The Gospels

              Modern history can basically be described as two types. Geschicte, a German word meaning in English “story.” This is a factual recounting of what happened, giving dates, events, and provable facts.

The other type of history is described by the French word, histoire. This is an attempt to explain the meaning of things which have happened and why the events are important. There have been many different attempts to interpret history from widely varying viewpoints: religion, politics, feminism, LGBTQ interests, economics, military themes, and philosophy, are just a few.

All four of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) contain elements of both types of history to varying degrees. Mark and Luke are more historical while Matthew and John are more interpretive. All four are considered to be historical biographical narratives presented for theological treasons.

Unlike many modern biographies, none of the Gospels attempt to exhaustively tell us everything that Jesus ever did or said. John 20: 30-31 even tells us, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” NIV

The gospels are all written to present their good news using different approaches and emphases. They want to tell us who Jesus was and what he did for us. They are theological documents.

Matthew stresses the Jewishness of Jesus. He shows how Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah who fulfills the Hebrew scriptures.

Mark shows Jesus in fast, urgent, and determined action. He does what only God can do. He is the Christ, the suffering Son of God.

Mark repeatedly uses the phrase kai εὐθὺς “and immediately.” This phrase carries the idea of “without any delay or hesitation” or even of “suddenly.” Mark stresses the urgency of Jesus’ message to which we should respond immediately.

Luke was a physician and a detailed historian. He had a scientific approach to his writing, seeking out eyewitnesses to the events he related. He wanted to show how Jesus fit into God’s plan for history.

            John is the most overtly theological of the gospels. He presents Jesus as the pre-existent God revealing himself to man. He clearly states the purpose of his book in John 20:31. “ … these are written that you may believe^[a] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” NIV

Modern Names of Places Mentioned in the Bible

 

Acts: 27:2  Adramytium (Burhaniye, Turkey)

Amos 1:12 Bozrah (Bouseira, Jordan)

Acts 9:32  Lydda (Lod, Israel)

Acts 20:14  Mitylene (Mytilene, Greece)

Jonah 1:2 and Matthew 12:41  Ninevah (Mosul, Iraq)

Modern Names of Places Mentioned in the Bible

 

Numbers 13:22 Zoan (Muhafaza as Sarqiya, Egypt)

1 and 2 Thessalonians Thessalonica (Thessaloniki, Greece)

Acts 21:7 Ptolemais (Acre, Israel)

Titus 3:12 Nicopolis (Prevesa, Greece)

Ezekiel 38:13 Dedan (al-Ula, Saudi Arabia)

Follow the Science

        

        We have been told repeatedly to "follow the science," usually in connection to COVID-19 

immunization. That  is good advice and my wife and I ae fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and other 

viruses.

        To be fully consistent, there is another situation where I would hope that everyone would consider

following the science. 

        The human female produces ova (eggs) which her body recognizes as "me." Except in rare cases of

 autoimmune disease, the woman's body leaves the ovaries alone. In autoimmune oophoritis, the body's

immune system attacks the ovaries causing inflammation, sever damage, and fibrosis.

        Normally, when a sperm wins the frantic race to the egg, the egg immediately allows the 

spermatozoan to enter and mix its DNA with the DNA of the egg.  The mixture of DNA is 50% "me"

and 50% "not me."

    If the body is functioning properly it does not like "not me" and makes moves to get rid of :not me."

It attacks "not me" to protect itself from viruses, bacteria, and other organisms like yeast or protozoa.

This is the reason transplant patients have to take anti-rejection drugs. The transplanted tissues are "not

me."

        To protect itself, the fertilized egg starts making masking proteins to tell the body "there's nothing

 to see here." They hide the "not me." The body only sees the "me."

        Once the embryo implants and begins to increase in size, it becomes too "not me" to ignore. That's

where the placenta takes over. It has many functions but one function is to release hormones and other

factors to prevent rejection of the fetus. Remember that the fetus is "not me." So what you have is

mother ("me") and fetus ("not me.") 

        This is the reason why there is so much controversy over when the fetus becomes a separate,

 individual human.

 

Restarting this Blog

 

            Due to unavoidable circumstances I have been gone for three years, but now I am back

and will be posting about once a week.

            No subject will be off the table and I will state what I believe to be orthodox Christian opinions on the topics at hand. I have no intention of being argumentative or judgmental. If you disagree with what I say, that is OK. I will seek to post in the spirit of Romans 12:18.

εἰ δυνατόν, τὸ ἐξ ὑμῶν μετὰ πάντων ἀνθρώπων εἰρηνεύοντες

(Literal translation: “if possible of you, with all men, living in peace/being in peace”)

(English paraphrase: “As much as it is left up to you, be at peace with everyone.”)

 

My main goal will not be to please you or to anger you, but to make you think.