Accuracy and Impact of the Bible: Surrender

Here is another 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!

As a leader in the British army, George Washington, as mentioned above, was impetuous.  Sometimes, the young soldier and leader jumped in with both feet, without considering the consequences.  How often do we do the same thing, not thinking about our choices, but assuming that the first thoughts that came into our minds are the right ones? 

​What are your observations of the diorama pictured below?

Washington is known to jump into icy rivers to swim his horse across instead of waiting for a ferry and without waiting for daylight.  In the wilderness, he had the soldiers in his charge build a little round fort.  They named it Fort Necessity, and it was the scene of terrible consequences for the British in their fight against the French.

​Pictured below is a diorama on display in the interactive education center at Mount Vernon (Washington's famous property).  In the diorama it's pretty easy to see how the fort is downhill from the surrounding countryside.  The soldiers are packed into the stockade and spilling out behind earthen embankments, while the French and their native allies lie hidden and camouflaged in the trees.

​The diorama above is quite revealing as to which side has the advantage, and yet George Washington chose Fort Necessity to be the headquarters for his wilderness campaigns.  Washington must have learned a lot about how not to wage warfare through the events at Fort Necessity.

​​In fact, Washington's frustration and disgust with that event, coupled with his impatience and impulsivity, may have led him into a French trap.  It was shortly after the event at Fort Necessity, that George Washington was tricked into signing a complete surrender to the French.  He should have paused.  Not only did he not understand the French language, but his poor interpreter was no help to him.

As a result, on July 3, 1754, George Washington signed the Articles of Capitulation.  In so doing, unknowingly confessed to the assassination of Jumonville.  The entire series of events is said to have "set the world on fire".

​History Has Its Eyes on You

Do you wonder if these events haunted George Washington for the rest of his life?  Lyn-Manuel Miranda wrote the following for his Washington character to perform in the hit show, Hamilton.  In the show, which takes place later, during the Revolutionary War, Washington still remembers the mistakes he made so many years earlier.

The French sent that signed document back to their homeland where it was used as propaganda against the British cause.

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This is one more example in this study that highlights the need for understanding language.  In tonight's lesson, we will notice more translations of original manuscripts - specifically into the modern language of their day - Greek.

​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?

Introductory, Guiding Questions

• From where did it originate?
• When was it written
• Who wrote it?
• How was it written?
• ​On what was it written?
• With what was it written?

• Where was it written?
• To whom was it written?
• Why was it written?
• What is its purpose?
• In what languages was it composed?
• How has it changed through the millennia?

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?

Chapter 13 in the text of the book, How We Got the Bible​, is the last chapter we have to cover (although we are due to have one more class session and a terrific field trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, before we call this unit complete).    The chapter continues a discussion of ancient versions of the Old Testament.  Author Neil Lightfoot begins with this line:

The most important materials in the establishing of a text are those that are found in the original language of the text.

We would, of course, expect the original text of the Old Testament to come to us in Hebrew, but in the next portion of the book, ancient translations will include the languages of Aramaic, Greek, and Latin.  Discussion follows these forms and translations:

• The Samaritan Pentateuch
• The Aramaic Targums
  
• The Syriac Peshitta
  

• The Latin Vulgate
• The Septuagint

We'll hit the highlights of each of these in our class, some of which we will supplement with the materials that follow.

Samaritan Pentateuch

Says the text:

The Samaritan Pentateuch is not a translation but is a form of the Hebrew text itself.

Pentateuch scroll and Samaritan priest, Nablus, 1908

Septuagint

It is considered "one of the most important Bible translations ever made".  The Septuagint is the translation of Old Testament Hebrew into Greek, and it takes up the majority of this chapter of the book.

There are some questions concerning the Septuagint which the author discusses here.  Yes, there are some differences between the Greek and the Hebrew texts, but it seems that the Septuagint was an/the accepted text of the early church.  The apostle Paul is obviously educated by the Septuagint.  And some of our common phrases in church circles come directly from the Septuagint:   words such as  apostle, glory, law, atonement, covenant, faith,   forgive, peace, redemption, righteousness, and truth.

​Lightfoot's summary includes this:

The ancient versions of the Old Testament, because they are translations, must always be considered secondary witnesses to the text.

The language barrier is overcome through scholarly study and the accurate portrayal of the results.  If only George Washington had taken the time to have the Articles of Capitulation translated, he would have known more about what he was signing.  Then again, it's more than likely that he simply signed from pressure and fear.

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:

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

• astronomy
• archeology
• geography
• geology
• astronomy
• biology

• history
• chemistry
• physics
• mathematics
• and more

​​Go forward with us in our next exciting study.  It's time to embark upon an epic journey.

Every Wednesday evening, beginning in April of 2023, we will be actively engaged in a study we've titled C.H.AR.GE.  This study will take through all kinds of evidences and supporting materials that will continue to keep our interest and strengthen our faith.  Imagine better understanding the cultures and customs of Bible figures.  Picture yourself examining archaeological proofs of the people and places mentioned in Scripture.  Use Biblical history and extrabiblical materials to bring Scripture into better focus.  Become more literate in the area of Biblical geography.  All of these (and more) will help us to better comprehend how we came to be where we are in the world, in both time and location.  Join us as we step into the Biblical world!

Click the link below for a preview and more complete introduction to the course.​