The following is the next lesson in a historical and faithful study
beginning at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evenings.
at the church of Christ in Carthage, Missouri, south of the Ford dealership
PLEASE JOIN US!
beginning at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evenings.
at the church of Christ in Carthage, Missouri, south of the Ford dealership
PLEASE JOIN US!
Art AppreciationAnalyze the painting here. Check out its details.
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A Military coup in America?
Before we get into this lesson, let us work through the 1783 Newburgh Conspiracy scenario in George Washington's Mount Vernon's Be Washington! At this link, select Single Player and the Newburgh Conspiracy scenario, then follow directions in the simulation.
In 1783, with the ending of the Revolutionary War, the country was on unsteady ground. Washington would not become president for another six years. Some of the major leaders and generals under George Washington -specifically, General Horatio Gates - planned to meet, along with around 300 men in all, to decide if they should lead a military coup on the Continental Congress, thus establishing a military government for the new United States of America.
The soldiers suspected that when the war ended, there would be no chance they would be paid for their service. They thought they could keep Congress to their obligations as long as the standing army still existed. This moment in our history is known as the Newburgh Conspiracy. When George Washington heard this was happening, he masterfully showed up to the meeting with a prepared speech. Primary documents describe this event.
In 2018, I had the privilege of visiting George Washington's Mount Vernon for a summer residency and teacher institute. The lead scholar for the institute was Dr. Bill Fowler, professor at Northeastern University in Boston, and former director of the Massachusetts Historical Society. He described the moment in which Washington made his speech. He also demonstrated the way Washington ended his speech by reading a letter from Joseph Jones ensuring everyone that Congress would live up to its responsibilities to them. To read the letter, the commander-in-chief took his new glasses out of his coat and stated, "Gentlemen, you must forgive me. My hair has grown gray and my eyes have grown dim in the service of my country." It is said that there was not a dry eye in the house.
Almost immediately, the group agreed to follow Washington's advice and allow the new government to fulfill its mission.
In 2018, I had the privilege of visiting George Washington's Mount Vernon for a summer residency and teacher institute. The lead scholar for the institute was Dr. Bill Fowler, professor at Northeastern University in Boston, and former director of the Massachusetts Historical Society. He described the moment in which Washington made his speech. He also demonstrated the way Washington ended his speech by reading a letter from Joseph Jones ensuring everyone that Congress would live up to its responsibilities to them. To read the letter, the commander-in-chief took his new glasses out of his coat and stated, "Gentlemen, you must forgive me. My hair has grown gray and my eyes have grown dim in the service of my country." It is said that there was not a dry eye in the house.
Almost immediately, the group agreed to follow Washington's advice and allow the new government to fulfill its mission.
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Dr. Fowler described a moment when he was the person in charge at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Knowing that Washington's original Newburgh address, penned by his secretary, is currently in the Library of Congress, Fowler received a package containing another copy of the speech, this one written by Washington himself. This copy is different that the original, because Washington wrote it in letters large enough that he could read it without his glasses. It is only when he takes out the letter from Joseph Jones that he must use his glasses.
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.
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?
Is the Bible accurate and dependable?
Running Some Numbers (& More Significant Information about the Manuscripts)
 | When speaking of the Bible, we have many manuscript copies, meticulously written one stroke at a time to ensure that it remains correct and intact. Generally speaking, they come to us in two different handwriting forms, similar to the different copies of Washington's speech. In Chapter 3, the author of our text, How We Got the Bible, describes the around 650 uncials as being written in all capital letters. An example of this all-caps style, without spacing or punctuation, is found on page 35 of our book. Some 5,300 manuscripts in the other group, referred to as cursives or miniscules, are described (as their name implies) as being written in cursive and in small letters. He wrote that, "The miniscules did not make their debut until the ninth century and thus are of less value." |
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Three major copies are known as:
These are discussed in Neil Lightfoot's book on pages 36-41. |
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The uncials and miniscules are viewable online at this site: The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts |
 Codex Sinaiticus is a fourth century manuscript of the Greek Old Testament, the New Testament, the Epistle of Barnabas, and the Shepherd of Hermas on parchment; The facsimile images are from the J. T. and Zelma Luther Archives, A. Webb Roberts Library, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. |  Twelfth century minuscule of the Gospels, Apostolos, and Paul on parchment; 297 leaves, single column, 38 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. |
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.
We contend that the Bible and everything it contains is supported by:
We contend that the Bible and everything it contains is supported by:
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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?
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.
