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Repost: Kennedy Classics – Was Jesus Real or a Myth?

YouTube Transcript:

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FROM D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES
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THIS IS KENNEDY CLASSICS
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WELCOME TO KENNEDY CLASSICS
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HELLO, AND WELCOME TO KENNEDY CLASSICS,
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A VIEWER-SUPPORTED OUTREACH.
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I’M FRANK WRIGHT, PRESIDENT OF D. JAMES
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KENNEDY MINISTRIES, AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE
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YOU TO VISIT OUR MINISTRY WEBSITE,
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YOU CAN FIND AN ABUNDANCE OF DIGITAL, AUDIO, VIDEO,
0:44
AND PRINT RESOURCES THERE.
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IT’S ALL AVAILABLE AT DJKM.ORG.
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IN PSYCHIATRY, DENIAL IS CONSIDERED A DEFENSE
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MECHANISM IN WHICH UNPLEASANT REALITIES ARE
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KEPT OUT OF CONSCIOUS AWARENESS BY A REJECTION
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OF THEIR EXISTENCE.
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IN THIS WAY, THOSE IN DENIAL ATTEMPT TO KEEP
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UNPLEASANT REALITIES OUT OF THEIR CONSCIOUS THOUGHT
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AND SPARE THEMSELVES THE ASSOCIATED ANXIETY.
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IN ADDITION TO BEING A PSYCHOLOGICAL REALITY,
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DENIAL IS ALSO A TOOL OF THE MENDACIOUS WHO SEEK TO
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CREATE A FALSE NARRATIVE THAT OTHERS WILL PICK UP ON.
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THIS TOO IS AN EFFORT TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM WHAT
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SOME CONSIDER AN UNPLEASANT REALITY.
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IN MODERN TIMES, RATHER THAN ARGUE THE TRUTH OF
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THE CLAIMS OF JESUS CHRIST- PARTICULARLY HIS
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CLAIM THAT HE WAS AND IS GOD IN HUMAN FORM- A VERY
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EXTREME GROUP OF SKEPTICS HAVE TRIED TO ARGUE THAT
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JESUS NEVER REALLY EXISTED AT ALL.
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ONE CAN EASILY SEE WHY THESE CHRIST-DENIERS MIGHT
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EMBRACE THIS FALSEHOOD, BECAUSE ONE DAY JESUS WILL
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RETURN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.
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FOR THOSE ALREADY SPIRITUALLY DEAD IN THEIR
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TRESPASSES AND SINS, THIS IS THE MOST UNPLEASANT
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REALITY OF ALL- HENCE THEIR DENIAL THAT JESUS
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EVER EXISTED.
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DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY ANSWERS THIS ULTIMATE
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EXERCISE IN DENIAL WITH HIS MESSAGE:
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“WAS JESUS REAL OR A MYTH.”
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OUR SCRIPTURE LESSON THIS MORNING IS TAKEN FROM THE
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FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. JOHN, CHAPTER ONE BEGINNING WITH
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VERSE ONE.
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MAY WE HEAR THE INSPIRED WORD OF THE GREAT TRIUNE
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GOD.
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AND MAY GOD SPEAK TO US TODAY THROUGH HIS HOLY
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WORD AND MAY HIS NAME EVER BE PRAISED AMEN.
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IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME AGAIN, ADVENT SEASON WHEN WE
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REMEMBER THE BIRTH OF OUR GLORIOUS SAVIOR.
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IT’S ALSO “TERMITE” SEASON AS WELL,
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AND THE ANTI-CHRISTIAN TERMITES SWARM AT THIS
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TIME OF YEAR, COMING OUT TO DO THEIR VERY BEST TO
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OBLITERATE ALL REMEMBRANCE OF CHRIST- AT LEAST IN THE
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PUBLIC SQUARE NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT
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CHRIST CAN’T BE MENTIONED IN SCHOOLS-
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NOT IN CARDS GIVEN, NOT IN THESES WRITTEN,
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NOT IN PRAYERS OFFERED.
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CHRIST IS BANISHED, EVEN FROM MOST OF
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OUR STORES TODAY.
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IF YOU’LL NOTE CAREFULLY AT THE ADS,
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YOU’LL SEE THAT IT IS MOSTLY “HOLIDAY SALES.”
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BUT WHICH HOLIDAY IS IT THAT BRINGS OUT ALL OF
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THESE CUSTOMERS?
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WELL, THE OWNERS KNOW.
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YES, THEY ALL GATHER AROUND THE CASH REGISTER
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ON THE TWENTY-SIXTH AND SING,
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“WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.”
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(LAUGH)
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AND THEN THEY MAKE SURE THAT HIS NAME IS NOT
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MENTIONED IN THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS.
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BY THE WAY, CHRISTIANS ARE BEGINNING TO SPEAK UP AND
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LET THEIR FEELINGS BE KNOWN.
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AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A BEGINNING OF A TREND BACK
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TO ACKNOWLEDGING CHRIST.
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AND, OF COURSE, THE MOST RADICAL OF THESE
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“TERMITES” ARE THE ONES THAT NOT ONLY WANT TO DENY
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HIS DEITY OR HIS MESSIAHSHIP, BUT WANT
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TO DENY EVEN HIS VERY EXISTENCE- THAT HE IS
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MERELY A MYTH, A FABLE, NO MORE REAL THAN SANTA CLAUS.
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AND, THEREFORE, THEY TRY TO CONVINCE STUDENTS,
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ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG AND THE GULLIBLE THAT THIS IS
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THE CASE, AND THAT THERE IS NO REALITY TO IT.
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AND AFTER ALL, THEY’VE GOT NOTHING TO BASE THIS ON
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EXCEPT THE BIBLE, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THE BIBLE
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IS NOT RELIABLE, DON’T WE?
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AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT OUR KIDS HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
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BUT IS THE BIBLE RELIABLE, OR IS IT A COMPILATION OF
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FAIRY TALES AND MYTHS?
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WELL, PETER SAID, “WE’VE NOT MADE KNOWN UNTO YOU
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“CUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLES” (2 PETER 1:16).
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BY THE WAY THE “FABLES” COMES FROM THE GREEK WORD
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MUTHOS, WHICH FROM WHICH WE ALSO GET MYTHS,
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BUT WE WERE EYEWITNESSES, HE SAID.
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BUT IS THE BIBLE RELIABLE?
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YOU WOULD GET FROM A THOUSAND SOURCES THAT IT
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IS NOT NEARLY AS RELIABLE AS THE GREAT SECULAR WORKS
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OF ANTIQUITY.
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IT’S BASICALLY A BUNCH OF FAIRY TALES AND STORIES
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AND BUT THEY’LL PUT UP WITH IT,
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EXCEPT NOT IN SCHOOL, AND THEY HAVE HAD A HUGE
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IMPACT ON STUDENTS THAT WAY.
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BUT HOW RELIABLE IS THE BIBLE?
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IS IT RELIABLE AT ALL?
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WELL, I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT I SINCERELY
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DOUBT THAT ANY OF YOU HAVE EVER HEARD SAID BEFORE.
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AND I SAY IT PUBLICLY FROM THIS PULPIT TO ALL OF YOU.
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NOT ONLY IS THE BIBLE RELIABLE, IT IS THE MOST
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RELIABLE ANCIENT BOOK ON THIS EARTH.
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[APPLAUSE]
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NOW, SOMEONE WILL SAY, “WELL,
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THAT’S JUST YOUR BIASED OPINION.
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THAT’S JUST YOUR PREJUDICE.”
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WELL, I CERTAINLY DO BELIEVE THAT,
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BUT I AM NOT STATING IT IN THAT WAY.
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I AM STATING IT SCIENTIFICALLY,
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HISTORICALLY.
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THE EVIDENCE FOR THE RELIABILITY OF SCRIPTURE
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VASTLY OUTNUMBERS ALL OF THE PIECES OF EVIDENCE FOR
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ANY OTHER ANCIENT WORK AT ALL.
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JUST FROM A SCIENTIFIC HISTORIC POINT OF VIEW,
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IF YOU CONSIDER MERELY HISTORIOGRAPHY,
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HOW DO YOU ASCERTAIN WHETHER A MANUSCRIPT IS
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RELIABLE, ACCURATE, DEPENDABLE,
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THAT IT REALLY REPRESENTS WHAT IT SAYS IT REPRESENTS.
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THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION,
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AND YOU OUGHT TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO IT,
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BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO TELL YOU
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THE BIBLE IS A BUNCH OF FAIRY TALES AND MYTHS AND
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JESUS NEVER EVEN LIVED- THINGS LIKE THAT.
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THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO DO IS YOU HAVE TO
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EXAMINE THE NUMBER, THE YEARS THAT SEPARATE THE
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MANUSCRIPTS FROM THE TIME OF ITS WRITING.
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NOW I TRUST YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT
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THERE IS NO ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT OF ANY ANCIENT
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WRITING- RELIGIOUS, SECULAR, OR OF ANY
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KIND WHATSOEVER.
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THERE IS NO ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT.
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WE DON’T HAVE THE MANUSCRIPT THAT MOSES
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WROTE; WE DON’T HAVE ANY MANUSCRIPT THAT CONFUCIUS
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WROTE OR ZOROASTER OR ANY OF THOSE ANCIENT PEOPLE.
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WE DON’T HAVE ANY OF THE ORIGINAL WRITINGS OF
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CAESAR OR PLATO OR ARISTOTLE OR ANY OF THESE
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PEOPLE SUCH AS THAT.
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ALL WE HAVE IS COPIES OF THOSE ORIGINAL
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MANUSCRIPTS, WHICH ARE CALLED AUTOGRAPHA OR THE
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ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS.
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AND SO, THEREFORE, THE QUESTION IS: WHAT KIND OF
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SPACE EXISTS BETWEEN THE TIME THAT THE WRITER LIVED
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AND THE EARLIEST- CLOSEST TO THAT- MANUSCRIPT OF
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THAT WRITING.
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THIS MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU TO SEE WHAT THE FACTS
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TELL US.
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THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS: IF YOU EXAMINE THE
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WRITINGS OF THE GREAT CLASSICAL AUTHOR VIRGIL,
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YOU WILL FIND THAT THERE IS A PERIOD OF 350 YEARS
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BETWEEN WHEN VIRGIL LIVED AND THE OLDEST MANUSCRIPT
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EXTANT OF HIS WRITINGS.
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OR LOOK AT LIVY, ANOTHER OF THE GREAT ROMAN
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WRITERS, AND THERE IS A SEPARATION OF 500 YEARS
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FROM THE OLDEST MANUSCRIPT TO THE TIME OF LIVY.
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OR TAKE HORACE, FOR EXAMPLE- 900-YEAR GAP
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BETWEEN HIS LIFE AND HIS WRITING.
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OR TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE GREATEST ORATOR THAT THE
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WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.
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DO YOU KNOW WHO THAT WAS?
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HE WAS A GREEK.
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THERE IS, I THINK, WITHOUT DOUBT THAT HE IS THE
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GREATEST ORATOR THAT MAN HAS EVER KNOWN OR HEARD.
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IT WOULD BE A GREAT JOY TO HEAR HIM SPEAK,
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BUT WE CAN AT LEAST READ HIS WRITINGS.
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BUT THERE IS A GAP OF 1,200 YEARS BETWEEN
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THE TIME THAT DEMOSTHENES LIVED AND THE CLOSEST
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WRITING THAT HE LEFT TO US- 1,200 YEARS.
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OR TAKE THE GREATEST PHILOSOPHER THAT PROBABLY
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EVER LIVED.
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IF YOU TOOK A VOTE OF PHILOSOPHERS,
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I THINK HE PROBABLY WOULD WIN, AND HIS NAME,
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OF COURSE, WAS PLATO.
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THERE IS BETWEEN THE TIME THAT PLATO LIVED AND THE
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OLDEST OR CLOSEST TO HIM MANUSCRIPT OF ANY OF HIS
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WRITINGS, A SPACE OF 1,400 YEARS.
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AND YET I HAVE NEVER HEARD OR KNOWN OR READ OF ANYONE
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THAT QUESTIONED THAT ANY OF THOSE WRITINGS WERE
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RELIABLE AND AUTHENTIC.
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NOW COMPARE THAT WITH THE BIBLE.
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THE OLDEST PORTION OF THE BIBLE THAT WE HAVE IS
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CALLED THE RYLANDS MANUSCRIPT.
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IT IS A PORTION OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN.
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I HAVE SEEN IT AND READ IT IN A MUSEUM.
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IT IS DATED AT 125.
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JOHN WROTE IT AT ABOUT 96, SO ITS 29 YEARS AFTER THE
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TIME THAT JOHN WROTE THIS PORTION OF HIS GOSPEL,
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WHICH IS CONTAINED IN THE MUSEUM IN THE RYLANDS
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MANUSCRIPT.
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QUITE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 29 YEARS AND 1,400 YEARS,
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IS THERE NOT?
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OR, CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THERE ARE OTHER PORTIONS
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OF THE GOSPEL, THE NEW TESTAMENT,
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THAT GO FROM 100-150 YEARS AFTER THEY WERE WRITTEN.
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AND COMPLETE MANUSCRIPTS THAT DATE FROM ABOUT
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200-250 YEARS AFTER THE WRITING OF THE
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NEW TESTAMENT.
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THERE IS NO COMPARISON BETWEEN THE LAPSE OF TIME
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AND THE GREATER THE LAPSE, THE GREATER THE
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POSSIBILITY FOR ERRORS TO CREEP IN.
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THEREFORE, FROM A SCIENTIFIC HISTORICAL
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POINT OF VIEW, HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH BIAS OR
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PREJUDICE OR FAITH, THE NEW TESTAMENT IS VASTLY
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MORE RELIABLE THAN ANY ANCIENT WRITING OF ANY TIME.
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THE SECOND THING THAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER,
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IF YOU ARE GOING TO EXAMINE THE ACCURACY AND
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RELIABILITY OF ANY TEXT, IS HOW MANY MANUSCRIPTS
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DO WE HAVE?
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FOR EXAMPLE, SUPPOSE YOU HAVE TWO ABOUT CHRIST.
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ONE OF THEM SAYS THAT JESUS WENT INTO THE TEMPLE.
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THE OTHER ONE SAYS THAT JESUS CAME OUT OF THE TEMPLE.
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QUESTION! WHICH DID HE DO?
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WELL, YOU COULD FLIP A COIN,
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BUT OTHER THAN THAT IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE
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DIFFICULT TO FIGURE IT OUT.
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BUT SUPPOSE YOU HAVE FIVE OR TEN OR TWENTY DIFFERENT
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MANUSCRIPTS; NINETEEN OF THEM SAY THAT HE WENT IN,
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AND ONE SAYS HE CAME OUT.
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YOU CAN SEE THAT IT GETS EASIER AND EASIER TO MAKE
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A DECISION.
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THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE DON’T HAVE TWENTY
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MANUSCRIPTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
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WE HAVE 5,000 MANUSCRIPTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT IN
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GREEK AND 10,000 MORE IN EARLY LANGUAGES,
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OTHER LANGUAGES OF THAT PERIOD.
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SO WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 15,000 MANUSCRIPTS OF
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THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
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THERE IS NO OTHER WRITING, SECULAR OR RELIGIOUS,
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ANYWHERE THAT COMES ANYWHERE CLOSE TO
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ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
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THERE IS JUST NO COMPARISON WHATSOEVER.
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FURTHERMORE, THE THIRD FACTOR THAT WE NEED TO
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KEEP IN MIND IS: HAVE THESE MANUSCRIPTS BEEN
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CAREFULLY ANALYZED AND CHECKED TO SEE IF WHAT IS
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SAID IS TRUE IN THEM?
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WE FIND THAT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, EVERY TEXT,
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EVERY WORD, EVERY LETTER, EVERY ACCENT HAS BEEN
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CAREFULLY EXAMINED.
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THEY HAVE BEEN COLLATED, GATHERED TOGETHER,
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AND CAREFULLY EXAMINED.
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THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MANUSCRIPTS WITH MILLIONS
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OF WORDS- EVERY ONE OF THEM HAS BEEN CHECKED.
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NOTHING LIKE THAT EXISTS ANYWHERE ELSE IN ANY
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RELIGION, IN ANY WRITING WHATSOEVER.
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THEY DEMONSTRATE THAT THERE IS INCREDIBLE
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SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION FOR THE SCRIPTURES.
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IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER WE BELIEVE THEM
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OR NOT, AND I DO, AND I TRUST YOU DO.
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BUT I AM SAYING THERE IS ALSO SCIENTIFIC HISTORICAL
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EVIDENCE FOR THEIR RELIABILITY WHICH ABOUNDS
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BEYOND THAT OF ANY OTHER WRITING.
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IS THE BIBLE RELIABLE?
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IT IS MORE RELIABLE THAN ANY OTHER BOOK OF ANY KIND
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THAT HAS EVER BEEN WRITTEN IN ALL OF ANTIQUITY,
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SO DON’T BE IMPRESSED WHEN SOMEBODY TELLS YOU THAT WE
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REALLY DON’T KNOW, WE HAVE NO SOUND BASIS FOR
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BELIEVING THAT THE SCRIPTURES ARE RELIABLE.
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AS PETER SAID, “WE HAVE NOT FOLLOWED CUNNINGLY
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DEVISED FABLES (II PETER 1:16).
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AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD SAY
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THAT JESUS ACTUALLY WAS NEVER MENTIONED BY ANYONE
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OTHER THAN IN THE BIBLE, AND SO THEREFORE,
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WE CAN’T REALLY KNOW IF IT’S TRUE WHAT WE’VE
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HEARD ABOUT HIM- THAT THE ONLY RECORD WE HAVE IS IN
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THE BIBLE.
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I HAVE HEARD THAT SAID TO SOMEONE AND I’VE HEARD
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THEM AGREE.
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“WELL, YEAH, THAT’S TRUE, BUT….”
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THEN THEY TRY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.
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IT’S NOT TRUE THAT CHRIST IS ONLY MENTIONED IN
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ANCIENT WRITINGS IN THE BIBLE.
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FOR EXAMPLE, THE GREATEST HISTORIAN OF THE JEWS,
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WITHOUT QUESTION, WAS JOSEPHUS.
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HE LIVED IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE FIRST CENTURY.
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HE WAS A CONTEMPORARY WITH PETER, PAUL,
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AND JOHN AND OTHER OF THE DISCIPLES.
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HE WAS THE JEW’S GREATEST HISTORIAN.
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HE WAS ALSO A GENERAL, BY THE WAY, BUT WHEN
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THE ROMANS ATTACKED JERUSALEM, HE CAPITULATED,
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WENT OVER TO THE ROMAN SIDE,
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WENT TO LIVE IN ROME AND WAS TREATED ROYALLY BY
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THEM, AND HE ALSO DID SOME VERY NICE THINGS FOR THEM.
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BUT HE WAS A VERY EXCELLENT,
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OUTSTANDING HISTORIAN.
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AND HE IN HIS WRITINGS CAME EVENTUALLY,
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OF COURSE, TO CHRIST.
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HE MENTIONS CHRIST SEVERAL PLACES.
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ONE, HE MENTIONS THE FACT OF JAMES,
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WHO IS THE BROTHER OF CHRIST.
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BUT IN THE LONGER PARAGRAPH, HE SAYS THIS.
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THIS IS IN HIS ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, BOOK 18,
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CHAPTER 3, SECTION 3.
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THIS IS THE MOST RENOWNED HISTORIAN OF THE JEWS,
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AND HE IS WITHOUT ANY QUESTION THE GREATEST
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HISTORIAN OF JUDAISM OF THE FIRST CENTURY.
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“ABOUT THIS TIME [HE SAID], LIVED JESUS.
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A WISE MAN, IF IT BE PROPER TO CALL HIM A MAN;
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FOR HE WAS A DOER OF WONDERFUL WORKS- TEACHER
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OF SUCH MEN AS RECEIVE THE TRUTH WITH PLEASURE.
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HE DREW OVER TO HIM BOTH MANY OF THE JEWS AND MANY
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OF THE GREEKS.
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HE WAS THE CHRIST, IN GREEK THAT’S O XPIOTOS OUTOS NR.
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HE WAS THE CHRIST.
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AND WHEN PILATE, AT THE INSTIGATION OF THE
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PRINCIPAL MEN AMONG US, HAD CONDEMNED HIM TO THE
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CROSS, THOSE WHO HAD LOVED HIM AT THE FIRST DID NOT
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FORSAKE HIM.
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FOR HE APPEARED TO THEM AGAIN ALIVE ON THE THIRD
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DAY, THE DIVINE PROPHETS HAVING FORETOLD THESE AND
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MANY OTHER THINGS CONCERNING HIM.
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AND THE SECT OF CHRISTIANS,
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SO NAMED AFTER HIM, ARE NOT EXTINCT TO THIS DAY.
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THAT IS A PHENOMENAL PARAGRAPH FROM THE
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GREATEST JEWISH HISTORIAN OF THE FIRST CENTURY.
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WAS HE MENTIONED BY ANYONE OTHER THAN CHRISTIANS?
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OBVIOUSLY SO.
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JOSEPHUS WAS THE GREATEST JEWISH HISTORIAN.
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TACITUS IS THE GREATEST ROMAN HISTORIAN OF THE TIME.
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HE TALKS ABOUT JESUS AT LENGTH.
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WHEN HE IS DESCRIBING THE PERSECUTION OF
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THE CHRISTIANS AT ROME BY NERO IN 64 AD.
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WHILE DISCUSSING THAT HE ALLUDES TO THE FOLLOWING
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FACTS.
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THIS IS A FIRST CENTURY ROMAN HISTORIAN: JESUS
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CHRIST WAS PUT TO DEATH AS A MALEFACTOR BY PONTIUS
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PILATE DURING THE REIGN OF TIBERIUS SINNER,
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EXCUSE ME TIBERIUS CAESAR; THAT THIS SAME CHRIST WAS
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THE FOUNDER OF THE SECT KNOWN AS CHRISTIANS;
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THAT LATTER SECT AROSE IN THE REGION OF JUDEA AND
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HAD SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ROMAN EMPIRE IN
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SPITE OF THE IGNOMINIOUS DEATH OF ITS FOUNDER,
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AND THE CONTEMPT AND PERSECUTION IT HAD MET
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EVERYWHERE IT WENT; AND THAT AS EARLY AS 64 AD IN
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THE CITY OF ROME, A “VAST MULTITUDE OF CHRISTIANS
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WERE MOST CRUELLY PUT TO DEATH BY NERO.”
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THUS SPAKE TACITUS, THE GREATEST HISTORIAN OF
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ANCIENT ROME, LIVING IN THE FIRST CENTURY.
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THESE WERE PAGANS.
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SO WHETHER IT IS CHRISTIANS, JEWS,
21:44
OR PAGANS, CHRIST IS MENTIONED AND VIRTUALLY
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EVERY MAJOR ASPECT OF HIS MINISTRY IS DESCRIBED AND
21:53
REFERRED TO BY ALL BY THESE VARIOUS PAGAN
21:56
WRITERS, EVEN IF THEY ARE VERY NEGATIVE.
22:00
AND IN THE MORE RECENT TIMES, LAST CENTURY OR SO,
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IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT YOU SEE MOST OF THE
22:11
SKEPTICS, THE ATHEISTS, THE UNBELIEVERS,
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THE CHRIST-HATERS START OUT BASHING CHRIST AND
22:17
BASHING THE BIBLE, AND THEN IN THEIR MORE MATURE
22:21
AGE, THEY TURN AND SAY THE MOST WONDERFUL THINGS
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ABOUT HIM.
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MOST OF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH H.L. MENCKEN.
22:30
HE LIVED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE TWENTIETH
22:32
CENTURY.
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HE WAS THE EDITOR OF THE AMERICAN MERCURY MAGAZINE.
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HE WAS BRILLIANT.
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HE WAS DESCRIBED AS BEING BETTER EDUCATED THAN
22:41
ROBERT INGERSOLL, MORE SNEERING THAN VOLTAIRE,
22:43
AND AS CAUSTIC AS GEORGE BERNARD SHAW.
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HE SPENT THIRTY YEARS TRYING TO TEAR THE BIBLE
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AND CHRIST APART.
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YET IN HIS MORE MATURE YEARS, H.L. MENCKEN,
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WHO IS THE ONE WHO GOT DAILY REPORTS FROM
23:02
THE SCOPES TRIAL AND IN TENNESSEE,
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WHEN HE WAS UP IN NEW YORK,
23:07
PUBLISHED ARTICLES ABOUT IT REGULARLY.
23:09
AND THOUGH THE CHRISTIANS WON THE SCOPES TRIAL,
23:12
WHICH YOU WOULD HARDLY KNOW FROM THE WAY IT IS
23:14
DEALT WITH, BECAUSE OF MENCKEN’S WRITINGS,
23:18
THE NATION WAS CONVINCED THAT THE CHRISTIANS LOST.
23:21
SO HE IS A VERY POWERFUL WRITER AND A POWERFUL
23:24
LOOKING MAN, I MIGHT ADD AS WELL.
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AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID IN HIS MATURE YEARS: “THE
23:30
HISTORY THE HISTORICITY OF JESUS IS NO LONGER
23:33
QUESTIONED SERIOUSLY BY ANYONE,
23:36
WHETHER CHRISTIAN OR UNBELIEVER.
23:38
THE MAIN FACTS ABOUT HIM SEEM TO BE BEYOND
23:46
DISPUTE.”
23:49
THE “MAIN FACTS” SAID THIS ATHEIST,
23:52
ARE BEYOND DISPUTE.
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HE TRASHED THE BIBLE FOR THIRTY YEARS.
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IN HIS LATER YEARS HE SAID,
24:00
“THE BIBLE IS UNQUESTIONABLY THE MOST
24:04
BEAUTIFUL BOOK IN ALL OF THE WORLD,”
24:08
AND “THE STORY OF JESUS IS TOUCHING BEYOND COMPARE.”
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I HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER SKEPTICS AND ATHEISTS AND
24:18
UNBELIEVERS THAT I TOLD THE FIRST SERVICE ABOUT,
24:22
BUT I DON’T HAVE TIME TO DO IT AGAIN.
24:24
BUT MAY I SAY, MY FRIENDS, THE IDEA THAT JESUS WAS
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NEVER MENTIONED ANYWHERE BUT IN THE BIBLE;
24:31
THAT NOBODY, THE JEWS DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT
24:34
HIM; THE PAGANS, THE HEATHEN DIDN’T SAY
24:36
ANYTHING ABOUT HIM.
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NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH THAN THAT.
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THE MAIN FACTS ABOUT HIM ARE WITHOUT DISPUTE.
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MY FRIENDS, JESUS CHRIST LIVED.
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JESUS CHRIST LIVES.
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AND THE ONLY RELEVANT QUESTION TODAY IS: DOES HE
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LIVE IN YOUR HEART?
25:08
EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS
25:11
THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD WHEN THEY STAND OR KNEEL
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BEFORE HIM IN THE GREAT ASSIZE IN THE FINAL JUDGMENT.
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HAVE YOU DONE THAT?
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HAVE YOU REPENTED OF YOUR SINS?
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HAVE YOU INVITED HIM INTO YOUR LIFE?
25:25
HAVE YOU ACCEPTED HIM AS MASTER, LORD,
25:27
AND GOD OF YOUR LIFE?
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IF NOT, I HOPE, DEAR FRIEND,
25:32
THAT YOU WILL DO THAT EVEN TODAY.
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MAY WE PRAY.
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HEAVENLY FATHER, I PRAY THAT IF THERE IS ANYONE
25:49
HERE WHO DOESN’T KNOW BEYOND ANY DOUBT THAT HE
25:53
OR SHE HAS ETERNAL LIFE, THAT CHRIST IS THEIR LORD
25:57
AND SAVIOR AND GOD, I PRAY THAT THIS DAY, THIS HOUR,
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THIS MINUTE THEY WILL SAY TO HIM,
26:06
IN THE QUIET SANCTUARY OF THEIR OWN SOUL: “LORD
26:10
JESUS CHRIST, I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE DIVINE
26:13
REDEEMER, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, AND I WANT
26:16
YOU TO BE THE SAVIOR OF MY LIFE AND MY HEART.
26:20
I REPENT OF MY SINS, AND I CAST MYSELF UPON YOUR
26:25
MERCY AND GRACE.
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GRANT ME THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE AND THE
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ASSURANCE THAT I SHALL BE WITH YOU FOREVER.”
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IN THY NAME I PRAY.
26:37
AMEN.
26:40
IF YOU JUST PRAYED THAT PRAYER WITH DR. KENNEDY,
26:42
LET ME BE THE FIRST TO WELCOME YOU TO THE FAMILY
26:45
OF GOD.
26:46
AND TO HELP YOU GROW IN YOUR NEW FAITH,
26:48
WE WANT TO SEND YOU THE BOOK WRITTEN BY
26:50
DR. KENNEDY FOR NEW BELIEVERS.
26:52
IT’S CALLED BEGINNING AGAIN AND IT’S OUR GIFT TO
26:55
YOU WHEN YOU WRITE TO OUR ADDRESS OR CALL OUR
26:57
TOLL-FREE NUMBER.
26:58
JUST ASK FOR IT BY NAME, BEGINNING AGAIN,
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WHICH IS PRECISELY WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
27:03
GOD BLESS YOU.
27:08
THE REALITY OF JESUS CHRIST IS THE MOST
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IMPORTANT FACT OF ALL HUMAN HISTORY.
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AND YET SO MANY TODAY DENY THAT HE EVEN EXISTED.
27:18
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO THINKS CHRISTMAS IS A
27:21
FAIRY TALE?
27:22
WE’D LOVE TO SEND YOU A COPY OF THIS CONVINCING
27:24
MESSAGE TO SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR LOVED ONES,
27:27
OR AT YOUR BIBLE STUDY.
27:29
FOR YOUR GENEROUS GIFT TO THIS MINISTRY,
27:31
WE’LL SEND YOU A DVD OR CD COPY OF “WAS JESUS REAL OR
27:38
A MYTH?”
27:39
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT:
27:49
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
27:55
OR GO ONLINE TO:
27:59
AND INCLUDE A GENEROUS GIFT TOWARD THE ONGOING
28:02
WORK OF THIS MINISTRY.
28:04
I’M FRANK WRIGHT.
28:05
THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS EDITION OF KENNEDY
28:08
CLASSICS.
28:09
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AS YOU WORSHIP THE
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LORD JESUS THIS CHRISTMAS.
28:14
WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
28:18
THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF
28:20
D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES


A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.

Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
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Repost: Battle Hymn of the Republic (Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory) – story behind the hymn

The history behind the hymn ….


A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.

Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Continue Reading