Evidences Class The New Gnosticism

"Gnosticism" is the name given to a group of related religious ideas that were popular around the time when Christianity was getting its start. In general, Gnostics claimed to possess knowledge that others did not have, and they emphasized knowledge over faith. (The Greek word gnosis means "knowledge.") Eusebius points to Simon the Sorcerer as the first heretic (might be legend).

Separation of the god of creation from the god of redemption Dividing Christians into categories with one group being superior Stress on secret teachings which only divine persons could comprehend (1 Cor. 2:7; 2 Pet. 3:15-16) Exaltation of knowledge over faith Things in Common

Some Gnostic Ideas The God of the Old Testament is different than the God of the New Testament Illicit sexual relations were a way of getting closer to God (Jude 8) Celibacy (1 Tim. 4:3) The Gospels are not reliable Jesus was not God (Jude 4) Jesus did not come in the flesh (2 John 7)

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. (Acts 20:29-30 ESV) Inside or Outside?

The New Gnosticism The Da Vinci Code The Gospel of Judas The “Historical” Jesus

Some of Dan Brown’s Claims The 4 Gospels are not reliable The Gnostic “gospels” are reliable Mary Magdalene was Jesus’ wife Sexual relations are a way of getting closer to God

The “gospel” of Judas The National Geographic Society

The “Historical” Jesus The 4 Gospels are not reliable The Gnostic “gospels” are reliable Jesus was not divine Jesus was the radical teacher of his day

Why do some believe that the 4 Gospels are not Reliable? Don’t like the message Deny the supernatural Prophecy is an impossibility

"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. (Luke 21:20-22 ESV)

Dating the Gospels If you believe the Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke (Before A.D. 70) John (A.D ) If you don’t believe the Bible: Matthew, Mark and Luke (After A.D. 70) John (A.D ) Baur dated John as late as A.D. 170

With constant use a papyrus manuscript might last only 10 years

Christians and Their Writings Suffer Emperor Diocletian ( AD) ordered Christians to sacrifice to the Roman gods. Christian documents throughout the empire were confiscated and/or burned. Those who refused to comply were executed.

Uncials Codex Vaticanus

Uncial Romans 1 PAULASERVANTOFCHRISTJESUSCALLED TOBEANAPOSTLESETAPARTFORTHEGOS PELOFGODWHICHHEPROMISEDBEFORE HANDTHROUGHHISPROPHETSINTHEHO LYSCRIPTURESCONCERNINGHISSON

Our Oldest Bibles (AD ) Codex VaticanusCodex Sinaiticus

Oldest New Testament Fragment John Rylands Papyrus 1 st half of the 2 nd century Disproving Baur

Internal Evidence Luke and Acts authored by Luke When does Acts end? He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. (Acts 28:30-31 ESV) Why???

Journeys of a Skeptical Archaeologist Sir William Ramsay (Mid-19 th Century) Student in the German historical school Researched Asia Minor

Sir William Ramsay I may fairly claim to have entered on this investigation without prejudice in favor of the conclusion which I shall now seek to justify to the reader. On the contrary, I began with a mind unfavorable to it … St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen

Every person, said Ramsay, was found just where he ought to be: proconsuls in senatorial provinces, asiarchs in Ephesus, politarchs in Thessalonica, magicians and soothsayers everywhere. The title politarch (Acts 17:6) is particularly striking; it was unknown in other Greek literature until the discovery of inscriptions, including five of them in Thessalonica.

The Accuracy of Luke In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. (Luke 2:1-3 ESV) Luke appeared to have got it wrong:  No census  Quirinius not governor at that time  Everyone did not have to return to their ancestral home

Think Again … More recent archaeological discoveries show:  No census – Romans held censuses every 14 years (9-8 B.C.)  Quirinius - Governor in both 7 B.C. and 6 A.D.  Everyone did not have to return to their ancestral home – Papyrus found in Egypt gives directions for everyone to return to their own homes

Dan Brown Says: The earlier gospels were outlawed, gathered up, and burned … Fortunately for historians some of the gospels Constantine attempted to eradicate managed to survive. The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in the 1950’s hidden in a cave near Qumran in the Judean desert. And, of course, the Coptic scrolls in 1945 at Nag Hammadi.

Gnostic Gospels Mary Phillip Thomas Judas Written in the 2 nd, 3 rd, and 4 th Centuries Not authentic Few copies (none in the Dead Sea Scrolls!!!)

From The Gospel of Thomas Peter: Let Mary go away from us because women are not worthy of life Jesus: Lo, I shall lead her to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit, resembling you males. For every woman who makes herself a make will enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Number of copies …

Questioning Jesus’ Divinity The term “Son of Man” simply stressed the weakness and mortality of the human condition. He was emphasizing that he was a frail human being who one day would suffer and die. Karen Armstrong – History of God Jesus establishment as the Son of God was officially proposed and voted on by the Council of Nicaea. Dan Brown – The Da Vinci Code

Son of Man I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14 ESV)

Bodmer Papyrus (3 rd Century) Contains parts of the Gospel of John Similar to our oldest two Bibles the Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus