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THE TRUTH

If you arrived here, it's probably because I gave you a link or you stumbled across this on your own.

    

To be clear, nothing herein is meant to teach, convince, or promote anything to anyone. This is simply "my" depository of information I discovered and gathered over the past 50 years or more. In this way I can access it anywhere at any time on my smart phone. This is not intended to be conclusive in any way. I've posted many things that may be considered as "facts", but the intent is to find "the truth".

     

I'm reminded of that Indiana Jones movie, Raiders, when the archeology professor, Mr. Jones (Harrison Ford) commented, "In this class we study the facts. If it's "truth" you're after, that class is down the hall."

     

Although many "facts" will be presented, this is one of those "rooms" down the hall where "truth" is discussed for consideration. This room "site" will lead to some questions in the search of truth, much  like a child asking, "but why?".  I've explored the facts on subjects, tried to find answers of when, where, how and why, without imputing intent. The truth doesn't need help defending itself.

We may not find the "truth" if we enter the room with preconceived conclusions, with intent, without first examining all the "facts". An example might be, like the Greek philosopher Leucippus in the 5th century B.C., who first conceptualized that there are tiny particles he called "atoms" that make up basic matter. However, it wasn't until a British chemist, John Dalton in the early 1800s, who developed the first modern atomic theory based on experimental evidence. Then a hundred years later, scientists discovered "subatomic particles", like electrons within the atom based on new procedures and modern techniques. Discovering new facts lead to new "truths".

    

Having come from a background in science, chemistry, I tend to point to these kinds of scientific facts from time to time, but this "room", figuratively speaking, deals primarily with "Christology",  the branch of theology that explores the nature and works of Jesus Christ, including His role dispensing "the truth" on "salvation". Click on references "highlighted in blue".

    

So, if religion, theology, or investigating certain aspects of Christianity is not your thing, no problem. You can stop here since the rest of this site digs beyond the surface and highlights questions you may not have ever considered before. Some questions may even disturb some who fear the unknown. However, if this approach peaks your curiosity, let's continue down the road together. Stop anytime.       So, the question is; "What is truth?"

         

This question is not to be confused with how the infamous Pontius Pilate posed that question to Jesus during His trial in a pejorative way. (John 18:38) Rather, it's an honest-hearted question to consider. Jesus didn't even answer Pilate. HE didn't have to defend the truth of the matter on trial. 

Truth is based on commonly known and universally accepted "facts" on a given subject.

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Most Christians will respond by quoting Jesus, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me." - (John 14:6) But does that answer the basic question? 

     

Others, who claim to be Christians, consider Jesus as just a man, a son of man, a great prophet, a spokesman for God much like like Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc. the first creation of God, pointing to (Colossians 1:15). Is that all Jesus was/"is", just a creation of Almighty God, like angels? Afterall, that's what the Bible says, right? What is "the truth" on this?  

     

Here's another claim these other "Christians" cling to: Jesus was not crucified and nailed to a cross but rather hung on a pole, a stake, pointing to a new Greek translations that uses "stauros" (σταυρός) a Greek word for a stake, rather then cross. Interestingly, "fact", Justus Lipsius in the 16th century composed this representation of Jesus crucifixion after being influenced by Protestant Lutherans, the only hand drawing ever to depict a pole/stake, rather then a cross. Why is that?

Stauros.png

Let's began by pointing to the "fact" that there is no record of Jesus Himself writing part of scripture, the Bible. What we know of Him and what He did and said were related to mankind through others who heard Him and watched Him during the 3 1/2 years on earth. The writers said that they were  "inspired of God", even though these records were not completed until after Jesus died, some well into the second century, sall these scriptures were not compiled and translated until the end of the 4th century. Does that raise questions? It should.  

   

Let's take for example the "Pentateuch" or "Torah", the first five books of the Bible, attributed to Moses as its sole author. However, most ancient Rabbinical scholars and early Church fathers have concluded, based on extensive research, that there were others who co-wrote parts of the Pentateuch. Exploring the details of that is beyond the scope of this site. But if this is true, it begs the question, were these others "inspired" of God too? What does it mean to be "inspired"? How do we know for sure who was and who wasn't? Were those who came after the writings of these books who commented and gave oral testimony also inspired? (2 Thess 2:14Why is this so important?  "All scripture is inspired of God". (2 Tim. 3:16)

                   

In the 4th century the historian, scholar, and linguist, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus, later renamed "Jerome" was called upon to translate the original 73 canon books of the Old Testament and New Testament, including the "deuterocanonical" books  into Latin, the common language of the Roman Empire at that time. Many of these writings, like the Pentateuch, were written on animal skins and papyrus in the original languages when they were first written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, centuries before. We need to remember too that the "new testament" writers and gospel accounts of Jesus were scattered in many areas around the middle East, some not completed until well into the second century, including John's writings of the Apocalypse completed in 95 A.D., but we have no record of when it was available.  Jerome had to reach out to find where these writings were and then translate them into Latin. Jerome didn't even complete his task until 382 A.D. Think about it; since there were no printing presses (until Gutenberg invented one in the 15th century), nor any monasteries yet with monks and scribes to copy Jerome's work for centuries, what did Christians have to rely on to verify "the truth" like the Bereans who at least had the "Old Testament" when Paul spoke to them. All they had was oral teachings passed down by priests and bishops. (2 Thess 2:14) We all know what happens with word of mouth passing down from one to another without reference material. Or are to believe the traditions spoken orally by these priests and bishops were also inspired? There were no Bibles to reference yet. 

     

And who had the authority to assign Jerome this task in the first place? Where did that person get the authority to be considered to give Jerome the permission to do that, and so forth? Who had the authority to decide which books were to be included as "holy writ", "canon" books of the Bible? (canon, coming from the Greek word, "kanōn", which means "rule" or "measuring rod")

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These questions are not intended to undermine or cast doubt on anything, especially scripture. Rather, I'm trying to look at these matters objectively through the lens of skeptics and those who sincerely want to know the answers. As Jesus Himself said, "Seek, ask, knock." - (Matt.7:7) Wanting answers is healthy and right as Jesus said.

      

Jesus also said He would establish His Church at Pentecost in 33 A.D. with St Peter as its chief apostle to guide His followers in all things. (Matt.16:18

         

The information herein are like breadcrumbs leading to sources of the matter on these subjects. I tried to organize it on a topical basis. Questions raised with information found to address things like:

    

1.  Where did we come from?  (See page 12 on science too) 

2.  Why are we here?

3.  What does the future hold?

4.  Why is there so much wickedness and corruption on earth?

5.  Who has the authority to address these questions with reliable truthful answers?

   

The fundamental source of truth and authority on Christology can only come from the Bible".   

     

On the question of "Where did we come from?" [Genesis 1:1] says, "In the beginning God created heaven and earth." Any alternative relies on as much faith as belief in the Bible. It truly boils down to a matter of choice.

       

Scientists claim that there are over 100 Billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy and countless galaxies beyond this one. There's no way to know how many planets exist in the seemingly limitless universe. To traverse our galaxy alone would take thousands of years traveling at the speed of light, 186,000 miles per second, if that is even imaginable.  Either way, it takes faith to believe God did all this or to believe all this happened by blind random chance. (See page 12 on matters of science)

      

While many prefer to be given a short pithy answer to these complex questions, but the fact is, there are no shortcuts or easy answers. One must be willing to take the time to delve in and search for the answers and be honest with the outcome.

    

Many choose to believe in the alternative that we got here by chance and evolution. Many of these same people have not even read Charles Darwin's books; "The Origin of Species", etc. These same people who turn their backs on the Biblical account of creation never read the Bible. Often times certain "facts" based on observation, study, and experimentation are ignored or disputed because the facts disagree with their chosen beliefs. This is reminiscent of Mark Twain's observation.

Think about it; Everything we've come to know and believe, was obtained postnatally (after birth), things we learned from family, friends, school teachers, neighbors, public figures, and even religious leaders. These same people were also influenced by others as well, and so forth. And it's not that these other people intended to mislead us, because they too were misled in an endless cycle, generation after generation. We've been warned this would happen, "Put not your trust in man, in whom there is no salvation." [Psalms 145:2-3

     

It's no wonder we were also warned, "... the way of a man is not his ... to direct his own steps." [Jeremiah 10:23] 

We have been given freedom of choice. Choose wisely. How? (John 17:3) Gain knowledge of God.

 

On the next page 2., l​et's examine the truth and authority of the Bible. Remain open-minded.

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