A charge sheet that accuses Jesus of his crimes. These experts discuss exactly what is implied here. They show that some sections of the sheet has been rubbed out in an attempt to delete it. Amongst a litany of testimonys that prove Jesus death and ministry, here is an interesting clip from scholars across the Pond at Asbury University, UK.
I have been reading an exceptional book on textual criticism, and found it to be incredibly helpful in being arrows that effectually shoot down ancient and modern heresies. Dr. C. E. Hill has recently written a book entitled, “Who Chose the Gospels?” It is a scholarly pursuit to the origin of the gospels. From Jesus’ mouth to the council of early church-fathers who helped formulate the Bible we have now today, I plan to write as much compelling material from the book to here. Be looking for such material in the future.
The recent movie “DaVinci Code” posited a number of inaccurate things. It mystified its audience into thinking that the Gospel of Mary was accurate, and woo-ed his readers into believing that Jesus just might have had relations with Mary Magdalene. Reasons as to why this is false, and how it is false is to come, but consider an excerpt from the gospel of Mary;
Peter said to Mary, “Sister, we know that the Savior loved you more than other women. Tell us the words of the Savior which you have in mind since you know them; and we do not, nor have we heard of them.”
Mary’s gospel goes on to describe how she does so “enlighten” all the apostles. But wait, Peter said “Tell us the words of the Savior…since you know them; and we do not, nor have heard of them.” Before Jesus met Mary, Jesus’ apostles had already been living, listening, and absorbing the teachings of Jesus.
Consider Luke’s first verses in his gospel;
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you…
-Luke 1:1-3
Luke has just countered Mary. Mary’s gospel said the accounts came from her because the apostles didn’t know them. Luke said, those who were an “eyewitness” and were co-ministers of the word with Christ (the apostles), were the ones who have compiled the gospels.
What we have here is a core debate of many textual critics. The science of textual criticism seeks to explain why and how the gospels got into the Bible in the first place, and why gospels like Mary’s (which were written only about 140 yrs or so after Christ died) are considered not a part of your Bible.
If we are to effectually defend the Bible against claims made by people like Dan Brown, and people who have been duped into thinking that these heresies might be anywhere near the truth, we need to know our history of the Bible. We may be able to bravely ask questions like, What would it be like if the non-traditional gospels were considered word of God? Would we be compromising theological truths? God did not just download His word to us via “Microsoft Holy-Word 20,000”, He used men and women through a span of over 2,000 yrs to bring together God’s very word to us.
Stay tuned for more!
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