THE BURIED FOUNDATIONTHE BURIED FOUNDATION

CREATIONCREATION

FALLFALL

FLOODFLOODCOVENANTCOVENANT

God

Man

Nature

Evil & Suffering

Judgment / Salvation

God

Man

Nature

Decline & Quarantine of the Decline & Quarantine of the Founding FamilyFounding Family

1st generation: Abraham 4th generation: Jacob’s sons

Family reconciliation (13:7-12)

Joseph nearly killed (37)Onan refused help for

sister-in-law (38:11-15)Judah withheld his son from

his daughter-in-law (38:11-15)

Excluding Canaanite culture from family through intermarriage – (24)

Judah has sex with what he thinks is a Canaanite prostitute (kedeshah) (38:15,21)

Public altars for a testimony (12:8; 13:18; 21:33)

No mention

““The city is not just a collection of houses with The city is not just a collection of houses with ramparts, but a spiritual power. . . .It is capable of ramparts, but a spiritual power. . . .It is capable of directing and changing a man’s spiritual life. . . .It directing and changing a man’s spiritual life. . . .It is a ‘gathering together’. . .the place where the is a ‘gathering together’. . .the place where the church is held captive, . . .a place where it is in church is held captive, . . .a place where it is in combat not against flesh and blood, but against combat not against flesh and blood, but against idols, against that spiritual power which is the idols, against that spiritual power which is the essential characteristic of the city. . . .”essential characteristic of the city. . . .”

Jacques Ellul, Jacques Ellul, Meaning of the CityMeaning of the City

The Post-Babel Corrupted Noahic Civilization: the Kingdom of Man

Foundation Continuity of Being; good/evil mix as “normal”

““Wherever a society has a naturalistic religion, Wherever a society has a naturalistic religion, grounded on the concept of continuity, man grounded on the concept of continuity, man faces the total power of the state. Where there is faces the total power of the state. Where there is no transcendental law and power in a separate no transcendental law and power in a separate and omnipotent being, then power has a wholly and omnipotent being, then power has a wholly immanent and immediate source in a state, immanent and immediate source in a state, group, or person, and it is beyond appeal. [The group, or person, and it is beyond appeal. [The state] becomes god walking on earth, and its state] becomes god walking on earth, and its every tyranny is identified as liberty. . . For a every tyranny is identified as liberty. . . For a man with all the limitations of man to claim to be man with all the limitations of man to claim to be as God is to indulge in a dangerous fantasy; for as God is to indulge in a dangerous fantasy; for a state, with all the limitations of man a state, with all the limitations of man compounded, but with the power of the sword compounded, but with the power of the sword added to it, to claim to be as God is desperately added to it, to claim to be as God is desperately dangerous and suicidal as well.”dangerous and suicidal as well.”

Rushdoony, Rushdoony, The One and the ManyThe One and the Many, , The Politics of Guilt and PityThe Politics of Guilt and Pity

The Post-Babel Corrupted Noahic Civilization: the Kingdom of Man

Foundation Continuity of Being; good/evil mix as “normal”

Goal (Promise)

Autonomous destiny of, by, and for man

““The rebellious people are tired of being a The rebellious people are tired of being a recipient of a name. They want to name recipient of a name. They want to name themselves. . . .This means becoming themselves. . . .This means becoming independent. . . .It is the desire to exclude God independent. . . .It is the desire to exclude God from his creation. And it is this solidarity in a from his creation. And it is this solidarity in a name, this unity in separation from God, which name, this unity in separation from God, which was to keep man from ever again being was to keep man from ever again being separated on earth. . . .It was in this, man’s separated on earth. . . .It was in this, man’s environment, built by man for man, with any environment, built by man for man, with any other intervention or power excluded, that man other intervention or power excluded, that man could make a name for himself.”could make a name for himself.”

EllulEllul

The Post-Babel Corrupted Noahic Civilization: the Kingdom of Man

Foundation Continuity of Being; good/evil mix as “normal”

Goal (Promise)

Autonomous destiny of, by, and for man

Inauguration Enslavement to an eschatological hope, a new Babylon

Babylon critiqued by Isaiah and Jeremiah:Babylon critiqued by Isaiah and Jeremiah:Great political powerGreat political power: “ruled the nations. . .made : “ruled the nations. . .made the earth to tremble” Isa. 14:6the earth to tremble” Isa. 14:6

Great fianancial powerGreat fianancial power: “a golden : “a golden city. . .abundant in treasuries Isa 14:4; Jer 51:13city. . .abundant in treasuries Isa 14:4; Jer 51:13

Mixture of technology and mythMixture of technology and myth: “let the : “let the astrologers save you” Isa 47:12-13astrologers save you” Isa 47:12-13

Satanic in its autonomySatanic in its autonomy: “I shall be like the Most : “I shall be like the Most High” Isa 14:13-14High” Isa 14:13-14

The Post-Babel Corrupted Noahic Civilization: the Kingdom of Man

Foundation Continuity of Being; good/evil mix as “normal”

Goal (Promise)

Autonomous destiny of, by, and for man

Inauguration Enslavement to a new Babylon

Ethics Based on man for a good/evil environmental mixture

““We do not mean that according to idealism and We do not mean that according to idealism and pragmatism that there are no other persons in the pragmatism that there are no other persons in the universe besides man. . . .What we mean is that universe besides man. . . .What we mean is that according to both idealism and pragmatism this according to both idealism and pragmatism this God, if He exists, and these intelligences, if they God, if He exists, and these intelligences, if they exist, exist, are themselves surrounded by an are themselves surrounded by an impersonal environmentimpersonal environment. The point is that if the . The point is that if the most ultimate environment that surrounds man is most ultimate environment that surrounds man is impersonal, it is in the last analysis impersonal, it is in the last analysis the task of the the task of the consciousness of man to determine the nature of consciousness of man to determine the nature of that impersonal environmentthat impersonal environment. It is in this way that . It is in this way that the ‘objective’ morality of the idealist is at bottom the ‘objective’ morality of the idealist is at bottom as ‘subjective’ as the ‘subjective’ morality of the as ‘subjective’ as the ‘subjective’ morality of the pragmatist.”pragmatist.” Van Til, Van Til, Defense of the FaithDefense of the Faith

““In non-Christian ethics men will take the results In non-Christian ethics men will take the results that sin has brought into the universe as that sin has brought into the universe as permanent. Accordingly, every type of non-permanent. Accordingly, every type of non-Christian ethical theory holds that all we can do is Christian ethical theory holds that all we can do is make the most of the situation. . . .The common make the most of the situation. . . .The common assumption [is] that there is a natural warfare assumption [is] that there is a natural warfare between the individual and society. . .that one between the individual and society. . .that one individual cannot develop himself except at the individual cannot develop himself except at the expense of other individuals. . . The doctrine of expense of other individuals. . . The doctrine of the mean of Aristotle is basically the mean of Aristotle is basically a denial of the a denial of the idea of the possibility of the perfect manidea of the possibility of the perfect man.”.” Van Til, Van Til, Defense of the FaithDefense of the Faith

The Post-Babel Corrupted Noahic Civilization: the Kingdom of Man

Foundation Continuity of Being; good/evil mix as “normal”

Goal (Promise)

Autonomous destiny of, by, and for man

Inauguration Enslavement to a new Babylon

Ethics Man-derived ethics for life in a good/evil mix

Expansion Imperial crusade of “redemption”

““In the politics of guilt, man is perpetually drained in In the politics of guilt, man is perpetually drained in his social energy and cultural activity by his his social energy and cultural activity by his overriding sense of guilt and his masochistic activity. overriding sense of guilt and his masochistic activity. He will progressively demand of the state a He will progressively demand of the state a redemptive roleredemptive role. What he cannot do personally, i.e., . What he cannot do personally, i.e., to save himself, he demands that the state do for him, to save himself, he demands that the state do for him, so that the state, as man enlarged, becomes the so that the state, as man enlarged, becomes the human savior of man.. . . .The politics of guilt human savior of man.. . . .The politics of guilt cultivates the slave mind in order to enslave men, and cultivates the slave mind in order to enslave men, and to have the people themselves demand an end to to have the people themselves demand an end to liberty. Slaves, true slaves, want to be rescued from liberty. Slaves, true slaves, want to be rescued from freedom; their greatest fear is liberty. . . . As a result, freedom; their greatest fear is liberty. . . . As a result, the slave mind clings to statist or state slavery, the slave mind clings to statist or state slavery, cradle-to-grave welfare care, as a fearful child clings cradle-to-grave welfare care, as a fearful child clings to its mother. to its mother. The advantage of slavery is precisely The advantage of slavery is precisely this, security in the master or in the statethis, security in the master or in the state.” .” RushdoonyRushdoony

The Post-Babel Corrupted Noahic Civilization: the Kingdom of Man

Foundation Continuity of Being; good/evil mix as “normal”

Goal (Promise)

Autonomous destiny of, by, and for man

Inauguration Enslavement to a new Babylon

Ethics Man-derived ethics for life in a good/evil mix

Expansion Increasing crusade of “redemption”

Leadership Pride and power (Satanic)

““The Egyptian belief [was] that the universe is The Egyptian belief [was] that the universe is changeless and that all apparent opposites changeless and that all apparent opposites must, therefore, hold each other in equilibrium. must, therefore, hold each other in equilibrium. Such a belief has definite consequences in the Such a belief has definite consequences in the field of moral philosophy. It puts a premium on field of moral philosophy. It puts a premium on whatever exists with a semblance of whatever exists with a semblance of permanence. It excludes ideals of progress, permanence. It excludes ideals of progress, utopias of any kind, revolutions, and any other utopias of any kind, revolutions, and any other radical changes in existing conditions. . . .In this radical changes in existing conditions. . . .In this way the way the belief in a static belief in a static universe enhances, for universe enhances, for instance, the significanceinstance, the significance of established authorityof established authority.”.”

Henri FrankfortHenri Frankfort

"[Pharaoh] was the fountainhead of all authority, "[Pharaoh] was the fountainhead of all authority, all power, and all wealth. The famous saying of all power, and all wealth. The famous saying of Louis XIV, l'etat c'est moi, was levity and Louis XIV, l'etat c'est moi, was levity and presumption when it was uttered, but could have presumption when it was uttered, but could have been offered by Pharaoh as a statement of fact been offered by Pharaoh as a statement of fact in which his subjects concurred. It would have in which his subjects concurred. It would have summed up adequately [Egyptian] political summed up adequately [Egyptian] political philosophy.”philosophy.”

Henri FrankfortHenri Frankfort

EGYPTIAN RELIGION

earthearth

heavenheavenHorusHorus

Kingdom Element

Kingdom of Man Kingdom of God

Foundation continuity of being; g/e mix

creation, fall

Goal autonomous destiny by/for man

destiny in God’s presence

Inauguration enslavement to a new Babylon

liberty in God’s kingdom

Ethics man-derived ethics for life in a good/evil mix

God-given ethics for life in a to-be-redeemed world

•The “I AM”The “I AM”

•Reluctant IsraelitesReluctant Israelites

•Hardened PharaohHardened Pharaoh

•Continuity with the Abrahamic CovenantContinuity with the Abrahamic Covenant

Inauguration of God’s Counter-KingdomInauguration of God’s Counter-Kingdom

““The fire, often illustrating the presence of God The fire, often illustrating the presence of God in Scripture, is a fire that is both in Scripture, is a fire that is both withwith the bush, the bush, without in any way without in any way needingneeding the bush in order to the bush in order to burn. So the Lord comes to Moses and burn. So the Lord comes to Moses and announces that he is the God of Abraham, Isaac, announces that he is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; he is a God who is and Jacob; he is a God who is withwith his people. his people. But he also announces his name to Moses. He But he also announces his name to Moses. He is with them as the ‘I AM’, as the One who is in is with them as the ‘I AM’, as the One who is in no need of them or of anything else that he has no need of them or of anything else that he has made. . . What is abundantly clear from this text made. . . What is abundantly clear from this text is that this ascription is meant to highlight that is that this ascription is meant to highlight that God, while entering into a special covenant God, while entering into a special covenant relationship with his people, is and remains, relationship with his people, is and remains, nevertheless, nevertheless, a sea se.” – .” – OliphintOliphint

Element Flood Exodus

Grace before judgment

Preaching of Noah

Preaching of Moses

Perfect discrimination

In or out of Ark

Blood or no blood on door

One way of salvation

Ark Substitutionary blood atonement

Man and nature both involved

Geophysical phenomena

Geophysical phenomena

Salvation by faith

Assurance of Ark’s capability

Assurance of efficacy of blood on the door

Kingdom Element

Kingdom of Man Kingdom of God

Foundation continuity of being; g/e mix

creation, fall

Goal autonomous destiny by/for man

destiny in God’s presence

Inauguration enslavement to a new Babylon

liberty in God’s kingdom

Ethics man-derived ethics for life in a good/evil mix

God-given ethics for life in a to-be-redeemed world

Ethics & LawEthics & Law

Natural Law Social Good Law

Positive Law

Fits with individual’s “natural rights”

Fits with social good

Fits with written laws

How do we define such “rights”?

How do we calculate the social good?

No ethics outside of positive laws

Chiastic Structure of the “10 Chiastic Structure of the “10 Words”Words”

5:17-life

5:16,18-family5:12-15,19—labor & wealth

5:11,20 --language

5:6-8,21 ultimate relationship with God

“There is no such thing as revealed truth. There are truths of revelation, that is to say, propositions which express the results of correct thinking concerning revelation; but they are not themselves directly revealed.” –

Liberal theologian William Temple

Revelation is verbal

Revelation is personal

Revelation is historical

Revelation is comprehensive

Revelation comes via a line of prophets

Concept of Biblical RevelationConcept of Biblical Revelation

"What makes the history of Israelite "What makes the history of Israelite prophecy prophecy sui generissui generis is the succession of is the succession of apostles of God that come to the people apostles of God that come to the people through the ages. Such a line of apostle-through the ages. Such a line of apostle-prophets is unknown in paganism. . . .[The prophets is unknown in paganism. . . .[The pagan prophet] incorporated a unique, self- pagan prophet] incorporated a unique, self-contained divine power; there his "mission" contained divine power; there his "mission" ended with him.”ended with him.”

Yehezkel KaufmannYehezkel Kaufmann

Necessity for covenant witness and 9th commandment (I Cor 15:15)

Necessity for interpretation in new circumstances

Analogy with ANE treaties that protected the copies with curses (Deut 12:32; 31:9-13)

Only a subset of all revelation (John 20:30-31)

Concept of Biblical InspirationConcept of Biblical Inspiration

Necessity to define what is the contract and what doesn’t

Insight into Protestant vs. Roman Catholic debate over the Scripture: which has the higher authority—the entity to which the writer belonged, or his writing? Gal. 1:8-9; I John 1:1-3

What books are canonical? Those written during the period of active historical revelation

Concept of Biblical CanonConcept of Biblical Canon

Papyrus Ipuwer Ref.

Papyrus Ipuwer text Biblical ref

2:5-6 Plague is throughout the land. Blood everywhere

7:21

2:10 The river is blood. Men shrink from tasting it

7:20,24

2:10 Gates,columns, walls are consumed by fire

9:23-24

2:13 He who places his brother in the ground is everywhere

12:30

3:14 It is groaning that is throughout the land, mingled with lamentations

12:30

4:14 Trees are destroyed 9:25

5:5 All animals, their hearts weep 9:3

6:3 Grain has perished on every side 10:15

7:1 The fire has mounted up on high 13:21

9:11 The land is not light 10:22

Secular chronology. Developed independently of Scripture

Astronomical data—only 2 anchor points for the entire Egyptian chronology (XII, XVIII) based upon an assumed calendar and assumed correct report of the heliacal rising of the star Sirius;

Radiocarbon data—”Dating material by inscriptions is nearly always more accurate than use of radiocarbon data” - Albright;

Artifacts—”what we have is but a fraction of a fraction of the possible evidence” – Yamauchi

King lists—sequential or simultaneous or overlapping?