The Bible is older than 2000 years! How accurate can it be?

This question has been asked by many believers, theologians and scholars. The story of the Bible has been told and retold many a times. The New Testament is 2000 years old and some stories in the Old Testament are older than 3200 years. How accurate can it be?

Legend has it that the stories in the Bible were not written down immediately. For example the story of creation was written by Moses about 3000 years ago. Earth was created long before that. Perhaps earth was created by God about more than 6000 years ago. That leaves a 3000 year gap!

In the New Testament the gospel of John was the last to be written. Most scholars place the date of writing at the end of the first century after Christ. If Jesus died at the year 32 and that John wrote his gospel at the year 85, that leaves a 53 year gap

Now who can remember a story accurately for 3000 years or 53 without writing it down?

The only way we can trust in scripture is to treat it as spiritually breathed and the Word of God. While most Christians don’t believe that these writers remembered the story 100% accurately, we still trust in the Holy Spirit that He guided the biblical writers to convey the story in such a sense that we can trust the spiritual integrity of the scripture today!

Yes, that may leave room for human error, but the Holy Spirit not only guided the people who wrote the scriptures, but also those who read the scriptures. In other words, the Holy Spirit is on both ends of this process. This is why we must ask the Spirit to help us interpret the scripture when we read it.

We must ask the Holy Spirit to be with us when we read the scripture!

Till next time!

What does the wind and the Holy Spirit have in common?

Core text:

God is Spirit (John 4:24 BBE)

The Greek word used in this passage is “πνεῦμα” (pneuma) which is translated as “Spirit”. This can also be translated as a current of air, breath or breeze. Thus when the Bible translators translate the word “πνεῦμα” with “Spirit” it is in a figurative way! It can also be translated with “soul”, “life” or “virtual presence”. (From the dictionary in my own words)

I think the idea of a “virtual presence” is a good way to explain the concept of “Spirit”. It means that God is present without you or me being able to see Him. This is of course a characteristic of Christianity and the other Abrahamic religions in their description of God. We know He is present without being able to see Him.

In a sense Christianity is different though. Jesus physically came to earth in person: But he made himself as nothing, taking the form of a servant, being made like men; (Philippians 2:7 BBE). Jesus, our God, was on earth in person. This sets Christianity apart and the fact that Jesus was physically crucified is the basis for the Christian salvation!

Now, more than 2000 years later, we have the Holy Spirit (as per Acts 2). A virtual presence, like the wind, with us!

In our next post we are going to discuss the Holy Spirit as the one who brings us salvation and functions like a counselor!

Till next time!

How can we understand the Trinity; God, Son and Holy Spirit?

The Trinity consists of God the Father, Jesus his only Son and the Holy Spirit (sometimes Holy Ghost by name). The Trinity is sometimes called the Godhead. How can we understand the Godhead? Most churches say the following in a creed: “We believe in God the Father the creator of the heavens and the earth and in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son our Lord” sounds familiar?

The Christian faith believes in one God. The Trinity is an unit, as in “one”. But yet we can pray to each one separately. For example: “Jesus please forgive me my sins” or “We know that God the father created the heavens and the earth”. Yet we describe God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit as “one God”.

Clearly this requires two viewpoints to understand. An individualistic viewpoint which is separate AND a collective viewpoint in which all is One. I can explain the viewpoints as follows:

• 1.       The first viewpoint is of God. This viewpoint is static: “One God”. Much the same as we find Him in the Old Testament.
• 
  
• 2.       The second viewpoint requires a bit more re-positioning  It can be viewed from three different perspectives: God, Son and Holy Spirit. Three different viewpoints that cannot be one. For example if you pray for the forgiveness of sins, you talk to Jesus- if you say thanks for the creation you say thanks to God (As found in the book of Genesis).

In essence there is a lot of re-positioning to do in your mind when you think about the Christian God. Is this difficult? No, it’s EASY. Consider a triangle. We can use a triangle as a metaphor. The triangle is ONE shape with THREE different corners. Link the triangle as one shape to God AND the three corners to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. (This can be in any order).

Concerning the three corners you can have only one viewpoint, either with God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit. But the corners are one, as in one triangle. I mean, if you tell something to Jesus, God is going to know about it right?

If you want to be with Jesus you can re-position yourself in His corner (by means of speaking) or if you want to be with the Holy Spirit you can re-position yourself to His corner. But you will always be with God, because He is One, the One called the Trinity!

Till next time!