make a new covenant with a people of G-D who would include the Gentiles (non-Jewish nations). Luke 4:18 Jesus quotes Isaiah 42 and refers this promise to Himself (Isaiah 42: 1-7).
4. Jeremiah predicted that G-D would one day make a new covenant with His people, that would be different than Moses’ Law (Jeremiah 31:31).
5. The Hebrew writer explains that this covenant is the New Testament of Jesus.
New Testament Covenant
1. Jesus Christ charged His apostles to teach all of His truth to the whole world (Matthew 28: 18-20).
  1. Jesus has all authority as Lord and King.
  2. G-D’s people are to include all nations.
  3. The apostles were to teach “everything” Christ commanded.
2. The Holy Spirit would remind the apostles of all He taught (John 14:26)
3. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John 16:12-13
4. Toward the end of Paul’s life, he told the Ephesian elders, Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of G-D. Acts 20:26-27
5. as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 2 Peter 1:3
6. Jude 3 urges Christians to contend for “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints”
7. All Scripture is given by inspiration of G-D, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of G-D may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3: 16-17
  1. There is not truth G-D wants us to teach or believe that is not revealed in Scripture.
  2. There is no work or act of worship that G-D commands us to perform that is not recorded and authorized in Scripture.
  3. Through the knowledge of Scripture, the man of G-D can be completely adequate to serve, obey, and please G-D.

BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE INALTERABLE TRUTH (cannot be changed)

Old Testament Commands Could Not Be Deleted or Changed
1. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your G-D which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2
2. Jesus condemned the Jews who followed religious tradition rather than G-D’s word in the Old Testament, He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of G-D because of your tradition? Matthew 15:3
3. Jesus considered religious tradition as a dangerous addition to G-D’s word.
The New Testament Covenant: Complete and Adequate
1. Paul said that he was a minister of the New Testament, not the old Testament (2 Corinthians 3:6-18)
2. Paul said that Christian Jews die to the Old Law when they are baptized into Christ and come under the Covenant of Christ (Romans 7:1-6).
3. Paul prohibited Christians from practicing or teaching anything that went beyond the teaching of the Scriptures: Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 1 Corinthians 4:6
  1. In the context, the Corinthians were calling themselves by the names of men, not by the name of Christ (1 Corinthians 1-4)
  2. Paul had taught that Christians should do everything in the name of Christ, not the name of man (Colossians 3:17).
  3. Paul commanded them not to go beyond Scripture by exalting men in the place of Christ.
  4. Thus, Paul prohibited the church from appointing any man in the place of Jesus Christ.
4. Paul condemned any modification of the gospel of Christ: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1: 8-9).
  1. Paul the apostle did not have the right to change the gospel.
  2. An angel does not have the right to change the gospel. Neither does the Pope!
  3. Man, cannot change the gospel without incurring the condemnation of eternal damnation.
5. The last book of the New Testament gives a solemn warning not to add or take away from Scripture (Revelation 22: 18-19)

BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE COMPLETELY PRESERVED TRUTH

The Old Testament is Preserved. Jesus taught that every word and letter of the Old Testament would be preserved until every prophecy is fulfilled (Matthew 5: 17-20).
The Bible Endures. Isaiah 40: 6-8 said that G-D’s word (Old Testament) endures forever.
1. Jesus said, “My words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
2. Peter said the Word of G-D he taught would “endure forever” (1 Peter 1:22-25).

BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE PRECIOUS AND PRACTICAL TRUTH

What Men of God Think about this Book
1. Book of Wisdom (Deuteronomy 4:6; Ephesians 3: 3-5).
2. Book of Life (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4).
3. Book of eternity (John 6:68; Ephesians 3:9-11).
4. Book of Love (1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 3:9).
5. Book of light (Proverbs 6:23; John 8:12; Psalms 119:1-5).
6. Book of strength and power (Psalms 119:50; Acts 20:32).
7. Book of Hope (Romans 15:4; Psalms 119:81).
8. Book of God’s word and G-D’s truth (Psalms 119:142; 160; John 8:32).
9. Above all, it is a book of G-D’s Son and God’s people (John 20:30-31).
What Modern Man’s Attitude Should Be Toward this Book.
1. Study it and mediate on it as G-D’s Word (Psalm 1:2).
2. Believe it as G-D’s Word (Mark 16: 15-16).
3. Obey it is as G-D’s Word (Acts 2:36-39).
4. Share it as G-D’s Word (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
5. Defend it as G-D’s Word (1 Peter 3:15).

SUMMARY: The Bible clearly claims to be G-D’s Inspired and Inerrant Word. Since Jesus and the apostles believed the Bible is G-D’s Inspired and Inerrant Word, how can any true Christian believe less? Do we know more than Jesus?_

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Lesson 8: EVIDENCE THAT THE BIBLE IS GOD’S INSPIRED WORD

INTRODUCTION

The previous lesson showed the Bible’s claim to be God’s inspired Word. This lesson presents marvelous evidence to confirm this remarkable affirmation. We will see in this lesson that god’s Word, like God’s Creation, is filled with a knowledge and wisdom, that surpasses human capability and that can only be explained by an Omniscient Mind. Lesson 8 covers only a few examples of the Bible’s vast reservoir of Divine knowledge.

LESSON AIM:

To see the Bible as the remarkable and infallible Word of God and to strengthen the faith of fellow Christians and convince unbelievers of the same truth.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: you will

Consider amazing scientific knowledge of astronomy, physics, geology, biology, and medicine that were foreknown by Biblical writers from 1,500 to 3,000 years before modern scientists discovered the same truths.
Examine remarkable Old Testament predictions that detailed accurate histories of four different nations hundreds of years before they occurred.
Scrutinize 80 of a total of 332 amazing Old Testament predictions of the Messiah written from 400 to 1,400 years before they were fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ
Realize that the odds against such accurate and numerous predictions occurring y chance logically imply that the Bible was revealed by an Omniscient God who know history in detail before it occurred.
Recognize that the Bible has superior teaching to anything written by man in the areas of wisdom, patience, devotion, morality, impartiality, consistency, love, purity, hope and the power to transform human life.

REMARKABLE SCIENTIFIC FOREKNOWLEDGE

Recent Scientific Truths
1. The Scriptures reveal extraordinary scientific truths that were not discovered or confirmed by scientists until the 15th through the 20th A.D.
Astronomical Truth
1. The numberless stars, “I will make the descendants of David my servant…as countless as the stars of the sky” (Jeremiah 33:22)
2. Job 26:7 He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing. (NKJV)
3. Isaiah 40:22 (c.700B.C.) wrote, “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth.” Discovered 2,300 years later
4. Jesus said in Luke 17: 31-36 that people will be working in the fields during the day and sleeping during the night when He returned. Jesus knew that day and night occurred simultaneously over the earth 1,350 years before Galileo discovered it.
  1. Luke 17: 31-37 “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”37 And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord? “So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”
5. Laws of Physics and Geology
  1. Hebrews 11: 3 says by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Discover that matter is composed of invisible molecules in 1920 A.D.
  2. Job 38: 16 “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths? The ocean/ seas are very deep, and in almost complete darkness, and the pressure there is enormous, it would have been impossible for Job to explore the bottom of the ocean. Springs in the Ocean were discovered by Oceanographers in the 1970’s using deep diving research submarines built to withstand 6,000 pounds per square inch of pressure.
  3. Oceanographers also discovered the trenches at the bottom of the sea mentioned in Job 38:16
  4. Psalm 8:8 (C. 1000 B.C.) The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas Paths, or streams through the oceans were discovered in 1854
  5. Ecclesiastes 1:7 All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; To the place from which the rivers come, there they return again. The water cycle was not recognized as scientific fact until the 17th
6. Biological and Medical Truths
  1. Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmityBetween you and the woman,And between your seed and her Seed;He shall bruise your head,And you shall bruise His heel.” Scientist used to think that only the man had “seed” until the 17th century when they discovered that the woman also has “seed” that combines with man’s “seed” when a strand of DNA (discovered in the 19th century and identified in the 20th century) from the women combines with a strand from man
  2. Leviticus 13 gives instructions for quarantine for diseases to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of the camp. Discovered in the 19th century, 3,240 years after Moses’ time.
  3. Leviticus 17:10 forbids Israelites to drink or eat blood of animals. In the 19th century scientists realized that diseases of animals can infect humans of their blood is eaten or drunk.
  4. Leviticus 15: 5-13 instructs the washing of hands and clothes to prevent infection after touching a diseased or dead person.[i].
  5. Genesis 17:12 commands Abraham and his descendants to circumcise their male children on the 8th day after birth. In the 20th century medical scientists discovered that vitamin K causes blood to clot and does not enter the body significantly until the 8th day after birth.[ii]

NOTE:

Such remarkable scientific foreknowledge can be explained only by an omniscient Scientist who revealed these truths to His prophets.

AMAZING PREDICTIONS OF FUTURE PEOPLE, NATIONS, AND EVENTS

The Accuracy of Biblical Prophecy
God told Isaiah, “write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness” (Isaiah 30:8)
God predicted the Future of Babylon
Isaiah chapters 13-14, 44-45, written about 700 B.C.
1. Medes will conquer Babylon (Isaiah 13:17). Fulfilled 539 B.C.
2. “Cyrus” (predicted by name) will free the Jews from Babylonian Captivity and permit them to return to Judea and rebuild Jerusalem (Isiah 44:28; 45:1). Fulfilled 539 B.C.
3. Babylon to be desolate and uninhabited, like Sodom and Gomorrah, forever (Isiah 13: 19-22. Fulfilled c. 363 A.D.
4. Babylon to be covered by swamps of water (Isaiah 14:23) – “The great part of the country below ancient Babylon has now been for centuries a great swamp”[iii] (Over 1,000 years after Isiah predicted it).
5. Name survivors and offspring of Babylon to be cut off forever (Isiah 14:22). The name of Babylon ceased to exist more than 1,000 years after Isiah predicted it.
Prophecies Concerning Egypt. Ezekiel 29: 15-16 predicted that the great and might country of Egypt would become, and remain forever a lowly kingdom. He further predicted that Egypt would not become extinct as Babylon was.
1. Date of Ezekiel’s prophecy: between 592 and 586 B.C.
2. Egypt remains “a lowly” and impoverished nation, thus continuing the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy for the last 2,580 years.
Rome and the Kingdom of Christ
1. Daniel predicted in 604 B.C. the coming of four world empires.
  1. Babylon the first empire (Daniel 2:38)
  2. Medo-Persia the second (Daniel 2:39; 5:28-31; 6:8)
  3. Greece the third world empire (Daniel 2:39; 8:20-21).
  4. Daniel describes in detail the fourth world empire (Daniel 2:40-43; 7:17-27).
  5. History and the Bible (Luke 2:1) identify the fourth kingdom as the Roman Empire.
2. Daniel 2:44 predicted that the Kingdom of God would be set up during the days of the fourth world empire (Rome).
3. Daniel 7 also predicted that the Messiah’s Kingdom would outlast the Roman empire.
4. Jesus Christ, who began to preach about 26 A.D. , it the 15th year of Tiberius, Emperor of Rome (Luke 3:1) said, “The time has come,” and “The Kingdom of God is near.”
5. Two years later Jesus told His apostles that the Kingdom would be established during their lifetime (Mark 9:1)
6. After His resurrection, Christ claimed to have all authority and He commanded His apostles to expand His kingdom to all the world (Matthew 28:18-20)
7. Jesus’s apostles taught that His kingdom was established in the 1st century during the Roman Empire (Colossians 1:13 and Revelation 1:5,6,9)
8. Rome fell in the 4th century – Christ’s Kingdom continues to exist to this day.
9. Daniel prophecies c. 604 B.C., 600 years before Christ was born and 900 years before Rome fell. A Hebrew manuscript of Daniel was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls with a carbon 14 date of c.150 B.C. 150 years before Christ was born and 450 years before the Roman Empire fell.
10. Daniel’s amazing predictions could not have been made without Divine foreknowledge, proving the Bible is the Work of God.

MESSIANIC PREDITIONS FULFILLED IN JESUS CHRIST

Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell lists 332 Old Testament predictions of Jesus Christ
Six Old Testament Prophecies of Christ’s Dual Nature as Both God and Man are Fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.
Six of the 80 Prophecies Predict Christ’s Genealogy
Luke 3 traces Jesus genealogy all the way back to Adam and Eve
Three Prophecies of Christ’s Youth and Three Prophecies Concerning His Forerunner, John the Baptist (See Table-8A)
Ten Different Roles of the Future Messiah. As Prophet, Priest, King, Shepherd, Servant, Son of Man, Sacrifice, Counselor, Judge, and Redeemer.
Ten Different Aspects of the Messiah’s Life and Ministry
His miracles, preaching in Galilee to the poor and sinful, speaking in parables, making a covenant with the Gentiles, and living a sinless life.
Thirteen Different Ideas About Christ’s Betrayal by Judas
His rejection by the Jews and humiliation before Pilate. The Messiah’s entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey, His betrayal by a friend for 30 pieces of silver.
The Death of Christ
Eight are listed:
1. Pierced hands and feet,
2. Pierced side
3. Garments Divided
4. One garment taken by lot,
5. Gall and vinegar for drink,
6. Forsaken by God,
7. Vicarious death for others and,
8. A death that justifies others.
Christ’s Resurrection from the Dead
His ascension to heaven, His reign over all nations while seated at God’s right hand and His final victory over death in the final resurrection at His second doming.
Odds of Varied Numbers of Prophesies Being Fulfilled in One Person’s life.[iv]
1. Eight prophecies: 1 to 10 with 17 zeros. This number will cover Texas with silver dollars by 2 feet deep.
2. Forty-eight prophecies: 1 to 10 with 157 zeros
3. Eighty prophecies 1 to 10 with abut 260 zeroes
4. To illustrate the odds of the 332 prophcies of Christ that McDowell lists, Batsell Barrett Baxter pictured 40 archers and placed them from 1,400 to 400 yards away from a hidden target, to represent the prophecies that were made about Christ from 1,400 to 400 years before He was born. Each of the archers shoots his allotted arrows into the sky toward the hidden target. Imagine 332 arrows flying through the sky toward a hidden target, and all of them hitting the bull’s eyes.
5. Jesus alone fulfills all 332 prophecies.
6. One of the principal methods used by the apostles to convert unbelievers was to prove to them that Jesus Christ fulfilled the Old Testament predictions of the Messiah (Acts 2: 14-36; 3:17-26; 8:32-35; 13:16-41, 17: 2-4; 10 – 12; 18: 4-6)

THE SUPERIOR CONTENTS OF BIBLICAL TEACHING

The Wisdom of Solomon
No one in history has succeeded in expressing greater wisdom more concisely than Solomon (except for Jesus). Read this wisdom in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.
The Patience of Job
Job is a masterpiece of philosophical, scientific, and religious concepts in real life situations. Yet it was written more than 3,500 years ago.
The Devotion of David
The Psalms contain the highest spiritual concepts and the deepest yearnings of the soul to praise and glorify God.
The Superior Morality of the Bible
1. The Ten Commandments and other moral laws found in the Old Testament are superior to the moral standards of other nations when Moses wrote.
2. The morality of Jesus’ Sermon on the mount sets the highest moral standard ever taught in human history (Matthew 5 – 7)
The Impartiality of the Bible
1. Most ancient histories glorify their heroes and kings and fail to record their weaknesses and their defeats.
2. The bible impartially presents the strengths and weaknesses of its most important characters.
  1. Noah’s drunkenness (Genesis 9:21).
  2. Sarah’s lie (Genesis 18: 15-16)
  3. Jacob’s deceit (Genesis 27)
  4. The envy and jealousy of Joseph’s brothers (Genesis 37)
  5. Judah’s fornication with Tamar (Genesis 38).
  6. Moses’ killing of an Egyptian (Exodus 2: 11 – 16).
  7. Israel’s sin and exile in the wilderness as punishment.
  8. King Saul’s witchcraft (1 Chronicles 10: 13-14)
  9. David’s adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11).
  10. Solomon’s multiplied wives and idolatry (1 Kings 11).
3. The Bible points out Israel’s defeats as well as its victories
  1. Saul’s defeat at the hands of the Philistines and his suicide (1 Samuel 31)
  2. Absalom’s rebellion against his father, David (2 Samuel 15).
  3. Pharaoh Shishak’s sacking of Solomon’s treasures (1 Kings 14:25-28)
  4. Assyrian destruction of the Kingdom of northern Israel (2 Kings 24-25)
  5. Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and Judah (2 Kings 24-25)
  6. Slaves in Babylon for 70 years (2 Chronicles 36: 20-23).
4. Unified and Consistent Truth
  1. Unity of thought in diversity of culture.
    1. About 40 authors wrote the 66 books of the Bible over 1500 years.
    2. The authors had varied cultural backgrounds, different religious teachings, and different educational backgrounds and professions.
    3. The promise of the coming Messiah links together the entirety of the Old and New Testaments
  2. While God’s covenants are different for each age, the same God is recognized as the Omnipotent, Omniscient Creator and Father in each covenant.
  3. Jeremiah 31:31 specifically predicted the coming of Christ’s new covenant, and Hebrews 8-10 shows that the Old Testament prepared for and foreshadowed Christ’s New Testament.
5. The Wisdom, Love, and Purity of Jesus Christ
  1. Jesus’ analysis of “the two greatest laws” in the Old Testament demonstrates His divine wisdom (Mark 12: 30-32)
    1. Jesus said the first and most important law is “love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
    2. The second most important law is “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
    3. The Golden Rule of Jesus is the best expression of the two greatest laws; “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
  2. Jesus’ new and superior law of love for neighbor.
    1. “Anew command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34-35).
    2. Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this, to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
    3. Jesus demonstrated that icredible love by dying on the cross for not only His friends, but also for His enemies (Romans 5:6-8)
  3. His teaching to “Be perfect…as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48) was demonstrated by His perfect life, the only man to attain a sinless life (John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
6. The Power of the Gospel to Transform Lives
  1. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11
  2. The power of the gospel has changed more lives than the teaching of human philosophy, psychiatry, and psychology in all of history.

TABLE 8-A

Old Testament Predictions of Messiah Fulfilled in the New Testament Prophecy

PROPHECY FULFILLMENT

1. CHRIST’S NATURE

Eternity (Micah 5:2; Isaiah 9:6-7)
Deity (Psalm. 110:1 45:6•, Isaiah 9:6)
Son of God (Psalms 2: 7)
Son ofMan (Genesis 3:15; 12:3; 22:18)
Human Suffering (Isaiah 53; Psalm. 22)
Father and Creator (Isaiah 9:6-7)

2. CHRIST’S BIRTH

Genealogy

(1) Seed of Woman (Genesis 3:15)

(2) Seed of Abraham (Genesis 22: 18)

(3) Star from Jacob (Numbers 14: 17)

(4) Ruler of Judah (Genesis 49: 10)

(5) Root of Jesse (Isaiah 1 1: 1)

(6) Seed of David (Psalms 89:3)

Place of Birth (Micah 5:2)
Time ofBirth (Daniel 2:44; 9:25)
Manner of birth: of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)

3. CHRIST’S YOUTH

Departure from Egypt (Hosea 1 1 : 1)
Massacre of the innocents (Jeremiah 31 : 15)
Humble and ignoble rearing (Isaiah 54:2)

4. CHRIST’S FORERUNNER

The voice in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3)
Christ’s messenger (Malachi )
Elijah the prophet (Malachi 5:5)
CHRIST’S ROLES
Prophet, like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18-19)
Priest like Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4)
King over the nations (Daniel 7:13-14)
Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:23-25)
Servant (Isaiah 42:1-4; 54: 11)
Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14)
Sacrifice (Isaiah 54:4-10)
Counselor (Isaiah 9:6; 1 1 :2)
Judge (Isaiah 11:3-4; Psalm 110:6)
Redeemer (Isaiah 59:16-20)

6. CHRIST’S LIFE AND MINISTRY

Anointed by Holy Spirit (Isaiah 61:1 )
His miracles (Isaiah 42:7)
His preaching.
In Galilee (Isaiah 9:1, 2)
To the poor and sinful (Isaiah 61:1-3)
In parables (Psalm 78:2)
In wisdom and knowledge (Isaiah 11:2)
With the Spirit of God (Isaiah 11 :2)
His covenant with Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6)
His sinless life (Isaiah 53:9, 11)

John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17

John 1:1-3; Colossians 2:9

Matthew 3-17; 16:16

Isaiah 1 1: 1; Matthew 16:13 1 Peter 2:21-24

John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16

Galatians 4:4

Matthew

Luke 3:23, 34

Luke 3:23, 33 Luke 3:23, 32

Luke 3:23, 31

Matthew 2:1-8

Mark 1:15; Luke 2:1-3

Matthew 1.•18-25

Matthew 2.•13-15

Matthew 2: 16

Matthew 22:23

Matthew 3: 1-3

Matthew 11:9-11

Matthew 17:10-13

Acts 3:21-23

Hebrews 6:20; 7:14-16

Mark 9:1-7; Revelation 17:14

John 10:11-30

Mark 10:24

Matthew 16:13-16

John 1:29; Hebrews 9:26

Matthew 1 1:28-30

John 5:22, 30

Matthew 1:23; 20:28

Luke 3:21-22; 4:16-21

Matthew 1 1:4-6

Mark 1:14-15

Matthew 4:12-21

Luke 4:18; 7:21-50

Matthew 13:35

Matthew 12:42; John 7:46

Matthew 12:28

Matthew 28: 18-20

1 Peter 2:22-23

7. CHRIST’S REJECTION

Forsaken by his own. Isaiah 53:2-3
Stumbling block to leaders (Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 8:14; 28: 16)
Praised by children (Psalms 8:2)
Betrayed by a friend (Psalms 41 :9)
Sold for 30 silver pieces (Zechariah 11:12)
Enters Jerusalem on donkey (Zechariah 9:9)
Thrown into Temple (Zechariah 11 :13)
Money buys potter’s field (Zechariah 1 1 :13)
Forsaken by disciples (Zechariah 13: 7)
Accused by false witnesses (Psalms 35:11)
Silent before his accusers (Isaiah 53: 7)
Whipped and bruised (Isaiah 53:5)
Mocked (Isaiah 50:6. Psalms 22:7, 8)

8. CHRIST’S DEATH

Pierced hands & feet (Psalms 22:16)
His side pierced (Zechariah 12:10)
Stared upon (Psalms 22:17)
Garments divided (Psalms 22:18)
One garment taken by lot (Psalms 22: 18)
Suffered thirst (Psalms 22:15; 69:21)
Gall & vinegar for drink (Psalms 69:21 )
Forsaken by God (Isaiah 53:4; Psalms 22: 1)
Shaking heads (Psalms 22•.7; 109:25)
Spirit committed to God (Psalms 31 :5)
Bones not broken (Psalms 34:20)
Vicarious death (Isaiah 53:5, 12)
Justifying death (Isaiah 53: 1 1, 12)
Intercession in his death (Isaiah 53: 12)
Death with wicked (Isaiah 53:9; 57:60)

9. CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

Soul not left in Hades (Psalms 16: 10)
Body not to undergo decay (Psalms 1 6 : 9, 10)
Resurrection on third day (Hosea 6:2)

10. CHRIST’S ASCENSION

Ascension to heaven (Psalms 68: 1 8)
Seated at God’s right hand (Psalm 1 10: 1)
Christ’s reign (Psalm. 1 10:1-3)
His reign over Gentiles (Isaiah 49:6)
Gifts to (or, of) men (Psalms 68: 18)
Final victory over death (final resurrection)

(Psalms 110:1; Isaiah 25:6-9)

John 1:11-12

Luke 19:28-38

Matthew 21 : 15-16 Luke 19:28-38

Matthew 21 : 15-16 John

Matthew 26:14-15 Mark 14:50

Matthew 26:59-62 Matthew 26:63

Matthew 27:26

Matthew 27:27-32

Luke 23:20-33

John 19:33-34

Matthew 27:32-44 John 19:23

John 19:24 John 19:28

Matthew 27 :34

Matthew 27:45-46

Matthew 27 :39 Luke 23:46

John 19:33, 36 1 Peter 2:24-25

Romans 5: 18,19

Hebrews 7:25; Luke 23:24

Matthew 27:57-60 Matthew 27:26

Matthew 27:27-32

Acts 2:24-32

Acts 2:24-32 1 Corinthians 15:4

Acts 1:9-11

Hebrews 1:3

1 Corinthians 15:25-27

Matthew 28: 18-20

Ephesians 4:8-10

1 Corinthians 15:25-27

1 Corinthians 15:50-57

[i] Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis (born Semmelweis Ignác Fülöp; 1 July 1818 – 13 August 1865) was a Hungarian physician of German extraction now known as an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures. Described as the “savior of mothers”, Semmelweis discovered that the incidence of puerperal fever (also known as “childbed fever”) could be drastically cut using hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics. Puerperal fever was common in mid-19th-century hospitals and often fatal, with mortality at 10%–35%. Semmelweis proposed the practice of washing hands with chlorinated lime solutions in 1847 while working in Vienna General Hospital’s First Obstetrical Clinic, where doctors’ wards had three times the mortality of midwives’ wards. He published a book of his findings in Etiology, Concept and Prophylaxis of Childbed Fever. Despite various publications of results where hand washing reduced mortality to below 1%, Semmelweis’s observations conflicted with the established scientific and medical opinions of the time and his ideas were rejected by the medical community. Semmelweis could offer no acceptable scientific explanation for his findings, and some doctors were offended at the suggestion that they should wash their hands. Semmelweis’s practice earned widespread acceptance only years after his death, when Louis Pasteur confirmed the germ theory and Joseph Lister, acting on the French microbiologist’s research, practiced and operated, using hygienic methods, with great success. In 1865, Semmelweis was committed to an asylum, where he died at age 47 of pyaemia, after being beaten by the guards, only 14 days after he was committed from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignaz_Semmelweis

[ii] None of These Diseases, Ibid., p 20-21.

[iii] Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, p. 307.

[iv] Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, p. 307.

TOP

Lesson 9: Alleged Old Testament Discrepancies

INTRODUCTION

Many scholars attack the inerrancy of the Old Testament based on “alleged” or “perceived” contradictions. I call these apparent contradictions “Bible Riddles or Puzzles.” This lesson analyzes some of the more difficult “Old Testament Riddles” and proposes unique solutions to them, thus answering the critics who claim the bible contains errors and contradictions.

LESSON AIM:

To capacitate the studies to analyze alleged Old Testament discrepancies to pray for, search for, and find solutions.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will…

Develop the ability to analyze every detail involved in a Bible riddle.
Learn to study and search for solutions with prayer and diligence.
Experience the joy of discovery when a solution is found.
Learn how to refute some of the most common alleged discrepancies that scholars make against the Old Testament inspired inerrancy

HOW TO SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS TO BIBLE RIDDLES

A G-d’s Word Is Profound – Requires Concentrated Meditation To Understand.
1 O Lord, how great are your works! Your thoughts are very deep. Psalms 92:5 (NKJV)
2 Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 You, through your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. Psalms 119:97-99 (NKJV)
B Each Bible Truth Is Like A Multi-Sided Prism
1 Contradictions may appear because the reader is only seeing one side of a multi-sided prism of truth.
2 A part truth appears deficient and contradictory until joined together with the other parts of the prism.
3 Solutions are found by searching for the other sides of the prism that explain and tie all of the sides of the prism into a single gem of truth.

C Continue Steadfast in Prayer
1 Ask the Father, the author of the Bible, for guidance to find, and wisdom to understand each solution.
2 Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matt 7:7 (NKJV)
3 James said, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of G-d, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (NKJV)
D Ask In Faith, Believing That G-d Will Ultimately Give You Answers
1 “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6 (NKJV)
E Search Steadfastly for A Solution Until You Find an Answer
1 Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” NKJV)
F Knock persistently and patiently on G-d’s door through prayer and study of His word. Some solutions take years to find. Jesus said, “Knock [keep on knocking, a present imperative in Greek], and the door [the solution] will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

Note: Some Bible riddles that have caused some to reject G-d’s word.

WHERE DID CAIN GET HIS WIFE?

A Problem: The (NEW)King James Version says (Genesis 4:16-17 Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son–Enoch. (NKJV))
1 Critical scholars have said that this incident is proof that other human beings existed prior to Adam.
2 Critical scholars claim that the Bible contradicts itself when it elsewhere states that Adam was the first man (1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.(NKJV))
B Solution: Cain Married His Sister
1 The King James Version expression, “Cain knew his wife,” does not mean he met her in the land of Nod but that he knew her sexually there. The New International Version translates Genesis 4:17, “Cain lay with his wife, and she became pregnant.”
2 The fact that Genesis says that Cain went to Nod and produced a child with his wife in that location does not mean that Cain necessarily met and married her in Nod.
3 Starting with one man (Adam) and one woman (Eve), the only possibility for their offspring to multiply would be for them to intermarry with their brothers and sisters.
4 1 Corinthians 15:4 says Adam was the first man, and since Genesis 5:4 tells us, Adam “had other sons and daughters,” Cain obviously married his sister.
5 It was common among Egyptian Kings to marry their sisters and Abraham married his half-sister, Sarah (Genesis 12:13)

COMMAND BY MOSES TO DESTROY CANAANITE MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN

A Problem: Killing of Innocent Children
1 Moses told the Israelites to destroy totally the Canaanites (Deuteronomy 7:2 and when the Lord your G-d delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them. (NKJV))
2 Deuteronomy 2:34: We took all his cities at that time, and we utterly destroyed the men, women, and little ones of every city; we left none remaining.(NKJV)
3 Critical scholars believe that it was immoral for Israel to kill the Canaanite men and women, especially the children.
4 These scholars believe Moses was wrong and that god did not command or condone killing innocent people.
B Solution: G-d Gives Life and God has the Right to Take Life Away
1 When Job lost all of his children from a tornado, Job said, And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” 22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge G-d with wrong. Job 1:21-22 (NKJV)
2 G-d gave us our lives and G-d has the right to take our lives.
3 Children of evil people are especially blessed if they die young, because they go to live with G-d in Paradise.
4 God inflicted the death penalty on his people, Israel, for the following sins
a Murder, attacking parents, kidnaping another human being, or cursing one’s father or mother Ex 21:12-17 (NKJV)
b Sorcery, bestiality, sacrificing to other gods, and mistreatment of foreigners (Exodus 22:18-24
c Sacrificing one’s child to the God Molech, consulting mediums and spirits, adultery with the wife of another, incestuous relationships, and homosexuality (Leviticus 20 1-27)
5 G-d commanded Israel to kill the Canaanites for two reasons.
a The Canaanites had committed detestable sins and deserved to receive G-d’s sentence of Death (Leviticus 18:24-29)
b The Canaanites would lead Israel into idolatry and other unholy sins (Deuteronomy 7:2-4
NOTE: Israel disobeyed G-d’s command to eliminate all Canaanites and were influenced by the evil Canaanites to go after other gods and commit abominable sins
6 G-d has the right to authorize other persons to execute His death penalty.
a God later used Assyria to kill and exile disobedient northern Israel (2 Kings 17:3-20 3)
b G-d later used Babylon to kill and exile disobedient southern Judah (2 Kings 24: 1-4
7 G-d did not authorize the church to execute His death sentence. G-d did authorize the government of each nation to execute the death penalty: “They bear not the sword in vain” Romans 13:1-5
8 Neither Moses nor G-d was immoral in commanding Israel to eliminate the evil Canaanites.

DID ISRAEL STEAL THE LAND OF CANAAN?

A Problem: Critical scholars say that Israel stole the land of the Canaanite’s.
B Solution: The Land Did Not Belong to the Canaanites; it Was G-d’s Land
1 ‘The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me. Lev 25:23 (NKJV)
2 For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.11 I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. 12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. Psalms 50:10-12 (NKJV)
3 Canaan was on loan to the Canaanites.
4 Later the Canaanites polluted or “defiled” the land with their detestable sins and G-d had every right to expel such evil tenants Leviticus 18:24-30
5 God gave the land to Israel conditionally: Lev 18:2828 lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you.
6 When northern Israel later rebelled against Jehovah, He sent Assyria to kill them and exile them from the land permanently (2 Kings 17:29 However every nation continued to make gods of its own, and put them in the shrines on the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities where they dwelt.(NKJV))
7 When southern Israel (Judah) also left God, He sent Babylon to kill them and exile them for 70 years, until Israel repented and was permitted to return (2 Chronicles 36)
8 Israel was God’s agent to expel the wicked tenants of the land just as God later used Assyria and Babylon to remove northern Israel and Judah.

CONTRADICTION OF CHRONOLOGIES IN ACTS 13:19-20 AND 1 KINGS 6:1

A Problem
1 1 Kings 6:1 says 480 years intervened between the Exodus and Solomon’s fourth year: from 1446 B.C. to 966 B.C.
2 Acts 13:19-20 in the King James Version only calculates 450 years from the Conquest of Canaan until Samuel, the prophet: from c. 1400 B.C. to c. 1070 B.C. (only 330 years).
3 Thus, the chronology of 1 Kings 6:1 contradicts the chronology of Acts 13:19-20 by about 150 years (as translated in the King James Version).
B Solution: Inferior Greek Texts Need to Be Substituted with a Superior Greek Text
1 The King James Version of Acts 13:19-20 is a good translation of an inferior Greek text, which places the 450 years after the conquest of Canaan and during the period of the Judges.
2 However, the majority of ancient Greek texts of Acts 13:19-20 (followed by the NAS and NIV), dates the 450 years before the period of Judges began.
3 Genesis 15:13-15 counts 400 years between Isaac’s birth in 1846 B.C. and ends with Israel’s Exodus from Egypt in 1446 B.C.
4 Adding to the 400 years of Genesis 15:13-15; 40 years for the wilderness wandering (Acts 13:18) and 10 years for the duration of the conquest of Canaan, we have exactly 450 years between Isaac’s birth and when the period of the Judges began.
5 The Greek text of the NAS solves the contradiction in the KJV.

DIFFERENCE OF HEIGHT OF PILLARS IN FRONT OF THE TEMPLE

A Problem: 1 Kings 7:15-16 says the pillars were 18 cubits; whereas 2 Chronicles 3:15 says they were 35 cubits, and apparent contradiction.
B Solution: The prophetical author of Kings looked at things separately, whereas the priestly author of Chronicles looked at the sum of things.
1 The length of the wings of the 2 cherubim in 1 Kings 6:24-25 each extend out 5 cubits in each direction for a total of 10 cubits for each of the 2 wings.
2 2 Chronicles 3: 10-13 says the total wing span is 20 cubits for both cherubim, thus summing up the total wing spread for both cherubim.
3 1 Kings 7:15-16 looks at each pillar separately and measures the height (Hebrew word= qowmah) at 18 cubits for each pillar.
4 2 chronicles 3:15 looks at the two pillars together and measures the total length (Hebrew word =’orek), not the height (qowmah), as 35 cubits of both pillars lying end to end on the ground before being mounted. This would make each pillars exactly 17.5 cubits, but rounded off to 18 cubits in 1 Kings 7:15-16.
5 Most versions of the Bible have mistranslated ‘orek as “high”, creating the contradiction that disappears when translated accurately “long” or “length.”

DIFFERENCE OF NUMBERS OF STALLS FOR HORSE AND CHARIOTS

A Problem:
1 1 Kings 4:26 – “And Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for the chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.” (NAS, ASV and KJV, but not NIV)
2 2 Chronicles 9:25 – “Now Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots and 12,000 horsemen.” (all versions)
3 Many scholars claim that the 40,000 stalls of 1 Kings 4:26 contradict the 4,000 stalls of 2 Chronicles 9:25.
B Inadequate Solution of the Translators of the New International Version
1 The NIV translates 1 Kings 4:26 as “4,000 stalls of horses” on the basis of one Septuagint manuscript, matching the 4,000 horses of 2 Chronicles 9:25.
2 However, all other Septuagint manuscripts omit 1 Kings 4:25-28 entirely.
3 All Hebrew manuscripts read 40,000 stalls of horses in 1 Kings 4:26 and read 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots in 2 Chronicles 9:25
4 1 Kings 4:26 and 2 Chronicles 9:25 both agree that Solomon had 12,000 horsemen, which contradicts the 4,000 the 4,000 stalls of horses of 2 Chronicles 9:25. How can 12,000 horsemen ride on only 4,000 horses?
C Solution:
1 2 Chronicles 9:25 says the 4,000 stalls were for both horses and chariots.
2 The 40,000 stalls in 1 Kings 4:26 were for horses only
3 The Hebrew for stall is “arayah and comes from the verb, “arah, which means “to gather.”
4 ‘Arayah can mean a “stall” for a single animal or a “stable” for many animals
5 1 Kings 4:26 uses the word stall to refer to individual stalls for 40,000 horses.
6 2 Chronicles 9:25 uses the word stall to refer to 4,000 large stables. If each large stable contained 10 individual stalls for horses, 4,000 large stables would have 40,000 individual, small stalls for horses, harmonizing with 1 Kings 4:26
7 These 4,000 stables of 2 Chronicles 9:25 were for chariots and horses; therefore each stable also had space for a chariot as well as 10 horses.
8 Archaeologists uncovered stables a Megiddo that date to the 9th century B.C. Each stable had ten stalls for horses with extra space for a chariot.

DIFFERENT CENSUS FIGURES

A Problem:
2 Samuel 24:9 lists 800,000 in Israel and 500,000 in Judah; whereas 1 Chronicles 21:5 lists 1,100,000 in Israel and 470,000 in Judah, and apparent difference of 270,000 men.
2 Samuel 24:9 1 Chronicles 21:5
Israel 800,000 Israel 1,100,000
Judah 500,000 Judah 470,000
Total 1,300,000 Total 1,570,000
Difference 270,000

B Solution Number One
1 2 Samuel 24:9 says “Israel” and 1 Chronicles 21:5 says “all Israel.” Thus, the 800,000 Israel of 2 Samuel 24:9 can be only northern Israel; whereas the 1,100,000 of 1 Chronicles 21:5 can be “All Israel” (both Judah and Northern Israel, which were united when the census was taken.) This “all Israel” as the total of the census is consistent with the unique style of the writer of Chronicles (probably Ezra) who like to sum up figures.
2 The 1,100,000 is the total of the entire nation, and included the 470,000 of Judah, leaving only 630,000 in Northern Israel.
2 Samuel 24:9 1 Chronicles 21:5
N. Israel 800,000 N. Israel 630,000
Judah 500,000 Judah 470,000
Total 1,300,000 Total 1,100,000

3 This second arrangement also appears contradictory to the numbers in 2 Samuel 24:9 by falling short by 200,000: 170,000 less in Northern Israel and 30,000 less in Judah.
4 This new arrangement can be explained whereas the first arrangement has no logical explanation
a 1 Chronicles 21:6 and 27:24 say their census figures did not include the tribes of Benjamin and Levi because Joab did not finish counting.
b Since the Levites were scattered in all the tribes it is very possible that the 170,000 less inhabitants in 1 Chronicles 21:5 are due to the fact that the Benjamites and the Levites who lived in northern Israel were not included in the census f Northern Israel.
5 The 30,000-lesser number of Judah are also Levites who lived in Judah, but were not included in the census figures of 1 Chronicles 21:5.
6 However, the prophetical author of 2 Samuel 24:9 estimated “by inspiration” that there were 170,000 extra Benjamites and Levites in Israel and 30,000 extra Levites in Judah that Joab failed to count.
7 The actual count of Joab was recorded in 1 Chronicles 21:5, whereas the actual numbers, including those not counted by Joab, were revealed by God in 2 Samuel 24:9.
2 Samuel 24:9 1 Chronicles 21:5
N Israel 800,000 (w/Ben. & Levi) N Israel 630,000 w/out Ben and levi
Judah 500,000 With Levi Judah 470,000 w/out levi
Total 1,300,000 (w/Ben. & Levi) Total 1,100,000 w/o Ben & Levi8 This reasonable explanation fits the entire Biblical picture of the census.

MATTHEW’S INTERPRETATION OF HOSEA 11:1?

A Alleged Discrepancy: Matthew 2:13-15
1 Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus.
2 After Herod’s death, Joseph and Mary left Egypt and returned to Judea
3 Matthew says that Jesus’ return from Egypt fulfilled the prophecy: “Out of Egypt I call my son” (Hosea 11:1)
4 Hosea 11:1 is not a prediction but a statement of Israel’s past history and spiritual depravity in the time of Hosea: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. Hosea 11:1 (NKJV)
5 Many scholars believe Matthew misinterpreted Hosea 11:1 when he applied it to Jesus.

B Solution: Different Kinds of Fulfillment of Prophecies
1 Direct Prophecy: Matthew 2: 3-6 is a good example of “Direct Prophecy.”

a Herod asked the chief priests and rabbis where the promised Messiah (Christ) was to be born.
b The Jewish leaders answered that the prophet Micah had predicted that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
c Micah predicted that this future ruler of Israel would be preexistent from ancient times, yet born in the tiny town of Bethlehem.
d Micah 5:2 is a direct prophecy of Jesus’ birth.
2 Figurative/Typological Prophecy
a In the Old Testament G-d prepared the Jews for the coming of Jesus Christ and His New Testament through shadows, symbols and types of Christ’s perfect priesthood and His superior sacrifice on the cross. Hebrews 8 – 10.
b Ezekiel 37:24 predicts the coming of the Messiah under the type or figure of King David,
(a) David, the friend of G-d, was a type or figure of Jesus, as the messiah who would rule Israel and the world.
(b) Jesus did not fulfill Ezekiel 37:24 directly, but figuratively.
3 The topological prophecy of Hosea 11:1 and its fulfillment in Matthew 2:13-15
a Hosea 11:1 reports that G-d previously called His son Israel out of Egypt.
b Israel as “G-d’s son” is a type of G-d’s only begotten Son, Jesus. Notice below the similarities of the two Israel’s
c Joseph brought his father, Jacob, to Egypt to save his family from the famine in Canaan (Genesis 43-47). Joseph, the husband of Mary, was also the son of Jacob (Matthew 1:16); he brought Jesus, G-d’s Son, to Egypt to save Him from assassination by Herod.
d Joseph used the money of a King (Pharaoh) to provide for Israel (G-d’s son) while in Egypt. Joseph used the money from the kings (wise men) from the East, to provide for Jesus (G-d’s Son: in Egypt.
e G-d called Israel (God’s son) out of Egypt in a vision to Moses: G-d called Jesus (G-d’s Son) out of Egypt in a vision to Joseph.
f G-d called Israel (G-d’s son) to return to Canaan to serve Him; G-d called Jesus (G-d’s son) to return to Canaan to serve Him.
g Ancient Israel failed to obey G-d (Hosea 11:1-2 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. 2 As they called them, So they went from them; They sacrificed to the Baals, And burned incense to carved images. (NKJV)), but Jesus obeyed His Father’s will, fulfilling what ancient Israel failed to do.
h Israel was originally Jacob, but Israel became all of Jacob’s descendants who were incorporated into national Israel, Jacob (Israel) is a type of figure of the New Israel, Jesus, and those incorporated into Jesus through faith and baptism
i Matthew 2:11-15 is a fulfillment not of a prophetical prediction, but of a prophetical type or figure.

JESUS INTERPRETATION OF ISALAH 6:9-10 IN MATTHEW 13:14-15

A Problem:
1 In Matthew 13:14-15 Jesus Claimed that the Jews of His day “fulfilled” Isaiah 6:9-10 that reads, “through seeing, they do not see, though hearing, they do not hear of understand.”
2 In Isaiah 6:9-12 G-d ordered Isaiah to preach to the Jews of his day who were spiritually blind and hardhearted.
3 Critical scholars say Jesus was wrong in believing that Isaiah 6:9-10 predicted the hardhearted Jews who rejected Jesus.

B Solution: Fulfillment of a Prophetical Conception, not a prediction
1 Isaiah 6:9-10 is not a prediction, but a condemnation of the Jews of Isaiah’s day, who closed their eyes and plugged their ears to Isaiah’s preaching
2 The Jews in Jesus’ day demonstrated the same spiritual deafness and blindness that the Jews had in Isaiah’s day.
3 Thus, the Jews of Matthew 13:13-15 fulfilled a prophetical conception that Isaiah wrote, not a prediction.
4 Prophecies not only predict but also reveal the hearts of men and teach great concepts of G-d which are true and fulfilled in every age.

“He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. 13 However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. 14 “But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die. 15 “And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. 16 “He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death. 17 “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

“You shall not permit a sorceress to live. 19 “Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death. 20 “He who sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed. 21 “You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless”.(NKJV)

‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. 25 For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants. 26 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you 27 (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), 28 lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you. 29 For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people (NKJV))

and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them. 3 Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. 4 For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.(NKJV))

Judges 2:10-15 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. 11 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; 12 and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. 13 They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreth’s. 14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So, He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. 15 Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed. (NKJV)

2 Kings 17:3-20…3 Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him; and Hoshea became his vassal, and paid him tribute money. 4 And the king of Assyria uncovered a conspiracy by Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and brought no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.Israel Carried Captive to Assyria5 Now the king of Assyria went throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria and besieged it for three years. 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.7 For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and they had feared other gods, 8 and had walked in the statutes of the nations whom the Lord had cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. 9 Also the children of Israel secretly did against the Lord their God things that were not right, and they built for themselves high places in all their cities, from watchtower to fortified city. 10 They set up for themselves sacred pillars and wooden images[a] on every high hill and under every green tree. 11 There they burned incense on all the high places, like the nations whom the Lord had carried away before them; and they did wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger, 12 for they served idols, of which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.”13 Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.” 14 Nevertheless they would not hear, but stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God. 15 And they rejected His statutes and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He had testified against them; they followed idols, became idolaters, and went after the nations who were all around them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them. 16 So they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, made for themselves a molded image and two calves, made a wooden image and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. 17 And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. 18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone.19 Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. 20 And the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them from His sight.

In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him. 2 And the Lord sent against him raiding bands of Chaldeans, bands of Syrians, bands of Moabites, and bands of the people of Ammon; He sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken by His servants the prophets. 3 Surely at the commandment of the Lord this came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, 4 and also because of the innocent blood that he had shed; for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the Lord would not pardon. (NKJV))

Romans 13:1-5 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.(NKJV)

Leviticus 18:24-30 ‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. 25 For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants. 26 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you 27 (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), 28 lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you. 29 For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Therefore you shall keep My ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am the Lord your God.’ “(NKJV))

And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord.(NKJV))

And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment. 20 After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.(NKJV)

New Brown, Driver, Biggs, Genesis Hebrew, Aramaic, English Lexicon, p.71. and Strong’s Hebrew & Chaldee Dictionary, p.16.

Matthew 2:13-15 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”(NKJV)

Matthew 2: 3-6 :When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Matt 2:3-6 (NKJV)

Ezekiel 37:24 “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them.(NKJV)

Galatians 3: 26-28 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.(NKJV))

Isaiah 6:9-13 And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’10 “Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.” 11 Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate, 12 The Lord has removed men far away, And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. 13 But yet a tenth will be in it, and will return and be for consuming, as a terebinth tree or as an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. So, the holy seed shall be its stump.”(NKJV)

Matt 13:13-15 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, o that I should heal them.'(NKJV)

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Lesson 10: SOLUTION TO NEW TESTAMENT RIDDLES

Alleged Discrepancies

INTRODUCTION

critical scholars claim the New Testament contains contradictions. We consider the alleged contradictions as riddles or puzzles. Most of the problems are found in the gospels where we have four different accounts of the life and teaching of Christ, each from a different perspective.

Merrill Temney observed that Matthew is a formal portrait of Jesus as the Messiah; Mark has snap-shot photos of Jesus in action as the Servant of God: Luke is a long movie film of Jesus as the Son of Man. John is an X-ray picture of Jesus as the Eternal Word and the Divine Son of God. Thus, each gospel writer looks at Christ’s life and teachings from a different point of view, contributing a part of the four-fold picture of the total truth the Bible teaches on a particular subject related to Christ.

LESSON AIM:

To capacitate the student to analyze alleged New Testament discrepancies and to pray for, search for, and find, solutions.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: you will…

Learn how to refute some of the most difficult alleged discrepancies that critics use to reject the inerrancy of the New Testament
Learn how to pray for wisdom and search for solutions to New Testament problem texts.

THE PROBLEM OF THE MUSTARD SEED

Problem
1. Critics claim Jesus thought the mustard seed was the smallest of all seeds (Matthew 13:32 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” (NKJV))
Solution:
1. Jesus did not say the mustard seed is the smallest (superlative) seed, but smaller () than other seed in Palestine.
2. Mark 4: 31-32 (Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31 It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32 but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”(NKJV)) Jesus compared mustard seed with other seed sown by farmers in Palestine.
3. In the Mishnah, Jewish rabbis who lived before, during and after Jesus, also used the mustard seed to refer to very small things.

CONTRADICTORY INSTRUCTIONS TO THE APOSTLES

Problem: Mark 6:8 permits the apostles to take a staff and to wear sandals, but not to take money or an extra tunic during their evangelistic journeys. But Matthew 10:9-10 appears to forbid taking a staff or sandals as well as the other things
Solution: The Greek word for “take” in Mark 6:8 that permits the apostles “to take” a staff and wear sandals is from airo αἴρω [(airō 142)a primary verb; to lift; by implication to take up or away; figurative to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind); specially to sail away (i.e. weigh anchor); by Hebrew [compare <H5375> (nasa’)] to expiate sin :- away with, bear (up), carry, lift up, loose, make to doubt, put away, remove, take (away, up).—Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary] which means to “carry.” The Greek word for take in Matthew 10:9-10 is Ktaomai [κτάομαι (ktaomai 2932) a primary verb; to get, i.e. acquire (by any means; own) :- obtain, possess, provide, purchase. —Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary]
Exception Examined In Luke 22:35-36 Jesus prepared the apostles for world evangelism by permitting them to take money and extra sandals, because Gentiles were not responsible to support them until they were converted.

THE DIFFERENT REPORTS OF THE HEALING OF THE BLIND BEGGAR

Problem:
Matthew 20:29-34[i] reports that Jesus healed two blind men when He was leaving Jericho, but Mark 10:46-52[ii] reports that Jesus healed one blind man, Bartimaeus, when He was leaving Jericho, and Luke 18:35-43[iii] reports that Jesus healed one blind man when He was entering Jericho.
One or Two Blind Men? Matthew supplemented the accounts of Mark and Luke by noting that two blind men were healed, not merely one. This is not a contradiction but a fuller picture of the whole story. Matthew was an eyewitness of the event. Mark and Luke were not eyewitnesses. Their sources may have been apostles who were walking in the back croup and arrived after the first blind man was healed and saw only the second healing.
Entering or Leaving Jericho? Matthew and mark said Jesus was leaving Jericho and Luke says Jesus was entering Jericho. In Jesus time two Jericho’s existed; old Jericho was situated a short distance north of new Jericho.
1. Old Jericho was constructed between 134 and 104 B.C. by John Hyrcanus on the northern mound. New Jericho was constructed later by Herod the Great on the southern mound.
2. Thus, Jesus, coming from the north entered old Jericho first and was leaving the old city and entering new Jericho, when the healings occurred.

CURSING OF THE WITHERED FIG TREE: FIRST OR SECOND DAY?

Problem:

Matthew 21:18-22 appears to contradict Mark 11:12 -14, 20-24 by reducing to one morning what Mark records as two mornings.

Mark 11:12-14, 20-21 records that Jesus cursed the fig tree on one morning and that the fig tree did not wither until the next morning.
Matthew 21:18-22 says that the fig tree was cursed and withered on the same day, in apparent contradiction to Mark.

Solution: A detailed comparison of Matthew’s and Mark’s reports.
1. Day one: Mark 11:1-11 and Matthew 21:1-11
  1. Mark and Matthew report Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
  2. Mark, not Matthew, records Jesus return to Bethany on day 1.
2. Day Two: Mark 11:12-19 and Matthew 21:12-17
  1. Only Mark tells of the trip from Bethany to Jerusalem on day 2.
  2. Only Mark tells of the cursing of the fruitless fig tree on the journey from Bethany to Jerusalem on the morning of day 2.
  3. Both Mark and Matthew record that Jesus entered the Temple and drove out the money changers and merchants on day 2, through Matthew does not specify that I was on day 2 as Mark did.
  4. At the end of day 2 Matthew specifies that they returned to Bethany, whereas Mark simply says they left Jerusalem.
3. Day Three: Mark 11:20-28 and Matthew 21: 18-23.
  1. Mark and Matthew report that Jesus returned to Jerusalem on the day after the Temple cleansing. Only Mark says this was day 3.
  2. Only Matthew says Jesus cursed the fig tree that morning.
  3. Only Matthew tells us that the fig tree immediately (instantly) withered after this curse and that the apostles were amazed.
  4. Mark 11:21; however, reports a different reaction on the part of Peter when he saw the withered tree: “Peter remembered and said to Jesus, Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered.”
  5. The fact Peter “remembered” the curse, implies that he was referring to Jesus’ curse on day 2, not day 3.
4. Why did Peter refer only to the curse on day 2 without noting the second curse that Matthew recorded on day 3?
  1. The apostles likely walked together in small groups of 3 or 4 as they traveled toward Jerusalem.
  2. Matthew likely walked with Jesus at the front of the group. Thus Matthew and some other apostles heard Jesus curse the tree a second time on day 3 and saw it wither before their very eyes.
  3. Peter and his fellow travelers were likely in the third group, 20 to 40 yards behind Jesus group and did not hear Jesus curse the tree a second time and did not see it wither instantaneously.
  4. Peter, arriving a few minutes after the 2nd cursing and withering, saw that the tree was already withered and recalled the first cursing on the previous day (Day 2), and marveled that the tree had already withered in only one day, not knowing that Jesus had curse it a second time and that it withered immediately only moments before Peter arrived on the scene.
5. Why did Jesus curse the tree a second item? The same reason that Paul repeated an anathema two different times in Galatians 1: 8-9, for emphasis.
6. Matthew and Mark supplement and complement each other’s record, giving us a full picture of what happened, without contradiction.

DIFFERENT CROWS OF THE ROOSTER

Problem:
Matthew 26:34, 69-75; Luke 22:34; and John 13:38; 18:15-26 record Jesus prediction that Peter world deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. They also record the fulfillment of Jesus’ prediction, mentioning only one rooster crowing. Mark 14:30 says that Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed twice. Mark 14:72 reports that the rooster crowed a second time after peter’s third denial. Biblical skeptics say the two crows of Mark contradict the one crow recorded by the other writers.
Solution:

Lenski in his commentary on Mark notes that Pliny, a Roman, divided the night into two crows of the rooster:

The first crowning of the rooster occurred during the third watch of the night (from midnight to 3:00 A.M.
The second crowing (secundum galicinium) of the rooster occurred during the fourth watch (from 3:00 to 6:00 A.M.)
Mark, writing for a Roman audience, knew that the public was well unaware of the two crows of the rooster linked to the different watches of the night. Thus, Mark precisely noted that the three denials occurred before the second crowing, not the first crowing.
Also, the main source for Mark’s gospel was Peter, and only Peter knew precisely that there were 2 crowing during and after Peter’s 3 denials

DIFFERENT HOURS WHEN JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED

Problem:
John 19:14-16[iv] says Jesus was condemned to die on the crows by Pilate in the 6th hour. Mark 15:25[v] says Jesus was crucified the 3rd hour and Mark 15:33[vi] says that darkness came over the land at the 6th hour and remained until the 9th hour, when Jesus died. Critics say that Mark contradicted John by lacing Jesus on the crow 3 hours before He appeared before Pilate.
Solution: Mark used Jewish time and John used Roman time.
1. The Jewish day began at 6:00 a.m.; thus, Mark’s designation of the 3rd hour as the time of Jesus was nailed to the cross was 9:00a.m.
2. Notice in Acts 2:15 that Peter said the apostles were not drunk (after speaking in other languages by the power of the Holy Spirit) because it was only the 3rd hour. The 3rd hour could not be 3:00 p.m. (Roman time), but 9:00 am (Jewish time), too early for men already to be drunk.
3. Mark 15:33 says that darkness came over the land from the 6th hour to the 9th hour, Jewish time from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.
  1. Mark 15:33-37 says Jesus died in the same 9th hour (3:00p.m.)
  2. Luke 23:53 said that Jesus was buried just before the Sabbath began t 6:00p.m. that evening
4. John used Roman time.
  1. John said Jesus appeared before Pilate and was condemned to die at the 6th hour, 6:00 a.m. Roman time.
  2. All the gospel writers show that Jesus was up all night Thursday and Friday morning until He appeared the last time before Pilate at 6:00a.m.; early Friday morning.
  3. Thus, Jesus was condemned by Pilate at 6:00 a.m., crucified at 9:00 a.m., died at 3:00 p.m. and was buried before 6:00 p.m.
  4. John 1:39 reports that two disciples met Jesus at the 10th hour and spent the whole day with Him. If the 10th hour were Jewish time it would be four in the afternoon when they met Him and their stay “all day” would have only been 2 hours (the Jewish day ended at 6:00 p.m. at sunset. If 10:00 a.m. (Roman time), then staying all day with Jesus makes sense.
  5. John 20:19 reports that Jesus met with His apostles after His resurrection “on the evening of that 1st day of the week.” The evening of the 1st day of the week in Jewish time occurred on the previous Saturday night before His resurrection on Sunday morning. Therefore, John had to be using Roman time when he said that Jesus met with the apostles “on the evening of the same day that Jesus was resurrected.” That could only be Sunday evening.
5. The alleged discrepancy is resolved by recognizing that Mark used Jewish time and John used Roman time.

ARE CHRIST’S FINAL WORDS ON THE CROSS CONRADICTORY IN THE FOUR GOSPELS?

Problem: (Randel Helms, Gospel Fictions, New York: Prometheus Books, 1988), 15-18
1. Helms claims the gospel writers contradicted each other when recording Christ’s last words on the cross.
2. “According to Matthew and Mark, the dying words of Jesus were, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
3. “According to Luke, Jesus’ dying words were ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.””
4. “But according to John, they were, “it is accomplished.”
Solution: Jesus said all of the words recorded by the four gospel writers in short sequence to each other about 3:00p.m. (the ninth hour)
1. Matthew and Mark did not say they were quoting Jesus’ final words on the cross, but that he “cried out in a loud voice, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?”
2. Matthew and Mark record these words of Jesus as being spoken just before a soldier offered Jesus a drink of vinegar (Matthew27:45-48[vii]; Mark 15:33-36[viii]).
3. After Jesus drank the vinegar Matthew 27:50[ix] reports that Jesus “cried out again in a loud voice” just before He gave up His spirit. Matthew and Mark recorded the words Jesus cried out before He drank the vinegar, but did not record the words when He cried out in a loud voice the second time. Matthew and Mark did not claim that the last words of Jesus were about God forsaking Him.
4. John 19:28-29 explains why the soldier offered Jesus a drink: Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”
5. After drinking, John 19:30[x] reports that Jesus said, “ it is finished.” John then adds, “with that he bowed His head and gave up his spirit.
6. But how did Jesus give up His spirit, rather than God taking it? Luke is the only writer to record how Jesus gave up His spirit and what were really the last words He spoke just before He died: “Father, into your hand I commit my spirit.” Then Luke adds “when he had said this, He breathed His last (Luke 23:46[xi])
7. Helm’s failure to read carefully the gospel accounts, and his bias against any literature that shows credence in god and miracles, led him to create his own “fictitious” contradictions rather than find them in the gospels.

WAS JESUS IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH FOR 3 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS?

Problem:
Matthew 12:40[xii] says the Son of Man was to be in the heart of the earth 3 days and 3 nights in the same manner that Jonah was in the belly of the big fish for 3 days and 3 nights. Matthew 27:57-28:6[xiii] indicates Jesus was in the grave parts of 3 days and only 2 nights (Friday, Saturday and Sunday during daytime, but only on Friday and Saturday night), an apparent contradiction with 3 days and 3 nights.
Three Solutions:
1. Possible solution No 1 – Rounded off number
  1. Christ was in the grave parts of 3 days, which ordinarily has 3 periods of daylight and 3 periods of night time.
  2. Jesus rounded off these days into 3 days and 3 nights in order to fit the precise expression in Jonah 1:17[xiv] that he was in the belly of the whale 3 days and 3 nights.
2. Possible solution No 2 – Figurative language.
  1. Johan 1:17 says he was in the belly of the big fish for 3 days and 3 nights
  2. Jonah is the “figure” or “symbol” Jesus used to illustrate His future death and burial: the reality of Chris’s burial and resurrection does not have to fit in every detail of the figure or symbol, but only in similarity.
3. Possible solution No 3 – “in the heart of the earth” could be a figurative symbol to indicate “under the control of Satan,” which occurred in the betrayal, capture, trial, crucifixion and burial of Christ.
  1. In Luke 9:22 Jesus predicted that he must be rejected by the Jewish leaders, be killed and on the third day be raised, implying that His betrayal and rejection by the Jewish leaders were included in the 3 days, not just the time He was in the grave.
  2. If the betrayal and capture of Jesus on Thursday night be included, there were precisely 3 nights as well as 3 days involved.
4. Conclusion: Any of these possible solutions is adequate to refute the charge that Jesus spoke a contradiction or that the apostles misunderstood what Jesus said.

CONTRADICTORY APPEARANCES?

Problem:
1. John 20: 10-20 reports that Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene and later to the eleven apostles
2. Mark 16:9-14 reports that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, then to two disciples on the road and that night to the eleven apostles.
3. Matthew 28: 1-10 reports that Jesus appeared to a group of women who went to the tomb, heard from an angel that Jesus had risen, and were heading back to the city to report the news to the apostles. Matthew does not report Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene, or to the two disciples, nor to all of the apostles that night.
4. Luke 24: 4-49 does not record that Jesus appeared to any of the women, but reports His appearance to two disciples on the road, and later to the eleven apostles that night.
5. Many scholars have concluded that Christ’s first appearance to Mary, according to Mark and John; contradict Matthew, who says Jesus appeared to all of the women, and Luke, who reports no appearances to any of the women.
Solution:
1. When the women who went to the tomb heard the angel’s report that Jesus had risen, Matthew 28:8[xv] says, they “hurried away…and ran to tell His disciples.”
2. Mary Magdalene, who was part of this group of women, apparently knew where Peter and John were staying near the garden where Jesus was buried.
3. Thus, John reports that Mary went by herself to report the empty tomb to Peter and John (John 20:1-2[xvi])
4. Mary, John and Peter ran back to the tomb. When Peter and John returned home, Mary stayed by the tomb and Jesus appeared first to her in the garden (John 20:10-17[xvii]; Mark 16:9[xviii])
5. In the meantime, the other women were still traveling on the long journey back to the location where the other apostles were staying.
6. Jesus disappeared from the garden and appeared to the rest of the women still traveling the long road. Jesus made His second appearance to this group of women.
7. The third appearance was to the two disciples traveling on the road to Emmaus and the fourth appearance on the same day occurred in the evening to all eleven apostles.

DID MATTHEW CITE THE WRONG OLD TESTAMENT PROPHET?

Problem:
Matthew 27:9-10 appears to attribute the words of Zechariah to Jeremiah
1. Matthew 26: 14-16 – Judas agreed to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
2. Matthew 27: 3-5 When Jesus was condemned to die; Judas threw the 30 pieces of silver into the temple, then left and hanged himself.
3. Matthew 27: 6-8 reports that the chief priests took the betrayal money and purchased a potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners, and that this field came to be called “The field of Blood.”
4. Matthew 27:9-10 says, and then what was spoke by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled. “They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him but the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.
5. The words quoted above as being spoken by Jeremiah, are actually found in Zechariah 11:12-13 and not in Jeremiah’s prophecy.
The Solution of Lenski:

Lenski says that Zechariah was part of a prophetic scroll that included all of the prophets with Jeremiah at the head of the scroll. A quotation of any prophet in the scroll cold be quoted as from Jeremiah.

Matthew elsewhere quoted Isaiah by name (Matthew 4:14; 12:17; 13:14).
Luke 4:17 shows that a separate scroll existed for Isaiah alone.

The Claim of Scribal Change:

Some claim that the original text of Matthew 27:8-10 attributed the prophecy to Zechariah and that a later scribe changed the name to Jeremiah.

Only 1 or 2 manuscripts mention Zechariah, whereas thousands of manuscripts, including all of the most ancient ones, say Jeremiah.
Why would thousands of scribes change the name of Zechariah to Jeremiah, when the words are found in Zechariah’s work, not Jeremiah’s?

The Claim of Spoken not Written:
Matthew 27:8-9 says that the prophecy was “spoken,” not “written,” by Jeremiah. Thus some scholars claim that Jeremiah spoke this prophecy, but did not write it, and it came down as an unwritten tradition.
1. Matthew 2:17-18 quotes Jeremiah 31:15 as having “spoken” the words instead of having “written them.” Therefore, the words “spoken” do not prove that the words were not also written.
2. It is highly unlikely that Matthew quoted an unwritten prophecy of Jeremiah because the actual words are recorded in the book of Zechariah.
Claims of Jeremiah’s Prophecy
some scholars claim that Jeremiah 18:2-7; 19:1-14; and 32:1-44 predicted Judas’ betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and the purchase of a potter’s field. However, a careful reading of these verses in Jeremiah shows that none of these passages in Jeremiah refer directly to the time of Jesus.
Solution Presented by Ted Stewart
Solution requires knowledge of different kinds of fulfilled prophecy:
1. Direct fulfillment of prophecy: Matthew quoted the verses of Zechariah 11:12-13 that evaluated God’s Shepherd at 30 pieces of silver, which we to be thrown in the temple and end up in the hands of Potter.
2. Conceptual fulfillment of prophecy: The significance of the potter’s field is not understood without the prophecies of Jeremiah which explain the spiritual concept of a potter’s field.
  1. Jeremiah 18:1-6 described the sinful condition of the Jews of his day as being marred or spoiled clay in the hands of the potter and thus good for nothing except to be destroyed.
  2. Jeremiah 19:1 -4 god sent Jeremiah to purchase a clay jar from a potter and smash it by the potsherd gate, in a field of broken pots and marred clay, where Jews sacrificed their children to false gods.
  3. Only Jeremiah explains the symbolic meaning of the potter’s field as a place where broken pots and spoiled clay represented the spiritual condition of the Jews who killed their own sons and later killed God’s Son, Jesus.
  4. Matthew 27:9-10 fulfilled the predictive words of Zechariah 11:12-13 and the spiritual concept of a potter’s field in Jeremiah 18,19,32.
3. Why did Matthew mention only Jeremiah and not Zechariah?
  1. New Testament writers often quoted prophecies without naming the author.
    1. Matthew 1:22-23 quotes Isaiah 7:14 without naming Isaiah.
    2. Mark 1:2-3 cited Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3, but only named Isaiah.
  2. All knowledgeable Jews and Christians knew that the prediction of the 30 pieces of silver for a potter’s field was found only in Zechariah 11:12-13, even though Matthew did not name Zechariah.
  3. Only Jeremiah’s prophecies show the symbolic meaning of a potter’s field. Thus, Matthew named Jeremiah as the source so the reader would look to Jeremiah for the meaning of the deeper spiritual concepts of Zechariah’s words.

Solution Presented by Ted Stewart
1. Solution requires knowledge of different kinds of fulfilled prophecy:
  1. Direct fulfillment of prophecy: Matthew quoted the verses of Zechariah 11:12-13 that evaluated God’s Shepherd at 30 pieces of silver, which we to be thrown in the temple and end up in the hands of Potter.
  2. Conceptual fulfillment of prophecy: The significance of the potter’s field is not understood without the prophecies of Jeremiah which explain the spiritual concept of a potter’s field.
    1. Jeremiah 18:1-6 described the sinful condition of the Jews of his day as being marred or spoiled clay in the hands of the potter and thus good for nothing except to be destroyed.
    2. Jeremiah 19:1 -4 god sent Jeremiah to purchase a clay jar from a potter and smash it by the potsherd gate, in a field of broken pots and marred clay, where Jews sacrificed their children to false gods.

[i] Matthew 20:29-34 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” 31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” 32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 33 They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.(NKJV

[ii] Mark 10:46-52 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. (NKJV)

[iii] Luke 18:35-43 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” 42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.(NKJV)

[iv] John 19:14-16 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” 16 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away.(NKJV)

[v] Mark 15:25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.

[vi] Mark 15:33 Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.(NKJV)

[vii] Matt 27:45-48 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” 48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.(NKJV)

[viii] Mark 15:33-36 Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” 36 Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.” (NKJV)

[ix] Matt 27:50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit (NKJV)

[x] John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (NKJV)

[xi] Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last(NKJV)

[xii] Matt 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (NKJV)

[xiii] Matt 27:57-66 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb. 62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard. Matt 28:1-6 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay (NKJV)

[xiv] Jonah 1:17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.(NKJV)

[xv] Matt 28:8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word

[xvi] John 20:1-2 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

[xvii] John 20:10-17 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. 11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

[xviii] Mark 16:9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.

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Lesson 11 EVIDENCE FOR BIBLE HISTORY FROM ADAM TO THE FLOOD

INTRODUCTION

Isaiah 44:6-7 – “I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since

I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come– yes, let him foretell what will come.” The Bible thus claims to be true history, both past and future. Critical scholars consider Bible history as myth.

LESSON AIM:

To convince the student that sufficient evidence exists to substantiate the period of Old Testament history from Adam to the Flood as historical truth.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will . . .

Learn that the spring of Solomon’s 4th year is dated at 966 B.C.
Use 1 Kings 6:1 to calculate 1446 B.C. as the date of the Exodus and 1876 B.C. as the date of God’s promise to Abraham.
Reconcile these dates with related Biblical passages.
Utilize Hebrew and Greek manuscripts to establish minimum and maximum dates for the Flood and Creation.
Become aware of new discoveries that confirm the Biblical description of a high civilization before the flood.
Ascertain significant historical, geological and statistical evidences that support the Biblical description of the flood of Noah’s time

CHRONOLOGY OF OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY

Edwin Thiele’s Chronology
1. Links between specific years of Hebrew kings and specific years of Assyria’s astronomically dated history establish the following dates:
  1. An eclipse of the sun on June 15, 763 B.C. was recorded in the 10th year of Ashur-dan III, an Assyrian king.
  2. Astronomically dated years of Shalmaneser III are linked to specific years of Ahab and Jehu, Israel’s kings, fixing 853 B.C. as Ahab’s death.73[i]
2. Calculating backward from Ahab’s death in 853 B.C., Thiele was able to date the reigns of previous kings of Judah and Israel.[ii]
3. Cambridge Ancient History accepts Thiele’s dates as “absolute.”[iii]
4. The NIV Study Bible follows Thiele’s chronology.[iv]
5. Solomon’s 4th year should be dated 967/966 B.C.
Biblical Chronology from Abraham to Solomon
1. 1 Kings 6:1 says the Exodus occurred 480 years before Solomon’s 4th year.
  1. The Exodus occurred on Passover in the Spring.
  2. 966 B.C. was Solomon’s fourth year (in spring time).
  3. Adding 480 years to 966 B.C., we get 1446 B.C. for Exodus.
2. God’s promise to Abraham occurred 430 years before the Law (Galatians 3:17).
  1. The Law was given to Moses the year of the Exodus (Exodus 19:1-24:17).
  2. Adding the 430 years of Galatians 3:17 to the 1446 B.C. date of the Exodus, we get 1876 B.C. as the date of Abraham’s promise.
3. Contradiction Between Exodus 12:40 and Galatians 3:17 in the NIV Translation.
  1. Exodus 12:40 – “Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years.”
  2. Galatians 3:17 says that Law (in the year of Exodus) was “introduced 430 years later” than God’s Promise to Abraham.
  3. The NIV translation of Exodus 12:40 says Israel spent 430 years in Egypt and Galatians 3:17 says the 430 years began with Abraham’s promise and ended when Israel left Egypt.
4. Reconciliation of the Conflict Between Exodus 12:40 and Galatians 3:17
  1. The New American Standard (in the footnote) reads: “Now the time of the sons of Israel who dwelt in Egypt was 430 years” (Exodus 12:40).
  2. The New King James Version reads: “Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was 430 years” (Exodus 12:40).
  3. The Septuagint reads: “And the sojourning of the children of Israel, while they sojourned in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan, was 430 years.”
  4. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, II. XV.2 – “They left Egypt . . . four hundred and thirty years after our forefather Abraham came into Canaan, but two hundred and fifteen years only after Jacob removed into Egypt.”
  5. These translations of Exodus 12:40 harmonize with Galatians 3:17 by beginning the 430 years of Exodus 12:40 with God’s Promise to Abraham, instead of Jacob’s entrance into Egypt.
5. Superiority of NKJV Translation of the Hebrew of Exodus 12:40
  1. The “length of time” in Exodus 12:40 (NIV), is translated from moshab, which means “dwelling,” linked linguistically to toshab, “a sojourner.”[v]
    1. Moshab can mean “length of time,” usually in regard to a sojourn of a foreigner in a strange land.[vi]
    2. In Exodus 35:3 moshab means Israel’s dwelling in tents as foreigners in the wilderness.
    3. The NKJV better translates moshab than the NIV, and allows a reconciliation between Exodus 12:40 and Galatians 3:17.
  2. Exodus 12:40 (NIV) does not translate the Hebrew word, Asher.
    1. Asher is a “particle of relation” and means “who” or “which.”[vii]
    2. The NKJV more accurately translated the Hebrew in these words: “Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.”
    3. The NKJV translation of Exodus 12:40 does not necessitate that all of the 430 years of sojourning was in Egypt; it can mean that the Israelites, who lived in Egypt, had sojourned 430 years (from Abraham’s departure from Ur to Israel’s Exodus from Egypt).
  3. The NKJV’s translation of Exodus 12:40 allows its 430-year sojourn to be equated with the 430-year sojourn in Galatians 3:17.
6. Solution of Genesis 15:13-15
  1. Genesis 15:13-15 says, Abraham’s “descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated 400 years.”
  2. The 400 years of Genesis 15:13-15 contradict by 30 years the 430 years of Exodus 12:40 and Galatians 3:17.
  3. Galatians 3:17 interprets the 430 years of Exodus 12:40 as beginning with God’s Promise to Abraham, whereas Genesis 15:13 says the 400 years began with Abraham’s “descendants,” not the Promise to Abraham.
  4. Abraham’s first descendant of the promise was Isaac; thus the 400 years of Genesis 15:13 began with Isaac’s birth in 1846 B.C. (400 + 1446 = 1846).
  5. Therefore, the 430 years of Galatians 3:17 and Exodus 12:40 began 30 years before Isaac’s birth (Genesis 15:13) in 1876 B.C.
  6. Abraham was 100 when Isaac was born (Genesis 21:5); thus, Abraham was 70 (30 years earlier) when the Promise was given in Ur (Genesis 15:7).
  7. Genesis 12:4 says Abraham was 75 when he entered Canaan. What did Abraham do during these five years between age 70 and age 75?
  8. Genesis 11:31 says Terah, Abraham’s father, left Ur with Abraham to go to Canaan, but they stopped and settled in Haran before entering Canaan.
  9. Acts 7:4 says Abraham left Haran when his father Terah died. (Genesis 11:32); they stayed in Haran for 5 years until Terah died.
  10. Therefore, Abraham left Ur in 1876 B.C. at age 70 and stopped in Haran for 5 years before entering Canaan at age 75 in 1871 B.C.

DATING FROM ABRAHAM’S PROMISE BACK TO THE FLOOD AND ADAM

Abraham Was Born When Terah Was 130 Years Old, Not 70 Years
1. Genesis 11:26 says that Terah was 70 years old when he became the father of Abraham, Nahor and Haran.
2. Genesis 11:32 says that Terah was 205 years old when he died.
3. Acts 7:1-4 and Genesis 12:4 say Abraham was 75 when he left Haran after his father Terah died at 205 years of age; thus, Abraham was born when Terah was 130 years old, not 70 (205 -75 = 130).
4. Genesis 11:26 thus means that Terah was 70 years old when he began to be a father to his 3 children, Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
5. Abraham was born 60 years after Terah began to be a father and cannot be Terah’s firstborn. The name of Abraham is listed first because he is the most important, not because he was the firstborn.
6. Since Abraham was 70 when he received the Promise in 1876 B.C., then he was born in 1946 B.C.
7. Terah was 130 at Abraham’s birth, dating Terah’s birth in 2076 B.C.
8. Both Hebrew and Greek manuscripts agree on the chronology back to Abraham’s birth in 1946 B.C. and Terah’s birth in 2076 B.C.
9. These two anchor dates enable us to calculate Biblical chronology backward from Abraham and Terah to the Flood and Adam.
10. We can calculate this chronology with relative accuracy because the Bible tells us how old each ancestor was when his son was born. Notice these details in Genesis 5:3-32 and Genesis 11:10-32.
11. The Greek Septuagint differs from the Hebrew Massoretic texts, giving us alternate chronologies to consider.
Tracing the Biblical Chronology Backward from Abraham to the Flood in Hebrew and Greek Manuscripts
1. Hebrew manuscripts give a minimum date of 2299 B.C. and a maximum date of 2429 B.C. for the date of the Flood. Below we show why the maximum date is superior.
  1. Luke 3:23-38 lists Jesus’ genealogy back to Adam.
  2. Luke 3:35 lists Cainan between Shelah and Arphaxad.
  3. The Hebrew manuscripts omit Cainan from this genealogy.
  4. The Septuagint Greek manuscripts include Cainan, giving him 130 years when Shelah was born. Luke’s divine inspiration puts God’s stamp of approval on the inclusion of Cainan between Shelah and Arphaxad, adding an additional 130 years to the genealogy back to Noah, giving a possible date of 2429 B.C. for the flood.
  5. However, the Septuagint usually adds about 100 years to the dates of the Hebrew manuscripts. Subtracting 100 years from 2429 B.C. would give 2329 B.C. date for the Flood if Arphaxad’s years are exaggerated in the Septuagint.
  6. Therefore, we have three possible dates for the Flood: 2299 B.C. without Cainan, 2329 B.C. if Cainan was only 30 years old when he gave birth to Shelah or 2429 B.C., if he were 130 years old, as the Septuagint states.
2. The Greek Septuagint dates the Flood in 3179 B.C. by adding 850 years to the age of nine of Noah’s descendants when they gave birth to the named child.
3. We have a range from 2298 B.C. to 3179 B.C. as possible dates for the Flood, with the more likely dates being either 2329 or 2429 B.C. (Hebrew manuscripts are generally superior).
4. God’s inspired chronology is preserved completely in either or both of the Hebrew and Greek texts.
Proof That Shem Was 97 When Noah Was 600 Years Old
1. Noah was 600 when the Flood began (Genesis 7:6) and 601 when it ended (Genesis 8:13).
2. Noah was 500 years old when he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth (Genesis 5:32).
3. Genesis 11:10 says Shem was 100 years old two years after the Flood ended, proving he was 97, the year the Flood began (it lasted an entire year) and 98 when it ended.
4. Shem was 97 years old when Noah was 600 and was born when Noah was 503, not 500.
5. Genesis 10:21 says Japheth was the “eldest” and Genesis 9:24 says Ham was the “youngest;” thus Shem was Noah’s second son.
6. Genesis 5:32 lists Shem, Ham and Japheth in order of their importance.
Calculating the Date of Adam’s Birth
1. 3955 B.C. is the minimum Hebrew date for Adam’s creation, if Cainan is left out of his descendants.
2. Since Luke included Cainan, we should add the Septuagint’s calculation of 130 years for Cainan, giving us a date of 4085 B.C. based on Hebrew manuscripts plus Cainan’s 130 years.
3. Based on all of the Septuagint’s numbers, 5341 B.C. is the Greek date for Adam’s creation. see Table 11-B.
4. God’s creation of Adam likely occurred sometime between 3955 and 5341 B.C.
Bishop Ussher’s Dates of 4004 B.C. for Creation and 2349 B.C. for the Flood
1. Ussher miscalculated the date of Solomon’s fourth year at 1012 B.C.
2. Ussher miscalculated the date of the Exodus at 1491 B.C., 45 years earlier than the date of 1446 B.C., based on 1 Kings 6:1.
3. This 45/46-year error caused all of Ussher’s other dates to be wrong.
4. Ussher did not consider the 130 years of Cainan that are left out of the Hebrew manuscripts.

EVIDENCE FOR A HIGH CIVILIZATION BEFORE THE FLOOD

Biblical Evidence of a High Civilization
1. Genesis 4:2 – Abel kept flocks [shepherd] and Cain worked the soil [farmer].
2. Genesis 4:17 -Cain was then building a city. [constructor and urbanization].
3. Genesis 4:20 – Jabal was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock [ranchers].
4. Genesis 4:21 – Jubal was the father of all who play the harp and flute [musicians].
5. Genesis 4:22 – Tubal-Cain forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron [ironsmith].
6. Genesis 6:14-16 – Noah’s Ark: Noah was the first known ship builder; the size and shape of his ship was not equaled until the 19 century A.D.
Discovery of the Ice Man[viii]
1. A highly civilized Pre-Diluvian man was found in the Austrian Alps.
2. He had finely tailored leather clothes and leather shoes.
3. He used a sharp, copper Axe.
4. He had a finely hewn bow of wood still used by modern archers.
5. His quiver was full of finely cut arrows with excellent ballistics.
6. His arms showed finely sketched tattoos.
7. Carbon-14 testing of the wood in his bow gives a date of c. 3300 B.C.
8. 3300 B.C. is in the Stone Age, when man was supposed to have worn animal skins and used a stone axe without bows or arrows.
9. His over-all appearance and clothes fit perfectly the description of society in Genesis 4:17- 22 for the period before the great Flood.
The Antiquity of the Great Sphinx in Egypt
1. The Great Sphinx was found damaged heavily from abundant amounts of water, even though it is in a desert, indicating a gigantic flood.
2. The Great Sphinx was repaired during the post-Diluvian period.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EVIDENCE FOR A HIGH CIVILIZATION BEFORE THE FLOOD?

Ted’s Theory: The Flood destroyed the high civilization that existed before the Flood.
Archaeological Evidences and Carbon-14 Dating
1. Large flood deposits were found at Shuruppak, Kish and Ur (Hallo, Ibid).
2. The carbon-14 dates of the flood levels at these three locations differ by many centuries, leading scholars to believe they refer to at least two and possibly three different local floods.[ix]
3. The differing carbon-14 dates were linked to the strata below the flood levels between 3400 and 2800 B.C., whereas the carbon-14 dates for the strata above the flood levels date about 2250 to 2300 B.C., leaving a gap of 500 to 1100 years between the strata.[x]
4. The range of the Biblical dates for the flood (2298 B.C. and 2429 B.C.) are confirmed by the carbon-14 dates on top of the flood levels.
5. The missing strata of 500 to 1100 years below the flood levels is explained by the fact that the Flood carried away many archaeological strata and dumped them into the ocean, removing sometimes as little as 500 years of strata (where the ground was firmer) and as much as 1100 years of strata of prior civilizations (where the terrain was looser).

EVIDENCE FOR THE BIBLICAL FLOOD

Arguments Against the Flood
1. Critical historical and Biblical scholars believe the story of the Flood is a myth.[xi]
Biblical References to A Universal Flood
1. Genesis 6:13: the flood would bring an end to “all flesh.”
2. Genesis 7:19-20: all high mountains were covered by 15 cubits (25.75 feet according to the Egyptian cubit of 20.6).
3. Mount Ararat is 16,854 feet high.
4. The mountain tops were not seen until 224 days later (Genesis 8:3-5).
5. Water at over 17,000 feet high for 224 days would cover the whole globe.
6. “Every living thing that moved on the earth perished” (Genesis 7:21-23).
7. Complete duration: 1 year and 10 days (Genesis 7:11; 8:3-14, about 375 days)
8. God’s Rainbow is God’s promise never to destroy the world again by water (Genesis 9:12- 16). God’s promise implies that a universal flood will never again occur, not local floods, which continually occurs (900,000 Chinese were killed in a flood in 1887 A.D.).
9. Jesus and the apostles all believed Noah and the Flood constituted true history (Matthew 24:37-38; Luke 17:26-27; Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5; 3:3-7).
Historical Evidence for the Flood Outside of the Bible
1. 2370 B.C., Sumerian Story of the Flood[xii] and Sumerian King List.[xiii]
2. 2250 B.C., Chinese sign for a boat is a vessel w/8 mouths (Noah, his 3 sons and their 3 wives).[xiv]
3. 2000 B.C., Gilgamesh Epic of the Flood.[xv]
4. 650 B.C., Ashurbanipal’s Library on the Flood.[xvi]
5. 280 B.C., Berossos, Babylonian historian wrote about the flood, Noah’s ark, and the ark’s remains in Armenia.[xvii]
6. 70 A.D., Josephus said the landing place of the Ark was known in his day to be on a mountain in Armenia, where artifacts could be collected.[xviii]
7. Modern historians of ancient history, including William Hallo and William Simpson of Yale University, classify the Biblical Flood as historical reality. However, they limit it to the area of Mesopotamia,[xix]
Sea and Animal Fossils in High Areas of the Earth
1. The fossils of sea life on high mountains exist all over the earth.
2. Fossilized coral is found abundantly scattered over a large area at 6700 feet altitude about 15 miles South West of Mt. Ararat.
3. Sea shells are found high in the canyon walls of Palo Duro near Amarillo, Texas, at 3000 to 3200 feet above sea level.
4. John Libi of San Francisco reached the summit of Mt. Ararat in 1967 and found “a layer of waterborne fossils.”[xx]
5. Remains of five million mammoths found buried and frozen along a 600-mile stretch of the Arctic coast of Siberia and Alaska.[xxi]
6. Remains of a horse, a musk ox, a wolverine, squirrels, a bison, a rabbit, a lynx and many rhinoceros have also been found frozen in the same area.[xxii]
7. 4,000 feet of frozen muck covers most of this area; an 18-inch long chunk of tree trunk was found 1,000 feet beneath the muck.[xxiii]
8. The muck is also frozen to a depth of 1,900 feet. Drilling shows a tropical forest, including palm trees, pine trees and tropical foliage, all frozen (not petrified) 1,100 and 1,700 feet down.[xxiv]
9. Undigested food was found in the mammoths’ stomachs, including young shoots of the fir, pine, grasses, mosses, shrubs and tree leaves, some of which only exist in warm climates today.[xxv]
10. Water from the skies and expulsion of water from beneath the earth (Genesis 7:11) explain both the Flood and the frozen mammoths and other frozen debris and fossils.
Population Statistics Support the Destruction of All Humanity By the Flood
1. Present Growth Rate: 1945-1996 from 3 billion to 6.0 billion = 1.4%.
2. Growth Rate from 2429 BC to 1996 AD (8 people to 6.0 billion = 0.46%) (very slow in comparison to 1.4% growth rate since 1945).
3. If the Flood had not occurred and mankind had grown at the low rate of .46% per year for 6081 years (4085 B.C. plus 1996 A.D.) beginning with Adam and Eve (two people), the population today (1996) would be 263 trillion instead of 6 billion people, proof that the flood wiped out all mankind about 4425 years ago.
Answers for Objections to A Universal Flood[xxvi]
1. Water would cover the globe 12,000 feet high if all irregularities were smoothed out.
2. Volcanic activity raised the mountains after the flood, leaving more space for the water to be stored under ground.
3. Sub-terranean water: fountains of deep were expelled by volcanic heat and later returned to the same cavities where they were stored (Genesis 7:11).
4. Ice (frozen water) in glaciers and mountains of the north and south poles would cover the present earth 3 miles high if it were melted.
5. The water above the sky (Genesis 1:6-9) before the flood was probably a canopy of water vapor that filtered the rays of the sun, causing a hot house effect with more uniform tropical temperature over the earth.
  1. Tropical plants have been found at both poles.
  2. When the canopy collapsed, the water fell upon the earth and covered the poles, immediately freezing the mammoths and other animals, and creating mountains of frozen ice at the poles.
  3. Vast amounts of water still remain in the sky in the form of clouds from evaporation of oceans, lakes and rivers.
6. Before the flood the earth probably had a higher percentage of land surface than our modern earth (25%). Thus, more of the earth is covered by water today than in ancient days.
7. The collapse of the canopy also likely produced the ice age.[xxvii]
Significance of the Flood
1. If the Flood really occurred, then the theory of evolution is all wet.
2. What normally might take millions of years would occur within months under the conditions of the Flood.
3. The volcanic eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1981 resulted in the formation of a miniature Grand Canyon (1/40 the size) in only five days. The Flood of Noah could easily produce the Grand Canyon in one year.[xxviii]
4. Genesis 7:11-12, 24 indicate that within 40 days the flood waters reached their maximum height, 22.4 feet above the highest mountain.
5. The waters continued at this maximum height for 110 more days (total of 150 days) before it began to lower (Genesis 8:3-4).
6. The tops of mountains did not appear until 79 days later (Genesis 8:5), making a total 189 days that water remained above the highest mountain.
7. The water continued to recede for an additional 95 days (on the basis of Egypt’s 365-day calendar, which Moses used) before reaching sea level (Genesis 8:6-13).
8. The Flood waters exerted extra pressure on the earth for a total of 324 days.
9. Water at 17,000 feet high at 63 lbs per cubic foot at sea level exerts a pressure of 1,071,000 pounds per square foot.
10. Imagine what abundant quantities of coal, oil and diamonds and other precious stones were formed under such tremendous pressure for 189 consecutive days, plus diminishing pressure during 135 additional days.
11. In light of the 600 feet of strata laid down in 5 canyons in 5 days from Mt. St. Helens eruption, imagine how many feet of strata were laid down all over the world in canyons, such as Grand Canyon during a total of 324 days.
12. Oil companies use the “flood principle” to find oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico.
  1. Oil is formed from animal remains that have been subjected to great pressure.
  2. Oil men theorized that the flood killed vast quantities of animals and washed their remains into streams and rivers that carried them into the ocean where underwater streams channeled them into the deepest recesses of the Gulf.
  3. The animal remains were compacted together by immense water pressure, turning the remains into vast quantities of oil.

[i] Edwin Thiele, Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, pp. 76-78.

[ii] Op. Cit., p. 217.

[iii] Cambridge Ancient History, III.1.445-46

[iv] NIV Study Bible, pp. 502-503.

[v] Francis Brown, The New Brown, Driver, Briggs, Gesenius Hebrew & English Lexicon, 444; Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1975), pp. 52, 63, 123.

[vi] Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, Hebrew Lexicon, 63.

[vii] The New Brown, Driver, Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon, pp.81-82.

[viii] “The Ice Man,” Time magazine, Oct. 26, 1992, 62-69.

[ix] Max E. L. Mallowan, Cambridge Ancient History, I.2A, p.242-3

[x] Ibid.

[xi] Dallas Morning News, fall of 1991.

[xii] Ancient Near Eastern Texts, pp. 42, 44.

[xiii] Light From the Ancient Past, I.33; Ancient Near Eastern Texts, pp. 72, 93. 94.

[xiv] Al Henderson, missionary to Taiwan.

[xv] Finegan, Light From the Ancient Past, I.33; Ancient Near Eastern Texts, pp. 72 , 93, 94

[xvi] Finegan, Light From The Ancient Past, I.216-7

[xvii] Finegan, Light From The Ancient Past, I.30

[xviii] Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, I.3.5-6.of Mesopotamia.91

[xix] Max E. L. Mallowan, The Cambridge Ancient History, I.2A, pp. 107 ff; and William W. Hallo, professor, Yale Univ., The Ancient Near East, a History, pp. 34 ff.

[xx] Sillier & Balsiger, Incredible Discovery of Noah/s Ark, p. 257.

[xxi] Walt Brown, In the Beginning, pp. 107-115

[xxii] Ibid

[xxiii] Ibid.

[xxiv] Ibid.

[xxv] Ibid.

[xxvi] Principal Sources: “Genesis Flood” by Whitcomb & Morris, and a paper written by Furman Kurley, former head of the Bible department at Lubbock Christian University.

[xxvii] Michael Oard, An Ice Age Caused by the Genesis Flood, Inst. For Creation Research, 1990.

[xxviii] Steve Austin, Video, Mount St. Helens, Institute for Creation Research, 1984.

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Lesson 12 : EVIDENCES FOR THE REMAINS OF NOAH’S ARK

INTRODUCTION

The Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal, wrote, “I had my joy in the reading of inscriptions on stone from the time before the Flood.” [i]The library of Ashurbanipal was “found to contain Assyrian copies of the Babylonian Flood and creation stories.” One tablet showed the ship resting “on the mountains of Nizir, followed by the account of the sending forth of the dove, and its finding no resting-place and returning.” [ii]Josephus quotes Berossus, a Babylonian historian: “It is said there is still some part of this ship in Armenia, at the mountain of the Cordyaeans; and that some people carry off pieces of the bitumen.” [iii]“Hieronymus, the Egyptian, who wrote the Phoenician Antiquities and Mnaseas, and a great many more, make mention of the same.” [iv] Josephus says the Armenians called the location of the Ark “Apobateirion, the ‘Place of Descent’” and still showed the ark’s remains in his own day.[v]

LESSON AIM:

To present significant evidence that indicates the remains of Noah’s Ark may have been discovered.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will . . .

Examine the Biblical evidence for the location of the landing spot of Noah’s Ark.
Evaluate the many claims of eye witnesses that Noah’s Ark has been seen on Mount Ararat.
Visualize amazing video evidence of Ron Wyatt’s ten-year exploration of a site on a smaller mountain located about 12 to 15 miles southeast of Mt. Ararat that appears to be the remains of Noah’s Ark.
Learn of the on-site investigation of this location by Sunset instructors, Virgil Yocham and Ted Stewart, and Sunset graduate, Jody Jones.
Ascertain that the ark had more than ample space to house all the animals, humans and food necessary for them to survive on the ark for a whole year.

BIBLE LOCATION OF THE LANDING SITE OF THE ARK

The Location of the Landing of the Ark
1. The Mountains of Ararat. “On the seventeenth day of the seventh month the Ark came to rest on the mountains [plural] of Ararat” (Genesis 8:4).
  1. The Bible does not say that the Ark rested on Mount Ararat, but on the mountains [plural] of Ararat.
  2. The Hebrew word for “on” is ‘al, which means “Above, over, upon, or against.”[vi]
  3. The Hebrew word for “rest” is nuwach and in Ezekiel 41:9, 11, refers to an empty space between walls. Thus, nuwach does not necessitate “contact.”
  4. A better translation of Genesis 8:4 is “The Ark hovered [or rested] over the mountains of Ararat.”
2. Biblical Ararat is the name of a country of ancient Armenia, not a mountain.
  1. “They escaped to the land of Ararat” (2 Kings 19:37).
  2. Jeremiah 51:27 calls Ararat “a kingdom.”
  3. The Ancient Assyrian Records record many invasions of the country or nation of Ararat.[vii]
  4. The word, “Ararat” in Genesis 8:4 is not referring to Mount Ararat but the country of Ararat.
3. Genesis 8:4 says the Ark rested over the mountains of Ararat on the 17th day of the 7th month and Genesis 8:5 says the tops of the mountains could not be seen until the 1st day of the 10th month, 74 days later.
4. The Ark could not contact Mt. Ararat 74 days before its peak was seen; it hovered above the mountain peaks for 74 days before any mountain peak could be seen.
5. The Ark could have landed on any of Ararat’s mountains.
6. Most people think the Bible says that the landing place is Mount Ararat.

EVIDENCE THAT THE ARK LANDED ON MT. ARARAT

Source: Charles Sellier & David Balsiger, The Incredible Discovery of Noah’s Ark, 1995.

Sightings Analyzed by Richard Bright.
Thirty-two sightings of the Ark on Mt. Ararat from 1800 to 1996 B.C. were examined with the following results.
1. Four sightings report the Ark’s door was missing; 7 reported that the end of the Ark was broken off; 18 reported the Ark was sticking out of the ice and snow; 9 reported a melt¬water pond; 8 reported a ledge; 6 reported a ravine, valley or gully; 3 reported a difficult climb to reach the ship; 2 reported the Ark leaning against rock or a ridge; 2 reported the Ark was lying in a northern/southern plane.
2. Sellier’s and Balsiger’s conclusion: “We can choose to believe that all of these reports are based on lies, or . . . we can choose to believe the Ark or a large wooden barge is on Mt. Ararat – if just one report is true.”
Russian Expedition to the Ark in 1917 [viii]
1. A Russian pilot claimed to see Noah’s Ark on Ararat in 1916.
2. In 1917 the Russian Czar sent an expedition of 150 men to investigate the sighting. They claimed to have found the Ark and photographed it.
3. The Czar archived the evidence, but the communists later confiscated everything and killed many of those who went on the expedition.
Sellier and Balsiger Report Many Eye-witness Sightings by United States Pilots and Scientists [ix]
The Navarra Expedition[x]
1. In 1955 Fernand Navarra claimed he found the Ark and brought back a 5-foot piece of wood as proof. In 1969 Navarra returned with a team of explorers; they could not find the Ark, but he found 5 pieces of wood in a runoff stream below the area of the original find.
2. Several institutes of science analyzed the wood’s cell structure and wear and estimated its age at about 5,000 years.
3. However, scientists of two different laboratories dated samples of the different pieces of wood by the more reliable method of carbon-14 testing. The carbon-14 dates varied between 862 and 1557 years old, proof that the wood is not even B.C. wood, much less from the Ark.
Other Modern Day Witnesses Who Claim to Have Seen the Ark [xi]
1. Ed Davis, a U.S. serviceman in Turkey in 1943, claims a Turkish man led him to see the Ark, which was broken into two pieces.
2. Ed Behling, stationed in Turkey by the U.S. Air Force, was taken by two Turks in 1973 to a site on Mt. Ararat where he saw the Ark with the front end broken off. HE BROUGHT BACK NO PHOTOS.
The Irwin Expedition

In 1986 Jim Irwin, the famous astronaut, took a photo of what appears to be a wooden structure with a roof sticking out of the ice. Irwin attempted to lead an expedition to the site to confirm the photo, but was not permitted to go to the Russian side. He died in 1991. No one has yet gone to the site to measure it or analyze it.

The Ahmet Ali Arslan Photograph

In 1989 Dr. Ahmet Ali Arslan, chief of the Washington Bureau of a Turkish newspaper, photographed a man-made wooden, ship-shaped structure located below the north east summit on Ararat (facing Russia) just above the Ahora Gorge.

In 1990 Carl Baugh Went by Helicopter to the Spot Dr. Arslan Saw from the Summit One hundred fifty feet away he saw a huge beam (4 feet thick) of laminated wood protruding 12′ out of the ice. Their advanced satellite information revealed lines of a barge like wooden object buried beneath the ice.
Unsolved Mysteries Report

George Stephen, inventor-satellite analyst, reported on the national TV program Unsolved Mysteries in 1992 that satellite photos reveal a large, wooden structure under the Ararat snow and ice above the Ahora Gorge, the same place where Dr. Ahmet Arslan photographed the structure in 1989.

A Wooden Object Above Ahora Gorge

The French SPOT satellite agency provided satellite photos, which a satellite imagery analyst analyzed. In the same area above the Ahora Gorge, he found a wooden object 80′ wide with 90′ of the length sticking out of the snow.

The Shockey-Baugh Fiber Photographs
In 1990 the satellite photos of the Shockey-Baugh FIBER expedition found two wooden objects, one at 15,800 feet and the other at 14,900 feet, all in the same area of the other finds. They believe that the Ark was severed and part of it fell 1,100 feet from its original landing spot. Other remains of the Ark appear to be scattered between the two locations.

CONCLUSION

The evidence appears strong that wooden objects are encased in the ice on the north east slope of Mount Ararat. Only on-site excavation will demonstrate whether they are man-built houses, barns, Noah’s Ark, or smaller ships that came down on Ararat after the flood.

Point to Ponder

Mt. Ararat is a high rugged mountain with ice over the upper quarter of it the entire year. This would be a dangerous mountain for animals and humans to descend after a year’s journey by ship.

EVIDENCE FOR THE REMAINS OF NOAH’S ARK ON A SMALLER SISTER MOUNTAIN TO ARARAT

The Case For The Doomsday Mountain Site

Ron Wyatt claims to have found the remains of Noah’s ark on Doomsday Mountain, located 12 to 15 miles southeast of Mt. Ararat in Turkey about 2 miles west of the border between Iran and Turkey.

Specific Evidence Found at the Site and Seen on the Accompanying Video
1. The satellite photos, taken before the ship was completely covered with mud, shows a clear outline of ship-shaped walls sticking out of the ground.
2. The internal length of the boat measures 300 Egyptian cubits, at 20.6″ per cubit = 515 feet long.[xii] Jody Jones and Ted Stewart measured the length and it proved to be exactly 515 feet long.
3. Rib timber beams are visually seen on one side.
4. Radar scopes shows that the timber beams are separated by equal distances the entire length of both sides of the formation. This proves that a humanly designed object lies under the mud.
5. Metal detection shows iron in 13 parallel longitudinal lines and nine latitudinal lines. These reveal the iron spikes used in construction. The lines reveal the bulkheads or walls of the different partitions within the ship.[xiii]
6. The ends of 2 latitudinal deck support beams (appearing to be petrified wood) can be seen sticking out of each side of the walls of the ship.
7. Radar scopes revealed a deck only a few feet from the surface. Mr. Wyatt got permission from the Turkish government to dig down to this deck and take a sample of the petrified wood that was found. This sample is a dark red or mahogany color, is obviously petrified wood, and is composed of three layers of 1 to 11/2” pieces of wood, laminated together. This sample is the only petrified, man-laminated wood ever known to be found.
8. Chemical analysis of the soil proves that the site encloses ancient wood and metal; the area around the formation does not show the same composition.
9. Ten of the largest anchor stones ever found have been located near and leading up to the site.
10. Elevation of the site is 6,300 feet above sea level.
11. ABC’s “Twenty Minutes” went to the site and broadcasted a program to record radar scopes of the site in 1984.
12. The middle keel is found stuck in the mud up above the present location of the formation, indicating the ark slid down the valley of mud to its present location.
13. The Turkish government has built a visitor’s center above the site.
14. Parts of Mr. Wyatt’s video demonstrating these evidences for the remains of Noah’s ark is incorporated into this course. This entire video can be purchased from biblemart.com Book Store, 3720 34 St., Lubbock, Texas 79410.

SUNSET’S INVESTIGATION OF THIS SITE

Eyewitness Investigation

In June, 1991, Ted and Dot Stewart, Virgil Yocham, the Dean of Sunset’s International Bible Institute External Studies and Jody Jones, a missionary in Tolouca, Mexico, accompanied Mr. Wyatt and others to investigate the site.

Video Recording of the Site

Virgil took video tapes of the tourist center and the ship-like formation that is sticking out of the ground in a former mud slide. His video also includes some of Mr. Wyatt’s comments as we toured the site and looked at specific objects sticking out of the formation. A copy of Virgil’s video may be purchased from the External Studies Department of the Sunset International Bible Institute. See front of book for address.

Physical Measurement of the Site

Jody and Ted measured the length of the site and found it to be 515 feet long, precisely 300 Egyptian cubits (300 X 20.6″). Moses was raised as an Egyptian and would likely have used Egyptian measurements.

Evidence of the Structural Measurements

The width of the first bulkhead near the head of the ship-shape formation was 35 feet wide and the middle of the ship is 138 feet wide.[xiv] The gradual increase of width from 35 feet to 138 feet in the middle is an average of 86.5 feet wide (35 + 138 = 86.5), almost exactly the 85.83 feet (50 cubits) of Genesis 6:15. The width of the ship may have spread some in the middle before it was buried with mud.

Evidence from Radar Scope

Radar scopes shows that the timber beams are separated by equal distances the entire length of both sides of the formation.

On-site Discovery
1. During our visit to the site in 1991, Jody Jones saw Mr. Wyatt pick up from the ground, at the site, an iron spike driven through a washer into petrified wood.
2. Ted Stewart examined both the iron spike and also a copper or bronze spike driven into petrified wood that was found at this same time by Dr. Jerry Nicewonger, a physician from Paradise, California.
Deck Support Beams

The ends of two latitudinal deck support beams, which appear to be petrified wood, can be seen sticking out of each side of the walls of the ship: see Ted’s slide in his video presentation of this lesson.

A Laminated Deck Board

In the home of Mr. Wyatt Ted examined a laminated deck board that the Turkish soldiers dug up at the site.

Ten Large Anchor Stones
1. Ten of the largest anchor stones ever discovered were found near the site. The holes at the top of the anchor stones were finely drilled so that the diameter in the center was smaller than the diameter on the outside edges.
2. These were likely drag stones to slow down the velocity of the ark and give it stability in the tempestuous waves.
3. In Acts 27:15-18, during Paul’s ship voyage to Rome, a powerful sea storm forced the sailors to let the anchor down, not to stop the ship, but to stabilize it and slow down its velocity through the stormy waves.
Conclusion on the Ark Remains on Mt. Ararat
1. The Bible specifies that the Ark hovered above the mountains of the country of Ararat.
2. Large wood structures, one with a roof on it, have been seen by many eye witnesses and detected by radar scopes on Mount Ararat.
3. These wooden structures may have come down on the mountain during the Flood. No trees appear on the mountain.
4. The structures could also be wooden cabins or houses built on the mountain since the time of the Flood.
5. Only on-site excavation can reveal the true identity of these objects.
Conclusion on the Ship-Shaped Formation on Dooms-Day Mountain
1. A ship-shaped formation with the dimensions of Noah’s Ark is seen in a mud slide on Doomsday Mountain about 15 miles south east of Mt. Ararat.
2. However, the question as to whether the Ark is on Mt. Ararat or Doomsday Mount will not be settled until excavation occurs on both sites.

https://youtu.be/oQwfU7DvUyE

SIZE AND SPACE OF THE ARK

The Scientists’ Claims

Many scholars claim the ark was not large enough to house all of the land and air species of animal life.

The Ark’s Dimensions

The dimensions of Genesis 6:15 are 300 X 50 X 30 cubits. Most scholars calculate an 18″ cubit, but Moses was raised in the wisdom of the Egyptians and would have likely used the 20.6″ Egyptian cubit (Acts 7:22).

Size of the Ark in cubit feet
1. Egyptian cubit = 20.6″ = 515′ X 85.83′ X 51.5′ = 2,276,429 cubic feet.
2. Babylonian cubit = 18″ = 450′ X 75′ X 45′ = 1,518,750 cubic Feet.
3. Box car (Train) = 2,760 cubic feet:
  = 824.79 box cars (Egyptian cubit).
  = 550.27 box cars (Babylon. cubit).
Animals
1. 500,000 species of land life.
2. 498,000 are insects, worms and animals smaller than a sheep.
  1. Box car holds 240 sheep.
  2. Space needed = 10.5 box cars.
3. 2,000 Are the size of a sheep or larger.
  1. Total size equivalent to 10,000 sheep.
  2. Space needed = 42.5 box cars.
4. Two of each of above = 106 box cars.
5. 25% animals are clean = 500 species.
  1. Total size equivalent to 2,500 sheep.
  2. Six pair extra of each = 30,000 sheep.
  3. Box cars needed = 125 box cars.
6. Total box cars needed = 231 box cars.
Space Left over for Food, Humans and Movement of Animals
1. Babylonian cubit = 319 box cars.
2. Egyptian cubit = 594 box cars.
The Dimensions of Noah’s Ark Obviously Had Sufficient Space to House Everything the Bible Mentions

[i] Jack Finegan, Light From the Ancient Past, I.216-217.

[ii] Ibid., I.217.

[iii] Josephus, Antiquities, I.3.6.

[iv] Ibid.

[v] Josephus, Antiquities, I.3.5.

[vi] Strong’s Hebrew & Chaldee Dictionary, no. 5921, p. 88.

[vii] Ancient Assyrian Records, I.487,516,552,584, 588, 598, 605, 606, 614, 619, 661, 686, 688, 690, 769, 785, 797, 813, 820.

[viii] Charles Sellier & David Balsiger, The Incredible Discovery of Noah’s Ark, 1995, pp. 200 -203.

[ix] Charles Sellier & David Balsiger, The Incredible Discovery of Noah’s Ark, 1995 pp. 204-213.

[x] Ibid., pp. 215-231.

[xi] Charles Sellier & David Balsiger, The Incredible Discovery of Noah’s Ark, 1995, pp. 294-329.

[xii] David Fassold, The Ark of Noah, pp. 120-121.

[xiii] Ibid., p.115-121.

[xiv] David Fassold, The Ark of Noah, p. 125 & photographs between pages 140 and 141.

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Lesson 13: DISCOVERY OF EVIDENCES PATRIARCHAL PERIOD

INTRODUCTION

The Patriarchal Period includes Bible history from the flood. God revealed His Law to Moses and Israel at Sinai. “Patriarch” means “Father.” The Patriarchal Period is the history of the ancient fathers of all mankind after the Flood until the Law was given to Moses on Sinai. In Lesson 11 we saw that the Flood is dated between 3179 B.C. (Greek Septuagint) and 2429 B.C. (Hebrew text with Cainan added). In Lesson 12 we saw that Abraham left Ur in 1876 B.C. and entered Canaan in 1871 B.C. In lesson 14 we will see that Israel entered Egypt in 1656 B.C. and left Egypt in 1446 B.C., the same year when Moses received the Law on Sinai. The Patriarchal Period dates from either 3179 or 2429 B.C. until 1446 B.C., when God gave His Law at Sinai. Critical scholars claim that no historical or archaeological evidence supports Biblical history for this period of time. This lesson presents new discoveries that confirm Biblical history from the Flood to and including the time of Abraham.

LESSON AIM:

To present evidences that will strengthen the faith of each student in the historicity

of the patriarchal period of the Bible and to equip each student.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will . . .

Examine evidences which verify the table of nations in Genesis 10.
Learn of ancient documents & archaeological findings that testify to the truthfulness of the Biblical stories of the Tower of Babel, the confusion of tongues and the origin and scattering of the nations.
Consider the possibility that the earth divided into continents after the flood.
Contemplate significant astronomical and historical evidences that confirm the Bible history of the life of Abraham and his descendants in Canaan.

EVIDENCE FOR THE TABLE OF NATIONS AND CITIES IN GENESIS 10

Genesis 10 is The Largest List of Nations Given in Ancient Literature

All nations of the world descended from Noah’s 3 sons, 15 grandsons and 37 great grandsons. These 58 descendants plus 26 others, total 84 of Noah’s lineage that gave origin to 84 ancient nations after the flood: see Table 13-A.

Historical Evidence for The Validity of These Ancient Peoples
1. The names of 39 of these 84 descendants of Noah (46%) are found in the Assyrian Records or in various ancient records of the Ancient Near Eastern Texts.
2. The references to these sources, plus other Bible references are listed in Table 13-A.
Ancient Cities and Countries
1. Genesis 10 also lists 21 cities and countries.
2. Seventeen of twenty-one of these cities and countries listed in ancient historical sources outside the Bible have been found : 81%. See Table 13-B.

Conclusion: Moses’ record of nations that originated after the flood are the most accurate and detailed found among other ancient documents.

EVIDENCE FOR TOWER OF BABEL, CONFUSION OF TONGUES AND ORIGIN OF NATIONS

God’s Command in Genesis 9:1

God commanded Noah’s sons, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.” [emphasis added.] God wanted men to have a missionary spirit and carry His knowledge to the ends of the world so that his entire earth would be inhabited and filled with His knowledge.

Man’s Disobedience
1. In Genesis 11:1-5 men disobeyed God’s will and did not “fill the earth,” but rather settled in land of Shinar (in Babylon), had the same language, and built a city and tower that reached the heavens so that they would not be scattered over the earth.
2. Possibly, the Tower of Babel was an astrological tower from which man could worship the stars and chart their own destiny rather than trust in the God who made the stars.
God’s Punishment of Sinful Man
1. Genesis 11:7-9 says God stopped the building of the tower, confused their languages and scattered them over the earth, giving origin to different languages and nations.
2. Ancient records of the Kings List of Kish tells of a “golden age” when all lived in harmony and spoke a common language.[i]
3. Hallo/Simpson, professors of history at Yale University say, “As in the Biblical tale of the ‘confusion of tongues,’ this stage seems to be pictured as the immediate sequel to the Deluge.[ii]
4. Some scholars identify this tower as a ziggurat built at Ur by Ur-Nammu about 2070 B.C.[iii]
5. Nabopollasar and Nebuchadnezzar, kings of Babylon in the 7th and 6th centuries B.C., claim to have rebuilt the ziggurat Babili (ziggurat or Tower of Babel).[iv]
6. The Esagil Tablet and Herodotus describe the tower as restored by these two Babylonian kings as being 300 feet X 300 feet at the base and 300 feet high.[v]

DIVISION OF THE EARTH IN THE DAYS OF PELEG

Genesis 10:25 – “Two sons were born to Eber: one was named Peleg [division], because in his time the earth was divided.”
Some Refer this “Division” to the Dispersion of the People after the Tower of Babel Was Built
Others Believe this Division Refers to the Splitting of the Continents after Men and Animals Had Dispersed in All Directions over the Earth
1. Many scientists believe in “Pangaea,” the theory that all of the continents were once connected and have been gradually separating from each other over millions of years.[vi]
2. Annual measurements indicate the continents are still floating apart.
3. If the flood cracked the tectonic plate upon which the continents are now sliding, the continents could have broken apart in the days of Peleg.
4. The rate of separation could have been rapid in the beginning and then gradually slowed down as is now noted by scientists.
5. This theory explains how different animals and humans were separated on different continents, e.g. why kangaroos are found only in Australia.
Our Biblical Chronology for Peleg Give Him the Following Optional Dates: See Table 11-B
1. Hebrew Bible: 2197 – 1958 B.C.
2. Greek Bible: 2697 – 2458 B.C.

EVIDENCE FOR BIBLE HISTORY OF ABRAHAM

Abraham in Ur and Haran
1. Abraham was 70 years old in 1876 B.C., when God commanded him to leave Ur to go to Canaan (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:13-21; Galatians 3:17; 1 Kings 6:1).
2. The city of Ur is frequently mentioned in ancient literature. It appears over 40 times in the Ancient Near Eastern Texts.
3. Abraham stayed in Haran for 5 years before entering Canaan at age 75 in 1872 B.C. (Genesis 11:31-12:5). The city of Haran (Harran) is listed 10 times in Ancient Near Eastern Texts.
Abraham in Canaan During the Time of Kedorlaomer and Amraphel
1. Abraham entered Canaan in 1872 B.C. (Acts 7:4).
2. Abraham was 86 when Ishmael was born in 1861 B.C. (Genesis 16:18).
3. About 15 years before Ishmael was born (c. 1876 B.C.), the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah and the other cities of the Valley of Siddim had been conquered by Kedorlaomer, king of Elam and remained subject to him for 12 years.
4. In Kedorlaomer’s 13th year (c. 1863 B.C.), the kings of the valley rebelled against him (Genesis 14:1-4).
5. In his 14th year (c. 1862 B.C.), Kedorlaomer joined Amraphel, king of Shinar (in Babylon), Arioch, king of Ellasar and Tidal, king of Goiim, to attack Canaanite kings in the Valley of Sidim (Genesis 14:5-18).
6. Kedorlaomer’s coalition of kings defeated the kings of the valley and carried off much spoil and people, including Lot, Abraham’s nephew.
7. Abraham led an army of 318 men and surprised them at night, routing their armies and returning to Canaan with the spoil and prisoners.
Historical Confirmation that Abraham Was a Contemporary of Kedor, Arioch, Amraphel and Tidal in Genesis 14
1. The kingdom of Elam, over which Kedorlaomer later ruled, overthrew the third dynasty of Ur about 2006 B.C.[vii]
2. For 250 years no single power ruled Mesopotamia. Rather, city and state kings, such as listed in Genesis 14, ruled during the 19th century, which is the time of Abraham.[viii]
3. Kudur-Marbuk, king of Elam, was reigning in the early 1800’s. His name is amazing close to Kedorlaomer, which may mean Kedor, the Elamite.[ix]
4. Another king who was a contemporary of Kudur-marbuk (Kedorlaomer) was Hamurapi, “the man of Babylon.” [x]Hamurapi has the same consonants, and sounds the same when aspirated, as Amraphel, king of Shinar (in Babylon), who was an ally of Kedorlaomer, in Abraham’s time.
5. Tidal is a Hittite name used for the ruler of Turkey during the early 19th century B.C., when Abraham encountered Tidal, king of Goiim.[xi]
6. The name of Arioch (Arriyuki) is found in the documents at Mari in Mesopotamia dated in the time of Zimri-Lin and his father, contemporaries with Hamurapi in the 19th century B.C.[xii]

Cultural Confirmation That Abraham and Hammurabi Were Contemporary
1. Hammurabi’s Law fits the cultural picture of Abraham’s wife Sarah and her handmaid Hagar, whom Sarah gave to Abraham as a surrogate wife to bear a child in Genesis 16, 21.[xiii]
2. Old Testament patriarchs “show numerous apparent parallels to law and society of the Hurrian culture attested in northern Mesopotamia at that time: maids given to husbands as a surrogate wife; sanctity of marriage and condemnation of adultery.”[xiv]
3. Isaac planned to give Esau an extra share of his inheritance because he was his firstborn. The Code of Hammurabi, contemporary with Abraham and Isaac also gives an extra share for the firstborn.
4. One hundred years later in the early 17th century, Jacob gave his 12 sons equal shares of his inheritance with no extra share for Reuben, his firstborn son (Genesis 49). In the mid 17th century B.C. laws at Mari and Nuzi also give equal shares to all the children without giving an extra inheritance for the firstborn, fitting precisely the time of Jacob.[xv]
5. The names of Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Judah in Hebrew all begin with prefixes that uniquely fit 16% of 6,000 names of the 19th and 18th centuries B.C. These names fit only 2% of the 1,860 names of the fifteenth through the thirteenth centuries B.C.[xvi]
6. The price of slaves changed between Abraham and Moses as it changed in corresponding eastern history.[xvii]
  1. Akkad Empire (2371-2191 B.C.) slaves cost 10-15 silver shekels.
  2. 3rd Dynasty of Ur (2113-2006 B.C.), slaves cost only 10 shekels
  3. Laws of Hammurabi and Documents of Mari (19th century B.C.), price of slaves rose to 20 silver shekels. Joseph was sold for 20 silver shekels in the early 17th century B.C. (Genesis 37:28).
  4. Documents of Nuzi & Ugarit in 15th-13th centuries, price rose to 30 shekels. Moses’ Law (15th century), a slave was redeemed for 30 shekels of silver (Exodus 21:32).
  5. Conclusion: The changing Bible price for slaves matches the changing prices of eastern countries dated to the same time.
7. Over-all conclusion: Hallo, Yale University historian: “The literary and archaeological evidence . . . stress the overall compatibility of the Biblical and extra-Biblical sources with respect to the general conditions of life, settlement, and movement in the area . . . .”[xviii]
Astronomical Evidence That Hammurabi and Abraham Were Contemporaries
1. We saw above that Abraham’s battle with Amraphel (Hammurabi) and Kedorlaomer (Kudur-Marbuk) occurred about 1862 B.C.
2. The 1973 edition of the Cambridge Ancient History dated Hammurabi’s accession year in 1792 B.C., 70 years too late for the time of Abraham.[xix]
3. However, the 1991 edition of the Cambridge Ancient History, 2nd Ed., now dates Hammurabi’s first year in 1848 B.C., 56 years earlier.[xx]
4. The Venus Tablet of Amissaduqa gives months and dates of first and last visibility of Venus as a morning or evening star, and the length in days of its period of invisibility, for 21 consecutive years.[xxi]
5. Ammisaduqa was a Babylonian King, who began his reign 148 years after Hammurabi began to reign.
6. In 1982 Peter Huber of Harvard University restudied the Venus Tablet of Amissaduqa, using a highly sophisticated computer.[xxii]
7. Former scholars gave 3 possible dates for Hammurabi. Huber showed the odds were 15 to 1 in favor of 1702 B.C. as Ammisadqua’s first year, fixing 1848 B.C. for Hammurabi’s first year.[xxiii]
Hammurabi is the Amraphel That Encountered Abraham C. 1862 B.C.
1. Our Bible chronology shows Abraham entered Canaan in 1872 B.C. and that Ishmael was born in 1861 B.C., when Abraham was 86.
2. The Bible dates the battle of Abraham with Amraphel and other kings before Ishmael’s birth, thus c. 1862 B.C., 14 years earlier than Hammurabi’s 1848 B.C. date, as king of Akkad and Babylon.
3. Genesis 14:1 says Amraphel was king of Shinar, a territory where the city of Babylon was built in Genesis 11:1,8).
4. Akkad was another territory of the ancient nation of Babylon[xxiv] and is often mentioned independently from the capital of Babylon.
5. Amraphel (Hammurabi) did not likely reign over Akkad until 1848 B.C., when he became king of all of Babylon.
6. Therefore, Hammurabi can still be Amraphel who was king of Shinar, a province of Babylon c. 1862 B.C., 14 years before he became king of all of Babylon and Akkad in 1848 B.C.
7. Genesis 14:4 says Canaan had been subject to Chedorlaomer for 12 years before rebelling in his 13th year of reign. This proves Chedorlaomer was the chief of the coalition of kings that attacked Canaan and that Amraphel (Hammurabi) was an ally of Chedorlaomer, following Chedor’s lead, since he formerly dominated Canaan.
8. Thus, the new astronomical date of Hammurabi makes him a contemporary with Abraham in 1862 B.C., confirming Genesis 14:1-10.

CONCLUSION

Critical scholars claim there is no evidence to support Bible history of the Patriarchal Age, but this

lesson has demonstrated that there is significant evidence confirming this period of Biblical history.

[i] Hallo, Ancient Near East, a History, Yale Univ., p.39, citing Samuel Noah Kramer, “The ‘Babel of Tongues’: a Sumerian Version.” Essays in Memory of E. a. Speiser, ed. Hallo, pp. 108-11.

[ii] Ibid., p. 39.

[iii] Jack Finegan, Light from the Ancient Past, Vol. I.49-50.

[iv] T. G. Pinches, “Babel, Tower of: Archaeological Evidences,” International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Rev., I

[v] Ibid

[vi] “Pangaea,” New Encyclopedia Britannica, 1991 Rev., 9.112-113.

[vii] Cambridge Ancient History, I.2B.659, 998.

[viii] K. A. Kitchen, “The Patriarchal Age: Myth or History?” Biblical Archaeological Review, March/April, 1995, pp. 56.

[ix] William Hallo, Ancient Near East: a History, pp. 97-98.

[x] Kitchen, op. cit., p. 56.

[xi] Ibid.

[xiii] Cambridge Ancient History, 3rd Ed., 1973, II.1.206-207.

[xiv] Hallo, op. cit.,p.74.

[xv] Kitchen, op. cit., p. 92.

[xvi] Ibid., pp. 91-92.

[xvii] Cambridge Ancient History, 3rd Ed., 1973, II

[xviii] Hallo, op. cit., p. 75.

[xix] Cambridge Ancient History, II.1.820.

[xx] Ibid., III.2.280

[xxi] Ibid., II.2.279.

[xxii] Peter Huber, Astronomical Dating of Babylonia I And Ur III, Monographic Journals of the Near East, Occasional Papers, June, 1982.

[xxiii] Ibid., p. 4.

[xxiv] “Akkad” found frequently in the Ancient Near Eastern Texts, sometimes in contrast to the city of Babylon, and sometimes, including it. pp. 159, 161, 165, 178, 267, 271, 273, 274, 277, 289, 301-306,

308, 309, 313, 315, 316, 451, 523, 534, 535, 561, 564, 606, 626, 641.

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Lesson 14: DISCOVERY OF THE REMAINS OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH

INTRODUCTION

Critical scholars claim that Biblical history from the Flood to Abraham is pure fiction. Scholars especially scoff at the Biblical story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning Sulphur. In 1990 Ron Wyatt discovered what is certainly the remains of Sodom, Gomorrah and the other cities

of the plain. These sites reveal undisputable evidence that they were destroyed by burning Sulphur that fell from the sky.

LESSON AIM:

To illuminate the student with Biblical evidence concerning the location of Sodom, Gomorrah and the other cities of the plain and to demonstrate the visual evidence that these cities were destroyed by burning sulphur as the Bible claims.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will . . .

Study the Biblical history of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and learn of their historical authenticity in the Ebla Tablets.
Read Biblical directions that locate Sodom, Gomorrah and the cities of the plain on the western coast of the Dead Sea.
Learn the Biblical date and the Biblical reasons that these cities were destroyed by God.
See on video the precise locations of Sodom, Gomorrah and Zoar (where Lot and his daughters fled for safety).
Observe visual evidence of the burned remains of the city of Gomorrah.

BIBLICAL HISTORY OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH

Sodom and Gomorrah Before Judgment (Genesis 13:10)
1. “Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)”
2. At this time in history the Dead Sea was a valley, not a sea, with the Jordan River flowing through it and sinking down into crevices into the ground below.
3. In Genesis 14 the kings of the east battled against the armies of Sodom, Gomorrah and the other cities of the Plain and fought in the Valley of Siddim (Sodom), which is now the Dead Sea.
4. Some fell into tar pits in the valley (Genesis 14:10).
The Reasons for Sodom’s Judgment
1. The Sodomites’ great wealth was counter-balanced by their great sin.
2. “Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD” (Genesis 13:13).
3. “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen” (Ezekiel 16:49-50).
4. The Lord and two angels went to see Abraham (Genesis 18:16-21).
5. The two angels in human form stayed in Lot’s house, and all of the males of Sodom gathered outside Lot’s house requesting that he send the two men out so that they could homosexually rape them (Genesis 19:4-5).
Sodom’s Great Sin and Abraham’s Great Kindness
1. In Genesis 14:1-24 when the four kings from the east plundered the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and captured Lot, his family and many others, Abraham and his army surprised the enemy’s army at night and rescued the hostages and recaptured the loot.
2. Abraham returned the people and possessions to the king of Sodom, even though this king was a terrible sinner before God (Genesis 14:17-24).
Sodom’s Powerful Intercessor -Abraham
1. Abraham intercedes for Sodom (Genesis 18:22-25). “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”
2. The power of righteous people (Genesis 18:26). “The LORD said, ‘If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.’”
3. In Genesis 18:27-32 Abraham gave an extraordinary example of persistence in prayer on behalf of a sinful city.
4. Finally in Genesis 18:32, Abraham challenged the patience of God with one last request: “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” God answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
5. Jesus teaches us to pray with persistence (Luke 18:1-8)[i].
6. 1 Timothy 2:1-5 instructs Christians to never quit praying for all men, including the terrible emperor Nero.[ii]

GOD’S DESTRUCTION OF SODOM, GOMORRAH AND OTHER CITIES

The High Price of Wickedness
- God could not find even 10 righteous people in Sodom; thus God had no alternative but to express His punitive justice and destroy Sodom and all of the other sinful cities in the plain along the Dead Sea.
- The two angels who entered Lot’s house blinded the citizens of Sodom outside and led Lot and his family out so they could escape the destruction that God would soon send on the city (Genesis 19).
- Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26).
- God permitted Lot and his daughters to flee to Zoar, a city only a few hours walk from Sodom (Genesis 19:18-24).
- When Lot and his family left Sodom, the Lord rained down sulphur and fire upon the cities of the Plain.
The Terribleness of Judgment (Genesis 19:24)
- “Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.”
The 2 LORDS (Hebrew word = Yahweh = Jehovah) participated in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The LORD (Yahweh) on earth who talked to Abraham rained down the burning sulfur from another LORD (Yahweh) in heaven.
Genesis 19:14 teaches the plurality of the Godhead: The Father and Son; Genesis 1:1-3 includes the Holy Spirit.
The Judgment and Salvation Principle
- 2 Peter 2:6-9[iii] expresses some important lessons Christians need to receive from this destruction of Sodom.
- They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire (Jude 1:7 ).
  - The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was eternal in the sense that these cities were never rebuilt and no one ever lived in them again.
  - “The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur–nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in fierce anger” (Deuteronomy 29:23).
  - “Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians’ pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations” (Isaiah 13:19-20).
- Historical Confirmation of Sodom and Zeboiim
  - Giovanni Pettinato found in the Ebla Tablets the names of Sodom and Zeboiim, two of the many cities with which Ebla traded.[iv]
  - These Tablets are dated between 2400 and 2000 B.C., but likely need to be re-dated 200 to 300 years later.
  - Ebla’s trade with Sodom and Zeboiim support their historicity and their wealth and commercial importance even before the time of Abraham.

BIBLICAL DATE OF THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH

Sodom and Gomorrah’s Destruction Occurred 1 Year Before Isaac’s Birth
Isaac Born the Following Year in 1846 B.C.
Sodom and Gomorrah Were Destroyed in 1847 B.C.

LOCATION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH

Different Scholarly Theories
- South end of the Dead Sea. This location is contradicted by the Biblical description in Genesis 10:19[v]…
- Under the Dead Sea. We will see later the exact location of these cities on the western coast of the Dead Sea.
- Eastern Side of the Dead Sea (in Moab). Border of Canaan never was located on eastern side of Dead Sea, which is Edom and Moab.
Cities of the Plain That Were Destroyed. Deuteronomy 29:23 – Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim.
Biblical Description of Location of These Cities
- Genesis 10:19 – Eastern Border of Canaan, west of the Dead Sea.
  - Genesis 10:19 traces western border of Canaan along the coast of the Mediterranean from Sidon in the north, running south toward Gerar, and on to Gaza.
  - Genesis 10:19 traces the southern border from Gaza on the Mediterranean coast, east to Sodom, on the western coast of the Dead Sea.
  - The eastern border runs along the western coast of the Dead Sea from Sodom in the south, northward to Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim and finally to Lasha, which is Dan, in the far north.
  - Notice on a map that Lasha (Dan) is at the northeast corner of Canaan directly east from Sidon on the northwest corner of Canaan.
- Therefore Sodom is located on the western coast of the Dead Sea toward the southern end
- of the Dead Sea, right at the base of Mount Sodom (Sidim), the mountain of salt. See Wyatt’s Video of this location.
- Gomorrah is north of Sodom, and is located by Wyatt a few miles north of Massada, also on the western side of the Dead Sea: see the Video.
- Admah must be located further north on the western coast of the Dead Sea, not far from Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.
- Zeboiim is located further north along the same line of the eastern border of Canaan. Its Scriptural location will be pinpointed in the video.
The Battle of Genesis 14:1-12 Locates the Cities of the Plains
- Genesis 14:8-10 describes the Canaanites kings going out from their cities and down into the valley of Sidim, where tar pits were located, in order to fight against the kings of the East.
- Their cities were not down in the valley, but on the plain above that looked down on the valley.
Sodom and Gomorrah Were Not Located on the East Coast of the Salt Sea
- Lot lived near to, and later in, Sodom (Genesis 13:12; 19:1).
- Sodom is south of Jerusalem, not southeast (Ezekiel 16:46).
- Abraham lived in Hebron, west of the Dead Sea (Genesis 13:18; 18:1).
- Abraham looked down south, not east across the Dead Sea to look towards Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:28).
- The angels traveled “down,” not across from Hebron toward Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:16).
- “Down” is south on the western side of the Dead Sea.
- If Sodom were on the east side of the Dead Sea, Sodom would have been “across” on the same level as Hebron, not “down.”
- Also, the angels would have needed to cross the Dead Sea in its middle from Hebron to get there, or walk down all the way to the end of the Dead Sea and walk back “up” the other side.
- Therefore, the Bible clearly locates Sodom and Gomorrah on the southwest side of the Dead Sea.
Location of Zoar
- Lot fled to Zoar before the burning sulphur fell.
- All scholars located Zoar at the southern end of the Dead Sea.
- Genesis 19:20; 14:2 locate Zoar (Bela) very close to Sodom, so that it could be reached within an hour or two by Lot and his daughters.
- The distance between Mount Sodom at the base of Mount Sidim and the recognized site of Zoar can be spanned in a one-hour walk.

REMAINS OF SODOM, GOMORRAH, ADMAH, ZEBOIIM, ZOAR

Josephus’ Testimony (first century Jewish scholar)
- Josephus said the remains of all five cities still existed in the first century A.D. when he wrote and that he had seen them with his own eyes, including fruit that turned to smoke and ashes when plucked with the hands.[vi]
- He also claimed that he had seen the pillar of salt into which Lot’s wife turned.[vii]
Discovery of All Five Cities by Ron Wyatt: See Video
- Wyatt found all five cities in their Biblical locations (as noted above).
- Sodom was found at the base of the Mount Sodom (Siddim) on the western side of the Dead Sea.
- Gomorrah is the best preserved and was found north of Sodom about a half-mile north of the base of Mt. Massada.
- The ashen remains of Gomorrah clearly denote former buildings and other construction, including a temple and a ziggurat: see the video.
- The remains of burning sulphur can be clearly seen in slabs of construction upon which the brimstone fell, leaving some of the sulphur within the blackened holes it forms when it was smothered by the fallen ashes.
- Wyatt had the sulphur examined in a laboratory and it proved to be 95% pure sulphur.

VISUAL EXAMINATION OF A SITE THAT MAY BE ANCIENT GOMORRAH

Visual Examination of Gomorrah in 1991

The site of the remains of Gomorrah just north of Massada.

The outer wall of Gomorrah was clearly evident and ashen remains of buildings, a temple and a ziggurat were evident.
Rectangular door and window openings are clearly seen in some of the remains.
Sulphur balls are found all over the site of Gomorrah.

Sulphur Balls Tested

Mr. Dutton of the Southwestern Public Service Co. in Amarillo, Texas, had some specialists test samples of these sulphur balls; they were found to contain 96.1% sulphur.

Dutton said that sulfur is obtained by drilling deep into the ground, liquefying the crystallized sulfur; then pumping it out of the ground.
He had never seen balls of powdered sulfur before seeing my samples.
He considered this evidence as absolute proof that burning balls of powdered sulfur fell on this site and burned it as the Bible says.

[i] Luke 18:1-8 The Parable of the Persistent Widow Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

[ii] 1 Timothy 2:1-5 Pray for All Men 1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

[iii] 2 Peter 2:6-9 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

[iv] Giovanni Pettinato, The Archives of Ebla, Doubleday, 1981, p. 287.

[v] Genesis 10:19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.

[vi] Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 4.8.4.

[vii] Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 1.11.4.

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Lesson 15: EGYPTIAN HISTORY CONTRADICTS BIBLE HISTORY OF JOSEPH AND MOSES

INTRODUCTION

Critical scholars say that Egyptian history and archaeology linked to Egyptian dating contradicts Bible history from Joseph to Moses. Indeed, if Egyptian history is correctly dated, Biblical history from Joseph to Moses seriously contradicts Egyptian history. This lesson demonstrates the serious conflict that exists between Egyptian and Biblical histories if both of the histories are correctly dated.

In the next lesson we will show how complete harmony exists between the two histories when Egyptian history is dated 3 centuries later. Let us first establish the dates of Biblical history from Abraham to the Conquest before looking at parallel Egyptian history.

LESSON AIM:

To compare Egyptian history and Bible history from the time of Joseph to the Exodus of Israel out of Egypt.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will . . .

Examine the Bible chronology from Abraham’s promise to the fourth year of Solomon’s reign.
See how Egyptian history matches Biblical history during the time of Joseph.
Learn that the accepted concept of Egyptian history runs contradictory to Biblical history for the time of Moses and the Exodus.

BIBLICAL HISTORY CHRONOLOGY

Chronology From Abraham’s Promise to Joseph’s Death
1. 966 B.C. has been established by Edwin Thiele as the spring of Solomon’s 4th year.
2. 1446 B.C.- the Exodus was 480 years before Solomon’s 4th year. I Kings 6:1.
3. 1876 B.C. – Galatians 3:17 dates the Promise to Abraham 430 years before the Exodus.
4. 1846 B.C. – Isaac’s birth (Genesis 17:17).
5. 1786 B.C. – Jacob’s birth (Genesis 25:26).
6. 1656 B.C. – Jacob entered Egypt in his 130th year (Genesis 47:9).
7. 1665 B.C. – Joseph became prime minister at 30 years of age (Genesis 41:46).
  1. The 7 years of abundance began the same year Joseph became prime minister of Egypt (Genesis 41:32-47).
  2. Jacob arrived at the end of the 2nd year of famine (Genesis 45:6); Joseph became Prime Minister of Egypt 9 full years before Jacob arrived.
  3. Adding these 9 years to Jacob’s arrival in 1656 B.C. fixes Joseph’s appointment as prime minister in 1665 B.C.

1678 B.C. – Joseph was 17 when sold as a slave into Egypt (Genesis 37:2), 13 years before he was appointed Prime Minister at age 30: 1656 + 13 = 1678 B.C.
1695 B.C. – Joseph was born in Canaan 30 years before he became Prime Minister.
1585 B.C. – Joseph died in Egypt at age 110 (Genesis 50:26).

Chronology From Joseph to the Conquest (See Table 15-A).
1. 1585 B.C. Joseph’s death.
2. 1446 B.C. – Date of the Exodus.
3. 1526 B.C. – Moses’ birth (Exodus 7:7).
4. 1486 B.C. – Moses fled to Midian at age 40 (Acts 7:23).
  1. The Pharaoh of Moses’ birth likely died before Moses was 40, because he had been reigning for sometime before Moses was born.
  2. Moses’ foster uncle (brother of Moses’ Egyptian mother) was likely reigning when Moses was 40 and fled to Midian (Exodus 2:11-15).
  3. Moses remained in Midian 40 years because he was 80 when he returned to Egypt (Exodus 7:7)
  4. Toward the end of Moses’ 40-year exile in Midian the Pharaoh that sought to kill Moses also died (Exodus 2:23).
  5. The Pharaoh that tried to kill Moses should have reigned forty years or more since he was reigning before Moses fled to Egypt and reigned most of Moses’ 40-year exile.
  6. When all the men who formerly knew Moses had died, God commanded Moses to return to Egypt (Exodus 4:19).
5. 1446 B.C. – Moses returned to Egypt at age 80 (Exodus 7:7) and left Egypt with in the same year (Exodus 12-14).
  1. The Pharaoh of the Exodus began to reign toward the end of Moses’ 40-year exile and was still reigning when Moses returned to Egypt.
  2. Psalm 136:15, joined with Exodus 14:28, teach that the Pharaoh of the Exodus died with his army in the Red Sea in 1446 B.C.
  3. Since the Pharaoh of the Exodus came to power shortly before Moses returned to Egypt and died in the Sea, his reign had to be very short, certainly less than ten years.
6. 1406 B.C. – Joshua led Israel to conquer Canaan forty years later (Joshua 5:6).

EGYPTIAN HISTORY CONTRADICTS THE BIBLE HISTORY OF JOSEPH

Was Joseph the Prime Minister of A 13th Dynasty Pharaoh in 1665 B.C.?
1. R. Baines revised Egyptian chronology in the 1991 edition of the New Encyclopedia Britannica, assigning the year 1665 B.C. to the beginning of the last thirty years of the 13th dynasty.[i]
2. However, the 13th and 14th dynasties were reigning simultaneously over a divided Egypt in 1665 B.C. (See Table 15-B.)
Parallel Dynasties Contradict the Biblical Description of Egypt’s Kingdom When Joseph Was Prime Minister of Egypt
1. The Bible says that Joseph was prime minister of a Pharaoh who alone ruled over all of Egypt (Genesis 41:41-44, 55-56).
2. Since the 14th dynasty reigned over part of Egypt while the 13th dynasty reigned over another part of Egypt, Joseph could not be the Prime Minister of a 13th dynasty Pharaoh.
3. During the years of famine Joseph bought all of the land of Egypt and then leased the land back to the Egyptians after the famine had passed. Moses said that Joseph’s lease law was still operative at the time of the Exodus.[ii]
4. Joseph’s law could not endure until Moses’ time if Joseph lived in the 13th dynasty, because the two Hyksos dynasties (15th and 16th ) invaded Egypt thirty years later, took over the land of northern Egypt for themselves, and thus annulled former Egyptian lease laws. (See this chronology in Table 15-B.)
5. Joseph could not have been the prime minister of a 13th dynasty Pharaoh, nor of a 15th dynasty Pharaoh.
Most Scholars Believe Joseph Was the Prime Minister of A Hyksos Pharaoh [iii]
1. The Hyksos were fellow Semites, and are thought to be more likely to have appointed him as prime minister than a pure Egyptian Pharaoh.
2. The Hyksos had their capital Avaris in the eastern Delta of Egypt where Goshen was located close to the Israelites as Genesis 45:10 says.
Proof That Joseph Could Not Be the Prime Minister of a Hyksos Pharaoh
1. Four dynasties (13 to 16) reigned simultaneously over Egypt in 1665 B.C. (Cambridge Ancient History.)[iv]
2. The 15th dynasty reigned at its capital at Avaris, in the delta. See Table 15-C.
3. The Bible says that Joseph was prime minister of a Pharaoh who alone ruled over all of Egypt (Genesis 41:41-44, 55-56).
4. The Bible also says that the Pharaoh of Joseph bought all of the livestock and land of Egypt (Genesis 45:8, 26; 47:16-26). Therefore, this Pharaoh could not belong to the 15th Hyksos Dynasty, because three other Pharaohs and their Egyptian subjects owned land all over Egypt.

18TH DYNASTY HISTORY CONTRADICTS BIBLE HISTORY OF MOSES AND THE EXODUS

The Date of Moses’ Birth Coincides With the Reign of Ahmose of the 18th Dynasty
1. The Britannica chronology dates Ahmose, the first king of the 18th dynasty, as reigning in 1526 B.C., the Biblical date of Moses’ birth.
2. If both Egyptian and Biblical dates are correct, Ahmose should have been the reigning Pharaoh whose daughter found baby Moses in the reeds of the Nile.
3. Table 15-D compares the 18th Dynasty with Biblical chronology.
Egypt’s Capital at the Exodus
1. Egyptologists locate the 18th dynasty capital in Thebes (modern Luxor) in southern Egypt, about 400 miles from the land of Goshen by the Nile River.
2. In 1526 B.C. (Moses’ birth year), Egypt’s capital was located close to Goshen, because Pharaoh’s daughter found baby Moses in the Nile River close to the palace (Exodus 2:1-10).
3. 1446 B.C., the year of the Exodus, the capital of Egypt was still located in northern Egypt near the land of Goshen.
4. Psalm 78:12,43 and Numbers 13:22 name “Zoan” as Egypt’s capital at the Exodus.
5. Zoan is located in the eastern delta on the northern border of Goshen.
6. Zoan’s closeness to Goshen explains how Joseph and Moses traveled back and forth between Goshen and Zoan.[v]
Rameses and Pithom in Goshen
1. The reigning Pharaoh of Moses’ birth forced the Israelites to construct the cities of Ramses and Pithom in the land of Goshen (Exodus 1:11).
2. Israel was constructing with mud bricks and straw in Goshen when the Exodus occurred 80 years later (Exodus 5).
3. Archaeological excavation of these cities in Goshen shows that neither Ahmose, nor any other 18th dynasty king constructed them. They were originally constructed hundreds of years earlier by 12th dynasty kings.
4. Geographical and archaeological history of the 18th dynasty contradicts the Bible history of Moses’ first 80 years of life.
The Duration of the Reign of the Pharaoh That Tried to Kill Moses
1. According to the Britannica chronology, Thutmose I was ruling in 1486 B.C., when Moses fled to Midian at age 40 (Exodus 2:11-15; Acts 7:23-29).
2. If so, Thutmose I is the Pharaoh that hated Moses and tried to kill him.
3. The king that tried to kill Moses died toward the end of Moses’ 40-year exile (Exodus 2:23).
4. Thutmose I’s reign endured only 11 years, from 1493 to 1482 B.C. Thus, Thutmose I’s death is dated 4 years after Moses arrived in Midian.
5. Thutmose I did not reign most of Moses’ forty-year exile and cannot be the Pharaoh that tried to kill him.
The Duration of the Reign of the Pharaoh of the Exodus
1. According to Britannica’s chronology Thutmose III reigned from 1479 to 1426 B.C. and should be the Pharaoh of the Exodus in 1446 B.C.
2. However, the capital of the Pharaoh of the Exodus was located in northern Egypt, whereas Thutmose III’s capital was at Thebes, 400 miles south of Goshen by the Nile. He is not the Pharaoh that Moses saw often near Goshen.
3. Exodus 2:23: The Pharaoh of the Exodus came to power toward the end of Moses’ 40-year exile in Midian. The Pharaoh of the Exodus died in the Red Sea with his army and thus reigned less than ten years (Psalm 136:13-15; Exodus 14:6-28).
4. Thutmose III reigned a total of 53 years, including 20 years after the 1446 B.C. Exodus. Thutmose III cannot be the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
Egypt’s Destroyed Army
1. Exodus 14:5-28: Pharaoh’s entire army was destroyed in the Red Sea in the Biblical date of 1446 B.C.
2. The Britannica chronology and the Ancient Records of Egypt, II.406, p. 174 say that Thutmose III continued to fight and win battles for 20 years after 1446 B.C., including his greatest victory in 1445 B.C..
Britannica’s New Chronology Dates Amenhotep II’s Reign from 1426 to 1400 B.C., Precisely When the 1406 B.C. Conquest Should Have Occurred
1. In his seventh year, dated 1419 B.C., Amenhotep II invaded Canaan and captured 3,600 Hapiru (Hebrews).[vi]
2. The Hebrews were not supposed to arrive in Canaan until 1406 B.C.
3. A contradiction between 18th dynasty history and Biblical history.
Archaeologists Report That Jericho and Other Canaanite Cities Fell as the Bible Describes in the Middle Bronze IIB Age, Dated from 1800 to 1550 B.C. [vii]
1. The Bible dates for the conquest of Canaan – 1406 to 1396 B.C.
2. Archaeology: Jericho and other Canaanite cities fell some 50 and 400 years before the Biblical conquest.
Low Population in the Southern Negev Before From 1700 to 1200 B.C.
1. Numbers 13:26-29 says that all of Canaan was heavily populated with large fortified cities and giant inhabitants before Israel conquered the land c. 1406 B.C.
2. Hallo, the Yale University historian, presents evidence against the Biblical account of the highly populated and fortified cities from 1444 to 1406 B.C.: “Archaeological surface exploration in the Negev [southern desert of Canaan] . . . proves it to have been totally devoid of occupation during the last three-fourths of the second millennium [1700-1300 B.C.]”[viii]
3. This contradicts the Biblical account of large populations in 1406 B.C.

PROBLEM OF THE EXODUS IN THE 19TH DYNASTY

Many Bible Scholars Identify Ramses II of the 19th dynasty as the Pharaoh of the Exodus
1. The Britannica chronology dates Ramses II’s reign from 1279 to 1213 B.C., 167 to 240 years later than the Biblical date of 1446 B.C.
2. The 480 years of 1 Kings 6:1 are interpreted as figurative of twelve generations of 40 years each, rather than as literal years.
3. The 300 years of Judges 11:16 also contradicts the idea that Ramses II was the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
4. Ramses II constructed a new capital called Pi-Rameses in the delta of Egypt, fitting the location and name of the city of Rameses in Exodus 1:11.
5. Many scholars concluded that Ramses II is the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
Contradictions Between 19th Dynasty History & Biblical History of the Exodus
1. Rameses was a store city not the capital of Egypt in Moses’ day.
  1. Pharaoh built the store cities of Rameses and Pithom in Moses day.[ix]
  2. Ramses II constructed Pi-Rameses as his new capital.
2. Zoan the capital of Egypt in Moses’ time (Numbers 13:22; Psalm 78:12,43).
  1. Pi-Rameses was the capital city in Ramses II’s day.
  2. In Ramses II’s time Zoan was not the capital.
  3. Moses and Ramses II lived in different historical periods.
3. Pi-Rameses, the capital city of Ramses II, was constructed out of stone over the ruins of the Hyksos capital of Avaris. Underneath the Hyksos strata was found an older, mud-brick store city built 500 years earlier by Pharaohs of the 12th dynasty.[x] Rameses, the store city of Moses’ time, was built out of mud-bricks.[xi] Ramses II built the stone capital of Pi-Ramses 500 years after the mud-brick store city of Rameses was built by a 12th dynasty king. The two cities are not the same.
4. The tribe of Asher was already in Canaan before Ramses II reigned. A scribe of Ramses II’s early reign contacted the chief of Asher while journeying in Canaan.[xii] Asher was one of the 12 tribes of Israel.[xiii] Ramses II’s scribe met the chief of Asher in the very area of Canaan that Joshua designated for the tribe of Asher.[xiv] Israel was already present in Canaan before the Exodus supposedly took place later in Ramses II’s reign.
5. Ramses II reigned too long to be the Pharaoh of the Exodus. He reigned sixty-seven years. The Pharaoh of the Exodus could not have reigned more than ten years. Ramses II’s long reign disqualifies him from being the short-reigning Pharaoh of the Exodus. (See Table 15-E.)
6. Israel was desolate in Canaan in the 5th year of Merneptah, the son of Ramses II.[xv] If Ramses II were the Pharaoh of the Exodus, Israel should have been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years or victorious in Canaan in Merneptah’s 5th year. Merneptah’s picture of desolate Israel in Canaan proves Israel was present in Canaan at that time, but gives no support to Ramses II as the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
7. The Conquest occurred in Middle Bronze II, not the Late Bronze Age. All modern archaeologists date the foreign conquest of Jericho and other Canaanite cities in the Middle Bronze IIB/C Age. Ramses II lived in Late Bronze II-A, more than 300 years after Middle Bronze II ended. Therefore, Ramses II cannot be the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
Growing Rejection of the Biblical Exodus and Conquest by Scholars
1. The late Kathleen Kenyon, knighted by England for her archaeological excavation of Jericho, says Jericho’s walls fell before the time of the 18th or 19th dynasties.
  1. Kenyon concluded that the Biblical account of the conquest under Joshua never occurred and that it is a waste of time to read Biblical chronology from Abraham to David.
  2. Kenyon proposed that the literary and archaeological evidence suggests that the Israelites arrived in Palestine in three phases: (1) many Israelites remained in Canaan and never went to Egypt, (2) some were expelled with the Hyksos in 1570 B.C., (3) a few others entered with Joshua in the time of Ramses II, but not as the Bible describes.[xvi]
2. The late Joseph Callaway, former director of Graduate Studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, excavated Ai and determined that Ai did not exist as a city during the 18th and 19th dynasties and that therefore the Biblical account of the conquest is completely erroneous.[xvii]
3. Many archaeologists consider Biblical archaeology “dead” and are “embarrassed” by those who connect archaeological excavation to Biblical events.[xviii]
4. Most archaeologists, historians and a growing number of Biblical scholars no longer believe as historical truth the Biblical events surrounding Joseph, Moses, the Exodus and the Conquest.

1. Hershell Shank recently asked William Dever if most archaeologists rejected the Biblical description of Joshua’s conquest of Canaan. Dever answered, “I would say all archaeologists.”[xix]

Religious Consequences of the Exodus Problem
1. The Church of England has closed the doors to scores of houses of worship in London because the people no longer believe in the Bible nor in religion.
2. Many U.S. denominations are dividing over the historicity the Bible.
3. As a result, these churches are dividing over the moral and religious authority of the Bible, homosexual and lesbian preachers, pre-marital sex and adultery, and ordination of women as preachers and elders.

CONCLUSION

The Exodus problem seriously calls into question the veracity of biblical history and has created growing unbelief and immorality.

[i] J. R. Baines, New Encyclopedia Britannica, 1991 Ed.,18.114.

[ii] Genesis 47:20-26.

[iii] C. F. Pfeiffer, ‘Joseph,’ Zondervan Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia, III.695.

[iv] Cambridge Ancient History, II.1. p. 818.

[v] Genesis 45:10; Exodus 7:15; 8:6-8, 20-23; 9:7, 13,27,33; 10:22-24; 12:29-31,37.

[vi] James Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts, 3rd Ed., p. 247.

[vii] Amihai Mazar, Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, p. 30.

[viii] Hallo, Ancient Near East, A History, p. 74.

[ix] Exodus 1:11.

[x] W. A. Shea, “Exodus, Date of,” International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, II.231.

[xi] Exodus 1:11; 5:6-19.

[xii] Yohanan Aharoni and Michael Avi-Yonah, Macmillan Bible Atlas, p.39.

[xiii] Exodus 1:1-5.

[xiv] Joshua 19:24-31.

[xv] “Hymn of Victory of Merneptah,” Ancient Near Eastern Texts,” Ed. Pritchard, p.378.

[xvi] K. Kenyon, Archaeology of the Holy Land (Nelson Pub., 1985), pp. 16, 111, 204-206.

[xvii] Biblical Archaeological Review, Nov./Dec., 1988, p. 24).

[xviii] Neil Silberman, “Lure of the Holy Land,” Archaeology, Nov./Dec., 1990, p. 33.

[xix] Hershel Shanks, “Is This Man a Biblical Archaeologist,” Biblical Archaeology Review, July/August, 1996, 22.4, p.37.

TOP

Lesson 16: DISCOVERY OF THE TRUE PHARAOHS OF JOSEPH, MOSES AND THE EXODUS

INTRODUCTION

Lesson 15 showed the serious contradictions between Biblical history from Joseph to the Exodus and the Egyptian history of the 18th and 19th Dynasties. In this lesson an evaluation of the solutions presented by different scholars will be examined. Ted Stewart will present his own solution, which he strongly believes is the discovery of the true Pharaohs of Joseph, Moses and the Exodus.

LESSON AIM:

To examine evidence which will establish the true Pharaohs during the times of Joseph, Moses and the Exodus from Egypt.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will . . .

Consider Emmanuel Velikovsky’s statement about the misdating of Egyptian history and his proposed solution to the problem.
Examine some ideas presented by other men (Courville and Rohl) concerning the dating of Egyptian history and kings of Egypt.
Learn of evidence which would point to Amenemhet I as the Pharaoh of Joseph’s first 11 years in Egypt and Sesostris I as the Pharaoh who appointed Joseph to be Prime Minister of Egypt.
Consider strong evidence which presents Sesostris III as the Pharaoh of the oppression, Amenemhet III, the Pharaoh who tried to kill Moses and Menemhet IV as the Pharaoh of the Exodus.

IMMANUEL VELIKOVSKY’S PROPOSED SOLUTION EXAMINED

Velikovsky Claimed Egyptian History Was Misdated by 500 Years and Would Harmonize with Bible History When Accurately Dated[i]
1. Velikovsky cited Ipuwer, an Egyptian high priest, who appeared to be an eyewitness of the 10 plagues.
2. He believed Ipuwer reported the invasion of the Hyksos into the delta of Egypt, linking the Exodus just before the Hyksos invasion.
3. The Hyksos invaded Egypt in the reign of Dudimose I of the 13th dynasty. Velikovsky identified Dudimose I as the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
4. David Rohl’s 1995 book, Pharaohs and Kings, also identifies Dudimose I as the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
Velikovsky Misdates Ipuwer
Velikovsky wrongly dated Ipuwer to the Hyksos invasion because Ipuwer only mentions the invasion of the Libyans (from the northwest) and the Nubians (from the south), not the Hyksos (who came from the east).
1. Dudimose I’s Predecessor Disqualifies Him From Being the Exodus Pharaoh
2. Exodus 2:23 and 4:19 say that the Pharaoh who preceded the Pharaoh of the Exodus reigned during most of Moses’ 40-year exile in Midian. If Dudimose I was the Pharaoh of the Exodus, then Merhetepre Ini must be the Pharaoh who tried to kill Moses, but Merhetepre reigned only 2 years and 2 months[ii], 162 not the necessary 35 to 45 years.
3. Dudimose I is not the Pharaoh of the Exodus.

EVALUATION OF DONOVAN COUR-VILLE’S IDENTIFICATIONS

Courville’s Identification of Joseph with Mentuhotep

Courville identified Sesostris I of the 12th dynasty as the Pharaoh of Joseph and Mentuhotep, Sesostris I’s prime minister, as Joseph.

Courville found a famine inscription in the reign of Sesostris I, the second king of the 12th dynasty, that sounded like the famine of Joseph’s time.
Courville noted that the “Canal of Joseph” was constructed during the reign of 12th dynasty kings.
Mentuhotep was a governor, who inherited his office from his Egyptian parents. Joseph’s parents were Canaanite Hebrews.
Mentuhotep was a high priest of an Egyptian God, whereas Joseph worshiped the Hebrew God, Yahweh.
Mentuhotep was later expelled as prime minister and disgraced because of his pride and self-exaltation. Joseph was humble, obedient and honored Pharaoh all of his life in Egypt.

Courville Identified Sesostris III as One of the Pharaohs of the Oppression
1. Sesostris III constructed the cities of Rameses and Pithom as store cities, as the Pharaoh of Moses’ birth did.
2. However, Courville dated Sesostris III many years after Moses’ birth, instead of reigning before and after his birth, as the Bible says.
Courville Identified Khoncharis of the 13 th Dynasty as Pharaoh of the Exodus[iii]
1. However, Khoncharis’ predecessor is Khaneferre, who reigned only 8 years. The Pharaoh who tried to kill Moses reigned at least 35 to 40 years before the Pharaoh of the Exodus came to power.
2. Thus, Khaneferre’s 8-year reign disqualifies him to be the predecessor of the Pharaoh of the Exodus and thus disqualifies Khoncharis as the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
Courville Also Dated Dynasties 6, 12 and 13 as Parallel to Each Other at Various Points, in Order to Reduce the Chronology of These Dynasties
1. However, many 12th dynasty documents prove it was the sole dynasty of all of Egypt during its entire duration.
2. Itjtowy was the capital of both the 12th dynasty and the succeeding 13th It was

impossible for a 12th dynasty king to reign at Itjtowy at the same time that a 13th dynasty

king reigned at the same capital.

When the 13th dynasty came to power, the 14th dynasty simultaneously appeared in the

western delta of Egypt; thus 2 dynasties were reigning over Egypt when Khoncharis and Dudimose I reigned at different times over the 13th dynasty.

Exodus 14:7 says the Pharaoh of the Exodus took all the chariots of Egypt with him; thus the Pharaoh of the Exodus was the sole ruler of Egypt.
Therefore, no 13th dynasty king, each of whom ruled over only a part of Egypt, could be the Pharaoh of the Exodus.

EVALUATION OF DAVID ROHL’S PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

David Rohl and Didymus I

David Rohl’s 1995 Book, Pharaohs & Kings, identifies Didymus I as Pharaoh of the Exodus, the same king identified by Velikovsky. The same objections against Velikovsky’s identification apply equally to Rohl’s proposal.

Rohl’s Identification of Amenemhet III

Rohl identified a different 12th dynasty king than Courville did for the Pharaoh of Joseph:

Amenemhet III, one of the last kings of the 12th dynasty.

Rohl found evidence of greatly elevated heights of the Nile in a 7-year period of Amenemhet III’s reign.
Rohl concluded that the high Niles flooded the land and ruined the crops, causing the 7-year famine.

The Bible Description of the Famine Does Not Fit the Flooding of the Nile
1. Genesis 41:6 says that the famine resulted from hot winds (not floods) that scorched the grain.
2. Genesis 41:57 says this same famine in Egypt was also “severe in the whole world, so that “all countries” came to Egypt to buy grain. The flooding of the Nile did not affect other countries.
3. The famine also extended to Israel, who lived in southern Palestine (Genesis 42:5). The flooding of the Nile did not affect Palestine and the only river of any size in Palestine was the Jordan, and its flooding could not reach the area where the Israelites lived.
4. No evidence of famine is found in the time of Amenemhet III.
5. Amenemhet III controlled the high Niles in his reign by siphoning off the water into the Joseph Canal (built by Sesostris I) and by storing the water in Lake Moeris, as Sesostris I did.
Rohl Also Presented Evidence of Hebrew Slaves in the 13th Dynasty

He used this to support his theory that Israel was still in Egypt during the early 13th dynasty.

Most of the names of the slaves are female rather than male, indicating to Rohl that the Hebrew males had been killed off, leaving mostly females, confirming the killing of the male infants by the Pharaoh of the Oppression (Exodus 1:8-22).
However, these Hebrew slaves were located only in southern Egypt, not in northern Egypt, where most of the Hebrews lived.
The fact that mostly female Hebrew names are found in southern Egypt during the 13th dynasty is easily explained by marriages with Egyptian men who later moved to southern Egypt.
When the Exodus occurred at the end of the 12th dynasty, which we will soon show, these females slaves in southern Egypt were too far away to leave with the majority of their fellow Israelites, who lived in Goshen in northern Egypt, and who left in a single night from there (Number 33:3-5).

The Hebrews first entered Goshen 200 years earlier in the beginning of the 12th dynasty and they left Egypt 3 years before the 12th dynasty was replaced by the 13th and 14th

A New Search for A Better Solution
1. 210 points of Bible history from Joseph to the Exodus in Egyptian documents of the 12th dynasty found. Table 16-A records the main documentary sources to find this amazing historical synchronism.
2. Table 16-B records the over-all historical parallelism between 12th dynasty and Biblical histories.

AMENEMHET I, THE PHARAOH OF JOSEPH’S FIRST 11 YEARS IN EGYPT

Amenemhet I Founded the 12th Dynasty
1. He moved its capital from Thebes in the south to northern Egypt, close to the land of Goshen where the Bible places the capital in the days of Joseph (Genesis 45:10).
2. Officials and household servants attempted to kill Amenemhet I while his son Sesostris I was “away,” likely with the Egyptian army.
3. Recovering from his wounds, Amenemhet I exhorted his son, Sesostris I, to exercise full control of the kingship, but warned him to beware of the officials and household servants who tried to kill him.
4. Kenty-bau, Amenemhet I’s prime minister, likely led the military coup that attempted to assassinate Amenemhet I, while his son Sesostris I was gone.
5. Sesostris I likely killed Kenty-bau when he returned with the army.
6. All of Amenemhet I’s important officials, except Kenty-bau, were buried within Amenemhet I’s pyramid complex. The fact Kenty-bau’s tomb is missing supports the theory that he died in disgrace.
Joseph in Prison with the Baker and Butler
1. The assassination attempt by Kenty-bau and household servants explain why Joseph met Pharaoh’s baker and butler in prison in Genesis 40.
2. Sesostris I likely suspected the baker and butler as having participated in the coup and placed them in prison, where Joseph met them and interpreted their dreams.
3. In fulfillment of Joseph’s interpretation, the baker was hanged, likely because he was found to be an active participant in the coup.
4. The butler was likely released because he was found to be only negligent, but not a direct participant in the assassination attempt.

NOTE: Egyptian records show Amenemhet I lived on for 10 years after the coup, but was too weak to resume his duties. In his place, Sesostris I acted as sole Pharaoh of Egypt during these 10 years and 35 years afterwards for a total 45-year reign.

SESOSTRIS I, THE PHARAOH WHO APPOINTED JOSEPH PRIME MINISTER

Joseph’s Release From Prison
1. Genesis 41:1 says two years after the butler was released, he remembered Joseph when Pharaoh (Sesostris I) had dreams.
2. Genesis 41:25-40 says Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams to mean 7 years of abundance followed by 7 years of famine.
Joseph’s Wise Advice and Advancement
1. Store up grain during the years of abundance. This convinced Pharaoh (Sesostris I) that he was wise and trustworthy so he could appoint him prime minister of Egypt.
2. The reason the office of prime minister was vacant at this time is because the former prime minister, Kenty-bau was killed after the coup attempt.
3. Sesostris I feared to appoint a prime minister to take the place of Kenty-bau, because his father warned him not to trust his officials. Thus the office was still vacant 2 years after the attempted assassination, until Joseph appeared.
4. Joseph immediately began to store up grain in the principal cities of Egypt during the 7 years of abundance (Genesis 41:46-49).
James Breasted and Joseph
1. Breasted included a 12th -dynasty scene of grain being sacked and then poured into a large granary, but did not specify under which king the grain was being collected.[iv]
2. In Breasted’s translation of the Ancient Records of Egypt, is found the inscription of a famine of many years Courville had mentioned in his book. This famine inscription was recorded in the reign of Sesostris I.[v]
Our Trip to Egypt to Look for the Famine Inscription
1. Ted and Dot, along with Jody Jones and Virgil Yocham traveled to Egypt in 1991 to look for this famine inscription.
2. They found the inscription in a tomb at Benihasan that tells of “distributing to the hungry during the years of famine.”
3. On the left wall as they entered the tomb, they found an inscribed picture of the storing of large amounts of grain into a granary, the same picture Ted had earlier seen in Breasted’s History of Egypt.
4. A representative of the governor of Beni-hasan counted every sack filled with grain. A scribe recorded the amount.
5. A representative of Sesostris I was on top of the granary and counted every sack of grain poured into the granary and his scribe recorded the number.
6. Genesis 41:48-49 says Joseph stored the grain in Egypt’s major cities and counted the grain until it became so abundant that he quit counting.
7. Farther down on the same wall, was found inscribed pictures of both Egyptians and foreigners coming to Beni-hasan to trade money, products, animals and land, all for grain during the “years of famine,” exactly as described in Genesis 43-46.
Additional Evidence That Points to Sesostris I as the Pharaoh of Joseph
1. In Breasted’s Ancient Records of Egypt, is found contracts dated to Sesostris I’s reign after the years of famine, that demonstrate that Sesostris I owned all of the land and livestock of Egypt (except the priests’), as Genesis 47:17-22 describes.
2. The same contracts show Sesostris I rented this land and livestock back to the Egyptians on a share cropper’s basis, precisely as Genesis 47:23-26 says.
3. Amenemhet I, the father of Sesostris I, formerly constructed a fortified city in the eastern delta to prevent Canaanite shepherds from entering the delta.
4. Another inscription records permission for certain shepherds from Canaan to graze their flocks in Goshen, identical to Pharaoh’s permission for Joseph’s family of shepherds to live in Goshen (Genesis 45:16-19; 47:1-11).
5. Posener (Cambridge Ancient History) admits this story sounds like the time of Joseph, but believes it occurred 100’s of years before Joseph lived.[vi]
6. During the reigns of Amenemhet II and Sesostris II, inscriptions and drawings show growing numbers of free foreigners from Canaan in Egypt.
  1. The Egyptian army is composed of many free foreigners from Canaan.
  2. Growing numbers of laborers from Canaan work for Egypt as free citizens.
  3. No better confirmation of Exodus 1:6-8 which describes the rapid growth of the Hebrews in Egypt before they were enslaved could be desired.

THE PHARAOH OF THE OPPRESSION

Evidence for Sesostris III as the Pharaoh of the Oppression
1. Sesostris III praised his general for enslaving the foreigners (Israelites from Canaan) in the north (land of Goshen), as Exodus 1:8-12 describes.
2. Sesostris III also took away the power from the governors of Egypt and appointed 2 prime ministers, one over the South and one over the North.
3. Sesostris III hated foreigners and wrote curses against them.
4. Sesostris III said the only way to make foreigners to respect him was to smash them in the face.
5. Sesostris III’s statues show his stern cruelty in his face and stiff arms from his youth to his middle years: see two statues of Sesostris III.
6. Sesostris I’s kind statue of his youth contrasts with the sinister statues of Sesostris III.
7. Sesostris III used large slave gangs to construct the store cities of Rameses and Pithom in Goshen (Exodus 1:11). 500 years later Ramses II built his new capital on top of the old store city called Rameses.
8. Sesostris III constructed out of mud-brick, mixed with straw, as Exodus 5:6-18 describes. Ramses II constructed his new capital Pi-Rameses out of stone.
9. Sesostris III threw his enemies into the Nile, just as the Pharaoh of the oppression did to Israelite infants (Exodus 1:22).
10. Sesostris III gave instructions to mid-wives, as the Pharaoh of the oppression also did in the time of Moses’ birth (Exodus 1:15-20).
11. Sesostris III cursed the sons of Anak who were building large cities in Canaan, as was the case during the time of Moses (Numbers 13:27-33).
Amenemhet III, the Pharaoh Who Tried to Kill Moses
1. Sesostris III reigned 38 years. Since he had been reigning for some time before he enslaved Israel and before Moses was born, he must have died when Moses was about 22 to 30 years of age (c. 1504 to 1496 B.C.)
2. Sesostris III’s son, Amenemhet III, reigned 48 years after his father’s death, dating his death about 1456 to 1450 B.C., 30 to 36 years after Moses’ left Egypt to go to Midian.
3. Amenemhet III also tossed his enemies into the Nile, as his father did, as the Biblical Pharaohs of the Oppression did to Israelite male infants.
4. Amenemhet III also used mud brick, mixed with straw, to continue construction in the land of Goshen (Wadi Tumilat) and also to build his own pyramid.
5. Amenemhet III sent the bricks to the “head of police” in the land of Goshen, proving that armed policemen, or taskmasters, guarded over the Hebrew slaves who were constructing in Goshen during his reign.
Amenemhet IV, the Pharaoh of the Exodus
1. Amenemhet IV, the last male Pharaoh of the 12th dynasty fits the infamous Pharaoh of the Exodus.
2. His short reign of 9 years (less years of co-reign) harmonizes with the short reign of the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
3. Previous 12th dynasty kings constructed large pyramids in which they were buried. The

pyramid and tomb of Amenemhet IV has never been found. His skeleton likely still lies at the bottom of the Red Sea.

His firstborn son did not succeed him to the throne (he died in the 10th plague). Instead, Amenemhet IV’s sister/wife reigned in his place.
His sister/wife lasted only 3 years. Then, the glorious 12th dynasty, one of the wealthiest and most powerful in history, mysteriously fell.
Two new dynasties (the 13th and 14th ) began to reign over a divided Egypt.

Eye Witness Record of the Ten Plagues and the Exodus
1. Ipuwer, the high priest of Heliopolis, lived at the end of the 12th dynasty.
2. Ipuwer describes Egypt ravaged by the Nile’s turning to blood, death of the fish, ruined crops, stripped trees, animals killed, and many Egyptians dead, filling the tombs and the Nile River with their bodies.
3. Ipuwer said, “Egypt is ruined,” in the same manner that Pharaoh’s officials spoke in Exodus 10:7.
4. Many tombs all over Egypt in the late 12th dynasty record a prophecy of the death of the firstborn of men and gods (firstborn of animals were considered gods). Exodus 12:29-30.
5. Ipuwer records the loudest noise of wailing ever heard in Egypt, precisely the language of Exodus 11:6-7; 12:30.
6. Ipuwer says slaves ran away with their master’s riches as in Exodus 12:35-36.
7. Ipuwer reported that their king (Amenemhet IV) was dead from “pouring water” confirming his death in the Red Sea (Exodus 14:28 & Psalm 136:13-15)
8. Beggars entered the palace without resistance; the criminal element ran rampant all over Egypt, because the army was not present to restrain them.
9. The Exodus events explain the “mysterious fall” of the 12th dynasty.

CONCLUSION

The above study, pictured in Table 16-B, summarizes only a few of the 210 historical links between 12th dynasty history and Bible history from Joseph to the Exodus.
We can either re-date Biblical history to fit the Egyptian dates, or redate Egyptian history to fit the Bible dates.

[i] Velikovsky, Ages in Chaos, 1952.

[ii] “Chronological Tables,” Cambridge Ancient History, 3rd Ed. II.1.818.

[iii] Donovan Courville, The Exodus Problem & Its Ramifications (2 vol.)

[iv] James Breasted, History of Egypt, p. 158

[v] “Inscription of Amenemhet (Ameni),” Trans. J. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, I.252-253 (Nos. 522-523).

[vi] Poesener, Cambridge Ancient History, 3rd. ed., I.2A.537.

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Lesson 17: DISCOVERY OF THE RED SEA CROSSING

INTRODUCTION

After leaving Egypt, Israel headed toward Mt. Sinai and camped by the Red Sea on the way (Exodus 12:37; 13:17-14:4). The Egyptians thought Israel was trapped and attempted to annihilate them. However, G-d miraculously opened the Red Sea and Israel crossed on dry land with the Egyptians close behind them. When Israel reached the other side, the waters returned, destroying the entire Egyptian army (Exodus 14:5-31). God’s awesome victory over Egypt and His marvelous salvation of Israel remained forever etched in the memory of Israel and is cited frequently elsewhere in the Bible.

Scholars have long debated the Exodus route, the Red Sea crossing site and the location of Mt. Sinai. Some scholars believe Israel crossed a fresh water lake in Egypt not far from the Mediterranean Sea. Other scholars believe Israel crossed the Suez branch of the Red Sea before proceeding south to the traditional site of Mt. Sinai. This lesson presents Biblical and video evidence of the discovery of the true site of the Red Sea crossing on the Gulf of Aqaba.

LESSON AIM:

To present convincing evidences that identify the likely site where the Israelites crossed the Red Sea.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will . . .

Examine the Biblical evidence of the route the Israelites took after leaving Egypt and traveling to the Red Sea.
Consider historical and visual evidence which points to a precise location on the Gulf of Aqaba where Israel crossed the Red Sea.
Study Biblical and linguistic evidence that the Hebrew words, YAM SUPH, translated the “Red Sea,” but written in foot notes as “the Sea of Reeds”, can refer to the salt water plants of the Gulf of Aqaba.

ROUTE OF MOSES TO MOUNT SINAI

Moses Flight to the Land of Midian
1. When Moses killed the Egyptian he fled to the land of Midian to escape the wrath of Pharaoh (Exodus 2:25).
2. The fastest and safest route for Moses was to cross the desert to the tip of the Gulf of Aqaba and then to head south into Saudi Arabia, where the land of Midian is located on most Bible maps.
Moses on Mt. Horeb (Sinai)
1. While in Midian, Moses saw a burning bush on Mt. Horeb (Sinai).
2. G-d spoke in the fire, commanding Moses to return to Egypt and lead Israel back to worship God on this same mountain. (Exodus 3:1-12).
The Route Taken By Israel On Their Way Out of Egypt
1. The shortest and fastest way to get out of Egypt was a road leading parallel to the Mediterranean from Goshen northeast to Canaan.
2. Exodus 13:17-18: God rejected this route because it led directly into Philistine territory which would result in immediate war.
3. G-d led them across the desert to the Red Sea – the Gulf of Aqaba.
4. This route took longer to get out of Egypt, but was actually closer to and faster to get to Mt. Sinai in Midian.
5. Israel departed from “Rameses,” either the store city or the district of Rameses in the land of Goshen (Exodus 12:37; Numbers 33:3,5).
6. They traveled fast, at times going 3 days and nights without camping (Exodus 15:22; Numbers 33:8). Guided by a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day (Exodus 13:21-22).
7. Succoth was Israel’s first camping stop (Exodus 12:37; Numbers 33:5), midway across the desert toward the Gulf of Aqaba.
8. After a day or two of rest Israel started another journey of 3 days and 3 nights, ending at Etham (Exodus 13:20).

ETHAM, A KEY CITY TO IDENTIFY THE “RED SEA” ISRAEL CROSSED

Unexpected Instructions at Etham (Exodus 14:1-3). Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around in the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’
1. Etham was located outside of Egypt on its eastern border.
2. This means Israel left Egypt and then reentered Egypt.
Proof Etham was East of Egypt’s Border
1. When Israel later crossed the Red Sea, they entered the Desert of Etham in Numbers 33:6, 8. Etham is east of the Red Sea.
2. But Exodus 15:22 says Israel entered the “the Desert of Shur” after crossing the Red Sea. Therefore the names Etham and Shur are interchangeable.
3. The NIV Study Bible says Shur means “fortress wall” in Hebrew, and Etham means “fortress wall” in the Egyptian language.
4. Etham and Shur are obviously the same city.
5. Genesis 25:18 says that the descendants of Ishmael settled in the area “from Havilah to Shur, near the border of Egypt.”
6. Unger’s New Bible Dictionary identifies Havilah as “a district evidently north of Sheba in Arabia.” Thus, Havilah was the eastern border of Ishmael in Arabia and Shur was the western border in Arabia, near the eastern border of Egypt. Since Etham and Shur are the same city, Etham was also located just outside the eastern border of Egypt.
7. Egypt’s ancient border ran north from the tip of the Gulf of Aqaba to the River or Wadi of Egypt, which runs into the Mediterranean.
8. Shur, which is Etham, was east of the Gulf of Aqaba.
Before Israel Arrived at Etham, They Crossed the Border of Egypt
1. Then Israel Turned South Down the Western Coast of the Gulf of Aqaba

They reached a beach near Pi-Hahiroth, which was precisely located between Migdol on the west and the Red Sea or Gulf of Aqaba on the east.

RON WYATT’S DISCOVERY OF THE RED SEA CROSSING

Research and Discovery
1. Ron read in Josephus that the Israelites were “hemmed in” by mountains that came down along parallel to the western coast of the Gulf of Aqaba and then suddenly “closed with the sea” at the south end of the beach.[i]
2. Wyatt saw on the map that rugged mountains run from north to south parallel to the western coast of the Gulf of Aqaba for 40 miles.
3. Suddenly these mountains turn and jut into the Gulf, blocking off the pathway of anyone trying to go farther south on the coast.
4. Ron found on the map the location where Josephus says Israel was “hemmed in” by mountains on the west and south, with the sea on the east and Pharaoh’s army coming from the north.
The Israelite Camping Ground
1. Wyatt found the Noweiba Beach next to the mountains, which jutted into the Gulf cutting off the Beach.
  1. The Noweiba Beach is about 6 miles long and a mile and a half to a quarter of a mile in width.
  2. Noweiba has sufficient space for three million Israelites and their livestock.
2. At the northern end of the beach is an old Egyptian fortress still standing. Near the fortress is an oasis with beautiful palm trees and wells of fresh water. This site is likely the remains of Pi-hahiroth.
3. Exodus 14:2 says Israel camped between Migdol and the sea. On top of the mountains to the west directly behind the beach is an old fortress tower that Egypt constructed, which must be Migdol, because it means “watchtower” in Hebrew.[ii]
4. Across the Gulf to the west in Saudi Arabia is another enormous beach, about the same size as Noweiba and thus large enough for Israel to camp after crossing to the other side.
5. At the south end of this Arabian beach is an ancient deserted city, no doubt “Baal Zephon” (Exodus 14:9), not an Egyptian name, but an Asiatic name.
Discovery of the Two Pillars of Solomon
1. In 1977 Ron found a large stone pillar lying down on the Noweiba Beach.
2. Several years later Ron went to the beach on the opposite side in Saudi Arabia and found an identical pillar still erect with inscriptions in Hebrew, worn but still readable: “Pharaoh, Egypt, Death, Israel, Yahweh (Jehovah) and Solomon.
3. Ron believes Solomon erected the two Phoenician style columns in commemoration of the Exodus event. 1 Kings 6:1 says that Solomon celebrated the 480th anniversary of the Exodus in his fourth year. Solomon likely set up these pillars as part of that celebration.
4. Ron later flew by helicopter with a Saudi prince and Saudi archaeologist and showed them this pillar.
5. When Ron’s friends returned to the site in 1993, the pillar had been removed with only a concrete block and flag marking its location. Apparently the Saudi archaeologist had the pillar removed and transported it to some museum or store room elsewhere in Saudi Arabia

DISCOVERY OF PHARAOH’S CHARIOTS UNDER THE RED SEA

A Natural Underwater Bridge
1. Consulting nautical maps of the British Admiralty in London, Wyatt saw that a natural, underwater bridge about a mile wide and eight miles long led across the Gulf from the Nuweiba beach over to Saudi Arabia.
2. The width and length of the crossing was sufficient for three million Israelites and their livestock to cross the Gulf in 5 to 7 hours.
3. Wyatt said the maps of the British Admiralty showed this underwater bridge gradually declines at a 7-degree angle to a depth of about 1,000 feet in the middle and then gradually ascends at the same angle to the Saudi Arabian shore.
  1. Wyatt’s video also claims that deep gorges on each side of the bridge plunge to about 5,000 feet deep.
  2. The map shows the span is about 10 miles and the bridge about 1,000 feet deep 1/3 of the way out from shore. From there the depth increases to about 2,500 feet in the middle before ascending to the Saudi-Arabian side.
  3. The map shows gorges of about 3,370 feet on each side of the land bridge.
  4. However, this land bridge is the most shallow across the entire Gulf of Aqaba except at its mouth at the Strait of Tiran.
4. How God Could Have Opened the Gulf At This Point
  1. Psalm 77:16-20 suggests an earthquake occurred simultaneously with a “whirlwind” that opened the path through the Red Sea: “The clouds poured down water, the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, . . . the earth trembled and quaked. . . . your path led through the sea, . . . though your footprints were not seen. . . . you led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”
  2. The earthquake may have lifted the land bridge higher, and deepened the gorges on the sides to lower the water level on the bridge.
  3. Exodus 14:21 says God drove the sea back and divided it with a strong east wind. The “whirlwind” in Psalm 77 could have been a tornado or hurricane that swept the waters away from the land bridge, as Israel walked through the eye of the storm.
  4. When the “whirlwind” lifted, Israel was safe on the Saudi Arabian side and the waters rushed over the Egyptian army. Not a single Egyptian survived, including Pharaoh (Exodus 14:28; Psalm 136:15).

NOTE:

Scuba diving at Noweiba, Ron Wyatt found remains of Pharaoh’s army, horses and chariots. He video-taped what he found and now Ted wants you to look at the evidence he found.

A Review of Some of The Evidence You Saw in The Video
1. Two coral-covered chariot wheels still are on their axle in a vertical position with one wheel planted on the sea bottom and the other suspended above the sea floor.
2. Ron Wyatt used a molecular frequency generator (metal detector) to find the smaller, four-spoked, gold-plated, chariot wheel, a third wheel.
3. A fourth chariot wheel, 6-spoked, also coral-encrusted, is seen lying by itself on the sea bottom. All 6 spokes are visible, but some have partially disintegrated.
4. Ron also found a rib-cage of a man and a hoof of a horse on the sea bottom.
5. Exodus 14:29-31 says many Egyptians washed up on the Arabian side. Most of the remains of the Egyptians should be on the Arabian side; yet Wyatt only searched on the Egyptian side.
6. Also, Wyatt was limited to scuba diving (maximum of 150-200 feet). Deep sea diving on the Arabian side should reap a harvest of artifacts.

CAN YAM SUPH REFER TO THE GULF OF AQABA?

The Biblical Definition of the Term Yam Suph
1. Yam Suph the Hebrew words for “the Red Sea,” are translated by most scholars as meaning, “the Sea of Reeds.”
2. Since reeds grow only in fresh water, many scholars believe the Yam Suph must refer only to a fresh water lake.
3. It is true that suph means fresh water reeds in the Nile River in Exodus 2:3.
4. However, suph means seaweed in the Mediterranean in Jonah 2:5, proving suph refers to any water plants, whether they grow in fresh or salt water.
5. Thus, Yam Suph can be translated the “Sea of Sea-Weed.”
6. Sea weed is often red in color and the Gulf of Aqaba may have derived the latter name of “Red Sea” from the color of the suph (sea weed).
The Gulf of Aqaba is Also Called the Sea of Edom (1 Kings 9:26; Jeremiah 49:19-22) Since Edom comes from Esau, which means “red” in Hebrew, [iii]the Sea of Edom can be translated as “The Red Sea,” which is the name translated in the Greek Septuagint and in the New Testament (Acts 7:36; Hebrews 11:29).
Yam Suph Usually Refers to the Gulf of Aqaba in the Old Testament
1. 1 Kings 9:26 says, “King Solomon also built ships at Ezion-geber, near Elath in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea” (NIV foot note = Yam Suph = Sea of Reeds = Gulf of Aqaba).
2. Ezion-geber and Elath are on the Gulf of Aqaba, which is salt water.
3. Numbers 33:8-11 reports that Israel returned to the Red Sea (“Yam Suph”) after walking in the desert of Etham 3 days. If the Red Sea were a fresh water lake close to the Mediterranean, then Israel would have returned to Egypt.
4. Deuteronomy 1:40; 2:1; Numbers 21:4 say that Israel traveled toward the Red Sea (Yam Suph) to go from Kadesh Barnea around Edom. This road leads only south to the Gulf of Aqaba, not west toward the Suez branch of the Red Sea.
5. Since Numbers 21:4 calls the Gulf of Aqaba the Red Sea when Israel headed south to go around Edom, then it is only logical that Numbers 33:8-11 is also referring to the Gulf of Aqaba when it says Israel crossed the Red Sea and later returned to the Red Sea after crossing it.

CONCLUSION

The Biblical evidence decisively points to the Gulf of Aqaba as the body of water Israel crossed to get out of Egypt. The under-water video reveals amazing remnants of Pharaoh’s chariots, horses and soldiers.

[i] Josephus, Antiquities, II.15.3 (page 75).

[ii] NIV Study Bible, foot note on Exodus 14:2

[iii] Genesis 25:30; The New Brown, Driver, Briggs, Gesenius Hebrew and English Lexicon, p. 10

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Lesson 18: DISCOVERY OF THE TRUE MOUNT SINAI

INTRODUCTION

ll Bible maps and most Bible scholars believe that Mt. Sinai is located at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. This lesson shows why the traditional site of Mt. Sinai cannot be correct and why it must be located in Saudi Arabia, where Mr. Ron Wyatt found it.

LESSON AIM:

To try to determine from the evidence presented in this lesson the exact location of Mount Sinai.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will . . .

Learn the reason(s) why tradition places Mount Sinai on the Sinai Peninsula and some objections against this sight.
Examine biblical and extra-biblical proof that Mount Sinai is in Arabia and not on the Sinai Peninsula.
Consider evidence presented by Mr. Ron Wyatt that Jebel El Lawz in Arabia is the site of Mount Sinai.

TWO POSSIBLE LOCATIONS OF MT. SINAI – MT. HOREB

Why Mt. Sinai is Located on the Sinai Peninsula in Bible Atlases
1. The tradition of Mt. Sinai’s location on the tip of the Sinai Peninsula does not ante-date the fourth century A.D.[i]
2. Byzantine monks claimed that Saint Catherine (a Christian queen of the fourth century A.D.) was carried by the angels to be buried upon this mountain in the Sinai Peninsula. Later a monastery was built there in her honor.[ii]
3. Because of Byzantine tradition, all Bible maps place Mt. Sinai on the Sinai Peninsula.
Objections to the Sinai Peninsula as the Location of Mount Sinai
1. The name, Sinai, was not attached to the peninsula until the 4th century A.D.
2. The word Sinai does not exist in the vocabulary of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and hieratic literature. An official of Sesostris I used the Egyptian word By’ to refer to the mine-lands of Sinai.[iii] Sesostris III called the Sinai region by the Egyptian name, Mntw, which Breasted translated by the traditional name, “Sinai.”[iv]
3. 12th, 18th, and 19th dynasty kings extracted turquoise and copper from mines located close to traditional Mt. Sinai and also in eastern Sinai near the tip of the Gulf of Aqaba.[v] Egypt kept military garrisons of soldiers around this entire area to protect their mining interests.[vi] Moses would not flee Egypt, or take Israel to an area occupied by Egyptian soldiers.
4. Egypt’s eastern border ran south on the Wadi of Egypt all of the way to the tip of the Gulf of Aqaba.[vii] This is also the border of modern Egypt.
5. Therefore, neither Moses nor Israel left Egypt, if Sinai is on the peninsula.
6. Frank Cross of Harvard University excavated the traditional site of Mt. Sinai and found only Egyptian culture, no Midianite culture.[viii]
7. Traditional Mt. Sinai is also too rocky to offer sufficient pasture or food for 3 million Israelites and their flocks to survive an entire year.
Biblical Location of Mount Sinai
1. Exodus 2:15 and 3:1 places Mount Horeb (Sinai) in Midian.
2. In Exodus 3:2-12 God commanded Moses to return to Egypt to free Israel and bring them back to worship on the same mountain where Moses stood in Midian.
3. Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law, was still living in Midian near Mt. Sinai when Moses brought Israel back to Mt. Sinai. (Exodus 18:5)
4. Midian is located in Saudi Arabia, not the Sinai Peninsula.
  1. Genesis 25:1-6 says the Midianites lived “east” of Canaan, placing them in Arabia, not in the Sinai Peninsula.
  2. When Midian fled from Gideon, they fled in a southeasterly direction from the Jordan River.[ix] If Midian lived west of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Sinai Peninsula, Midian would have returned on the west side of the Jordan.
5. Galatians 4:25 says Mt. Sinai is located in “Arabia.” The New Encyclopedia Britannica says the Sinai Peninsula did not become part of Arabia until after 106 A.D.[x] Sinai was in Saudi Arabia when Paul wrote.
6. Josephus, Ptolemy of Egypt and Eusebius of Caesarea located Midian east of the Gulf of Aqaba rather than on the Sinai Peninsula.[xi]
7. Josephus reported that Mt. Sinai was the tallest of the mountains in Arabia and that much pasture was available there for livestock.[xii]
8. The I.S.B.E (revised edition), which favors the traditional site, admits that some modern scholars locate Mt. Sinai in northwest Arabia.[xiii]
9. Frank Cross found Midianite pottery east of the Gulf of Aqaba in Jordan, but found none around the traditional site of Mount Sinai; he concluded that Mt. Sinai must be located east, rather than west, of the Gulf of Aqaba.[xiv]
10. Cross suggested Mt. Sinai might be Jebel el-Lawz, the highest (8,460 feet) mountain in NW Arabia, or some other mountain in Jordan.[xv]
11. Cross made several attempts to enter Saudi Arabia and investigate Jebel el Lawz, but was turned down each time by the Saudi government.[xvi]

WYATT’S DISCOVERY OF MT. SINAI AT JEBEL EL LAWZ

Ron Wyatt, an Amateur Archaeologist. Mr. Wyatt claims to have found evidence that Jebel el Lawz is indeed Biblical Mount Sinai.
1. Wyatt’s own study of the Bible, Josephus and a topographical map of Saudi Arabia convinced him that Jebel el-Lawz was likely Mt. Sinai.
2. Jebel el Lawz was a former volcano and contains a huge flat valley with about 5,000 acres of camping space and pasture for Israel and their livestock.
Ron Wyatt’s First Visit to the Site of Jebel El Lawz
1. For 3 years the Saudis refused to give Mr. Wyatt a visa to enter Arabia.
2. Ron and his two teen-age sons sneaked over the border from Jordan into Saudi Arabia and walked to the site of Jebel el Lawz.
3. When they returned to their car, Ron and his 2 sons were arrested by Saudi policemen and were imprisoned for 75 days for being “Israeli spies.”
4. All of Wyatt’s photos and photographic equipment were confiscated.
Later, Saudi Arabian Officials Apologized for Ron’s Arrest and Invited Him Back for A Visit. David Fassold, Ron’s co-worker on Noah’s ark, accompanied him on this trip.
1. Ron led a Saudi Arabian prince and an archaeologist from Rihad University to show what he found at Jebel el Lawz.
2. The Saudis were very impressed with the evidence shown them by Ron; however, they refused to give Ron his videos and photos of the site.
A Video Tape of Jebel Lawz Secured from Two Friends Who Lived in Saudi Arabia Mr. Wyatt has given us permission to use his video tape in this lesson.
Evidence That Jebel El Lawz is Mt. Sinai
1. The peak of Jebel el Lawz is blackened from fire and smoke as described in Exodus 19:18- 19 in which God descended upon Mount Sinai in fire.
2. God told Moses that he would place him in “a cleft in the rock” and cover him with his hand. [xvii]A large rock formation high on the mountain is split with a cleft large enough for a man to stand between the two sections of rock.
3. Elijah traveled all of the way from N. Israel to Mount Horeb in 40 days and stayed in a cave on the mountain. [xviii]A single cave is seen on Jebel el Lawz.
Evidence Around Jebel el Lawz
1. An altar of uncut stones. In Exodus 20:25 God prohibited Moses from building an altar of hewn or dressed stones. In Exodus 24:4 Moses built an altar at the foot of the mountain, obviously out of uncut stones. An altar of uncut stones can be seen at the bottom of the mountain.
2. Egyptian cow-gods. While Moses was on the mountain, the Israelites formed a golden calf and worshiped it.[xix] The calf, the cow and Apis, the bull-god, were objects of worship in the Egyptian religion. [xx]The Bible says Israel worshiped the idols of Egypt both before and after they left Egypt.[xxi] The video shows Egyptian cow-gods inscribed on stone walls within the fenced area. The archaeologist from Rihad University told Ron that these are the only ancient Egyptian drawings he has ever seen in Saudi Arabia.
3. A broken mill stone covered with a green fungus growth is shown in the video. Moses said that millstones were a common possession for even the poorest of Israelites.[xxii] Numbers 11:7-8 explains how Israelites used “a hand mill’ to grind the manna.
4. A large stream bed comes out of the mountain and heads into the plain below. The size indicates sufficient water to quench the thirst of the 3 million Israelites and their animals.
5. An area covering about 5,000 acres of pasture land gives sufficient space for the 3 million Israelites and their livestock to camp and graze.
6. A large boulder near Mount Sinai is split open and shows evidence of great amounts of water that once gushed out of it. The location and description fit precisely the rock at Horeb that Moses struck to bring forth water before arriving in front of Mt. Sinai (Exodus 17:6).
Evidence From the Territory Between the Red Sea (Gulf of Aqaba) and Jebel el Lawz
1. Ron’s Saudi friends backtracked the steps of the Israelites from Sinai to its various stopping points all of the way to the Red Sea Crossing.
2. They found what appears to be the hill where Moses likely stood nearby Rephidim while Israel fought the Amalekites.[xxiii]
3. They also found Elim, the place of twelve springs and seventy palm trees, where the manna first daily appeared to feed the multitudes of Israel.[xxiv]
4. Finally they arrived back at the Red Sea Crossing where the Israelites began their journey in Saudi Arabia.
The Eleven Day Journey from Sinai to Kadesh-barnea
1. Deuteronomy 1:2 says the distance from Mount Horeb (Sinai) to Kadesh Barnea was eleven days by the Mount Seir Road.
2. The road from traditional Mount Sinai to traditional Kadesh Barnea is about 250 miles. 100 miles of the journey is through rugged mountains.
3. Women, children and livestock would have to be moved at the rate of more than twenty-two miles a day over rugged territory for 11 consecutive days.
4. The journey does not follow the Mount Seir Road at all.
5. From Jebel el Lawz in Saudi Arabia Israel could have headed straight north to Mt. Seir, parallel to the Gulf of Aqaba, arriving in 11 days.
6. The terrain is easily traveled in comparison to the rugged mountains on the western coast of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Sinai Peninsula.
  1. The trip to traditional Kadesh Barnea is about 150 miles. Israel could cover this distance in 11 days at the rate of 13.6 miles per day.
7. Need for Excavation of Jebel El Lawz
  1. Archaeological treasures are likely buried beneath the sand where Israel camped for an entire year at Sinai (Jebel el Lawz) and where Midianites lived for centuries.
  2. The Saudis have never given permission for outsiders to excavate.
  3. If Amenemhet IV is the Pharaoh of the Exodus, the inscriptions of the cow-god and artifacts found in excavation should fit a late 12th dynasty context, if indeed these inscriptions were made when Israel camped there.

CONCLUSION

The Biblical, archaeological and video evidences decisively point to Jebel el Lawz as the true Mt. Sinai.

[i] Frank Moore Cross, “An Interview. Part One, Israelite Origins,” Bible Review, Ed. Hershel Shanks, August 1992, p. 24

[ii] H. G. Anderson, “Sinai, Mount,” Zondervan Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia, op. cit., V.448.

[iii] Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, I.274 (602), note d

[iv] James Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, I.319 (728).

[v] John Baines, Atlas of Ancient Egypt, p. 188.

[vi] “Sinai Peninsula,” New Encyclopedia Britannica, 10.827.

[vii] Genesis 15:18; Numbers 34:5; Joshua. 13:3; 15:4,47; 1 Kings 8:65; 2 Kings 24:7; 1 Chronicles 13:5; 2 Chronicles 7:8; Isaiah 23:3; 27:12; Amos 9:5; Jeremiah 2:18; Ezekiel 47:19; 48:28.

[viii] Frank Moore Cross, “An Interview. Part One, Israelite Origins,” Bible Review, Ed. Hershel Shanks, August 1992, p. 25.

[ix] Judges 7:22-25; 8:4

[x] “Sinai Peninsula,” New Encyclopedia Britannica, op. cit., 10.827.

[xi] Josephus, Ant. II.11.1; Ptolemy Geor. vi.7:27; Eusebius, Onom. 124.

[xii] Josephus, “Antiquities,” II.12.1; III.5.1. Works of Josephus, op. cit., p. 71, 83-84.

[xiii] T. V. Brisco, “Midian,” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, op. cit., III.350.

[xiv] Frank Moore Cross, “An Interview, Part One. Israelite Origins,” Bible Review, op. cit., p.25.

[xv] Ibid., p. 32.

[xvi] Ibid., p. 24.

[xvii] Exodus 33:21-22

[xviii] 1 Kings 19:8

[xix] Exodus 32:4-35

[xx] Cambridge Ancient History, I.2A.53.

[xxi] Ezekiel 20:7,18-24

[xxii] Deuteronomy 24:6

[xxiii] Exodus 17:8-15

[xxiv] Exodus 15:27; 16:1-34

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Lesson 19: THE MYTH OF EGYPT’S “ASTRONOMICALLY ABSOLUTE” CHRONOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

Growing numbers of scholars reject Bible history as myth because it contradicts the “astronomically dated” history of Egypt. We learned in Lesson 16 that 210 points of historical synchronism link Egypt’s 12th dynasty to Bible history from Joseph to Moses. The 12th dynasty is dated 3 centuries before the Biblical dates from Joseph to Moses. Either Biblical dates must be expanded 300 years to fit the Egyptian dating or 12th dynasty dates must be reduced 300 years to fit the Biblical dates.

Egyptologists say 12th dynasty dates are astronomically fixed and cannot be revised. This lesson demonstrates that Egyptian chronology is not “astronomically” fixed and can be revised 3 centuries later to fit the Bible dates.

LESSON AIM:

To examine the methods by which Egypt’s historical chronology is determined and to look at some other considerations as to dating of events in Egyptian history.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will . . .

Learn that Egypt’s historical dates are not actually “fixed” but are continually being revised.

Look at the findings of several men and the way they figure the astronomical date for Egyptian history.

EGYPT’S DATES ARE NOT “FIXED,” BUT CONTINUALLY REVISED

F. Petrie, “father of modern archaeology,” astronomically dated the beginning of the 1st dynasty to 5546 B.C. and the beginning of the 12th dynasty to 3579 B.C. James Breasted, of the University of Chicago, revised Petrie’s date for the 1st dynasty to 3400 B.C., a reduction of 2,146 years. (See Table 19-A)
Breasted’s Astronomical Methodology

Breasted used “1,460-year Sothic Cycles” to date the beginning of the 12th dynasty at 2,000 B.C., 1579 years later than Petrie’s date of 3579 B.C. Breasted claimed that Egypt’s Calendar originally began on the day that the star Sirius annually appeared on the horizon just before dawn. Breasted affirmed that Egypt never adjusted its 365-day calendar for Leap Year, causing Sirius to appear 1 day later on Egypt’s calendar every 4 years. Thus, Sirius’ rising theoretically rotated an entire 365 days and coincided again with Egypt’s New Year’s Day every 1,460 years (365 X 4 = 1460).[i] Censorinus, a Roman astronomer, claimed Sirius’ rising coincided with Egypt’s New Year’s Day c. July 20, 140 A.D. Romans called Sirius by the name of Sothis; thus Breasted called the 1460-year periods, “Sothic Cycles.” See Table 19-B

Using July 20, 140 A.D., as the ending point, and the latitude of Memphis (c. 30°) as the observation point, Breasted calculated that previous Sothic Cycles of 1460 years began on:

July 19, 1320 B.C. (1460 -140 = 1320)
July 19, 2780 B.C. (1320 + 1460 = 2780)
July 19, 4240 B.C. (2780 + 1460 = 4240).[ii]

Breasted declared July 19, 4241 B.C., as the origin of Egypt’s 365-day calendar and “the oldest fixed date in history.”[iii]

Breasted’s Astronomically Fixed Date for Sesostris III’s 7th

Sirius’ rising was registered on the 8th month, 16th day in the 7th year of Sesostris III, a 12th dynasty king. See Table 19-A. 8-16 is 225 days from New Year’s Day (1-1) on Egypt’s calendar. At 1 day every 4 years, this shift took 900 years. (4 X 225 = 900). Subtracting 900 years from 2780 B.C. (when Sirius last rose on Egypt New Year’s Day), Breasted set July 19, 1880 B.C. as the “astronomically absolute” date for Sesostris III’s 7th year.[iv]

Breasted’s Astronomically Fixed Date for Amenhotep I’s 9th Year

Sirius appeared on 11-9 of the Egyptian calendar in the 9th year of Amenhotep I, the 2nd king of the 18th dynasty. 11-9 is a shift of 83 days from 8-16 in Sesostris I’s 7th year. Breasted calculated the 83-day shift took 332 years: 83 X 4 = 332. Subtracting 332 years from 1880 B.C., Breasted astronomically fixed July 19, 1548 B.C., as Amenhotep I’s 9th year of reign.[v] See Table 19-B.

Parker’s & Hayes’ Revisions of Breasted’s Astronomical Dates

In 1950, Richard Parker corrected Breasted’s date of July 19, 1880 B.C. for Sirius’ rising on Sesostris III’s 7th year, to July 17, 1872 B.C., correcting Breasted’s date for Sirius’ rising by two days from July 19 to July 17.[vi] In the 1971 edition of the Cambridge Ancient History, William Hayes rejected Breasted’s date of July 19, 4241 B.C. as the oldest fixed date in history. [vii]Hayes, found 150 additional years of co-reigns in dynasties 1 to 9 and 142 additional years of rival reigns in dynasties 10 and 11, lowering the date for the 1st dynasty to 3100 B.C., 300 years after Breasted’s date.[viii] Hayes accepted Parker’s July 17, 1872 B.C. for Sesostris III’s 7th year. 202 See the Cambridge revisions of Breasted in (Table 19-C).

Baines’ and Krauss’ New Revisions of the Chronology of Dynasties 1 to 12 In 1991 J. R. Baines lowered the beginning of the 1st dynasty to 2925 B.C., [ix]175 years later than the Cambridge date. (See Table 19-C) In 1985 Rolf Krauss’ revised Parker’s “astronomically absolute” date for Sesostris III’s 7th year from July 17, 1872 B.C. to July 9, 1830 B.C.[x]

Krauss located the observatory for Sirius’ rising at Elephantine on Egypt’s southern border, where Sirius rises 5 to 6 days earlier than in N. Egypt.

Krauss used 20 lunar dates to revise the rising of Sirius in Sesostris III’s 7th year to July 9, 1830 B.C., which he admitted was not sufficiently compatible with the astronomical data. Krauss reduced Sesostris II’s documented reign between 18 and 38 years to only 8 years and dated Sirius’ rising in Sesostris II’s 7th year (instead of Sesostris III’s 7th year), producing a date of July 9, 1838 B.C. However, the historical evidence indicates Sesostris II was dead and Sesostris III was reigning when the priests’ recorded Sirius’ rising because they were celebrating this rising in Sesostris II’s pyramid temple in memory of the deceased Sesostris II.

Krauss’ Revision of the Astronomical Date for Amenhotep I’s 9th Year.

Sirius rose on 11-9 in the 9th year of the eighteenth dynasty king, Amenhotep I. Thus, Sirius rose days later than it appeared on 8-16 in the 7th year of Sesostris II (according to Krauss). 332 years was calculated between the two risings of Sirius (83 X 4 = 332). Subtracting 332 years from July 9, 1838 B.C., Krauss astronomically fixed Amenhotep I’s 9th year on July 9, 1506 B.C. (1838 – 332 = 1506).

Krauss interpreted Sirius’ rising in Amenhotep I’s 9th year to mean that a new moon month began on the same day Sirius rose. Krauss calculated that a new lunar month also began on July 9, 1506 B.C. Krauss believed this remarkable coincidence proves that all of his dates for the 12th and 18th dynasties are “astronomically absolute,” in spite of the illogical historical and geographical inconsistencies involved. J. R. Baines claimed Krauss disproved all astronomical dates calculated before 1985, and thus Baines incorporated Krauss’ new astronomical date into Egypt’s new astronomical chronology in the 1991 Revision of the New Encyclopedia Britannica.[xi]See these revisions in Table 19-C.

NEW ASTRONOMICAL DATE BY DR. DANNY FAULKNER

To test the astronomical accuracy of these constantly changing “astronomical dates” of Egyptian dynasties, Ted secured the services of Danny Faulkner, who has his doctorate in astronomy and teaches astronomy and physics at the University of S. Carolina at Lancaster. Faulkner used sophisticated astronomical software developed by Dr. Brad Schaeffer of the Bethesda Space Center in Maryland. This highly accurate software demonstrated that the Julian date of Sirius’ rising had fluctuated on different Julian days in each century and that it gradually shifted at the latitude of 30 degrees from the Julian dates of July 14 to July 17 between 2,000 B.C. and 1 B.C.

Dr. Faulkner provided 120 dates of the rising of the star Sirius from different latitudes from 2000 B.C. to 200 A.D. See Table 19-D.

Based on dated risings of the star Sirius in particular years of reign of named Egyptian kings, Egyptologists check the astronomical compatibility of the Julian date of Sirius’ rising with multiple dates of new moon months that are dated in specific days, months and years of named Egyptian kings. Dr. Faulkner calculated more than 250 new moon dates that Ted used to test the compatibility of optional astronomical chronologies proposed by different Egyptologists. This same astronomical data (of the dates of Sirius’ rising and the moon dates) enabled Ted to test his own proposed astronomical chronology dated 3 centuries later than the dates used by Egyptologists.

TESTING DIFFERENT ASTRONOMICAL CHRONOLOGIES OF EGYPT

Faulkner’s dates enabled Ted to check the astronomical chronologies of Breasted, Parker, Krauss and other Egyptologists based on dated appearances of Sirius from different latitudes. Breasted claimed that Sirius rose on the Julian date of July 19 at the latitude of Memphis (30o) for “many thousands of years B.C., until far down in the last thousand years B.C. when the Sothic year had sufficiently lengthened to shift the heliacal rising of Sothis to July 20.” [xii]Faulkner’s calculations showed that Sirius rose on July 14, 1880 B.C., at 30° latitude, 5 days earlier than Breasted’s calculation of July 19, 1880 B.C. Breasted’s 5-day error invalidated all of his astronomical dates based on correlations of the date of Sirius’ rising with new moon dates recorded on Egypt’s calendar during the reigns of 12 dynasty kings. See Table 19-D.

In 1950 Richard Parker noted Breasted’s error on Sirius’ rising and revised Breasted’s date for Sirius’ rising at the latitude of 30 degrees to July 17, 1872 B.C. Faulkner’s newly computerized dates shows that Sirius rose at 30 degrees latitude on July 14, 1872 B.C., three days earlier than Parker’s erroneously calculated date of July 17. This three-day error completely invalidated Parker’s astronomical chronology for the twelfth dynasty, which is recorded as “absolute” by Hayes in the Cambridge Ancient History. [xiii]

On the other hand, Faulkner confirmed Krauss’ date of July 9 for Sirius’ rising between 1838 and 1830 B.C. at the latitude of 24°. See his dates in Table 19-D. However, Faulkner tested Krauss’ lunar dates based on Sirius’ rising in Sesostris III’s 7th year in 1830 B.C. and found an astronomical compatibility of only 5% accuracy (1 out of 20) and only 25% on month-length accuracy (3 out of 12), for an average 15% compatibility, far below the accuracy of Babylonian astronomical observation: 82.6% on the dates of crescents and 66.3% on month lengths, for an average accuracy of 74.5%. [xiv] See Table 19-E.

Faulkner’s tested Krauss’ lunar dates based on Sirius’ rising in Sesostris II’s 7th year in 1838 B.C. (even though all the evidence indicates that Sirius rising was recorded in the 7th year of Sesostris III, not Sesostris II). Faulkner’s computerized dates showed that Krauss’ chronology for Sirius’ rising Sesostris II’s 7th year achieved an astronomical compatibility for lunar dates of only 55% (11 out of 20) and a lunar month length accuracy of only 25% (3 out of 12). Together, these two percentages yield an over-all average of only 40% accuracy, far inferior to the Babylonian average of 74.5%. See Table 19-F. Therefore, Krauss’ 12th-dynasty chronology is not even astronomically compatible, much less astronomically absolute or fixed. Yet, most Egyptologists now accept Krauss’ new astronomical dates as “absolute.”[xv]

ASTRONOMICAL COMPATIBILITY OF MY 12TH DYNASTY CHRONOLOGY

Ted’s Biblically assigned date for Sesostris III’s 7th Year is 1535 B.C., 298 years later than Krauss’ 1838 B.C. date for Sesostris II’s 7th year. Faulkner’s test of the astronomical compatibility of Ted’s newly proposed chronology achieved the following results:

Moon Dates = 15/20 = 75%
Month Lengths = 9/12 = 75%

Ted’s astronomical chronology thus has an average accuracy of 75% in contrast to Krauss’ 40% rating. His new chronology has an astronomical accuracy almost identical to the Babylonian observation accuracy of 74.5% . [xvi]See Table 19-G.

THE FALSE PREMISE UPON WHICH SOTHIC DATING RESTS

In order to date the twelfth dynasty 300 years later than its present dating, one must disprove the continuity of unbroken Sothic cycles that all Egyptologists maintain as valid. The major premise upon which Sothic dating rests is that Egypt never revised or adjusted its 365-day calendar in its entire B.C. history.

In certain periods Egyptian documents prove that Egypt’s 365-day was not adjusted for Leap Year. However, Ted found documented evidence that Egypt revised its calendar at least three times in past history. These revisions nullify the 1460-year Sothic cycles and the ability to determine the century of previous recorded risings of Sirius.

Rameses III’s Calendar Proves the Calendar Was Revised or Adjusted

In the 1st year of Rameses III, Sirius’ rising is dated on New Year’s Day. [xvii]Sirius’ rising on 11-9 of Amenhotep I’s 9th year in Krauss’ date of 1506 B.C., needed to shift 57 more days to occur on New Year’s Day. A 57-day shift requires 228 years at 4 years per day: 57 X 4 = 228 years. 1506 B.C. minus 228 years is 1278 B.C., the 2nd year of Rameses II, according to Krauss’ astronomical chronology. However, Krauss’ date for Rameses III’s 1st year is 1187 B.C., 91 years after the 1278 B.C. date when it was supposed to occur.[xviii]

Rameses III’s calendar proves Egypt revised its calendar. Breasted explained this discrepancy by calling Rameses III’s calendar “a religious calendar” that differed from Egypt’s “civil calendar.”[xix] However, Rameses III’s calendar united civil events and religious events on the same calendar, [xx]in contradiction to Breasted’s interpretation.

Foreigners occupied Egypt before Rameses III’s reign. [xxi]After their expulsion, Rameses III likely celebrated their freedom with a new calendar. Thus, Rameses III’s new calendar broke the Sothic cycle, nullifying the ability to determine the year or century of previous risings of Sirius.

The High Nile in Osorkon II’s Reign (22nd Dynasty) Proves Egypt Revised the Calendar The Nile River flooded Thebes on the 12th day of the 5th month of Osorkon II. [xxii]Breasted refused to accept this reading because it contradicted his theory that Egypt never revised its calendar. [xxiii]The Britannica date for Osorkon 3rd year is 885 B.C. The Nile reached its greatest height about mid-September in Thebes. [xxiv]On this basis Osorkon’s flooding of the Nile on 5-12 of the Egyptian calendar should be dated to c. September 15. In 885 B.C. Sirius appeared at Thebes on the Gregorian date of July 3, 74 days before September 15, which is 2-28 of Osorkon’s calendar. Sirius’ rising thus shifted 114 days from 11- 9 to 2-28 between Amenhotep I’s 9th year and Osorkon II’s 3rd year. At 4 years per day, Sirius shifted 114 days in 456 years.

However, Krauss dates Osorkon II( III)’s 3rd year in 885 B.C., 621 years later than Amenhotep’s 9th year of 1506 B.C. The difference between 456 and 621 is a discrepancy of 165 years. Thus, Osorkon II (III) used a different calendar than Amenhotep I used.

Osorkon’s Calendar Was Also Different From Rameses III’s Calendar

Sirius shifted from 1-1 on Rameses III’s calendar to 2-28 in Osorkon II’s calendar, a 57-day shift, which takes 228 years at 1 day every 4 years. Krauss dates Osorkon II’s 3rd year in 885 B.C., 302 years later than Rameses III’s accession year in 1187 B.C.[xxv], 74 years too much. Therefore, Osorkon II’s calendar is not a continuation of Rameses III’s calendar. Osorkon II was Libyan; Rameses III was Egyptian. Sheshonk I, the grandfather of Osorkon II, likely substituted Rameses III’s calendar with a Libyan calendar when he began the 22nd dynasty. Osorkon II’s Libyan calendar nullified the Sothic cycles.

Shabaka (25th Dynasty) Used A Calendar Different from Osorkon II’s Calendar Another high Nile occurred on 9-5 of Shabaka’s 3rd year at Thebes.[xxvi] Shabaka’s high Nile of 9-5 shifted 113 days on Egypt’s 365-day calendar from the previous date of 5-12 in Osorkon II’s reign. At the true Gregorian rate (not Sothic) of 4.1288 years per day, it would take 466.55 years to shift 113 days on the Gregorian Calendar. But the maximum time that scholars calculate between Osorkon II’s reign and Shabaka’s reign is 210 years, short by 256 years.[xxvii] Shabaka came from Nubia or Ethiopia, south of Egypt, and thus used a Nubian calendar, likely different from Osorkon II’s Libyan calendar. New Year’s Day of Osorkon II’s calendar fell in the spring time and Shabaka’s calendar began in the winter time. In Israel’s divided kingdom, northern Israel used a spring lunar calendar and the nation of Judah used a fall lunar calendar.[xxviii] Shabaka’s Nubian, winter calendar was certainly not a continuation of Osorkon II’s Libyan, spring calendar.
Shabaka’s Calendar Was Also Not A Continuation of Amenhotep I’s Calendar Sirius’ rose on the Gregorian date of June 27, 1506 B.C., the year Krauss designated for Amenhotep I’s 9th year. Thus, the high Nile of Sept. 15 occurred about 80 days later than Sirius’ rising on the Gregorian date of June 27, 1506 B.C. Adding 80 days to 11-9 of Amenhotep I’s calendar date gives us a date of 1-24 for the high Nile in 1506 B.C. Thus, the high Nile of 1- 24 in Amenhotep I’s reign shifted to 9-5 in Shabaka’s reign, a total of 221 days. At the Gregorian rate of 4.1288 years per day, 912 years should separate these two high Niles. However, scholars calculate only 790 years between Amenhotep I’s 9th year and Shabaka’s 3rd year, short by 122 years. Therefore, Shabaka’s Nubian calendar was not a continuation of Amenhotep I’s Egyptian calendar.
Significance of These 3 Revisions Egypt thus revised its calendar at least 3 times from the 20th to the 25th These revisions nullify the Sothic method of determining the century and year of dynasties that preceded the 20th dynasty.

However, my research indicates that between the 12th and 19th dynasties, no revision of the Egyptian calendar occurred. On this basis it is valid to calculate the years between two recorded appearances of Sirius. It is also valid to calculate astronomical compatibility between dated appearances of Sirius with new moon dates that occurred in the years of kings from the 12th through the 19th dynasties.

NEW ASTRONOMICAL CHRONOLOGY FOR DYNASTIES 13 TO 19 (See Table 19-H)

Ted’s New Astronomical Dating of the 13th to the 17th Dynasties

With 1535 B.C. fixed as Sesostris III’s 7th year and 1446 B.C. fixed for the date of the Exodus, the 12th dynasty ended in 1443/42 B.C. Using Britannica years for the duration of the 13th and 14th dynasties, I dated these dynasties from 1443 B.C. to c. 1317 B.C. 1443 to 1317 B.C. cover Israel’s wandering in the desert for 40 years, their conquest of Canaan and 84 years of the period of the Judges. The 15th to 17th dynasties reigned parallel to each other from c. 1317 B.C. to c. 1217 B.C. covering the next 100 years of the period of the Judges.

Ted’s New Astronomical Dating of Sirius’ Rising in Amenhotep I’s 9th Year I have dated Sirius’ rising on 8-16 in Sesostris III’s 7th Year to the Julian date of July 15, 1535 B.C., at the latitude of Memphis (30 degrees). Sirius’ rising shifted 83 days to 11-9 in Amenhotep I’s 9th year, implying no adjustment for Leap Year was made from dynasty 12 to dynasty 18. This 83 day shift thus took 332 years (83 X 4), assuming that the latitude of observation is 30° (Memphis) for both sightings of Sirius.

However, Amenhotep I resided in his capital in southern Egypt at Thebes. In an unknown year of Thutmose III, a later 18th dynasty king, Sirius’ rising is recorded at Elephantine, on the southern border of Egypt. Thus, the 18th dynasty likely observed Sirius’ rising at Elephantine in the south, whereas the 12th dynasty had a northern observatory near Memphis. Sirius rises 5 days earlier at Elephantine than Memphis in 1535 B.C. At the rate of four years per day, we should add 20 years (4 X 5 = 20) to the 332 years and get 352 years + or – 3 years between Sesostris III’s 7th year and Amenhotep I’s 9th year. Subtracting 352 years from 1535 B.C. (Sesostris III’s 7th year), Sirius should have risen c. 1183 B.C. (+ or – 3 years) in Amenhotep I’s 9th year.

Faulkner calculated Sirius’ rising at Elephantine on July 10, 1183 B.C. Faulkner calculated that a new moon month began on July 9, 1183 B.C., 1 day before Sirius rose on July 10 of that same year. Bad weather likely prevented observation on July 9, but the moon was still invisible on the dawn of July 10 when Sirius first appeared, permitting the coinciding of a supposed new moon month and the rising of Sirius on July 10. Ted sets 1183 B.C. as Amenhotep I’s 9th year, 323 years later than Krauss’ 1506 B.C. date. See Table 19-H.

New Moon Rising in Thutmose III’s 23rd Year A new moon month began on 9-21 of Egypt’s calendar in Thutmose III’s 23rd year. Thutmose III’s 23rd year is dated 60 years after Amenhotep I’s 9th year. [xxix]A new moon month began on July 9, 1183 B.C., on 11-8, in Amenhotep I’s 9th year. On this basis 9-21 of Thutmose III’s 23rd year should have occurred on May 8, 1123 B.C., 60 years later.

Faulkner calculated that a new moon month did indeed occur on May 8, 1123 B.C.

223

New Astronomical Dating of the New Moon in Rameses II’s 52nd Year
1. A new moon month began on 6-27 of Rameses II’s 52nd year. Ted calculated that the 6-27 moon date in Rameses II’s 52nd year occurred 269 years later than the new moon date on 9-21 of Thutmose III’s 23rd year. Subtracting 269 years from 1123 B.C. (Thutmose III’s 23rd year), Ted got 854 B.C. as Rameses II’s 52nd year. (See Table 19-H)
2. Since 9-21 fell on May 8, 1123 B.C., 6-27 should have fallen on Dec. 9, 854 B.C. on an unadjusted 365-day calendar, in Rameses II’s 52nd year. Faulkner is now calculating the Julian date of a new moon in December, 854 B.C. His date will be recorded later when Ted receives this information from Dr. Faulkner. With these astronomical dates set, we are ready to work out the entire chronology of these dynasties and look for parallels with Biblical history.

CONCLUSION

Egyptian history is not astronomically dated as Egyptologists claim. Three revisions of Egypt’s calendar invalidate the system of “Sothic Dating.” Ted’s new dates for the 12th dynasty have a superior astronomically compatibility than the scholars’ dates have. His astronomical dates for dynasties 18 through 19 will produce amazing and abundant synchronism with later Biblical history.

[i] Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, I.25-29.

[ii] Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, I.30.

[iii] Ibid., I.30, 26, footnote a.

[iv] Ibid., I.31.footnote a.

[v] Ibid., I.31 and also note c.

[vi] R. A. Parker, The Calendars of Ancient Egypt (Univ. of Chicago Press, 1950), pp. 66-69.

[vii] William Hayes, Cambridge Ancient History, I.1.173-174.

[viii] Ibid., I.1.174-181; I.2B.994-996.

[ix] J. R. Baines, “Egypt,” New Encyclopedia Britannica, 18.109.

[x] Rolf Krauss, Sothis- und Monddaten: Studien zur astronomischen und technischen Chronologie Altagyptens (1985), 63-67, 100-110.

[xi] J. R. Baines, “Egypt,” New Encyclopedia Britannica, 18.107.

[xii] James Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, I.26.footnote a.

[xiii] William Hayes, “Chronology,” Cambridge Ancient History, 3 Edition, 1980, I.173-174.

[xiv] (82.6 + 66.3 divided by 2 = 74.5).; Peter Huber of Harvard University, “Astronomical Dating of Babylon I and Ur III,” Monographic Journals of the Near East: Occasional Papers 1/4 (June, 1982) p. 28.

[xv] J. R. Baines, “Egypt,” New Encyclopedia Britannica (1991 Ed.), 18.107.

[xvi] 210 Ibid.

[xvii] Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, IV.84.

[xviii] Krauss, op. cit., p. 207.

[xix] Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, I.29, note b.

[xx] Ibid., IV.84,143.

[xxi] Ibid., IV.198-199.

[xxii] Ibid., IV.369 (743) and note c.

[xxiii] Ibid., note c.

[xxiv] “Africa,” New Encyclopedia Britannica, 13.107.

[xxv] Krauss, op. cit., p. 207.

[xxvi] Breasted, op. cit., IV.452 (887).

[xxvii] E. F. Wente & J. R. Baines, New Encyclopedia Britannica, 18.120-121.

[xxviii] A. Edwin Thiele, Mysterious Numbers of Hebrew Kings, pp.43-60.

[xxix] William Hayes, Scepter of Egypt, 1990 revision, II.499.

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Lesson 20: BIBLE HISTORY FROM SINAI TO SOLOMON IN EGYPTIAN HISTORY ARCHAEOLOGY OF PALESTINE

INTRODUCTION

This lesson contains remarkable historical and archaeological synchronism between Egyptian history and Bible history from Sinai to Solomon. This amazing synchronism occurs only when Egyptian history and the archeological ages are re-dated 3 centuries later on the B.C. calendar.

LESSON AIM:

To compare and match Bible history from Sinai to Solomon in both Egyptian history and archaeology of Palestine.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will:

Investigate evidence concerning the fall of Jericho, Hazor, and other Canaanite cities as it relates to Egyptian history.
View evidence from ancient documents, letters written by Canaanite rulers to Egypt and archaeological evidence which substantiate biblical history.

LINKING BIBLICAL DATES TO DYNASTIES 12 THROUGH 19

Four Astronomical Anchor Dates Based on a Three-century Revision of Egyptian Chronology
1. 12th Dynasty: Sesostris III’s 7th year fixed at 1535 B.C.
2. 18th Dynasty: Amenhotep I’s 9th year fixed at 1183 B.C.
3. 18th Dynasty: Thutmose III’s 23rd year fixed at 1123 B.C.
4. 19th Dynasty: Rameses II’s 52nd year fixed at 854 B.C.
These 4 Anchor Dates Enabled Ted to Re-date the Chronology of Egypt’s Dynasties 12 Through 19 to Fit Bible History. This complete reconstructed chronology can be seen in Table 20-A in your manual.

LINKING BIBLICAL DATES TO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AGES

The Dates of the Archaeological Ages Are Determined by Links to the “Astronomical” Dates of the Egyptian Dynasties [i]
Table 20-B shows the new dates of the archaeological ages when the new Biblical and astronomical dates of Egyptian history are applied.
The New Dating of Egypt’s Dynasties and the Archaeological Ages Results in Synchronism with Biblical History

THE FALL OF JERICHO IN THE 1ST HALF OF MIDDLE BRONZE IIB

The 1406 B.C. fall of Jericho occurred in the 36th year of the 13th Dynasty, in the first quarter of the Middle Bronze IIB Age.
All scholars agree that Jericho was destroyed in the Middle Bronze IIB Age
Kenyon dates Jericho’s fall at the end of the age,[ii] whereas some Israelis date its fall earlier in the Middle Bronze IIB Age.[iii]

EVIDENCE FOR MIDDLE BRONZE IIB JERICHO IN JOSHUA’S TIME

Archaeologist Bryant Wood examined Kathleen Kenyon’s data of the excavation of Jericho and found amazing links to the Bible story of Jericho’s fall.[iv]
Joshua 2:15 – Rahab the Harlot lived in a house built into Jericho’s outside wall. Excavation shows houses built into Jericho’s MBIIB walls.[v]
Joshua 3:13-15 – Jericho was destroyed at harvest time when the banks of the Jordan were overflowing. Underground, sealed store bins, full of grain were found, proving Jericho was overthrown rapidly at harvest time.[vi]
Joshua 3:15-17 – The Jordan River suddenly dried up and stopped flowing upstream at a town called Adam (Adyma). Earthquakes at Adyma have caused land slides that stopped the Jordan”s flow 4 different times in recorded history.[vii] God likely used an earthquake to stop the flow in Joshua’ time.
Joshua 6:15-20 – Jericho’s walls collapsed. Excavation shows an earthquake demolished the walls and also many houses.[viii] The miracle was the timing of the earthquake.
Joshua 6:24 – Israel burned the entire city. Excavation revealed a 3-foot layer of burned material all over the city at the MBIIB level.[ix]
Charcoal taken from Jericho’s fallen walls was carbon-14 dated originally at 1130 B.C., with a calibrated date of 1410 B.C. + or – 40 years, which Bryant presented as proof of the Biblical date for Jericho’s fall.[x]
Later, the British Museum discovered an error and corrected the original carbon-14 date to 1350 B.C., calibrating it to 1550 B.C. + or – 110 years.[xi]
1. Carbon-14 dates calibrated by tree rings contradict the “astronomical dates” of Egyptian history by about 3 centuries.
2. When scientists learn that Egyptian history is misdated by 3 centuries, they will accept only uncalibrated carbon-14 dates as valid.
3. The uncalibrated date of 1350 B.C. has a range of + or – 110 years, and thus includes the 1406 B.C. date for Jericho’s fall.

EVIDENCE FOR THE FALL OF HAZOR AND OTHER CANAANITE CITIES

Joshua 11:11-12: Hazor was the only city in northern Israel that Joshua burned. Kenyon reported that Hazor was “covered with a thick layer of burning” contemporary with Jericho’s fall.[xii]
Amihai Mazar admits that “a significant number of Middle Bronze cities were destroyed” before the Middle Bronze Age ended.[xiii]
Archaeological excavation shows that the following Canaanite cities (Jericho, Gibeon, Hebron, Arad, Debir, Lachish, Hazor and Bethel) existed at the beginning of Middle Bronze IIB, but were destroyed before it ended.[xiv]

EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE GIANTS AND FORTIFIED CITIES IN CANAAN

Two years after the Exodus (1444 B.C.), Israelite spies found in Canaan giants called the “Sons of Anak” living in high-walled, fortified cities (Numbers 13:21-33).
Lesson 16 identified Sesostris III and Amenemhet III as the Pharaohs who enslaved Israel and cursed the rulers of 3 cities of “Anak” in Canaan. Thus, the sons of Anak already existed in Canaan during the Middle Bronze IIA Age before Israel entered Canaan in the Middle Bronze IIB Age.
Pritchard, who cites these curses, admits that they may relate “to the Anaqim ‘giants’ who were in . . . Canaan at the time of the conquest in Deuteronomy 2:10.”[xv]
Joshua 13:13 says Caleb drove out the 3 Anakites in Hebron: Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai. The first Hyksos king of the 15th dynasty was named Sheshi, indicating he was either the giant’s descendant or was named in his memory.[xvi]
Mazar says, “the art of fortification reached a level of unparalleled sophistication. . . . with the city wall high above the surrounding area” during the MBIIB Age.[xvii]

EVIDENCE OF THE HYKSOS IN THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES

Two Hyksos dynasties (15 th and 16 th) ruled Northern Egypt for c. 100 years.[xviii] Ted’s new chronology dates them from 1317 to 1217 B.C.
The Hyksos established military bases in Palestine during and after they ruled Egypt.[xix] They are not mentioned by name in the book of Judges. Why?
Hyksos means “foreign rulers” in Egypt’s language. Hatshepsut, an Egyptian queen, called the Hyksos “Amu.”[xx] Amu fits the name of Amulek or Amalek, one of Israel’s enemies in Canaan.[xxi]
The Bible says Amalek inhabited southern Canaan and NW Arabia from Abraham to David[xxii] (Exodus17:8ff).
The Septuagint of Genesis 45:10 translates “Goshen” as “Gesen of Arabia,” because the Hyksos came from Arabia and built their capital of Avaris in Goshen.
When the Hyksos were expelled from Egypt, some of them returned to southern Palestine and resided in the city of Sharuhen.[xxiii] Amalek and Hyksos inhabited the same areas – likely the same people.
Numbers 24:20 says that Amalek was the “first of the nations” but would come to an end, but Amalek was not the first nation to exist chronologically but in military power when Israel was about to enter Canaan in 1406 B.C. Amalek (Hyksos) later conquered Egypt in my new date of 1317 B.C.
Many ancient Arab writers describe Amalek’s conquest of Egypt in the same language as the Hyksos’ conquest of Egypt was described.[xxiv]
Amalek (Hyksos) oppressed Israel often in the period of the Judges (Judges 3:13; 5:14; Judges 6-7; 1 Samuel 14-15).
Exodus 17:14-16 predicted Amalek’s name would be blotted out. Amalek’s name disappears after the reign of David. The name, Hyksos, also disappeared from history after being expelled from Egypt. Both of their names were blotted out because they were the same people.

EGYPT’S 18TH DYNASTY AND ISRAEL FROM 1217 TO 1050 B.C.

Ted’s revision of Egyptian history dates the 1st half of the 18th dynasty parallel to the last
Period of the Judges From 1217 to 1050 B.C. Ahmose, the last king of the 17th dynasty drove out the Hyksos and became the first king of the 18th dynasty in 1217 B.C.
The 18th dynasty expelled the Hyksos and for 60 years rebuilt Egypt instead of invading Canaan. Egypt is not mentioned in Judges from 1217-1157 B.C.
Idrimi, king of Alalakh, was a contemporary with Ahmose. Scholars date Idrimi in 1519 B.C.; Ted dates him Biblically in 1197 B.C.
1. Idrimi said that he lived 7 years in Canaan among “the Hapiru-people.”
2. Many scholars, such as Yohanan Aharoni, now identify the Hapiru as Hebrews,[xxv] a name used synonymously for Israelites in the Bible.[xxvi]
3. Ted’s new dates prove Hebrews were in Canaan early in the 18th dynasty.
In Ted’s Biblical date of 1123 B.C., a scribe of Thutmose III, another 18th dynasty king, wrote of his encounter with a Hapiru (a Hebrew) at Joppa.[xxvii]
In the same year Thutmose III defeated a coalition of 330 city rulers of Syria and Palestine at the city of Megiddo in N. Israel.[xxviii]
Why is Thutmose III’s conquest at Megiddo unmentioned in the Bible?
1. Joshua 15-19 and Judges 2 lists 15 of Canaan’s most important cities, including Megiddo, that Canaanites repossessed after Joshua’s conquest.
2. The Hebrews occupied the smaller towns and rural areas of Palestine during the period of the Judges. The book of Judges only recorded Israel’s history, it did not record Thutmose III’s conquest of Megiddo.
An uncalibrated carbon-14 date of 1151 B.C. has been assigned to Thutmose III’s reign,[xxix] confirming Ted’s date of 1145 B.C. for the beginning of his reign.
In the Biblical year of 1112 B.C., Amenhotep II, the son of Thutmose III, captured 3,600 Hapiru or Hebrews in Canaan, [xxx]confirming the continued Hebrew presence in Canaan during the last half of the period of the Judges.

SAUL AND DAVID IN THE AMARNA PERIOD OF CANAANITE HISTORY

First and Second Samuel reports continual warfare between Israel and Philistia during the reigns of Saul and David from 1050 to 970 B.C.
All of King Saul’s reign and part of David’s reign ran parallel with Amenhotep III and Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten).
Canaanite kings requested military aid from Amenhotep III & IV to fight the Hapiru (the Hebrews). This correspondence is called The Amarna Letters.
These Amarna Letters describe the same conditions that existed in Canaan during the reigns of Saul and David. Let us notice a few excerpts of these letters.
Rib-Hadda, Ruler of Gubla (Gebal = Byblos), refers to the Hapiru (Hebrews) 50 times in 78 letters. He frequently criticized the ruler of the Amorites for making alliances with the Hapiru, and turning over Canaanite cities to the Hapiru. These letters confirm 1 Samuel 7:12-14 that says Samuel, Saul and David established peace alliances between Israel and the Amorites.
Zimreddi, Ruler of Sidon – #144 – “All the cities that the king put in my charge have been joined to the Hapiru (Hebrews).”
Abi-Milku, ruler of Tyre – #148 – “The king of Hasura [Hazor] has . . . aligned himself with the Hapiru. . . . He has taken the land over for the Hapiru.”
Bayawa, ruler in Syria: #215 – “Should Yanhamu [Egyptian general] not be here within this year, all the lands are lost to the Hapiru [Hebrews].”
Letter from Suwardata, mayor of Qiltu (close to Gath), Letter # 366 – “May the king my lord be informed that the Hapiru [singular] that rose up against the lands, the god, the king, my lord, gave to me, and I smote him.” The Hapiru (singular) that was killed is likely King Saul (1 Samuel 31).
Habdi-Heba, King of Jerusalem wrote in Letter #286 – “That Habiru [singular = David] has plundered all the lands of the king. . . . If there are no archers, lost are the lands of the king, my lord.”
Later, Habdi-Heba wrote – #288 – “Now the Hapiru have taken the very cities of the king. Not a single mayor remains to the king, my lord; all are lost.” 2 Samuel 5 & 8 say David conquered all of Canaan’s cities and made Jerusalem his capital.
Letter #292 reads, “Consider the deed of Peya, the son of Gulatu, against Gazru [Gezer]. Gulatu is Goliath in English, the giant David killed in 1 Samuel 17.
Scholars note the striking similarity of Akhenaten’s monotheism and psalms of praise, both similar to David’s monotheism and Psalms in the Bible.
1. Many scholars claim David copied Akhenaten’s religion and writings. More likely, Akhenaten copied David’s religion and Psalms.
2. Habdi-Heba’s letter states that Akhenaten admired the Hapiru King (David): “Why do you love the Hapiru, but hate the mayors [rulers of Canaan]” – #286.
3. Akhenaten admired David as a poet, musician, and warrior, and did not send military assistance for the Canaanite kings against David.
4. Akhenaten permitted David to conquer these Canaanite cities by refusing to send Egyptian troops.

DAVID, A CONTEMPORARY WITH KING AY OF THE 18TH DYNASTY.

1 Kings 11:14-19: In David’s reign Hadad, a prince of Edom, fled to Egypt for refuge as a boy. When Hadad grew older, Pharaoh gave him a wife, the sister of his own wife, Tahpenes.
Ay, an 18th dynasty king, began reigning in 983 B.C., the 27th year of David. Ay’s wife was named Ty, [xxxi]the first syllable of Tahpenes, the Egyptian queen of Ay, supporting my identification of Ay as a contemporary of David.
Horemheb, general under Ay, received certain Asiatics, whose towns had been destroyed. [xxxii] These Asiatics likely included Hadad and others when David conquered the surrounding countries.

HOREMHEB’S REIGN IN THE TIME OF SOLOMON

A 19th dynasty monument lists the 59th year of Horemheb.[xxxiii]
Ted’s chronology dates Horemheb’s 59-year reign from David’s 31st year in 979 B.C., throughout all of Solomon’s 40-year reign terminating in the 9th year of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, in 920 B.C.
On this basis Horemheb was the Pharaoh who gave his daughter in marriage to Solomon (1 Kings 3:1). Horemheb just happens to be Egypt’s first king to marry his daughter to a foreign king. An alabaster vase excavated in Ugarit depicts “Sharelli” the daughter of Horemheb being married to an unknown Asiatic King.[xxxiv] Solomon is likely the Asiatic king and Sharelli is likely his Egyptian wife. Horemheb conquered an unnamed Canaanite city,[xxxv] likely Gezer, which 1 Kings 9:16 says Pharaoh gave to his daughter when she married Solomon.
2 Chronicles 8:11: Solomon built a palace for Pharaoh’s daughter outside the city gates and above Jerusalem. Located just outside and above modern Jerusalem is the beautiful garden tomb, which is identified by many as the tomb where Jesus was buried. It fits perfectly the location described in 2 Chronicles 8:11.
1. David Rohl says 18th dynasty pottery, hieroglyphic texts, an offering table a limestone column capital with a design of palms, and a statuette of an Egyptian female have been found in the garden.[xxxvi]
2. The 18th dynasty artifacts fit the time of Horemheb and the statuette may be Horemheb’s daughter and Solomon’s wife.
Archaeologists date Solomon in the Iron Age IIA (1000 to 925 B.C.).[xxxvii] James Pritchard says that Iron Age IIA cities were “like villages . . . with relatively small public buildings and poorly constructed dwellings with clay floors. . . . The magnificence of the age of Solomon is . . . decidedly lackluster, but I Kings implies exactly the opposite.”[xxxviii] Scholars also consider the 10th century B.C. as “the dark age” of Palestinian art.[xxxix] Thus, most archaeologists believe the Biblical story of Solomon’s glory is either greatly exaggerated or completely fictitious.
By dating Horemheb (Zeserk) to the time of Solomon, the archaeological age of Solomon is not Iron Age IIA, but Late Bronze IIA.[xl] Excavation of Late Bronze IIA Megiddo uncovered the largest and richest collection of carved ivory (200 plaques), gold vessels and stylish jewelry ever found in Palestine.[xli]
1. This palace represents the zenith of glory, wealth and outstanding architecture of Palestine. The bathroom was paved with seashells.
2. One ivory plaque shows a king or governor sitting on a throne with cherubim on each side of the throne.
3. The enthroned man could be Solomon visiting Megiddo, or Baana, son of Ahilud, whom Solomon appointed as governor of Meggido (1 Kings 4:12).
Meggido’s gate was constructed of ashlar (finely cut) blocks of stone with inserted cedar beams, exactly as 1 Kings 7:9-12 describes Solomon’s buildings.265
1 Kings 9:15;11:17: Solomon built the Millo, a massive terrace system with stone retainer walls. Kenyon excavated the Millo and dated it in the late Bronze Age, 340 years before Solomon. 266 But the late Bronze Age includes the reign of Horemheb, the Pharaoh I put parallel to Solomon.

HOREMHEB IDENTIFIED AS PHARAOH SHISHAK

Pharaoh Shishak hosted Jeroboam when he fled to Egypt from Solomon (1 Kings 11:40) and later invaded Jerusalem 5 years after Solomon died in 925 B.C., sacking all of Solomon’s treasure (1 Kings 14:25ff).
Ted’s new chronology dates Horemheb’s reign from 979 to 920 B.C., which includes the years that Pharaoh Shishak reigned.
All Biblical, historical and archaeological scholars have traditionally identified Sheshonk

I of the 22nd dynasty as Pharaoh Shishak. Lesson 22 will give devastating evidence that proves Sheshonk I cannot be Pharaoh Shishak.

How can Horemheb be Pharaoh Shishak? Horemheb’s throne name is “Zeserk-hepru¬re.” 267 Zeserk, or Siserk, is as close to Shishak (Hebrew) as Sheshonk. All of the evidence above that Horemheb (Zeserk) was contemporary with David and Solomon supports our identification of him as Pharaoh Shishak.
Most of Horemheb’s (Zeserk’s) records were destroyed by Rameses II, explaining why his conquest of Jerusalem in Rehoboam’s 5th year has not been found.
Horemheb’s uncalibrated carbon-14 dates vary from 1082 to 926 B.C., supporting Ted’s dates of his reign from 979-920 B.C., but contradicting scholars’ dates (1319-1292 B.C.) by 237 years. The 926 B.C. carbon-14 date for Horemheb (Zerserk) fits precisely Pharaoh’s Shishak’s invasion of Jerusalem in 925 B.C.
Derricourt reports, “Radiocarbon dates [are] considerably lower than the calendar dates…. This discrepancy has led many Egyptologists either to cast doubt on the C-14 method or to reject its applicability to Egypt.”268

265 Rohl, Pharaohs & Kings, p. 177.

266 Ibid., p.180.

267 Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, III.7 (12), 22 (42).

268 Robin Derricourt, “Radiocarbon Chronology for Egypt & N. Africa,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 42.4.271-7, Oct., 1983.

[i] Amihai Mazar, Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, p. 28-30.

[ii] Kathleen Kenyon, Archaeology in the Holy Land, Thomas Nelson, 1979, p. 208.

[iii] Micha Ashkenazi, archaeologist and tourist guide, from Jerusalem, 1991.

[iv] Bryant Wood, “Did the Israelites Conquer Jericho?”, Biblical Archaeological Review, March/April, 1990, 44-59.

[v] Ibid.

[vi] Ibid.

[vii] Ibid.

[viii] Ibid.

[ix] Ibid.

[x] Ibid., p. 53

[xi] S.G.E. Bowman, J. C. Ambers & M. N. Lee, “Re-evaluation of British Museum Radiocarbon Dates Issued Between 1980 and 1984,” Radiocarbon, Vol. 32, No. 1, 1990, pp.59-79.

[xii] Cambridge Ancient History, 3rd Ed., II.1.100.

[xiii] Amihai Mazar, Archaeology of the Land of the Bible. p. 226.

[xiv] David Rohl, Pharaohs and Kings, p. 306.

[xv] James B. Pritchard (ed.), “The Execration of Asiatic Princes,” Ancient Far Eastern Texts, p.328.

[xvi] David Rohl, Pharaohs and Kings, pp. 309-311.

[xvii] Mazar, op. cit., pp. 197, 198

[xviii] Mazar, op. cit., pp. 197, 198

[xix] Cambridge Ancient History, II.1.346

[xx] Breasted, Trans., Ancient Records of Egypt, II.125 (303), translated “Amu” as “Asiatics”.

[xxi] Velikovsky in his book, Ages in Chaos, is the first to make this identification.

[xxii] Genesis 14:7; Numbers 13:29; 14:25; et. al.

[xxiii] Cambridge Ancient History, 3rd Ed., II.1.294.

[xxiv] Immanuel Velikovsky, Ages in Chaos, pp. 63-66.

[xxv] Yohanan Aharoni, The Macmillan Bible Atlas (New York: Macmillan, 1968), p. 34

[xxvi] Gen. 14:13; 39:14,17; 41:12; Ex. 1:15,16,19; 2:7, 11; 21:2; Deut. 15:12; Jer. 34:9.

[xxvii] Pritchard, Ancient Far Eastern Texts, p. 22.

[xxviii] Cambridge Ancient History, 3rd Ed., II.1.444-52.

[xxix] “Egyptian Chronology & The Irish Oak Calibration,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Vol.

44, p. 312, Oct. 1985; B.M. 736b (R.19) of 3101 -1950 A.D. = 1151 B.C. + or – 51 years, uncalibrated.

[xxx] Pritchard, Ancient Far Eastern Texts, p. 247.

[xxxi] A. Cambridge Ancient History, II.2.70.

[xxxii] Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, III.6-7 (10-12).

[xxxiii] Hayes, Scepter of Egypt, II.309.

[xxxiv] Rohl, Pharaohs and Kings, pp. 184-185.

[xxxv] Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, III.20 (34).

[xxxvi] David Rohl, op. cit., pp. 181-183.

[xxxvii] Amihai Mazar, Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, p. 30.

[xxxviii] James Pritchard, Solomon & Sheba, p. 35 cited by David Rohl, Pharaohs & Kings, p. 174.

[xxxix] Kathleen Kenyon, Archaeology in the Holy Land, 1960 Ed., cited by Rohl, Ibid., p. 174.

[xl] Amihai Mazar, Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, p. 30.

[xli] David Rohl, Pharaohs and Kings, pp. 173-185.

TOP

Lesson 21: CONFIRMATION OF BIBLE HISTORY OF ISRAEL’S DIVIDED KINGDOM

INTRODUCTION

Formerly, Biblical scholars considered the numbers & history of the Hebrew Kings to be a mass of confused contradictions. Edwin Thiele, in his book, Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings harmonized all but 3 of the numbers in 1 & 2 Kings. The prestigious Cambridge Ancient History adopted Thiele’s chronology as “the absolute chronology of Palestine” for the Period of the Divided Kingdom.[i]

This lesson shows how Thiele calculated this “absolute chronology.” This lesson also shows how to reconcile the 3 problems Thiele failed to solve. More important, this lesson presents 87 points of historical synchronism between Bible history and the histories and archaeology of Assyria and Babylonia. The sources for the evidences in this lesson are in the footnotes of your manual.

LESSON AIM:

To present evidence which will confirm the Bible history of Israel’s divided kingdom.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will:

Examine Thiele’s basis for dating the divided kingdom and problems he did not adequately solve.
Study evidences which serve to confirm Bible history of the divided kingdom.
Learn of archeological evidence which confirm the Bible history during the captivity to the Persian restoration.

THIELE’S BASIS FOR DATING THE DIVIDED KINGDOM

Nine Eclipses of the sun in specific years of reign of Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian kings have established astronomically absolute dates for Bible history from Solomon to the Judah’s return from Babylonian captivity. See these dates in Table 21-A of your manual.
Assyria’s Eponym Calendar calls every year by the name of an important official, permitting scholars to know specifically which year a particular event occurred.
Ptolemy, the famous astronomer of Egypt of the 2nd century A.D., recorded Babylon’s Nabonassar Era, which specifies exact years of Babylonian kings who reigned before and after the reign of Nabonassar, beginning in 747 B.C.
Assyrian and Babylonian inscriptions record in known B.C. years the names of Hebrew kings and other Biblical people and events.

THIELE USED FIVE FACTORS TO RECONCILE WHAT APPEARED TO BE CONTRADICTORY DATES[ii]

Spring/Fall Calendars: Thiele proved Judah used a fall calendar beginning in the month of Tishri and that North Israel used a spring calendar beginning in Nisan
Accession Year Method: Judah used the accession year method, which counted the first year of reign as year zero. New Year’s Day of the next year began Year one.
Non-Accession Year Method: North Israel used the non-accession year method: the year the king began his reign was called year one.
Co-Reigns: Kings of both Judah and North Israel often appointed their sons as co-regents to avoid conflict as to which son was the true heir when the father died. Some prophets who recorded 1 & 2 Kings included the years of co-reign in the total reign. Other prophets recorded only the years of sole reign (after the father died).
Rival Reigns: Links to Assyrian history enabled Thiele to discover that North Israel was divided into two dynasties at one point, reconciling an apparent discrepancy.
Dual-Dating Linked the beginning of a Judean king to a particular year of reign of a North Israelite king, and vice-versa.

THIELE’S ABSOLUTE DATE IN OLD TESTAMENT CHRONOLOGY[iii]

Shalmaneser III, an Assyrian king, has been astronomically dated 858 -824 B.C.[iv]
Shalmaneser III’s encounter with King Ahab fixed 853 B.C. as Ahab’s death.
Shalmaneser III’s encounter with King Jehu fixed 841 B.C. as Jehu’s 1st year.
853 B.C. and 841 B.C. were the anchor dates that enabled Thiele to calculate an absolute chronology for the kings who reigned before and after Ahab and Jehu.

THREE CHRONOLOGICAL PROBLEMS THIELE DID NOT ADEQUATELY SOLVE

1 Kings 16:8 says Baasha died in Asa’s 26th In apparent contradiction, 2 Chronicles 16:1 says Baasha fortified Ramah in Asa’s 35th year. Thiele believed this was an error that a later editor created.
Thiele proved that Baasha died in Asa’s 26th year in 885 B.C., confirming 1 Kings 16:8. However, Thiele failed to see that 2 Chronicles 16:1 says Baasha fortified Ramah in the 35th year of Asa’s reign, not of Asa himself. The Hebrew word for “reign” is malkuth, which Brown, Driver & Briggs defines as “royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom.” Asa’s kingdom or dynasty began when his father Rehoboam inherited the throne from Solomon in 930 B.C.
Baasha thus fortified Ramah in the 35th year of Asa’s kingdom, which was 895 B.C., 10 years before Asa died in 885 B.C.
1 Kings counted the years of Asa’s personal reign and 2 Chronicles counted the years of Asa’s dynasty, reconciling an apparent contradiction.
2 Kings 15:30 links Hoshea’s 1st year of reign to the 20th year of Jotham, which is 732 B.C., but 2 Kings 17:1 links Hoshea’s 1st year of reign to Ahaz’s 12th year, which is 724 B.C., an apparent contradiction of 8 years. Thiele attributed the error to a later scribe, who changed the original out of ignorance.
If Ahaz was appointed co-ruler in Jotham’s 8th year (744 B.C.), then Ahaz’s 12th year of co-reign coincided with Jotham’s 20th year in 732 B.C., and the 8-year contradiction disappears.
Perhaps Thiele thought that Jotham could not have appointed Ahaz as his co-ruler in his 8th year (744 B.C.) because Jotham was still co-reigning in that year with his father Azariah (called also Uzziah).
However, 2 Chronicles 26:21 says Azariah (Uzziah) became a leper late in life and retired to a separate house, leaving Jotham as sole ruler.
If Azariah retired by 744 B.C., then Jotham was free to appoint his son Ahaz as his co-ruler in 744 B.C., making 732 B.C. Ahaz’s 12th year of co-reign, Jotham’s 20th year and Hoshea 1st year, solving the problem.
2 Kings 18:1 says that Hezekiah began to reign in the 3rd year of Hoshea, which is fixed by Assyrian history to 729 B.C. However, the same Assyrian records prove that Hezekiah’s 14th year occurred in 701 B.C., dating his 1st year in 715 B.C., an apparent 14-year contradiction with 2 Kings 18:1. Thiele attributed this error also to a scribe who ignorantly revised the original text.
However, Thiele did not consider a co-reign for Hezekiah. If Ahaz appointed Hezekiah co-ruler at 11 years of age in Ahaz’s 6th year of sole reign (729 B.C.), then Hezekiah began to co-reign in Hoshea’s 3rd year (729 B.C.) as 2 Kings 18:1 says.
Thus, Hezekiah became co-ruler in 729 B.C. at age 11, and co-reigned for 14 years until Ahaz died in 715 B.C.
In 715 B.C. Hezekiah became sole ruler and reigned for 29 years. Some prophets count his years of co-reign and others of his sole reign.
Judah’s kings adopted the practice of appointing co-rulers at a young age. Jotham appointed Ahaz co-ruler when he was 8. Ahaz appointed Hezekiah co-ruler when he was 11. Hezekiah appointed his son Manasseh co-ruler at age 12.[v] Appointing a young son as the official heir to the throne avoided disputes among brothers and allowed the young prince to be trained early for his future work as king. Thus, co-reigns often explain what appear to be contradictory data in the Bible.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONFIRMATION OF EARLY DIVIDED KINGDOM.

In this century many archaeological discoveries have confirmed Biblical events during the period of the early divided kingdom. Some of these discoveries are listed below. Most of the evidence below is taken from an article by Bryant G. Wood on “Biblical Archaeology’s Greatest Achievements.”[vi]
A recently discovered inscription at Tel Dan, dated from the mid-9th century B.C., mentions “the House of David,”[vii] the first time David’s name has been found.
1 Kings 12:28-30 says Jeroboam built a cult center at Dan. Dan was excavated and the cult center was found and dated to the time of Jeroboam.[viii]
1 Kings 16:15-18 says King Zimri burned the city of Tirzeh when he was attacked by his own general Omri. Excavation showed that Tirzeh was indeed destroyed by fire in the early 9th century when Zimri reigned.
Ostraca found at Samaria and dated to the early 8th century record 7 names of clan names of Israel (Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Shemida, Noah and Hoglath), all found in the Bible: Numbers 26:29-34; Joshua 17:2-3.
Amos 1:1 recorded an earthquake during the reign of Uzziah, king of Judah, between the years 792 and 753 B.C. Excavation of Gezer and other 8th century cities show evidences of this earthquake.
An inscription on a small ivory pomegranate from the mid-eighth century mentions the “house of Yahweh,” a reference to Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem.[ix]
A text in Jordan dated from the mid-8th century records a vision of Balaam that is similar to Numbers 22-24, including the name for God as El-Shaddai.[x]

CONFIRMATION OF BIBLE HISTORY OF OMRI, AHAB AND JEHU

The Moabite Stone by king Mesha of Moab, confirms the history surrounding kings Ahab and Omri. It is dated c. 850 B.C., shortly after Ahab’s death.
1. It gives us the correct Hebrew style of letters for the 9th century.
2. It confirms that king Mesha ruled Moab as recorded in 2 Kings 3:4ff, 27.
3. It confirms kings Omri and Ahab ruled over Israel (2 Kings 16-22) and that Ahab invaded and controlled the land of Moab (2 Kings 3:4ff).
4. It confirms Mesha’s revolt against Israel (1 Kings 16:16-28; 2 Kings 3:4).
5. It confirms Moab’s god was Chemosh (Numbers 21:29; I Kings 11:7,33).
6. It also mentions the name of Yahweh, God of the Israelites.
7. It confirms the names of many Biblical cities and places: the Arnon (Numbers 21:13); Aroer (Joshua 13:16); Ataroth (Numbers 32:34); Baal-meon (Joshua 13:17; Numbers 32:38); Beth-bamoth (Joshua 13:17;), Beth-diblathaim (Jeremiah 48:22); Bezer (Joshua 20:8); Dibon (Numbers 32:34; Joshua 13:17); Horonaim (Isaiah 15:5); Jahaz (Joshua 13:18); Kerioth (Jeremiah 48:24); Kiriathaim (Joshua 13:19); Medeba (Joshua 13:9,16); Nebo (Numbers 32:38; Deut. 34:1.)
The Assyrian king Shalmaneser III names 5 kings and events recorded in the O.T. His reign is astronomically dated 858-823 B.C.
1. He fought Ahab in his 6th year (853 B.C.) confirming 1 Kings 20:1-2.[xi]
2. He fought Ben-Hadad (Hadadezer) named in I Kings 20:1-2.[xii]
3. He took tribute from king Jehu of Israel (called Omriland = land of king Omri) in his 18th year (841 B.C.).[xiii]
4. He inscribed a picture with King Jehu bowing before him.[xiv]
5. He defeated Hazael, king of Aram, who fought Jehu (2 Kings 10:31-36).[xv]

CONFIRMATION OF BIBLE HISTORY FROM 745 TO 727 B.C.

Tiglath-pileser III, another Assyrian king is astronomically dated 745-727 B.C. The Bible names him 4 times: 2 Kings 5:19; I Chronicles 5:6, 26; 2 Chronicles 28:20.
Tiglath-pileser records 6 names and events found in the Bible.
2 Kings 15:19 says Menahem, king of Israel, gave 1,000 talents of silver to king Pul. Tiglath-pileser III reported that he defeated Menahem, king of Israel and Azariah, king of Judah, in 743-742 B.C.[xvi]
He received tribute from Ahaz,[xvii] confirming 2 Kings 16:5-18; 2 Chronicles 28:16-21
He replaced Pekah with Hoshea,[xviii] confirming 2 Kings 15:29-30.
He conquered large parts of Israel (Omriland) in confirmation of 2 Kings 15:29-30 and calls these locations the land of Omri.[xix]
He defeated Resin of Syria,[xx] fulfilling Isaiah 7:1-8:8; 2 Kings 15:37.

ASSYRIAN CONFIRMATION OF BIBLICAL HISTORY FROM 727 TO 704 B.C.

2 Kings 17:3-6 and 18:9-10 say Shalmaneser V conquered N. Israel and destroyed the capital of Samaria. Assyrian records confirm Shalmaneser V’s conquest.[xxi]
1 Kings 22:39 and Amos 3:15; 6:4 describe Ahab’s palace of ivory and ivory beds. Excavation of Samaria confirmed its destruction and uncovered many plaques and panels of ivory among its ruins.[xxii]
2 Kings 17:24-41 and 18:9-12 report how Assyria carried Israel into Assyrian exile. Assyrian records show that Shalmaneser V died in 722 B.C., the same year he conquered Israel. His son, Sargon II, took his father’s place and records the exact numbers of Israelites that were carried into captivity.[xxiii]
Sargon II recorded his capture of Ashdod in his 11th year (711/710 B.C.), the same year when Isaiah prophesied that Assyria would conquer Egypt[xxiv] (Isaiah 20:1-4).

CONFIRMATION OF BIBLICAL HISTORY OF HEZEKIAH AND MANASSEH.

2 Kings 20:20 and 2 Chronicles 32:2-4,30 report that Hezekiah prepared for the invasion of Assyria by building the Siloam Tunnel to bring water from the Gihon spring outside the walls into the city at the Pool of Siloam. An inscription found in the tunnel confirms that Hezekiah built it.[xxv]
Sennacherib, an Assyrian king, who reigned 705-681 B.C., is mentioned by name in 13 different Bible verses.[xxvi] Sennacherib’s records confirm 5 different people and events recorded in the Bible.
1. Isaiah 39:44 says Merodach Baladan, a Babylonian king, sent Hezekiah a gift when he was sick (Isaiah 39:44). Sennacherib’s record the existence of Merodach Baladan as contemporary with Hezekiah.[xxvii]
2. 2 Kings 18:13-14 says Sennacherib captured all of the fortified cities of Judah, and stopped in Lachish before going to Jerusalem. Records of Sennacherib report the capture of Lachish and 40 other cities of Judah.[xxviii]
3. Isaiah 36-38 reports that Sennacherib and his army surrounded Jerusalem and were getting ready to destroy it. Sennacherib wrote in his memoirs that he “encircled Hezekiah like a bird in a cage” in Jerusalem.[xxix]
4. Isaiah 37:36-37 reports that God’s angel killed 189,000 Assyrian troops, saving Jerusalem from what seemed certain destruction. Isaiah 10:16 predicted that Assyrian troops would be destroyed by a “wasting disease.” Sennacherib failed to report the loss of his soldiers, but he also did not dishonestly claim to have destroyed Jerusalem and to have captured Hezekiah.
5. Isaiah 37:37-38 reports that Sennacherib returned to his palace in Nineveh where two of his sons killed him and fled to the land of Ararat. Esarhaddon, the son of Sennacherib, confirms that his two brothers killed his father, but he did not know where they fled, whereas Isaiah did.[xxx]
Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, reigned over Assyria 681-668 B.C. His name is mentioned 3 different times in the Bible: 2 Kings 9:37; Ezra 4:2; Isaiah 37:38.
1. Esarhaddon’s own records report he received tribute from Manasseh, which is also recorded in 2 Kings 21:1-18 and 2 Chronicles 32:33.[xxxi]
2. Esarhaddon said he conquered Egypt and Tirhakah, the Ethiopian king of Egypt, as predicted in Isaiah 20:2-6 and as reported in Isaiah 37:9.[xxxii]
3. He also boasted great things as described in Isaiah 10:12-16.[xxxiii]
Ashur-Banipal reigned from 668-632 BC and killed king Tirhakah, whose name appears as the Cushite king of Egypt in 2 Kings 19:9 and Isaiah 37:9. He also conquered Egypt and appointed new kings over Egypt who gave their allegiance to him, [xxxiv]as predicted in Isaiah 20:2-6.

EVIDENCE FOR BIBLE HISTORY FROM 621 TO 586 B.C.

An eclipse of the moon on April 22, 621 B.C. dates the 5th year of Nabopolassar King of Babylon, fixing 605 B.C. as Nabopolassar’s 21st and last year.[xxxv]
Babylonian Records show that in 609 B.C. Ashur-uballit II led a coalition of Egyptian and Assyrian forces against a Babylonian army at Haran on the Euphrates River.[xxxvi] 2 Kings 23:30-35 reported that in the same year of 609 B.C. king Josiah of Jerusalem was killed by Pharaoh Necho of Egypt when he passed through Israel to join the Assyrian forces at Haran (2 Kings 23:30-35).
Babylonian records show the battle at Haran lasted 3 months, confirming 2 Kings 23:31-35 that says Jehoahaz reigned only 3 months after Josiah died in 609 B.C. and that also says Pharaoh Necho imprisoned Jehoahaz and replaced him with Jehoiakim immediately after his battle at Haran against Babylonia.
In the spring of 605 B.C., Nabopolassar’s records show that he sent his son, Nebuchadnezzar, to fight Pharaoh Necho at Charchemish.[xxxvii] Egypt was defeated and Nebuchadnezzar went on to conquer all of Hatti-land, which includes all of Syria and Judah to the border of Egypt.[xxxviii]
1. Jeremiah 46:2 lists the victory at Charchemish in Jehoiakim’s 4th year in Nisan (spring) years. Daniel 1:1 dates the same war in Jehoiakim’s 3rd year in Tishri (fall) years. The conquest occurred in 605 B.C.
2. Nabopolassar died in August, 605 B.C. and Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon to become king. Jeremiah 25:1 assigns 605 B.C. to the 1st year of Nebuchadnezzar, using non-accession dating of his reign, in complete agreement with the Babylonian records.
3. A letter found at Arad refers to the Temple of Yahweh and to the last days of Judah’s kingdom until Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 B.C.[xxxix]
4. Seals of Jeremiah’s companions, Jerahmeel, the king’s son (Jeremiah 36:26) and of Berechiah (Baruch), son of Neriah the scribe (Jeremiah 32:12; 36:4), were found by archaeologists and dated to the time of Jeremiah.[xl]
Babylonian records say Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem a 2nd time March 16, 597 B.C., in his 7th year.[xli] 2 Kings 24:12 says that Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem in his 8th year. The Babylonian and Biblical records are in agreement because Babylon used a spring calendar and Judah used a fall calendar.
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem July 18, 586 B.C.[xlii]as recorded in many Biblical records which are recorded in the footnote.[xliii]

BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY TO THE PERSIAN RESTORATION

2 Kings 24:12-15 reports Nebuchadnezzar’s making Jehoiachin a prisoner and carrying him to Babylon with 10,000 of his officials and skilled men. Babylonian nation records dated from Nebuchadnezzar’s Years 10 to 35, list daily provisions for “Jehoiachin, king of Judah” and other “men of Judah.”[xliv]
2 Kings 25:27-30 says Evil Merodach released Jehoiachin from prison and permitted him to eat in the king’s palace the rest of his life. A Babylonian text names Evil Merodach (Amel-Marduk) as Nebuchadnezzar’s successor in 561 B.C. in confirmation of the Biblical record of his existence.[xlv]
Daniel 5 names Belshazzar as the last Babylonian king, but Herodotus, the Greek historian, says the last king was Nabonidas. Formerly, scholars thought Daniel was wrong. However, a Persian cylinder was excavated that names Belshazzar as co-ruler with his father. Belshazzar reigned in Babylon as Daniel 5 says, and his father retired to Arabia.[xlvi] Daniel’s knowledge of Belshazzar as co-ruler (Dan.5:7) proves he was an eyewitness of this period of history.
Ezra 1:1-4 reports that Cyrus conquered Babylon, liberated the Jews and permitted them to return to Israel and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Excavation uncovered the Cylinder of Cyrus which records his liberation of all the slaves of Babylon with permission to return to their lands and rebuild their temples.[xlvii]

[i] T.C. Mitchell, “Israel and Judah Until the Revolt of Jehu,” Cambridge Ancient History, 2nd Ed., III.1.445.

[ii] Thiele, Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, 43-66.

[iii] Thiele, Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, pp. 67-78.

[iv] Cambridge Ancient History, 2nd Ed., III.1.259.

[v] Thiele, op. cit., p. 64

[vi] Biblical Archaeological Review, May/June, 1995, pp. 33-35.

[vii] David Found at Dan,” Biblical Archaeological Review, Mar./April, 1994.

[viii] “The Remarkable Discoveries at Dan,” Biblical Archaeological Review, Sep’t./Oct., 1981.

[ix] “The Pomegranate Scepter Head,” May/June, 1992, Biblical Archaeological Review.

[x] “Fragments from the Book of Balaam Found at Deir Alla,” Biblical Archaeological Review, Sept/Oct., 1985.

[xi] Ancient Records of Assyria (A.R.) I.611; Ancient Near Eastern Texts, p. 279.

[xii] Ancient Records of Assyria I.563.

[xiii] Ancient Records of Assyria (A.R.) I.590; Ancient Near Eastern Texts, p. 280-81.

[xiv] Pritchard, Ed., The Ancient Near East in Pictures, p. 122.

[xv] Ancient Records of Assyria, I.575.

[xvi] Ibid., I.770,772,779.

[xvii] Ibid., I.801.

[xviii] Ibid., I.815-16.

[xix] Ibid., I.815-16.

[xx] Ibid., I.772,779.

[xxi] Ibid., I.828.

[xxii] Ibid. and Finegan, Light From the Ancient Past, I.185-188.

[xxiii] Ancient Records of Assyria, II.4,55,99,118.

[xxiv] Ibid., II.29-30.

[xxv] Finnegan, Light From Ancient Past, I.190-191.

[xxvi] 2 Kings 18:13; 19:16, 20, 36; 2 Chronicles 32:1,2,9, 10, 22; Ia. 36:1; 37:17, 21, 37.

[xxvii] Ancient Records of Assyria, II.241.

[xxviii] Ancient Records of Assyria, II.489.

[xxix] Ibid., II.340,327,347.

[xxx] Ibid., II.502.

[xxxi] Ibid., II.690,876.

[xxxii] Ibid., II.556,564,575

[xxxiii] Ibid., II.876.

[xxxiv] Ibid., II.580.

[xxxv] Thiele, Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, p. 181.

[xxxvi] Ibid., p. 181; (B.M. 21946).

[xxxvii] Ibid., pp. 183-185

[xxxviii] Ibid., p. 183.

[xxxix] Biblical Archaeological Review, Mar./April, 1987.

[xl] Biblical Archaeological Review, May/June, 1995, pp. 33-35.

[xli] Thiele, op. cit., p. 186

[xlii] Ibid., pp. 187-191)

[xliii] 2 Chron. 36:10-21; 2 Kings 25:2-25; Jer. 32:1; 39:l; 41:1-2; 43:2-7; 52:4-127; Ezek. 24:1-24; 33:21.

[xliv] Pritchard, Ed., Ancient Near Eastern Texts, p. 308.

[xlv] Ibid., pp. 311-312.

[xlvi] Ibid., p. 309-10, footnote 5.

[xlvii] Ibid., p. 316.

TOP

Lesson 22: REDATING OF EGYPTIAN HISTORY TO FIT BIBLICAL HISTORY FROM 930 TO 525 B.C.

INTRODUCTION

Previous lessons demonstrated that the history of Egypt’s dynasties 12 through 18 synchronizes harmoniously with Biblical history from Joseph to Solomon when Egyptian history is dated about three centuries later than conventional dates. Lesson 21 presented abundant synchronism between Bible history of the Divided Kingdom and Assyria’s astronomically dated history. This Lesson shows how dynasties 19 to 26 can be re-dated so as to produce unique synchronism with Bible history and Assyrian history from 930 to 525 B.C.

LESSON AIM:

To reconstruct Egyptian history so that it uniquely synchronizes with, and confirms, Biblical history from 930 to 525 B.C.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will:

Visualize how the new date of 854 B.C. for Rameses II’s 52nd year creates unique

synchronism with Biblical and Assyrian histories.

Observe how a three-century dark age in Hittite art is closed when Egypt’s chronology is re-dated by about three centuries later.
Consider new evidence that proves Dynasties 19 to 26 reigned parallel to each at different times from different capitals.
Examine solid reasons why Shoshenk I cannot be Pharaoh Shishak who attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam.
Visualize unique historical synchronism with the Bible and other nations’ histories when Dynasty 22 is dated in the 8th century B.C.

NEW DATES FOR RAMESES II CREATES NEW SYNCHRONISM WITH BIBLICAL & ASSYRIAN HISTORIES

Links Between Seti I and Elah, King of Israel
1. Ted astronomically fixed 854 B.C. as the 52nd year of Rameses II. You can see his chronology of the 19th dynasty in Table 22-A.
2. He dates the 1st year of Seti I in 922/21 B.C., which is the 10th year of Jeroboam, king of Israel. This date produces a unique synchronism with Biblical history.
3. In his 1st year Seti I defeated the “Hapiru” (Hebrews) near Bethshean,[i] and wrote on a monument: “The wretched enemy in the city of Hamath holds the city of Bethshean by

treaty with Elah of Pehel.”[ii]

Elah, the name recorded by Seti I, became king of N. Israel in 886 B.C. after his father Baasha established a new dynasty in 908 B.C. (1 Kings 15:27-16:14). Baasha and his son Elah were likely officials in Jeroboam’s government in 921 B.C. when Seti I invaded N. Israel.
Elah was likely living in Pehel with authority over Bethshean when Seti I captured the city in 921 B.C.

Genealogical Proof for Rameses II’s Reign from 906/05 to 838 B.C.
1. Khnemibre, a royal architect, inscribed his genealogy of 22 former royal architects in the 26th year of Darius, a Persian king, dated to 496 B.C.[iii]
  1. The 22nd generation was Rahotep, the famous architect, who began his work about the 9th year of Rameses II dated by Krauss in 1270 B.C.
  2. Thus 22 architects were born after Rahotep between 1270 and 496 B.C., a total of 774 years, an average of 35.2 years per generation.
  3. Krauss’ chronology for 18th and 19th dynasty kings lists 19 kings for a total of 335 years, an average of 17.6 (18) years per king.
  4. The famous Egyptologist, K. A. Kitchen, uses as 20-year average.
  5. Multiplying 18 years by 22 architects, we get 396 years before 496 B.C., assigning 892 B.C. to Rahotep’s appointment by Rameses II in his 9th year.
2. If Rameses II’s 9th year is 892 B.C., his 1st year should be c. 900 B.C., only 5 years off Ted’s fixed date 906/05 B.C.
3. Thus Khnemibre’s genealogy contradicts scholars’ dates of Egyptian history by 379 years, but confirms Ted’s astronomical chronology within 5 years.
Links Between Rameses II and the Reign of King Asa
1. In Rameses II’s early reign, his scribe met the “Chief of Asher” when traveling through the pass of Aruna north of Megiddo[iv]
  1. The Aruna Pass runs between Megiddo and the territory assigned by Joshua to the Hebrew tribe of Asher in N. Israel.[v]
  2. The chief of the Hebrew tribe of Asher, in their Biblical location for Asher, harmonizes with Rameses II’s reign in the early divided kingdom of Israel and proves the Hebrews were there before Rameses II reigned.
2. In 900 B.C., the 11th year of King Asa, Judah defeated Zerah the Cushite, who had an army of 1 million Cushite and Libyans soldiers. (2 Chronicles 14:1,8-15; 16:8).
  1. Ted’s new chronology assigns 900 B.C. to Rameses II’s 6th year of reign.
  2. In Rameses II’s 5th year (901 B.C.), he was defeated by Muwatallish, king of the Hittites.[vi] This defeat caused Palestine to rebel against Egypt in years 6 & 7. 322 However, year 6 is a blank in Rameses II’s records.
  3. In Year 6 (900 B.C.) Rameses II likely sent his Cushite general, Zerah, with only Cushite and Libyan troops to fight King Asa, while he let his Egyptian troops rest from. their defeat in Year 5. Historical records show Seti I and Rameses II had complete control over Libya and Cush (Nubia).[vii]
  4. The terrible failure of general Zerah was not recorded by Rameses II.
  5. In year 7, Rameses II led his Egyptian troops against the city of Ashkelon and besieged it many months before conquering it.[viii]
  6. In Year 8 Rameses II conquered the cities of Bethanath, Kerpet, Merem, Marom, and Sherem, all north of the Sea of Galilee.
3. Links Between Rameses II and Shalmaneser III
  1. Shalmaneser III, an Assyrian King, is astronomically dated from 858 to 824 B.C. Ted’s new dates for Rameses II make him a contemporary of Shalmaneser III from 858 to 838 B.C.
  2. Dual monuments, constructed side by side out of the same material, obviously in the same time period, picture Rameses II on one side and Shalmaneser III on the other side.[ix] They were contemporaries.
  3. In 858 B.C. Shalmaneser III defeated Sapalulme, a Hittite king, [x]whose name fits the Assyrian spelling, Suppiluliumas II, the last king of the Hittite Empire. Scholars date him contemporary to the latter reign of Rameses II and Merneptah. [xi]See this chronology in Table 22-B.
  4. Scholars say Egypt’s alliance with the Hittites ended c. 1200 B.C. However, 2 Kings 7:6 says that the Hittites still had an alliance with Egypt in 842 B.C.: “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.”
  5. Thus, the alliance Rameses II had with the Hittites still existed in 842 B.C. because Rameses II was still reigning in 842 B.C.
  6. Thus, Egyptian, Assyrian, Hittite and Biblical records form unique synchronism when Rameses II’s reign is dated 374 years later from 906/5 to 840/39 B.C.
4. Art of the 13/12th Century is Identical to Art of the 10th/8th Centuries
  1. A Hittite Storm God from Charchemish is dated by archaeologists to the 13th century is

dated by art historians to the 10th /9th centuries.[xii]

Hittite art of the 13th century suddenly reappears in the 9th [xiii]
13th century sculpture work on a Lion Gate at Mycenae is duplicated in the 8th century in

Phrygia.[xiv]

A 13th century sun god in Anatolia, dated by Egyptian history, is identical to a 7th century sun god at Charchemish which is dated by Assyrian history.[xv]
Ivory figurine from 12th century Megiddo is identical to an ivory figurine from 8th century Athens, dated by Greek history.[xvi]

Uncalibrated Carbon-14 Dating of Rameses II’s Reign.
1. A scholarly article entitled “C-14 Dating and Egyptian Chronology” assigns to Rameses II a date of 950 B.C. +/- 50 years, 329 years later than scholars’ dates for Rameses II, [xvii]but only 45 years earlier than Ted’s date of 906/5 B.C.
2. Another scholarly article entitled “Radiocarbon Chronology for Egypt & N. America” lists various carbon-14 dates from 800 to 1,000 B.C., fitting Ted’s dates of 906/5 to 840/39 B.C., but 270 to 470 years later than Rameses II’s traditional dates.[xviii]
Evidence of Merneptah’s Reign from 838 to 828 B.C.
1. Rameses II’s son, Merneptah, reported in his 5th year (Ted’s date of 835 B.C.) that “Israel is laid waste; his seed is not; Hurru is become a widow for Egypt.”[xix]
2. Hazael became king of Aram in 842 B.C. 2 Kings 10:32-33 says that “Hazael began to reduce the size of Israel” and “overpowered the Israelites . . . east of the Jordan in all the land of Gilead . . . to Bashan.” In 2 Kings 8:12 Elisha had previously predicted that Hazael would “set fire to Israel’s fortified places, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground and rip open their pregnant women.”
3. Merneptah did not say he had destroyed Israel, but that Israel “is laid waste,” in the passive voice, meaning that a third party (Hazael) had wasted Israel and made her “a widow” who needed Merneptah to marry her and protect her.
4. Thus, Merneptah was the first Egyptian king to call N. Israel by the name of Israel and to refer to their devastated state in 835 B.C., not in 1220 B.C.
Evidence That Dynasties 19 Through 26 Reigned Parallel to Each Other at Different Times from Different Capitals.
1. Ted’s date for the end of dynasty 19 is 812 B.C. In order for the 26th dynasty to end in the astronomically fixed year of 525 B.C., which all scholars accept, dynasties 19 to 26 must reign parallel to each.
2. These dynasties reigned parallel to each other. Key evidence – the burial of 26 Apis bull-gods during the reigns of named Pharaohs. See Table 22-C.
3. Egyptians had a formal burial for the bull-god when it died. Twenty-three Apis bulls were buried at Sakkara, near Memphis, between Rameses II’s 30th year (19th dynasty) and Psamtek I’s 21st year (26th dynasty). Three more buried bulls were found without links to any Pharaoh.[xx]
4. The average life span of a bull was about 20 years, but ceases to be procreative by 10-12 years.
5. Egyptians considered the firstborn of animals as “gods” (Exodus 12:12).
  1. When the Apis god-bull was 8 to 12 years old, the priests likely bred him to a young heifer, to produce a firstborn bull-calf who replaced the god-father when he died. On this basis the average generation between the god-father and the god-son would be 8 to 12 years, not 18 years.
  2. The burial dates of the Apis bulls give evidence of a 10-year average in the reigns of a number of kings.[xxi] Five bulls between Rameses II’s 30th and 67th year, a period of only 37 years, divided by 4 gives a generation span of only 9.25 years. Three bulls died during Rameses XI’s 30-year reign, a likely average of 10 to 12 years per bull. Three bulls were buried consecutively in the specified years, 4, 14, and 24, of Taharka, precisely every 10 years.
  3. Scholars date Rameses II’s 30th year in 1249 B.C. The 21st year of Psamtek I is certainly 644 B.C., 605 years later.
  4. If Ted’s date of 876 B.C. for Rameses II’s 30th year is correct, then only 232 years intervened before Psamtek I’s 21st year in 644 B.C., a 9-year average between each bull burial, which confirms Ted’s chron-ology.
6. The burial records show apparent irregularities that enabled me to arrange the dynasties in proper relation to each other. See Table 22-C.
  1. Burials 1 through 12 run from Rameses II’s 30th year in the 19th dynasty through Rameses XI’s latter reign in the 20th dynasty.
  2. However, between burials 12 and 13 are missing the entire 21st dynasty and the 1st three kings of the 22nd dynasty.
  3. Some burials in the 22nd dynasty occurred in impossible intervals of 54 years, 26 years and 22 years.
  4. These exaggerated intervals were reconciled when I realized that parallel dynasties filled in the gaps and prevented 21st dynasty kings from participating in the bull burials.
  5. Three burials of bulls not linked to any Pharaoh fit perfectly in the reigns of the first 2 kings of the 22nd dynasty, which was also parallel to dynasties 20 – 26. See Table 22-D.
7. Important evidence proves Sheshonk I of the 22nd dynasty ruled before Siamun of the 21st dynasty.[xxii]
  1. All Egyptologists date Siamun of the 21st dynasty about 35 years before Shoshenk I of the 22nd dynasty. However, in the 11th year of Shoshenk I, the body of Djedptahefankh was deposited in a new tomb.
  2. In Siamun’s 10th year, the body of Seti I of the 19th dynasty was moved from his old tomb into the same tomb of Djedptahefankh. His coffin was so large that Seti’s coffin was placed in front of Djedptahefankh’s coffin because there was no room to go around it. Therefore, Seti’s coffin was deposited last, proving that Shoshenk I’s 11th year preceded Siamun’s 10th Year.
8. Evidence also indicates that the death of Osorkon II of the 22nd Dynasty preceded the death of Psusennes I of the 21st Dynasty.[xxiii]
  1. The tomb of Osorkon II had to have been constructed before the tomb of Psusennes

I because the constructors of Pususennes’ tomb built his tomb into one of the corners of Osorkon II’s tomb.

Yet, scholars date Osorkon II’s death 141 years after Psusennes I’s death.
In reality, Dynasty 21 and 22 reigned parallel to each other so that Osorkon II died before Psusennes I died.

Ted arranged Dynasties 19 to 26 parallel to each other. See Table 22-D.

Biblical Evidence of Multiple Dynasties During the Latter Reign of the 19th Dynasty
1. 2 Kings 7:6: Egypt had multiple dynasties in 842 B.C. – “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians.”
2. The Hebrew of 2 Kings 7:6 clearly states that a plurality of kings existed in Egypt as well as among the Hittites in 842 B.C.
3. Conventional Egyptian history dates Takelot II of the 22nd dynasty as the sole king of Egypt in 842 B.C. in contradiction to 2 Kings 7:6.
4. I date 843 B.C. in Rameses II’s 63rd year. Thus, 2 Kings 7:6 proves parallel dynasties existed in Rameses II’s later reign. See this in (Table 22-D).
Evidence That Shoshenk I of Dynasty 22 Was Not Shishak
1. 1 Kings 14:25 says that Shishak attacked Jerusalem in the 5th year of Rehoboam, son of Solomon, dated by Thiele to 926/925 B.C.[xxiv]
2. Shoshenk I listed 29 Palestinian cities he conquered. Jerusalem is not on the list.[xxv]
3. 2 Chronicles 11:5-10; 12:1-4 names 15 cities that Shishak captured. Aijalon is the only city that appears in both lists.
4. 1 Kings 11:40 says Jeroboam fled from Solomon and went to Pharaoh Shishak for protection, making Jeroboam, king of N. Israel, an ally of Shishak. Thus, 1 Chronicles 12:1- 4 reports that Shishak attacked only the fortified cities of Judah, not cities of N. Israel. Yet, Shoshenk I attacked 23 cities in N. Israel where his ally, Jeroboam was supposedly reigning.
5. For all of these reasons, Shoshenk I cannot be Pharaoh Shishak.
Proof That Dynasty 22 Existed in the 8th Century.
1. Scholars are agreed that Shoshenk I and his son Osorkon I were contemporary with certain kings of Byblos (Gubla). (See Table 22-E). Modern scholars date these 22nd dynasty kings and the rulers of Byblos between 945 and 874 B.C. Takelot I was contemporary with Shipitbaal from 889 to 874 B.C.
2. Tiglath-Pileser III reported that Sibitti-bili, ruler of Byblos, paid tribute to him in his 3rd year, which is astronomically dated to 743 B.C.[xxvi] Sipbitti-billi’s name appears to be the same as Shipitbaal, the contemporary of Takelot I.
3. This synchronism results in a new chronology for the 22nd Dynasty and reduces the chronology of this dynasty by 131 to 146 years. (See Tables 22-D and 22-E).
4. The contents of these tombs also fit the 8th century B.C.
  1. The style of writing found in the tombs of these Byblos kings fits the 8th century.[xxvii]
  2. Cypriot pottery was also found in these same tombs of Byblos dated 850-700 B.C[xxviii].
5. Genealogical evidence also indicates that Shoshenk I lived in the 8th, instead of the 10th century. Khnemibre, writing in 496 B.C., listed 22 former architects back to Rahotep, the royal architect of Rameses II.[xxix] Haremsaf, the 14th architect before Khnemibre, served Shoshenk I. Multiplying 14 architects by 20 years, we get about 280 years that separate the two architects, giving us 776 B.C., amazing confirmation for Ted’s dates for Shosh-enk I’s reign from 800 to 769 B.C.
6. 2 Kings 17:4-10 says Hoshea, king of Israel, trusted in king So of Egypt, provoking Shalmaneser V, king of Assyria, to destroy Samaria and take N. Israel into captivity in 722 B.C. A statue of Osorkon II of the 22nd Dynasty, was found in the excavated palace in Samaria that Shalmaneser V destroyed.[xxx]
  1. Petrie lists Osorkon II’s throne name as So-Tepen-Ra,[xxxi] a name that begins with So, the prefix of Osorkon II’s throne name. As Tiglath-Pileser III’s name was reduced to Pul in 2 Kings 5:19, also So-Tepen-Ra was reduced to So in 2 Kings 17:4-6.
  2. Hoshea’ trust in king So in 722 B.C., fits perfectly my new chronology of Osorkon II (So-tepenra) from 729 to 715 B.C.
7. Other archaeological evidence also dates the 22nd Dynasty in the 8th century B.C.
  1. A chalice of the early 22nd dynasty was found at Buseirah in Edom, a city constructed in the 8th century B.C., when Ted dates Osorkon II.[xxxii]
  2. Also, a scarab of Osorkon I or II was found in a tomb at Salamis, Cyprus, that is dated about 700 B.C.[xxxiii]
  3. Alabaster vases with Osorkon II’s name were found in tombs with two Greek vases that did not exist before 780 B.C.[xxxiv]
8. Thus, abundant evidence confirms that Shoshenk I, Takelot I and Osorkon II reigned in the 8th century B.C., 145 years later than the dates of scholars.
Future Research Will Produce New Synchronism.
1. Ted’s arrangement of parallel dynasties from 19 to 26 is presently tentative.
2. Ted devised this arrangement in the summer of 1996 after combining the research of Peter James’ Centuries of Darkness, and David Rohl’s Pharaohs and Kings. James shows how 3-century dark ages in 22 nations’ histories linked to Egypt disappear when Egyptian history is redated c. 3 centuries later.
3. The chronology of Centuries in Darkness differs from Ted’s by about 120 years for dynasties 18 to 21, but only 25 years for dynasties 20 through 24.
4. Rohl’s chronology fits Ted’s chronology in dating Akhenaten parallel to the reign of King David. Rohl identifies Rameses II as Pharaoh Shishak, whereas Ted identifies Horemheb (Zeserk) as Pharaoh Shishak, a difference of about 30 to 40 years.

[i] R. O. Faulkner, Cambridge Ancient History, II.2.218-220.

[ii] Yohanan Aharoni, Macmillan Bible Atlas, p. 37.

[iii] David Rohl, Pharaohs & Kings, pp. 141-142.

[iv] Aharoni, op. cit., p. 39.

[v] Ibid. & Josh. 19:24-31

[vi] R. O. Faulkner, “Egypt: From the Inception of the 19th Dynasty to the Death of Ramesses III, Cambridge Ancient History, II.2.226-228

[vii] Ibid., p. 224

[viii] R. O. Faulkner, “Egypt: From the Inception of the 19th Dynasty to the Death of Ramesses

III, Cambridge Ancient History, II.2.226-228. p. 228

[ix] Pritchard, Ed., Ancient Near East In Pictures, p. 112, figure 335.

[x] Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria & Babylonian, p. 215.

[xi] Cambridge Ancient History, II.2.265

[xii] Peter James, Centuries of Darkness, picture across from p. 170.

[xiii] Ibid., pp. 122-124.

[xiv] Ibid., p. 93.

[xv] Ibid. p. 128

[xvi] Ibid., in front of Title page.

[xvii] T. Save-Soderbergh and I. U. Olsson, Radiocarbon Variations and Absolute Chronology, p. 50.

[xviii] Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Oct. 1983.

[xix] Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts, p.378

[xx] Rohl, op. cit., pp. 56-57.

[xxi] Ibid., p. 57.

[xxii] Peter James, Centuries in Darkness, pp. 242-243.

[xxiii] Ibid., pp. 243-245.

[xxiv] Edwin Thiele, Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, p. 50.

[xxv] Most of these reasons are found in David Rohl’s, Pharaohs & Kings, pp. 122-127, 370-71.

[xxvi] Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Egypt, I.272 to 276, paragraphs 769 & 772.

[xxvii] Peter James, op. cit., pp. 250-253.

[xxviii] Ibid.

[xxix] David Rohl, op. cit., Kings, pp. 141-142.

[xxx] Cambridge Ancient History, 2nd Ed., III.1.558.

[xxxi] Petrie, A History of Egypt, III.240,248.

[xxxii] Peter James, op. cit., p. 251.

[xxxiii] Ibid.

[xxxiv] Ibid., p. 252.

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Lesson 23: CANONICITY AND PRESERVATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

INTRODUCTION

Many Christians do not see the need to study the Old Testament, but Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” The inspired writers of the New Testament certainly thought the Old Testament was important to study because they quoted 1,072 verses of the Old Testament in the New Testament.

How were the books of the Old Testament selected, collected and preserved? This lesson gives a brief overview of how this process occurred.

LESSON AIM:

To see, in a brief overview, how the books of the Old Testament were selected, collected and preserved.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will:

Learn something about the term “canon” and how the books of the Old Testament were determined to be worthy to be included in the canon.
Consider the reasons why some books were included while others were excluded from the canon.
Learn how the Old Testament books were copied and preserved through the years.
See the attack against the authenticity of the Old Testament books made by critical scholars.

THE PROBLEMS AND PROOF OF CANONICITY

Definition of Canonicity
1. The word, Canon, comes from the Hebrew word, kaneh, which means “a reed” which was used to measure the length, width and height of things as in Ezekiel 40:3.
2. The word, Canon in Greek (kanon), also means a reed, rod, ruler, staff, or measure.
3. The Canon means the Standard or Authority to determine what is correct in religious and moral matters.
  1. Deuteronomy 4:2 – “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.”
  2. Deuteronomy 12:32 – “Do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.”
  3. Deuteronomy 32:46-47 – “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you– they are your life.”
  4. Proverbs 30:6 – “Do not add to his words, or he will . . . prove you a liar.”
4. Six Tests to Determine The Canon in The Opinion of Geisler/Nix
  1. Authorship: Was the author a man of God with the gift of inspired prophecy?
  2. Genuineness: Was the alleged author actually the person who wrote it?
  3. Authenticity: Does the book reveal only truth with no obvious errors?
  4. Authority: Does the book demonstrate the authority of God’s word?
  5. Receptivity: Was the book received by God’s people as God’s word?
  6. Influence: Does the teaching of the book demonstrate Divine Power to inspire faith, transform lives and encourage perseverance?
5. Misconception of Most Scholars

Many scholars believe that the Canon was determined by Jewish councils of later ages who determined which of many books could pass the tests already mentioned, and thus which books should make up the Old Testament Canon or standard of religion.

Old Testament’s Own Testimony About its Canonicity and Preservation.
1. God calls the prophet and inspires his speaking and writing (Isaiah 6:1-11; 30:8).
2. God’s 4-fold test for a true prophet.
  1. Test of the prophet’s predictions: Do they come to pass? (Deuteronomy 18:21-22; 1 Samuel 3:19-20; Isaiah 30:8; Ezekiel 33:33)
  2. Test of the prophet’s miracles: (Deuteronomy 34:10-12; Joshua 3:7; I Kings 17:22-24).
  3. Test of the prophet’s teaching: (Deuteronomy 13:1-5).
  4. Test of the prophet’s life: (Matthew 7:15-16).
3. God’s people, through their high priest and king, recognize the genuineness and authenticity of the prophet and his writing: 1 Samuel 3:20 – “And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.”
4. All of inspired Scripture was written by men with the gift of prophecy, which signified that the Holy Spirit revealed the message and guided the writer, preserving it from error (2 Peter 1:20-21).
5. Even the historical books of the Bible were written by inspired prophets. The writer of 1 & 2 Chronicles was Ezra, a priest with the gift of prophecy. Ezra constantly referred to the contents of Samuel and especially 1 & 2 Kings, attributing the authorship of these books to different prophets (1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29; 2 Chronicles 12:15; 13:22; 20:34; 32:32; 33:19).
6. The prophet gave his writing to the high priest who deposits the writing by the side of the ark of the covenant (Deuteronomy 31:24-26). – “After Moses finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end, he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord:’Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God.’”
  1. Each succeeding book that Moses and successive prophets wrote were added to the Canon as a part of God’s word by being attached to the Book of the Law beside the ark of the covenant.
  2. The Hebrew word “and” (wah) connects all of the books through 2 Kings (except Deuteronomy).
  3. Isaiah knew that his prophecy would be added to the book of the Law (Isaiah 34:16).
  4. The discovery of the “Book of the Law” in the temple during Josiah’s time shows the priests were to guard the sacred canon in the temple (2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 34- 35).
  5. Jeremiah was a priest as well as a prophet. In Jeremiah 36:4-6 he told his scribe, Baruch son of Neriah, “Go to the house of the Lord . . . and read to the people from the scroll the words of the Lord that you wrote as I dictated.”
  6. True prophets were a part of the Sanhedrin “council” and recognized as true prophets by the people (Ezekiel 13:9). Josephus says that the “high” priest, the prophet and the Sanhedrin (judges) resolved the most difficult Jewish problems.[i]
  7. Ezra, who likely wrote 2 Chronicles 35:26-27 considered the books of 1 & 2 Kings to also be part of God’s Law and God’s Book.

The priests became the guardians of the holy covenant, as was Ezra in Nehemiah 8:1-3.
A copy of the inspired writing was also deposited with the king (Deuteronomy 17:18-19).
1. This copy left with the king served as a second witness and a second preserver and protector of the sacred canon.
2. Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, carried Jeremiah’s scroll to the Temple and read the prophecies to all of the people (Jeremiah 36:4-10).
3. Then, Baruch took the scroll to the palace of king Jehoiakim and deposited it with Elishama the king’s secretary (Jeremiah 36:11-20)
4. The king sent Jehudi to get Jeremiah’s scroll and listened as Jehudi read. The king was so angry with Jeremiah’s prophecies that he cut the scroll in pieces and burned them in his fire place (Jeremiah 36:20-23).
5. God commanded Jeremiah to take another scroll and write all of the former prophecies, plus additional prophecies. (Jeremiah 36:28-32).
Close of The Canon And its Confirmation
1. The Old Testament prophets predicted a time when prophecy would cease (Amos 8:11-12) and prophets would no longer speak for God (Zechariah 13:2-5; Amos 8:11-12; Zechariah 13:2-5). These prophecies were fulfilled about 400 B.C., when prophecy ceased and no new inspired books were added to the Canon of the Old Testament.
2. 1 Maccabees was written about 150 B.C., in this 400-year period between the Testaments. It denies that it is inspired because 1 Maccabees 4:45; 9:27; 14:41 report that during this time period people were waiting “until a prophet should rise.” Only prophets can inspired literature.
3. Jesus Christ confirmed the Old Testament Canon, accepting the Scriptures that the Jews accepted in the first century A.D.
  1. Matthew 23:35 – “And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.” The story of Abel’s murder is recorded in Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament The story of the murder of Zechariah is recorded in 2 Chronicles, the last book of the Hebrew Old Testament Jesus thus placed His stamp of approval on the entire Canon of Old Testament Scripture.
  2. Luke 24:44 – “He said to them,’This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’” The Jews divided their Hebrew Bible into 3 sections, differently than our English Bibles. The first section was Moses’ writings (the first 5 books of the Old Testament). The second section was the prophets, which included Joshua through 2 Kings (because they were written by prophets) and all of the prophets except Daniel. The third section, which Jesus entitled, “The Psalms,” included the other writings of the Old Testament that were not written by Moses or the Prophets, but was written by men who had other professions, but also had the gift of divine inspiration, such as Job, David (Psalms), and Solomon (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon), who were rulers or kings, not full time prophets. Daniel also was a full time government official, not a full time prophet. The books of Ezra and 1 & 2 Chronicles were written by Ezra, a full time priest and scribe, not a full time prophet. The same is true of the books of Nehemiah and Esther.
4. Writings that did not follow this canonical process were rejected as uninspired.
  1. The Jew wrote many books during the period between the Testaments that were not inspired and were rejected by the Jewish priests.
  2. In this manner, the Jews were “entrusted with the oracles of God” (Romans 3:2)
  3. The Pseudepigraph and Apocrypha were all written in the Greek language during the period between the Testaments.
  4. The Jews rejected these books as being inspired literature and did not include them among their sacred Scripture.
5. Josephus, Contra Apion, book I, chapter 8 substantiates this view among the Jews. “For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing from and contradicting one another (as the Greeks have), but only twenty-two books, which contain the records of all the past times; which are justly believed to be divine; . . . no one has been so bold as either to add anything to them or take anything from them, or to make any change in them; but it becomes natural to all Jews, immediately and from their very birth, to esteem those books to contain divine doctrines, and to persist in them, and, if occasion be, willingly to die for them.

THE DISPUTED BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: ANTILEGOMENA, PSEUD-EPIGRAPHA AND APOCRYPHA

The Homolegomena (same work) — 34 of the 39 Old Testament books were accepted by all Jews of all generations without dispute.
The Antilegomena (spoken against)

These were disputed by some of the rabbis centuries later after the books had already been accepted into the Canon.

Song of Solomon: too sensual, some thought.
Ecclesiastes: too skeptical, some thought.
Esther: God’s name not mentioned.
Ezekiel: thought to contradict Pentateuch.
Proverbs: thought to contradict itself (Proverbs 26:4-50).

The Pseudepigrapha (false or spurious writings)
1. These are books which both Jews and Christians of all ages rejected from their Canons of Scripture.
2. Yet, some are thought to have been used by Jude (book of Enoch, 1:14 and the Assumption of Moses, 1:9); and by Paul, (Penitence of Jannes and Jambres, 2 Timothy 3:8).
The Apocrypha
1. Meaning: “hard to understand” or “hidden” — applied to these books (not known by the church and thus not openly approved by God).
2. Arguments in favor of including them:
  1. The Alexandrian Canon, represented by a fourth century manuscript contains all of the apocrypha (15 books).
  2. The New Testament refers to 2 Maccabees 7, 12 in Hebrews 11:35.
  3. The New Testament quotes the LXX which contained the Apocrypha.
  4. Irenaeus, Tertullian and Clement of Alexandria accepted these books as canonical.
  5. Catacomb scenes depict episodes from the Apocrypha.
  6. Greek manuscripts (Aleph, A & B) interpose the Apocrypha among the Old Testament books.
  7. Syrian church accepted them in the 4th century.
  8. Augustine and Councils at Hippo (393) and Carthage (397) accepted them, as did also the Greek church.
  9. The Council of Trent (1546) pronounced them canonical.
  10. Protestant Bible contained them until the 19th century.
  11. Some written in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.
3. Refutation of the above arguments:
  1. There are no quotations in the New Testament from these books as “Scripture.”
  2. The Roman Catholic Church does not accept all of the Alexandrian Canon.
  3. No one knows that earlier manuscripts of the LXX contained the apocrypha because our only copy is of the 4th century.
  4. No council of the entire church favored them.
  5. Scenes from the catacombs were only that of historical events.
  6. A 4th century canon doesn’t prove a first century canon.
  7. The Syrian church of the second century did not include them in their canon.
  8. The Greek church didn’t accept the Apocrypha in early centuries.
  9. Council of Trent was the first council to pronounce them canonical, almost 1500 years after the apostolic age.
  10. The Apocryphal books in Protestant Bibles appeared in a separate section to distinguish them from Canonical books.
  11. The existence of some Apocryphal books among the Dead Sea Scrolls does not indicate they were thought to be inspired.
4. Arguments opposing the Apocrypha and supporting the Hebrew Canon.
  1. God entrusted the “Oracles of God” in the Old Testament to the Jewish nation (Romans 3:2).
  2. The Jewish nation, under its high priests and judges, never accepted any of the Apocrypha into the Canon of Sacred Scripture.
  3. The authors of these books were not approved as prophets of God.
  4. No testimony of reliable history can establish the authors of these books as true prophets of God.
  5. These books do not claim to be inspired literature.
  6. Jesus Christ accepted the Canon of the Jews of his day, referring to the same divisions of the Old Testament as they did (Luke 24:27,44).
  7. The Jewish Council of Jamnia (A.D. 90) confirmed this same Canon of Palestine as the only inspired Scriptures.
  8. The Babylonian Talmud (book of tradition among the Jews) says, “After the latter prophets Haggai, Zechariah, . . . and Malachi, the Holy Spirit departed from Israel” (VII-VIII, 24. cited from Geisler and Nix, p. 174).
  9. The Catholic Church did not accept the entire Apocrypha in the Alexandrian Canon, but only 12 of the 15 books.
  10. Jerome, the translator of the Latin Vulgate, the official Roman Catholic Bible, refused to include the Apocrypha in the Vulgate because they were not a part of the Hebrew Canon.
5. Value of the Apocrypha.
  1. These books reveal the beliefs and history of the Jewish people during the inter-testamental period.
  2. I and II Maccabees contain material that shows the fulfillment of two important prophecies of Daniel (chapters 8 and 11-12).
6. The Copies of Scripture Used by the Priests and the Kings Were Made by Trained Scribes
  1. Deuteronomy 17:18-19 – “When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites.”
  2. We know that these scribes were well trained. The Massoretes, a Jewish school of priests and scribes that lived in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. meticulously counted every letter in every line and every line on every page and pages with mistakes were burned and rewritten.

THE COPYING AND PRESERVATION OF THE CANON OF SCRIPTURE

Our Greatest Confidence That the Original Old Testament Cannon Was accurately and completely preserved is God’s promise to preserve it
1. Psalm 119:89 – “Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”
2. Psalm 119:152 – “Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.”
3. Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”
Moses Required in Deuteronomy 17:18-19 that their future kings should write “on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites.” and the king was to read that scroll “all the days of his life.”
Jeremiah Was A Prophet and A Priest; His Scribe, Baruch, Was Likely A Levite
God Commanded Priests, Levites and Elders to Teach Israel His Law (Leviticus 10:11; Deuteronomy 4:9; 17:9-11; 31:9-11)

It was therefore necessary that copies of the Law be made so they could study God’s Law and teach it.

Numerous Old Testament references indicate the kings of Israel appointed special priests and secretaries (likely Levites) to copy, as well as interpret the Scriptures (2 Samuel 8:17; 20:25-26; 1 Kings 4:3; 2 Kings 22:3, et. al.)
Many of the Levites and priests were inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit to copy the Scriptures accurately.
When the Canon was closed about 400 B.C., uninspired scribes, who were well trained in their profession, continued to make copies of the Scripture.

ANCIENT TEXTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

The Masoretic Texts Were Translated by Hebrew Scribes Called the Masoretes
The Greek Septuagint Was Translated from the Hebrew in 285-246 B.C.
1. The name Septuagint means “70″ and got its name because 70 Jewish scholars were involved in the translation.
2. The earliest known complete copies of the Septuagint translation are found in the following manuscripts: Sinaiticus (4th century A.D.), Vaticanus (4th century A.D.) and Codex Alexandrinus (5th century A.D.).
The Septuagint has many differences with the Massoretic Text, because translations are actually interpretations of the Hebrew copies.
The Dead Sea Scrolls Were Discovered in 1947 – They represent the oldest Hebrew manuscripts ever found.
1. 200 Old Testament manuscripts have been carbon-14 dated from 250 B.C. to 100 A.D.
2. Every Old Testament book has been found except the book of Esther.
3. The Dead Sea Scrolls confirm 95% of the Massoretic Text where it differed with the Septuagint Greek translation.
4. In a few cases the Dead Sea Hebrew Scrolls agreed with the Septuagint against the Massoretic Text and specifically in instances where the New Testament quotes the Septuagint Greek instead of the Hebrew text.
5. For example, Hebrews 1:6 quotes the Septuagint version of Deuteronomy 32:43, “Let all God’s angels worship him,” which is omitted in the Massoretic Hebrew text. However a Dead Sea Scroll has the same words of the Septuagint in Hebrew, confirming the Septuagint and Hebrews 1:6 rather than the Massoretic text.[ii]
6. Exodus 1:5 in the Massoretic text says “70″ Israelites descended to Egypt, and the Septuagint text says “75″ Israelites entered Egypt. Luke in Acts 7:14 agrees with the 75 number found in the Septuagint, thus giving an inspired judgment that the Septuagint is correct on this verse. A Hebrew fragment of Exodus among the Dead Sea Scrolls also has “75,” indicating that the original Hebrew also had 75 and that a latter scribe of the Massoretic text accidentally wrote 70 instead of 75.[iii]
All of God’s Word in the Old Testament Has Always Been Preserved Either in the Massoretic Text or the Septuagint Text

HIGHER CRITICISM OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON

Egyptian History and Palestinian Archaeology

As presently dated by scholars, they contradict most of Old Testament history from Genesis to the time of David & Solomon.

Liberal Scholars Propose that the Pentateuch Was Not Written by Moses

But by 5 Different Authors called J (Jehovah writer), E (Elohim writer), P (Priestly writer: Ezra), (Prophetical writer) and R (Redactor).

Jesus Christ believed that Moses wrote all five books of the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy).
Matthew 8:4; 19:8; Mark 7:10; 12:26; Luke 24:27; 24:44; John 5:46; 7:19, 22.

Critical Scholars Claim That Isaiah Was Written by at Least 2 Authors, Writing in 2 Different Periods of Hebrew History
1. Arguments of the Critics:
  1. Isaiah’s predictions are too detailed and historically accurate; therefore, they must have been written after their fulfillment on the basis that miraculous predictions are impossible.
  2. Critics propose that Isaiah 1-39 was written by the Isaiah of 2 Kings 19-20 and that Isaiah 40-66 was likely written by an unknown author after the Babylonian Exile, hundreds of years after Biblical Isaiah died.
2. But Jesus believed in a God that predicted the future miraculously. See Luke 24:27; 24:45 and John 5:46.
3. Jesus and His apostles believed that Isaiah 1-39 and Isaiah 40-66 were written by the same Isaiah.
4. Matthew 3:1-3 reports that John the Baptist fulfilled the prediction of Isaiah 40:3, which “was spoken by the prophet Isaiah.”
5. Matthew 4:14-15 says that “the prophet Isaiah” predicted the words of Isaiah 9:1,2.
6. Matthew 8:17 quotes Isaiah 53:4 as “spoken through Isaiah the prophet.”
7. Matthew 12:17-21 quotes Isaiah 42:1-4 and writes that is “was spoken through the prophet Isaiah.”
8. In Matthew 13:14-15 Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 and attributes the words to “the prophecy of Isaiah.”
9. In Matthew 15:7-9 Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13 and says, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you.”
Critics Say Daniel Was Not Written in the 6th Century B.C., as He Claimed, but in the 2nd Century B.C.
1. Again critics do not believe in miraculous predictions.
2. Daniel’s predictions are so amazingly accurate that critics, who do not believe that God can reveal the future to His prophets, are forced to date the predictions after their fulfillment.
3. Daniel 2, 7, 9 clearly point to the Roman Empire, the birth of Christ and the Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D. as the time of the fulfillment. Dead Sea Scrolls of Daniel date back from 100 to 150 B.C., proving that the book of Daniel existed before the fulfillment of some of its prophecies.

[i] Josephus, Antiquities, Book IV, VIII.14.

[ii] NIV Study Bible on Heb. 1:7, footnote d.

[iii] Geisler and Nix, General Introduction to the Bible, p. 374.

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Lesson 24: CANONICITY and PRESERVATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

INTRODUCTION

This course has presented a multitude of evidences that corroborate the inspiration of the Bible as the infallibly accurate Word of God. In the last lesson we saw evidences that the Old Testament documents form a genuine work of inspired men and that God has adequately preserved His Word in the Old Testament through meticulously copied manuscripts. In this lesson we will see evidences that the New Testament documents are also genuine and have been completely preserved in a multitude of Greek manuscripts and translations into other languages. We will also see how the New Testament documents were selected, collected and preserved. Technically, this lesson is entitled the Canonicity and Preservation of the New Testament.

LESSON AIM:

To convince the student that God revealed, inspired and preserved His Word in the New Testament.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will:

Learn how all of the books of the New Testament were collected as a part of God’s sacred Canon.
Consider the reasons why some books were included in the Canon, while others were excluded from it.
Learn how the New Testament documents were collected, copied and preserved for future generations.
Learn how to answer the attacks of critical scholars against the genuineness and authenticity of the New Testament books.

NEED FOR THE FORMATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON

The Nature of the New Testament Documents Required A Standard Canon
1. The books of the New Testament were considered prophetical, divinely inspired of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 4:6; 2 Peter 3:15-16).
2. The apostles taught the church that their teaching was “complete” (2 Peter 1:3), “eternal” (I Peter 1:25); “authoritative” (1 Corinthians 14:37) and that it should be preserved and taught to future generations (2 Timothy 2:2; 2 Peter 1:12-14), as the “all sufficient” word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
3. The churches were to exchange letters with other churches and to read these to the whole church (Colossians 4:16)
Heretical Stimulus to Form the New Testament Canon
1. False teachers had to be exposed.
2. There arose the need to list the canonical books and agree on a standard canon for the universal church.
Missionary Need To Translate New Testament Documents Into Other Languages

The need to translate required the decision of which books to translate and which to exclude.

Political Need to Determine the Canon
1. Constantine, the first Emperor of the Byzantine Empire, was converted to Christianity and wanted all of the citizens of his kingdom to have access to the Scriptures.
2. He ordered Eusebius, the church historian, to prepare 50 copies of Scripture at state expense.
3. Eusebius had to make the decision which books to translate and which books to exclude.

PRIMARY TEST OF A CANONICAL BOOK

What Makes A Document Canonical?
1. A writing of an inspired man of God is immediately canonical when it is written.
2. It becomes canonical to the church when its apostolic or prophetical authorship is recognized by the church (2 Peter 1:19-21; I Thessalonians 2:13).
Credential of A True Prophet or Inspired Writer
1. The prophet must exhibit the credentials of a true prophet of God (2 Corinthians 12:12).
2. Preaching accompanied with miraculous signs that would “confirm” or “establish” the truth of the message (Mark 16:16-20).
3. This miraculous attestation of apostles and prophets occurred in the first century (Acts 14:3; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:1-4).
Test of A True Prophet in New Testament Times.
1. An apostle: direct association with Jesus as an eye witness of His resurrection (Acts 1:21- 23).
2. Prophets and inspired teachers: the laying on of the apostles’ hands (Acts 8:14-18; Acts 19:6; 2 Timothy 1:7).
3. Their prophecies and revelations from God: confirmed with miraculous signs (Mark 16:17- 20; Hebrews 2:1-4; 2 Corinthians 12:12).
4. Their messages: agree with the doctrine of the apostles (1 John 4:6).
5. Their lives: had to measure up to their teaching (Matthew 7:15-23).
6. All of the tests above had to be met (Matthew 7:21-23).

THE METHOD OF TESTING AND ACCEPTING CANONICAL SCRIPTURE

Prophets in Congregation Served as Inspired Judges of The Credentials of Each Writer
1. During the formative stages of the canon, God appointed prophets in each congregation (1 Corinthians 12:28-31; 13:9-10; 14:1-4).
2. These prophets were to pass judgment on any oral/written prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:29, 37).
3. A plurality of prophets served as a check and balance on prophecy.
The Testimony of Elders & Evangelists
1. The apostles appointed elders (Acts 14:23; 20, 17, 28) and evangelists (Ephesians 4:11; 2 Timothy 2:2; 4:5) in the congregations they planted.
2. Elders and evangelists joined the prophets in testing the validity or non-validity of the men and their alleged inspired writings.
The Testimony of 3 Groups (Prophets, Elders and Evangelists) Served As Judges of All Inspired Utterances and Writings
1. Each writing was examined and accredited as a truly prophetical work before it could be accepted.
2. Accepted by a congregation established by the apostles and prophets.
3. Accepted by a congregations with elders, evangelists and prophets which gave its divine approval.
Specific Steps of Canonicity
1. Sent to a specific church or person.
2. The writing and man are put to the test.
3. The elders, evangelists and prophets of the local congregation judge the writing to be inspired or not.
4. The church who receives the document as an inspired production preserved the document, copies it, circulates it and testifies to it as an inspired work.
5. Churches collect the inspired documents which have the approval of the churches to which they were originally written.
6. The combined collection and preservation by all of the churches, finally make up the entire Canon.

OTHER WITNESSES TO THE CANON

Inspired Witnesses to the Canon
1. Paul recognized Luke’s Gospel as inspired literature (1 Timothy 5:18).
2. Peter recognized Paul’s writings as inspired (2 Peter 3:15-16).
3. Jude 17-18 quoted 2 Peter 3:3 as authoritative apostolic teaching.
Uninspired Witnesses of the Second and Third Centuries A.D.
1. Uninspired writers of the second and third centuries quoted these apostolic documents for proof and authority for their teaching.
2. These quotations serve as secondary witnesses to the Canonicity of the New Testament documents.

ORIGINAL PRESERVATION AND CIRCULATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT DOCUMENTS

Preservation of the New Testament Canon
1. After accepting a writing as genuine it became the responsibility of that church to preserve that inspired document (1 Timothy 3:15).
2. God’s spiritual temple, the church, became the depository of that book, as an authentic document of the New Covenant.
3. The testimony of these first century churches were preserved by faithful men to whom these documents were committed for future generations (2 Timothy 2:2).
The Original Collectors and Circulators of New Testament Documents
1. Congregations who received the inspired documents immediately began to make copies of their works and distribute them to other churches ( Colossians 4:16).
2. Collections by these churches were made in the lifetime of the apostles (2 Peter 3:15-16). Peter already had a collection of Paul’s Letters.
The Providence of God in the Collection and Preservation Process

God promised to preserve His Word (1 Peter 1:22-25). God providentially arranged for all of the inspired New Testament documents to be collected and preserved by the churches.

LATER PRESERVATION AND CIRCULATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON

Second Generation Preservers & Witnesses of the New Testament Documents
1. Christians of later centuries, researched the writing of men who taught in first century churches to find their testimony concerning the various books of the New Testament.
2. Christian writers of the second and third centuries cite 26 of the 27 New Testament books (all except 3 John): Sources: Scripture index of Vol. 1 of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, called the Apostolic Fathers; Nicene & Post Nicene Fathers and F.F. Bruce, The Canon of Scripture.
Specific Witnesses to the New Testament Canon in the Second & Third Centuries
1. Clement of Rome (c. 95 A.D.) quotes passages from 18 books.
2. Ignatius (100-110 A.D.) quotes Scripture from 6 books.
3. Barnabus (100-120 A.D.) quotes or uses the unique language of “Scripture” from 10 books.
4. Polycarp, c. 110-50), quotes 18 books.
5. Justin Martyr (110-165) cites 13 New Testament writers.
6. Hermas (115-140 A.D.) quotes from 13 books.
7. Didache (120-150 A.D.) refers to 7 New Testament books.
8. Papias (c. 130-140 A.D.) says the apostle John wrote the Gospel of John and Revelation.
9. Marcion, the Gnostic heretic who wrote c. 140 A.D. accepted only 11 books and rejected all of the other New Testament books.
10. Diognetus (c. 150 A.D.) cites 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, and Titus.
11. Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-180 A.D.) cites from 21 New Testament books.
12. Muratorian Fragment (c. 170 A.D.) contains all 4 gospels and the other New Testament books except Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter (21 of 27 books).
13. Irenaeus, (180 A.D.) quotes every single book of the New Testament except 3rd John.
14. Barococcio (c. 206 A.D.) All 27 except Revelation.
15. Apostolic Constitution (c. 300 A.D.) All 27 except Revelation.
Christian Writers And Councils of The Fourth and Fifth Centuries
1. Eusebius of Caesarea (314 to 339 A.D.) divided New Testament into 3 categories
  1. Universally acknowledged: 4 gospels, Acts, 14 Epistles of Paul (including Hebrews), 1 John and 1 Peter and Revelation = 22 books.
  2. Five Disputed books recognized by a majority: James, 2 Peter, 2nd and 3rd John.
2. Spurious books: Acts of Paul, Shepherd, Apocalypse of Peter, Barnabas, Teachings of the Apostles, Gospel according to the Hebrews and some: the Apocalypse of John, the Gospel of Peter, Gospel of Thomas.
3. Council of Nicea, 325 A.D. – all 27 books of the New Testament listed with questions or doubt about James, 2 Peter, 2 John, 3 John and Jude.
4. Augustine (354-430 A.D.) all 27 books.
5. Athanasius (367 A.D.) all 27 books.
6. Canon of Laodicea 26 books (omits Revelation).
7. Jerome (c. 383 A.D.) all 27 books.
8. Councils of Hippo (393 A.D. & Carthage (397 A.D.): all 27 books.
9. Council of Carthage 397 all 27 epistles confirmed.
10. Council of Carthage 419 all 27 books confirmed.

HIGHER CRITICISM OF SOME NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS

Antilegomena (Spoken Against)
1. Some Christian writers had doubts about 7 New Testament books: Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation.
2. Modern scholars criticize all of the New Testament, especially the four gospels.
Hebrews
1. Eusebius says in Book 6, ch.25, that the difference in style of Hebrews in relation to Paul’s other letters gives him doubts about Paul’s authorship.
2. Origin, c. 220 A.D., admits “that the ancients have handed it down as Paul’s” and not “without cause”. However, he noted that some object to Paul’s authorship.
3. The earliest attestation of Hebrews is Clement of Rome (95 A.D.), who cites Hebrews as Scripture 14 different times and Justin Martyr (110 A.D.), who quotes it once.
4. Clement of Alexandria (180 A.D.) quotes Pantaenus (130-160 A.D.), who gives the best explanation of any recorded in history: “The Epistle to the Hebrews he asserts was written by Paul, to the Hebrews in the Hebrew tongue; but it was carefully translated by Luke, and published among the Greeks. Whence, also one finds the same character of style and of phraseology in the epistle, as in the Acts. But it is probable that the title, Paul the Apostle, was not prefixed to it. For as he wrote to the Hebrews, who had imbibed prejudices against him and suspected him, he wisely guards against diverting them from the perusal, by giving his name . . . But now as the blessed presbyter used to say,’since the Lord who was the apostle of the Almighty, was sent to the Hebrews, Paul by reason of his inferiority as if sent to the Gentiles, did not subscribe himself an apostle of the Hebrews; both out of reverence for the Lord, and because he wrote of his abundance to the Hebrews as a herald and apostle of the Gentile.’” Church History of Eusebius, Bk. 6, XIV.1-4.
Epistle of James

Some thought this letter was too Jewish. However, James is cited as Scripture 13 times by the earliest Apostolic Fathers.

2 Peter
1. Geisler and Nix: “No other book in the New Testament has been questioned as persistently as 2 Peter. Even Calvin seemed unsure of it”[i]
2. External Evidence: the historical evidence is actually much stronger than most scholars will admit.
  1. Jude 17 (1st century A.D.) quotes 2 Peter 3:3.
  2. Barnabas (120 A.D.) quotes 2 Peter 3:8 as Scripture.
  3. Clement of Rome (95 A.D.) quotes 2 Peter 2 as “Scripture.”
  4. Jerome accepts it as a genuine book of Peter.
3. Internal evidence: critical scholars say the difference in vocabulary and style between 1 & 2 Peter prove that the same author did not write both books.
  1. Chase contended that the two letters are “in complete contrast in reference to literary style,” and 2 Peter’s style is so inferior that Peter could not have written it.
  2. B. Mayor said, “The Greek of the one is not by the same hand as the Greek of the other.” (Epistles of St. Jude & of the 2nd of St. Peter, p. lxxiv.)
  3. Barnett wrote, “Differences in style from 1 Peter create insuperable difficulties for the view that the two epistles have a common author.” Interpreter’s Bible, XII.164.
4. In Ted’s Master’s Thesis[ii] He tested the arguments on style and vocabulary. He examined every Greek word and the Greek style in 1 & 2 Peter. To compare the differences in the two letters, Ted made an analysis of the vocabulary and style of the Greek in two other New Testament passages: 2 Corinthians 1-6 and 2 Corinthians 10-12.
  1. The two passages in 2 Corinthians are parallel to 1 & 2 Peter in difference of length of the Greek text.. All scholars agree that Paul wrote 2 Corinthians.
  2. The two passages in 2 Corinthians are also parallel to 1 & 2 Peter in treating different subject matter: 2 Corinthians 1-6 emphasizes God’s grace and comfort as does 1 Peter; 2 Corinthians 10-13 denounces false teachers as does 2 Peter.
5. Argument of Scholars: Out of 330 words in 2 Peter, 230 are not found in 1 Peter, a difference of 69.6%.
  1. Refutation: Out of 306 words in 2 Corinthians 10-12, 217 are not found in 2 Corinthians 1-6, a difference of 70.9%.
  2. The difference of the subject matter is the explanation for the difference in vocabulary.
6. Scholars’ argument: Christ’s 2nd coming is solely translated by apokalupsis (appearance) in 1 Peter and solely by parousia (presence) in 2 Peter.
  1. Refutation: Paul uses both words in 2 Corinthians 10-12 and neither of the words in 2 Corinthians 1-6.
  2. Paul uses only apokalupsis in Romans and only parousia in 1 Thessalonians.
7. Scholars’ argument on compound/family words with agathos (good) and kakos (bad): 1 Peter used 4 forms of agathos and 5 forms of kakos; 2 Peter did not use any of these compound words.
  1. Refutation: Paul used compound /family words with doxa (glory) in 2 Corinthians 1-6, but did not use them in 2 Corinthians 10-12.
  2. Paul used compound/family words with pseudo (false) in 2 Corinthians 10-12, but did not use them 2 Corinthians 1-6.
8. Scholars’ argument on compound words with sun (with): 1 Peter has 8 and 2 Peter only
  1. Refutation: Paul uses 8 sun compounds in 2 Corinthians 1-16 and only 4 in 2 Corinthians 10-12.
9. Scholars’ argument of 2 Peter’s redundant use of gar (for or because): 15 times in 2 Peter and 10 times in 1 Peter.
  1. Refutation: Paul uses gar 24 times in 1 Thessalonians and 5 times in 2 Thessalonians
10. Scholars’ argument: men de (on one hand, but on the other hand) clauses used by 1 Peter 4 times, absent in 2 Peter.
  1. Refutation: Paul used men de clauses 22 times in 1 Corinthians, but did not use them at all in 1 & 2 Thessalonians.
11. Scholars’ argument: 2 Peter 1:3-4 uses the preposition dia (by or through) 4 times in 2 Peter 1:3-4, a cumbrous and awkward repetition of the same preposition.
  1. Refutation: 1 Peter 1:3-5 uses eis (for) 4 times; I Peter 1:20-23 uses dia (by or through) 4 times and 1 Peter 2:12 uses en (in) 3 times.
12. Affirmative evidence favoring Peter as the author of both letters: inherent and distinctive similarities of vocabulary and style indicate a common authorship.
  1. Common words (30%) of the 2 passages in 2 Corinthians proves that 30% in 1 & 2 Peter is to be expected when writing on two different subjects.
  2. There are 59 hapax legomena (words found only 1 time in the New Testament) in 1 Peter and 56 in 2 Peter. The writer of both letters had the same style of using unique and rarely used words.
  3. Both letters have an abundant use of Hebraistic parallelism (repeating the same thought in different ways), indicating that the author was Jewish.
  4. Both used plural abstract nouns: 6 in 1 Peter and 5 in 2 Peter. Five of these plural nouns are not found elsewhere in the New Testament
  5. Both letters abound in figurative language: 26 in 1 Peter and 29 in 2 Peter.
13. 2 John. It was small and seldom quoted and thus doubt surrounded its Canonicity; but Irenaeus (180 A.D.) quotes 4 of its verses.
14. 3 John. It was not quoted by early church fathers, but was small and little used.
15. It also was small and thus seldom quoted; yet Polycarp (110 A.D.) quotes Jude 3 as Scripture and Irenaeus quotes Jude 3 and Jude 7.
16. Too complex to understand and just doubted by some. However, the book of Revelation is listed in the earliest canon (Muratorian Fragment) and Justin Martyr (110 A.D.) quoted Revelation 20:4-5 and Irenaeus (180 A.D.) quoted 47 verses from Revelation.
17. Apocrypha Defined
  1. Books accepted by some as canonical, but which the majority considered non-canonical.
  2. Sometimes these are called Pseudepigrapha (False or spurious writings).
18. Apocryphal Gospels: Gospel of Thomas, Pseudo-Matthew, Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Gospel of Peter, Gospel of Nicodemus, Gospel of the Nazarenes, Gospel of the Ebionites, Gospel of the Hebrews, Nag Hammadi Gospels: Gospel of Thomas, Philip, Truth and of the Egyptians.
19. Apocryphal Acts: Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew, Thomas, Thaddaeus, Philip Andrew and Matthias.

INDESTRUCTIBLE TRUTH

Biblical Promises to Preserve the Old Testament (Isaiah 40:8 Matthew 5:18)
Christ’s Promise to Preserve His Words Forever (Matthew 24:35)
New Testament Apostles Promised Their Words Would Not Pass Away (1 Peter 1:23; Jude 3)
Men Who Tried to Destroy the Scriptures
1. Antiochus Epiphanes, 170-164 B.C. tried to destroy Judaism and worship of Bible and burned the Scriptures with fire.
2. Diocletian, 280-300 A.D. burned Bibles, destroyed church buildings and persecuted Christians.
3. The famous French philosopher and author, Voltaire, predicted that the Bible would be forgotten in 100 years. He died in 1778. 200 years later the Bible Society of Geneva has headquarters in his house.

HOW GOD PRESERVED HIS WORD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Greek Manuscripts
1. Quantity: more than 5,000 Greek manuscripts.
2. Antiquity: back to the second century and quotations back to the first century
3. Security: all did not make the same error.
Translations: Latin, Coptic (Egyptian), Syrian, Etc.
Quotations by Christian Teachers of the First Four Centuries
Textual Variations
1. Reasons: Uninspired scribes made unintentional mistakes when copying the original manuscripts. Occasionally a scribe made an intentional change to fit his particular bias or to clarify what he thought was obscure.
2. Security
  1. A plurality of scribes copied the same original manuscript.
3. The scribes did not all make the same mistake.
  1. By examining all of the most ancient manuscripts of a particular variation, the majority opinion almost always indicates what was the original reading.
  2. If the ancient Greek manuscripts are equally divided on a particular textual variation, the ancient translations, as well as quotation by ancient church fathers will ordinarily decide which of two readings is the original text.

Other considerations to determine which is the best reading of two or more textual variations.
1. Observation of the geographical distribution of the Manuscripts.
2. Consideration of the immediate and wide literary and doctrinal context of each textual variation.

REFERENCE BOOKS ON THE SUBJECT OF

THE TEXT & CANON OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Eldon J. Epp and Gordon D. Fee, Studies in the Theory and Method of New Testament Textual Criticism (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1993.

Norman Geisler and William Nix, A General Introduction to the Bible (Chicago: Moody Press), 1977

Bruce Metzger, The Text of the New Testament (New York: Oxford Univ., 1968).

[i] Geisler & Nix, General Biblical Introduction, p. 197).

[ii] Ted Stewart, Internal Evidence for the Genuineness of 2 Peter, at A.C.U, 1960.

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Christian Apologetic Training II Complete Course

INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL APOLOGETICS

INTRODUCTION:

LESSON AIM:

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will…

THE TECHNICAL SUBJECT OF THIS COURSE: BIBLICAL APOLOGETICS

FIVE SOURCES OF EVIDENCES OR FOUNTAINS OF FAITH

EVIDENCE FOR AND AGAINST GOD AS CREATOR

EVIDENCES FOR AND AGAINST THE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE

COURSE OUTLINE OF APOLOGETICS II

New Discoveries That Confirm Our Faith

EVIDENCE FOR THE CANONICITY AND PRESERVATION OF THE BIBLE

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE:

LESSON 2: MIND or MATTER?

INTRODUCTION

LESSON AIM:

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will:

WHICH IS ETERNAL: MIND OR MATTER?

THE ORGANIZED UNIVERSE: BLIND CHANCE OR INTELLIGENT DESIGN?

ORGANIZED MATTER: DIVINE DESIGN OR ACCIDENTAL FORMATION?

CONCLUSION

Lesson 3: Evolution: Fact or Fiction?

INTRODUCTION

LESSON AIM:

LESSON OBJECTIVE: You will…

INTRODUCTORY WORDS ABOUT EVOLUTION

SPONTANEOUS GENERATION: TRUTH OR MYTH?

HOMOLOGY: A COMMON ANCESTOR OR A COMMON DESIGNER?

MUTATIONS: EVOLUTION OR DEGRADATION?

THE FOSSIL RECORD: EVOLUTION OR CREATION?

OUTDATED ARGUMENTS STILL USED BY SOME BILOGISTS

EVOLUTION: THE SIN OF IDOLATRY!

CONCLUSION

Lesson 4: FINGERPRINTS OF THE CREATOR

INTRODUCTION

LESSON AIM:

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will…

GOD’S FINGERPRINT ON DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS ON RNA (Ribon-Nuclic Acid

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS ON PROTEINS, AMINO ACIDS, AND ENZYMES

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS ON THE HUMAN BRAIN AND ITS NERVOUS SYSTEM

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS ON CIRCULATORY, RESPIRATORY, AND IMMUNE SYSTEMS

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS ON MAN’S SENSORY SYSTEM

The Proper Reaction

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS SEEN IN ANIMAL LIFE

CONCLUSION

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Lesson 5: EVIDENCE FOR A YOUNG EARTH AND UNIVERSE

INTRODUCTION

The Aim of this Study:

We will…

THE BIBLICAL EXPLANATION OF THE CREATIONOF THE UNIVERSE

CRITIQUE OF A FIVE-BILLION-YEAR-OLD EARTH

POPULATION GROWTH RATES INDICATE A YOUNG EARTH

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT INDICATES A YOUNG EARTH

EVALUATION OF THE SCIENTIFIC CLAIM OF TEN BILLION YEARS FOR THE AGE OF THE UNIVERSE

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE FOR A 7,000-YEAR OLD UNIVERSE

Lesson 6: PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST God

INTRODUCTION

LESSON AIM:

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will….

FREUD: “MAN CREATED G-D”

DOES THE EXISTENCE OF EVIL DISPROVE THE EXISTENCE OF God?

REFUTATION OF THE ATHEIST’S ARGUMENT ON G-d AND EVIL

IS GOD UNJUST IN SENDING IMPENITENT SINNERS TO HELL?

ANSELM’S ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT FOR GOD

AUGUSTINE’S ARGUMENT ON MAN’S RELIGIOUS INSTINCT

EVIDENCE FOR GOD FROM THE MORAL LAW AND THE HUMAN CONSCIENCE

Lesson 7:THE BIBLE’S CLAIM TO BE GOD’S INSPIRED WORD

INTRODUCTION

LESSON AIM:

LESSON OBJECTIVES: You will…

THEORIES OF CRITICAL SCHOLARS ABOUT BIBLICAL INSPIRATION

THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN REVELATION AND INSPIRATION

GOD INSPIRES ALL SCRIPTURE, NOT PART OF THEM

THE INSPIRED BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE GOD’S WORDS, NOT MAN’S

THE BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE UNERRING TRUTH (without errors)

THE BIBLE CLAIMS COMPLETE AND ALL SUFFICIENT TRUTH

BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE INALTERABLE TRUTH (cannot be changed)