Accuracy and Impact of the Bible: Lotbinière

The following is a lesson in a historical and faithful study
beginning at 7:00 pm on Wednesdays.
at the church of Christ in Carthage, Missouri, south of the Ford dealership
PLEASE JOIN US!

Art Appreciation

Observe this page from a book (right).​

• What do you notice?

• What do you wonder?

Another Star-Shaped Fort

Michel Chartier de Lotbinière, Marquis de Lotbinière

The photos above are of a document that I held and turned over in my hands when I visited Fort Ticonderoga. During the French and Indian War, the French built the fort in upstate New York, and it was named Fort Carillon.

This document was written in French, and I had to attempt to decipher it.  Not being acquainted with the language made that difficult.  I did catch the date - April 1, 1753.  The two pages were sealed together, and I wasn't about to break the seal; however, I could curl the pages back to see more writing on the inside.  The curator, Matt Keagle, revealed that these were commission papers for a French soldier.  When we asked about the signature, Louis, he shared that it was King Louis XIV, and that these were the commission papers for Michel Chartier de Lotbinière, Marquis de Lotbinière; that is to say that these were official papers for the man who designed Fort Ticonderoga.  There are so many reasons to love the chance to hold this document.

Montcalm's Cross

Incidentally, following the Battle of Carillon during the French and Indian War, the Marquis de Montcalm raised a cross inscribed with the message and its rough English translation seen here (below). He took no credit for the victory and gave no credit to his strategy or his men. Instead, he credited his God, demonstrating that the French and Indian War was not only a war for territory, but that it was also a religious war of ideals.

Chretien!  Ce ne fut point Montcalm et la prudence,
Ces arbres renversė, ce hėros, leur exploits,
Qui des Anglais confus ont brisė l'espėrance;
C'est le bras de ton Dieu, vainqueur sur cette croix.

Christian, behold!  Not all the care than Montcalm took,
Nor this fearsome abatis, nor all our heroes' feats
Have stunned the English here, have shattered all their hopes;
​Instead the arm of God prevailed, the victor of this cross.

Whether the British or the French won the war, the leaders would often cite a devotion and appreciation to God: collectively, they never intended to leave Christianity out of the new land.

​The Big Questions
​Our focus for this study hinges on answering these two big questions.  The goal is to get closer to the answers each week in our class.

How did we we get the Bible?

Is the Bible accurate and dependable?

Does God Communicate with Us Outside of the Bible?

We contend that the Bible and everything it contains is supported by:

• textual claims
• origins of the text
• extrabiblical history
• the faith of martyrs
• ​logic​

• archeology
• geography
• geology

• chemistry

• astronomy
• biology

• physics
• mathematics
• and more

St. Catherine's Monastery

Just as Fort Carillon (Ticonderoga) was not built in the best, strategic location, neither was St. Catherin's Monastery.  Built as a fortress and to guard the monks' safety, its granite walls are also said to guard the holy ground where Moses spoke to the Lord in the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-6).

​Who was Catherine?  That information is in our book on p. 44.

St. Catherine's Monastery

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In the mid-19th Century, a 29-year-old man named Constantin von Tischendorf, came to St. Catherine's in search of Bible manuscripts.  The account of his locating the now famous Sinaitic Manuscript is recorded by our author Neil Lightfoot, in his book, How We Got the Bible (pages 44-50).

The Sinaitic Manuscript is on prominent display in the British Library.  According to our text, the manuscript was purchased from the Russian government by the British Museum for a little more than $500,000.  Our text:

Constantin von Tischendorf, ca. 1870

Of what must have originally comprised about 730 leaves, 393 remain, 245 of the Old Testament and 148 of the New.  The leaves are of very fine vellum, measuring approximately fifteen inches square.  The text is written four columns to a page, except in the case of seven poetic books of the Old Testament where the text is in only two columns.  The handwriting is large and clear, simple yet magnificent.

In addition, wrote Lightfoot, "The style of its script, along with other factors, make it quite certain that it was copied about the middle of the fourth century."  By studying the different spellings of certain words, it is apparent that three scribes were responsible for copying the text.

This is the oldest written text of the New Testament.

​Application Question

​How important is it?

Is it important to you that the Bible comes from reliable sources, or is it just a collection of wise sayings and advice for living?  Many atheists agree that there is wisdom in the teachings of Jesus Christ, but they do not believe that Jesus is a Messiah, that He performed miracles, that He walked out of His own grave, or that He prepares a place where His faithful disciples will be rewarded for eternity.

​So how important is it to you that the Bible can be proven true?  Do you believe there is irrefutable evidence to its validity?  Is proof something that strengthens your personal faith in the existence of God?

Should faith alone be enough to drive you to drive you to your knees?  Is "blind" faith a stronger kind of faith?  If so, then why did God provide so much evidence?

Go forward with us - or in this case, back to the beginning - as we continue our study next time.