We are especially pleased, this week, to carry an extract from the fine new book God’s Love Letter: Reflections on 1 John by Will Vaus.  The short extract is on the Apostle John's message to the early Church regarding forgiveness, knowledge and strength.  You can read the extract here and the book is available on the author's website. 

The question asked by someone  leaving a showing of the recent “Noah” movie, “Was Noah really like that?,” is typical of many who haven’t read the Book on which the movie was based.  Even among those who have read the biblical account, opinions on the film often seem to come down to one thing – whether the view of the person of Noah as portrayed in the movie is one that matched the biblical story or not. People were often not so bothered about plot issues – or even the message of the Noah narrative – it is “how like the biblical Noah is the movie character Noah” that so often matters to people.

Despite its debatable portrayal of Noah, we might want to give Hollywood’s Noah a fair shake in admitting that religions themselves have interpreted the patriarch in various ways.  It’s not just that Judaism sees Noah one way and Islam another, with Christianity having its own take. Even within each religion there are widely divergent interpretations of the character of Noah himself. For many Jewish commentators, the biblical description of Noah as "righteous in his generation" (Genesis 6:9) suggested that Noah was only righteous compared to the world in which he lived – that he was nowhere near as righteous as Abraham, for example.  In this view, Noah is even seen as a man who ensured his own safety while ignoring his neighbors.  Other Jewish scholars, such as the commentator Rashi, said this view was unfair and that Noah purposely stretched the building of the Ark over 120 years precisely to give his neighbors a chance to repent.

Christianity has done the same thing in terms of differing interpretations.  Noah is generally seen in a very positive light – doubtless due to his inclusion in the “Faith Hall of Fame” of Hebrews 11, and the fact that according to Peter, Noah was a "preacher of righteousness" (1 Peter 2:5). But there have been many Christian “takes” on Noah even within this tradition.  I understand that the Mormon Church teaches that Noah was actually the angel Gabriel in human form, and these facts shows the extent to which views on Noah can diverge even within the range of faith.

So although we might rail against the “divergence” between the biblical Noah and the “Noah” of the movie, we might remember the range of views within the faith traditions themselves and the fact that the movie – despite its problems of fidelity to scripture – has at least been the cause for vast numbers of people reading the Genesis narrative on the internet Bible sites, many of whom might never have looked at the account had it not been for the film’s popularity.

Ultimately, we need to realize, too, that the Bible really does not do biography, per se.  Not even the lives of Jesus that we find presented in the gospels give a single seamless account with all the details seen from the same perspective.  At the end of the day, the Bible gives us few details about Noah himself, and while we might (and do) argue about their interpreta- tion, the story of Noah remains a classic example that what was important to the biblical writers was not the man’s personality or even his problems (imagined by Hollywood or otherwise), but how he was used by God.

Luke 24 tells the story, set shortly after the death of Jesus,  of the two disciples walking on the road to the village of Emmaus several miles from Jerusalem.  As they walked they were joined by a third individual (Luke 24:15-16).  The stranger asked them what they were talking about and they replied:  “About Jesus of Nazareth  …. He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.  The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;  but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel...” (Luke 24:19-21).

The stranger joined the conversation and the three individuals talked until they came to Emmaus.  Once there the two disciples urged the stranger to stay the evening with them and join their meal. So, Luke tells us the stranger accepted and:

“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight” (Luke 24:31-32).

Reading the story from our perspective, with hindsight, we realize immediately that the stranger was, of course, Jesus, but something that we often neglect to think much about in this story is the fact that the two disciples were unaware that the One of whom they spoke was in fact the person with whom they spoke.  The two disciples had actually been talking about the person who was with them.  If that had happened to us, that we discovered someone we talked about had been the person involved – would we have wondered afterwards what we had said, wondered about any negative or critical things that might have been part of our conversation?

If we believe the simple Christian truth that Christ lives His life in each called and committed individual, does the principle not apply that whenever we talk to a fellow believer – or about a fellow believer – we are talking with Christ whether we realize it or not?  It is the principle behind the related situation Jesus described in saying “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). It is something to remember.  In that small way, we are all walking the road to Emmaus.

Scripture in Question:
Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20




Each year at this time it is common for some who reject Christianity to speak of the “clear contradictions” between the four Gospel accounts of the resurrection. Perhaps because they are at the heart of Christian theology and belief, the resurrection accounts are attacked as being inconsistent in terms of the witnesses to the event, its timing and what the witnesses saw. 

The Witnesses:   Matthew 28:1 states that two women (Mary Magdalene, and "the other Mary") came to the tomb of Jesus, whereas Mark 16:1 states that there were three women (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome). In Luke 24:10 we find three women named, but a different list of three than Mark gives (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Joanna); finally,  John 20:1 mentions only Mary Magdalene.    That Mary Magdalene and a group of other women came to the tomb is clear.  Each Gospel writer probably mentions the particular women that he had heard were there. The fact that there is so much agreement between the lists is, in fact, a point for their authenticity rather than some kind of contradiction.  John mentions only Mary Magdalene, likely because she was either the first to arrive at the tomb or the leader of the group of women.

Timing of the Event:  John 20:1 states “it was still dark” when Mary arrived at the tomb, but Mark 16:2 states “the sun had risen” when the women arrived. Once again, perhaps Mary Magdalene (who alone is mentioned by John) arrived at the tomb a little earlier than the others, though the two writers may just have been describing the dawn from different perspectives – as the end of the night or the beginning of the day.

What was Witnessed: While Matthew 28:2 tells us  “an angel” rolled away the stone sealing the tomb and sat upon it, Mark 16:5 says the women found “a young man” sitting by the tomb; Luke 24:4 says the women saw “two men” and in John 20:1 it is not recorded that Mary Magdalene saw anything other than a moved stone. Matthew does not say there was only one angel, just that one moved the stone. The “young man” mentioned by Mark was clearly how the women had described the angel. The fact that John does not mention the two "men" does not mean that they were not there – his account is simply stressing other things.

As the theologian N.T. Wright has written, "It is a commonplace among lawyers that eyewitnesses disagree, but that this doesn’t mean nothing happened." (Surprised by Hope, Harper 2008). Given four separate accounts of the same event, one would expect differences of detail to be remembered by the different witnesses, and differences in the stress placed on certain details by the four writers. This is, in fact, exactly what we find in the four gospel accounts of the resurrection.

Our Book page has multiplied!  Now that we are beginning to add more books to our review section, we will utilize a central index page having all the titles together – with each review on its own page.  Newly uploaded is a short review of John Ortberg's fine book, Know Doubt,  of a few years ago.  If you didn't read it then, consider it now – it's a very worthwhile and encouraging book.  Also, we have a review of Craig Blomberg's  important new study Can We Still Believe the Bible?, which was published just a few days ago.  Check out these titles and others on the new Book Reviews page here.

The news is currently full of reports that the small papyrus fragment which is purported to show that Jesus had a wife has now been shown by Carbon 14 dating to be “ancient.”  Does this prove that Jesus had a wife?

Announced at a 2012 conference in Rome by Harvard Divinity School's Karen King, and dubbed the "Gospel of Jesus's Wife," the fragment has now been studied by a number of experts.  The carbon dating conducted at Harvard and MIT on the fragment (3.2 inches wide by 1.6 inches tall - 8 by 4 centimeters) returned dates between AD  659 and 869.  The fragment had earlier been estimated to be “fourth century,” but it is now clear that it is much more recent – probably dating to some 700-800 years after the time of Christ.

By the time this fragment was written, many spurious ideas and speculations had circulated in Christianity; and the “gospel” from which the fragment apparently came may have exhibited many differences from the canonical gospels.  

Not all scholars are convinced that the text is even genuine.  Professor Leo Depuydt of Brown University has stated that he feels the text is full of grammatical errors and other problems that suggest the writing may have been faked on a piece of ancient papyrus.  But even if the writing on the fragment is authentic, its late date means that it really proves nothing regarding the life of the historical Jesus.  

Further,  the words "Jesus said to them, 'My wife . . . she is able to be my disciple . . .'" which are found on the papyrus may have been intended to be understood figuratively rather than literally.  Jesus used similar analogies (John 3:29), and the New Testament  speaks of the church being the “Bride of Christ” on several occasions.  In 2 Corinthians 11:2 the apostle Paul states “… For I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.” And in the Book of Revelation we find verses such as “I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife” (Revelation 21:9).

So, despite the sensationalism associated with the recent studies, and the desire of some to see a “Da Vinci Code” type of hidden truth in a single scrap of papyrus, the fragment of text really gives us no evidence to affect our understanding of the gospel accounts of the life of Jesus, and certainly does not prove that Jesus had a wife.

Unlike Jesus’ first miracle when he changed many large jars of water into wine  or the succeeding miracles and signs he performed before His followers, His last miracle may seem small by comparison, yet is just as indicative of His nature as any of the acts of compassion carried out during his ministry.  In some ways, this small miracle may show His nature even more than the others.

All the Gospels describe the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane before his crucifixion and all of them  describe the fact that in the tense moments of the arrest one of Jesus’ followers drew a sword and struck out, severing the ear of a man named Malchus, a servant of the high priest.  John’s Gospel  reveals that it was the impetuous Peter who did this, and who was stopped by Jesus (John 18:10).  It is unlikely that Peter was aiming at the servant’s ear, and the injury was probably sustained when Peter swung  with the sword at the man’s head and Malchus ducked – narrowly avoiding death, but sustaining the loss or partial loss of his ear.

It would not be surprising if this non-life-threatening injury had been ignored in the turmoil that must have accompanied Jesus’ arrest, but Luke adds a detail in this regard which none of the other gospel writers has.  Luke tells us that Jesus “…touched the man’s ear and healed him” (Luke 22:51).  

We must see this miracle in context. Jesus knew the terrible death that awaited him and had only just finished the agonizing prayer in which his sweat was “like drops of blood” (Luke 22:44).  When the soldiers and officers of the high priest came upon Him in the dark and tumult of the arrest, Jesus’ mind must have been full of what was happening and what was about to happen to him.  Humanly, anyone in this situation would hardly be thinking about one of the arresting group hurt in the tumult. 

Yet the mind of Christ was such that even within that dark and emotionally swirling night, despite the shouting, running and confusion that clearly ensued, Jesus noticed the one who had been injured, focused on that and sought the man out, using His last miracle to help an enemy before he chose to forgo any further use of the divine power at His disposal in order to endure the things He knew He must suffer. 

The many miracles and signs wrought by Jesus during his human ministry showed his compassion and care for others, but these were done in times of relative quiet and security.  In Jesus’ last miracle, even as He was led away to His death, He still showed the love that placed His own needs, His own self, not first, but last.

You know you need faith, but does faith need you?  In asking this, I mean are there times when faith should be augmented by what we can accomplish through our own power and by our own  work?  And please realize that we are not talking about justification here – just everyday life.  Let me explain.  Throughout our present era many very sincere people have caused themselves – and others – unnecessary hardship through not understanding the principle of trusting God and at the same time doing what we can do ourselves.

Many Christians have believed that in any problematic situation we should trust entirely in God’s help and wait patiently for that help to materialize. As a result, in extreme situations some have even felt that seeking medical or other help is to lack faith, but is that what the Word of God shows to be the case?  This week's article "Your Partnership with Faith" looks at some examples from the lives of faithful servants of God – all drawn from times of danger or need – that show clear partnership with faith.

THE – CONTINUING – FLOODS IN BOLIVIA

Flooding caused by ongoing torrential rain in Bolivia is of unprecedented proportions. Beginning last October,  the rains peaked in the early part of this year, triggering further flooding and fatal landslides.

Many people have been killed in the flooding, and more than 60,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed.  The floods are also causing widespread agricultural damage – many crops have been ruined,  and an estimated 100,000 cattle have been drowned. After months of unrelenting rain, many homes and farmland areas are submerged, especially in Bolivia’s Beni region.

Bolivian President Evo Morales has stated: “What is happening, particularly in Beni province, is something never before seen in the history of Bolivia,” yet despite the terrible damage and loss of life being caused by the flooding, the Bolivian government has rejected pleas for international assistance, and there is great need for help.

Christian Aid Mission and other workers in Bolivia have been striving to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in the affected areas, but the ongoing needs are massive.  Emergency packs containing food, cooking oil and a Bible are being distributed to the extent that funds are available, and the participating aid groups are bringing in medical volunteers to serve in affected communities, as well as medical kits to help counter the constant threat of waterborne diseases.

The rains continue, however, and the need for prayer and physical help remains great.  Go  here for more information on the work of Christian Aid Mission in the flooded areas of Bolivia and for information on helping provide emergency packs to the victims of this unprecedented flooding.

David Livingstone (19 March 1813 – 1 May 1873), the British explorer and pioneer medical missionary in Africa during the reign of Queen Victoria, lived a life of remarkable accomplishments regarding his convictions and faith.  The son of devout Christian parents, Livingstone worked in a cotton mill between the ages of 10 and 26, but he read widely and gained entrance to, and completed, medical school in London. It was at that time that he met Robert Moffat, a missionary working in South Africa, who inspired him with the idea to take Christianity further into Africa both as a missionary venture and as a potential way to help stop the slave trade.  

Traveling to Africa, Livingstone set out to take the word of God to the “…thousand villages where no missionary has ever been" of which  Moffat had told him.  It was while helping the people of one of those villages to hunt and shoot a marauding lion that Livingstone was mauled and received injuries that troubled him for the rest of his life. While recovering from his wounds, Livingstone met and married Moffat's oldest daughter, Mary, who joined him in his work till she died of malaria in 1862.  When he was able, Livingstone pushed further and further into the African heartland, preaching, teaching, and helping the sick.  When he moved from one village to the next, many of the inhabitants would follow – not wishing to be separated from him. 

Many of the people he influenced for Christianity were short-lived in their faith, but Sechele, chief of the Kwena people of Botswana, became a staunch follower (except in certain areas such as polygamy).  After learning to read, then teaching his wives the skill, Sechele wrote down the Bible in his own language as well as converting most of his people and leading missionaries to surrounding tribes. Certainly many people heard the gospel either directly or indirectly through Livingstone. Livingstone’s accomplishments as an explorer in Africa were also many.  He did the “impossible” in crossing the Kalahari Desert, developed a provisional cure for malaria, discovered numerous rivers and large lakes and was also the first European to discover Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall on earth. 

Livingstone believed that “Christianity, commerce and civilization” would wipe out the slave trade in Africa, and so he returned to England to gain official support for his idea to open up the Zambezi River as a highway that would carry all three of his goals into the interior.  Unfortunately, the expedition ultimately failed as the river was found unnavigable in areas.  Livingstone was also criticized by expedition members and had to seek private funding to continue his work in Africa. Returning there, he lost contact with the outside world for six years and was finally found by the American reporter Henry Morton Stanley. It was on this occasion that Stanley is said to have uttered the now famous words “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”- ironic in that Livingstone was the only other white man in hundreds of miles.

Livingstone’s final years were spent in poor health and often in severe sickness. In 1871 he witnessed some 400 people massacred by slavers, and this event destroyed his desire to continue exploration, though he continued his Christian and medical work. Finally, after exploring and serving as a missionary  in Africa for 22 years, he died in 1873 while still working with the people he strove to serve. A figure of legendary proportions in Britain, he was honored with burial in Westminster Abbey in London. 

Like all of us, Livingstone had his shortcomings, but he endured incredible things in the course of his missionary activity and greatly served the people among whom he worked.  The accomplishments of his faith were many. Most importantly, after he died, the life of David Livingstone became an inspiration to countless other missionaries who have followed after him, both in Africa and elsewhere.