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Bible
THE INCARNATION CODE
AUTHENTIC THOUGHT
The theme and inspired thought of scripture continues uninterrupted.
It took 1500 years to compile the Bible, involving 40 different authors. Moses, who wrote the first 5 books was raised in the Egyptian thought and culture (Acts 7:22) yet his books do not reflect any of this.
Absence of mythical stories: Compare creation accounts in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, Mythical scenarios, gods feuding and cutting up other gods to form the heavens and the earth. Greeks see Atlas carrying the earth on his shoulders; in India, Hindus believe 8 elephants carry the earth on their backs; Job, the oldest book in the Bible, declares that God suspends the earth 'on nothing.' Job 26:7 This was said millennia before Isaac Newton discovered the invisible laws of gravity that delicately balances every planet and sun in its individual circuit.
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Half a millimeter slice of a rock photographed under microscope.
" You who pursue righteousness, you who seek God: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to quarry from where you were dug." Isaiah 51:1 |
In contrast to every other ancient creation account, the Bible pictures the creation of the earth in a very scientific manner. In Gen 1, the continents are lifted from the seas, then vegetation is created and later, animal life; all reproducing 'according to its own kind', thus recognising the fixed genetic laws. Finally we have the creation of man and woman, all done in diginified and godly manner, without mythological adornments. The rest of the Bible follows suite. The narratives are historical, faithfully reflecting society and culture as history and archeology would discover them thousands of years later. While many have doubted the accuracy of the Bible, time and continued research have consistently demonstrated that the Word of God is better informed than its critics.
Not only is the Bible historically accurate, but when it deals with scientific subjects it is also reliable. It was not written as a textbook on history, science, mathematics or medicine, yet, when its writers touch on these subjects, they often state facts that scientific advancement would not reveal or even concider until thousands of years later.
The Bible is intact. Of all the ancient works of substantial size, the Bible against all odds and expectations survives in tact. Compared to William Shaekspears plays written about four hundred years agao, and after the invention of the printing press, many of his original words have been lost in numerous sections. The Bibles uncanny preservation has weathered thousands of years of wars, contraditions, persecutions, fires and invations.
Compared with other ancient writings, the Bible has more manuscripts evidence to support it that any ten pieces of classical literature combined! Old testamant text was preseved by Jewish scribes through centuries like no other manuscript has ever been preserved. They kept tabs on every letter, cyllable, word and paragraph. They continued from generation to generation to conduct special classes of men within their culture whose sole duty it was to preserve and transmit these documents with perfect accuracy and fidelity. Who ever bothered to count the letters and syllables and words of Plato or Aristotle or Seneca?
When it comes to the New Testament, the actual number of preseved manuscripts is so great that it becomes overwhelming. There are more than 5680 Greek manuscripts, more than 10 000 Latin Vulgate and at least 9300 other versions; there exist a further 25 000 manuscript copies of portions of the New Testament - No other document of antiquity even begins to approach such numbers. In comparison, Homer's lliad is second with only 643 manuscripts. The first complete work of Homer dates from the 13th century.
There are billions of Bibles in more than 2 000 languages.
Dealing with time, the Bible accurately foretells what will happen ahead of time; with unmatched results. No other ancient work even begins to attempt this. Other books claim divine inspiration, such as the Koran, The Book of Mormon, and parts of the Veda. But none of these books contains predictive foretelling.
Historian, Philip Schaff wrote: 'Without money and weapons, Jesus conquered more millions, than Alexander, Ceasar, Mohammed and Napoleon. Without science and learning, He shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined. Without the eloquence of schools, He spoke such words of life as was never spoken before or since and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet. Without writing a single line, He set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise, than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times combined.' (The person of Christ, p33. 1913)
While microscopic scrutiny would show up the imperfections, blemishes and defects of any work of man, it magnifies the beauties and perfection of God when the word of truth is scrutinised. Every flower displays in accurate detail, the reflection and perfection of beauty.
STUDY TIPS:
Read the Bible in the light of mankinds Redemption! 2 Corinthians 5:14
All of the Bible is about Jesus and all of Jesus is about you!!
Old Test once a year :
Psalms once per month
- 5 x Psalms per day excl Ps 119
- 5 x Verses Ps 119 per day
Alternatively Proverbs once per month
New Testament read through once every 4 months!
- Mathew to Acts 1 Chapter per day
- Romans to Revelation 1 chapter a day
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Daily feed on redemption realities especially Rom 1-8, Eph, Col, Gal, 1Pet 1, 2Pet 1, James 1, Corinthians, Acts.
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