Jesus and James

While most people who have an interest in the subject, even if they are not nor claim to be converts to Christianity, believe that Jesus Christ actually existed as a human being in the early first century (A.D.), some few claim otherwise. Yet, there’s much evidence, even from various extra-biblical sources attesting to his existence and certain facts relating to what is recorded in Scripture about him.

Our faith in Christ rests primarily on the Bible, which we believe to be the word of God. But it is of interest what we can learn from other historical records, not only about Jesus, but others associated with him, particularly his half-brother, James.

This message, “Jesus and James,” relates information about what some historical records outside of the Bible tell us about Jesus, his disciples, and how they were viewed and treated by the world in the early years of the Christian era. Also, closely related is information concerning especially James, who became a prominent leader in the early Church, and who was eventually martyred.

Interestingly, among the available evidence regarding Jesus and James is an ossuary box recently discovered believed to have been used to entomb the bones of James. It’s hoped you will find the facts presented in this message interesting and edifying.

Continue reading

Defending the Gospel

Influential skeptics, especially in the past two or three centuries, have spun myths about the Bible, how it was written and compiled, and have lied about its historical accuracy. As a result, many have come to doubt the Bible as historically reliable, and hence dismiss it as a serious guide to life. The increasing lawlessness and amoral behavior endemic in today’s world is partly a consequence of how the message of the gospel has been undermined by an unrelenting campaign aimed at discrediting the record of Holy Scripture.

Historical analysis, archaeology, and epigraphy have gone far to lend support to the veracity of the Bible, which is the gospel, the word of God. Unfortunately unknown to multitudes, time and again the myths and assumptions of the Bible’s critics have proven wrong, as reviewed in this message.

“Defending the Gospel” COGMessenger is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Defending the Gospel

It’s reported on the biblearchaeology.org website that they recently received an e-mail from a person named “Jenny.” In her message Jenny made a number of claims maligning the integrity of Scripture. The gist of her assertions is that the Bible is fiction. Among the specifics she alleged:

  • There was no mass exodus of erstwhile Israelite slaves from Egypt.
  • David and Solomon are fictional characters.
  • The accounts of battles and victories of Israel over her enemies is fiction.
  • The Biblical writers hijacked Egyptian history and passed it off as their own.

The Associates For Biblical Research, owns the biblearchaeology.org domain. A representative of the organization, in a lengthy response to Jenny’s e-mail, stated in part: “Sadly, most people hold these views because of what they read on the internet or watch on TV. Many have been lied to by their unbelieving college professors and mentors. Some even learn these erroneous views about the Bible in Christian colleges and seminaries! In providing this rather long and detailed response, it is our hope that ‘Jenny’ and others like her will seriously reconsider the authority of the Bible and its author, Yahweh, and the claims of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

I might add that many also learn the views expressed by Jenny in their churches.

In this article, I want to discuss the relationship of the gospel to history, and how the gospel is defended and propagated in part by the study of history, and fields touching on history, such as archaeology, and epigraphy, which is the study and deciphering of ancient inscriptions.

Continue reading

The History of Apostasy, Part 5

A sheep in the wilderness

Play Audio:

Published July 2, 2019

Apostasy is a subject largely neglected in most churches, and usually when it is discussed, it is not addressed accurately or with full understanding. In Part 5 of his sermon series, pastor Rod Reynolds discusses the apostasies that occurred in the early church during the time of the apostles and immediately following that era.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

“The History of Apostasy, Part 5” by Messenger Church of God released under a Creative Commons [CC BY-ND 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/)]License:
This image released under a CC cc-by-nc-nd license. Click here for details.

The History of Apostasy, Part 4

A sheep in the wilderness

Play Audio:

Published July 2, 2019

In Part 4 of his sermon series, pastor Rod Reynolds picks up the discussion with the apostasy among the Jews during the time of Antiochus Epiphanes in the second century BC. and leading up to the time of Jesus Christ.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

“The History of Apostasy, Part 4” by Messenger Church of God released under a Creative Commons [CC BY-ND 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/)]License:
This image released under a CC cc-by-nc-nd license. Click here for details.