Looking Unto Jesus - Some miscellaneous questions from a reader. - Limestone Church of Christ, Kingston, Ontario, Standing for New Testament Christianity, Bible, faith, Bible study, word of God, Christianity, Christian, church, truth, atheism, answers, gospel, salvation, heaven, hope, baptism, Bible studies, Bible church

Answering The Atheist

December 18, 2005 / Volume 5, Issue 51

SAM WRITES:
Dear Sir,

I am finding great difficulty in accessing a purpose behind my being on this earth, or if there actually is one? I find it hard to believe the 'Jesus' who was born in a stable by Mary the 'virgin' and died on the cross to extinguish others sins theory, and am not over believing of a so called 'Jesus' at all.

I understand everyones principles, but am having trouble believing myself. Surely this has been passed down from generation to generation, and the whole world is being brainwashed into believing this?

However, is a 'religion' such as Christianity, Judaism or Catholicism not something which the weaker 'souls' adhere to, to gain some sort of purpose behind their being?

Finally, in the creation of the earth, if the Adam and Eve belief who only had two sons; Kane and Able, is to be consumed by modern society, how did us humans continue life? This story either promotes incest or can be proved incorrect?

I'd be glad of your views on the above questions again,

Regards
Sam

RESPONSE:
Sam,

Thanks for your questions. I will do my best to address them here.

Jesus' Existence
You indicated that you find it hard to believe that Jesus was born to a virgin in a stable, and that He came to die for the sins of others. In fact, if I understand correctly, you have trouble believing that Jesus existed at all. The contradiction which exists here is not a "Bible contradiction", but rather a contradiction between what you presently believe and what the Bible reveals.

First, let me address briefly the notion that Jesus may not have existed at all. There are numerous historical sources which plainly acknowledge the existence of Jesus Christ. Note:

Lucian of Samosata, 2nd century
Greek satirist
The Christians... worship a man to this day - the distinguished personage who introduced this new cult, and was crucified on that account...
(The Passing Peregrinus)

Mara Bar-Serapion, 1st century
Syrian writer
What benefit did the Athenians obtain by putting Socrates to death? Famine and plague came upon them as judgment for their crime. Or, the people of Samos for burning Pythagoras? In one moment their country was covered with sand. Or the Jews by murdering their wise king? ...after that their kingdom was abolished. God rightly avenged these men... the wise king... lived on in the teachings he enacted.
(Syriac manuscript in British Museum)

Phlegon, 1st century
historian
(quoted by Origen)
Now Phlegon, in the thirteenth or fourteenth book, I think, of his Chronicles, not only ascribed to Jesus a knowledge of future events... but also testified that the result corresponded to His predictions.
(Origin Against Celsus)

And with regard to the eclipse in the time of Tiberius Caesar, in whose reign Jesus appears to have been crucified, and the great earthquakes which then took place...
(Origin Against Celsus)

Cornelius Tacitus, 1st century
Roman historian
Consequently, to get ride of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first course of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular.
(Annals 15:44)

Flavius Josephus, 1st century
Pharisee and Roman historian
Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man. For he was a doer of surprising feats - a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day.
(Antiquities of the Jews, 18:3:3)

It is noteworthy that these extra-biblical references to Jesus Christ are not 100s of years removed from His time, but several are just a few years removed from the days when He sojourned upon the earth. The existence of Jesus Christ is not a false story passed down from generation to generation. Jesus of Nazareth did exist.

Additionally, it can be noted from the quotes above that Jesus did indeed have followers. Christianity is not just some myth which began after the time of Christ, to be perpetuated from generation to generation, "brainwashing" us into belief. Jesus had followers from the very beginning. In the first century, many of those who followed Jesus Christ lost their lives through persecutions, none more notable than the apostles. These men knew Jesus; they walked with Him. If Christianity were not true, surely they would not have died for it.

Regarding the death on the cross, 5 of the quotes supplied make reference to the crucifixion. And one, Josephus, who was not a Christian, mentions His resurrection. The story of the crucifixion is not some made up story from centuries following the time of Christ, those who were in the very next generation knew of and reported about such events.

As to the virgin birth, it was in fulfillment of prophecies found in the Old Testament. Can I provide unequivocal proof of the virgin birth? No, but certainly the fact that the existence of Christ is reported by non-Christian historians, including reference to His miracles, His teachings, His crucifixion, His resurrection and His followers ought to be compelling evidence that other things spoken of Jesus in the Bible are likewise true.

You indicated that you are having trouble finding a purpose for being here, and afterward suggested that religion (Christianity, Judaism or Catholicism) are an attempt by the weaker of our race to find a purpose in life. Solomon, who reigned as king in Israel following David wrote, "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all." (Ecc. 12:13). Walking in the ways which please our Creator is the purpose of man. I find it interesting that you belittle those who seek to follow Solomon's wisdom, and yet admit in the very first line of your message, "I am finding great difficulty in accessing a purpose being my being on this earth..." In rejecting Christianity, you reject the very purpose for which we are here.

In your last paragraph, you ask how human life continued, if Adam and Eve only had 2 sons. They had more than 2 sons. We read in the latter portion of Genesis 4 about Seth. Genesis 5:4 tells us that Adam and Eve had other sons and daughters as well. From these children of Adam and Eve, the human race was perpetuated. Does the story promote incest? There is no doubt that Cain and Seth's wives would be relatives, but such was necessary to populate the earth. It wasn't until God gave the Law of Moses that certain relationships were forbidden. See Is incest wrong? for a more complete discussion on the topic.

There is no contradiction.