Pastor David Tieche :: 10.18.12
Holy: God’s *actual* words
Revelation: Information about God from God
Infallible : truly authoritative source about God
Authoritative : The Final Word on everything.
How Did We Get This
Old Testament
New Testament
Game of telephone
Old Texts are unreliable historically
Does the text from 100 A.D accurately represent the Hebrew text as originally composed?
Completed historically about 400BC
For a long time, the only copy we had of the Bible was that of monks from the Middle Ages.
Most recent copy was from 1200 A.D.
That’s a 1600 year gap. A lot can change in 1600 years.
Massoretic Text: 500-900 A.D.
Talmudists: 100-500 A.D.
Septuagint: Greek translation of OT 150-200 B.C.
Dead Sea Scrolls: 125 B.C (original Hebrew OT fragments.)
Canon by Committee: The Early Church omitted what it wanted and kept what it needed to retain power.
A bunch of guys sat down in a bar and made this whole thing up
Is this stuff in the NT true?
Did the Church play politics with content?
Is this stuff in the NT true?
Entire NT written by 90 A.D.
Within the lifetimes of eyewitnesses
Verifiable
Did the Church play politics?
Process of Canonization:
Did the author know Jesus?
Was the author an apostle and have apostolic authority?
Is what the author wrote consistent with the rest of Biblical tradition?
Is what the author wrote consistent with History?
Reading the Bible
The Bible as Science
The Bible as History
The Bible as Literature
Ways to view the Bible:
The Bible is responsible for more evil in the world than any other book.
The Bible can be interpreted in a million different ways.
The Inquisition
The Crusades
The Burning of Witches in England
Destructive Imperialism
The KKK
Gay-bashing
Dear Suzy
This is the most difficult letter I have ever had to write, but I have to write it.
You and I have been together for almost two years now, but these past few weeks have been the most difficult. In high school, our relationship was easy. We saw each other every day, ate lunch together every day, even sat next to each other in class.
But now that I am in college and we are in different cities, it’s becoming more and more difficult. I am here at Cal Poly, and you are in San Jose. It’s almost as though we have two different lives.
In addition, we are both at important stages of our lives. We have dreams, goals and futures to pursue.
I think we need to be apart, to not be tied to each other, so that we are fully free to pursue those dreams and goals.
If we always have our hearts and minds on someone three hours away, and are always thinking about something that might happen years down the road, it’s difficult to really focus on the here and now.
I think we might be accidentally sabotaging our future.
So although it’s painful, I think it’s best that we stop seeing each other. I know this is tough, but I think that it’s the wisest thing to do and will actually be best for us in the long run.
I’ll always love you,Jeff
p.s. I’m mailing you your class ring back.
What is Jeff trying to say…
A. Asking Suzy out on a date
B. Working hard to save a rocky relationship
C. Breaking up with Suzy
D. Taking the relationship to the next level
E. Asking Suzy if she has the same romantic feelings as he does
What is Jeff trying to say…
A. Asking Suzy out on a date
B. Working hard to save a rocky relationship
C. Breaking up with Suzy
D. Taking the relationship to the next level
E. Asking Suzy if she has the same romantic feelings as he does
So how do you read it?
First, read carefully
The Bible might not be saying what you think it’s saying
e.g. Polygamy
Do you take the Bible literally?
Have you stopped beating your wife?
Different forms of literature
Be honest to the text
Second, examine your expectations
What do you expect from God?
Do you expect no conflicts?
Stepford Wives story…
A beginner’s look at Bible study
Start with the peaks
The Gospels
Genesis, Judges, Kings, Chronicles
Get help
Reasons to Read the Bible
• Meaning
• Answers
• Purpose
• A God worth worshipping
Jesus’ Miracles
Jesus; Teachings
Some OT prophecies…
Seed of a woman.Born of virgin.Son of GodSeed of AbrahamSeed of IsaacHouse of DavidBorn at BethlehemBe a prophet.Be a priest.Be a King.Be a judge.Preceeded by a
Messenger.Rejected by his own
people.Have his side pierced.
CrucifiedFrom the Tribe of JudahWorshipped by
ShepherdsSpeak in parablesBetrayed for 30 pieces of
silverFalse witnesses betray
himBeaten and torturedPierced hands and feetNo bones broken in
deathBuried with the richPeople everywhere will
believe he is the Messiah
History Impact
History Impact
History Impact
Human Human-ness Hospitals Universities Science Literature Art Revolutions (slavery, women’s rights,
Civil Rights)
Resurrection
Global Sameness
Why Isn’t Everyone?
People don’t always do what’s best for them People don’t always listen to what’s true
Back to Jeff + Suzy
Don’t Be a Suzy
Your heart might be rebellious
Your heart might be ready
Your heart might be hurt, and need rest
Your heart might be leaping inside you right now because you know this is it.