7 Mysteries Mentioned In The Bible

 There are 22 verses in the New Testament where Paul references a mystery of God in the context of something formerly hidden but now revealed by God for all to know and understand. These 22 verses contain 7 Mysteries in the Old Testament, six that Paul reveals to Christians in the Church Age and one that John exposes in Revelation. Almost all of these mysteries deal with the Church Age, also known as the age of grace. 

When Old Testament prophets got a glimpse of the future, they usually saw the suffering Savior followed almost immediately by the reigning King. However, they didn’t realize there was a valley between those two points in time that would span over 2,000 years! The events that occur in that “valley” are the mysteries that are revealed in the New Testament to Paul and John.

The Mysteries are as follows:

• The Mystery of the Gospel
• The Mystery of the Indwelling Christ
• The Mystery of the Church
• The Mystery of the Rapture
• The Mystery of Israel's Partial Blindness
• The Mystery of Iniquity
• Mystery Babylon The Great

I want to take a brief look at these mysteries and see what it was that God kept secret in the Old Testament, and see what they mean for us today.

The Mystery of the Gospel

This mystery is also called the mystery of godliness. Paul tells us what constitutes the gospel in I Corinthians 15:1-4, which is the person of God manifested in the flesh—the physical birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The mystery also includes his ascension into heaven.

1 Timothy 3:16- And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Ephesians 6:19- And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Colossians 2:2- That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

Colossians 4:3- Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

Romans 16:25-27- Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

The mystery is not that God was going to send the Messiah as a human to the earth. The Jews were constantly looking for their Messiah. The mystery was in the fact that He didn't come to reign as king, but to die as the sacrifice for sin. The Jews had been watching for their Messiah, but their expectation was that He would wipe out their enemies and reign in Jerusalem. The mystery was a whole section of history where He dies for sin, ascends to heaven, and the church is created by believers in His death, burial, and resurrection.

I Corinthians 2:8- Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

When Christ died he accomplished a few things. He paid the eternal payment for mankind's sin debt for all who call out to Him for salvation. He eternally damned all those who would reject Him as their Savior. And, he sealed Satan's defeat and his doom to outer darkness.

Had the devil known what all would have been achieved by Christ's death on the cross, he never would have allowed Him to be crucified.

But, not only was Jesus Christ's death prophesied in the Old Testament (notably in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22), but also His resurrection was prophesied. Even though Christ told His disciples these things would happen, they just couldn't understand it! And the sentiment was the same with those who read the Old Testament- no one could comprehend that the God of Creation would come to die for mankind only to resurrect back to life three days later.

This means that we can have our sin debt completely forgiven by God if we accept the payment that Jesus Christ made on Calvary for our sin, and we confess that we believe that He is God who came in the flesh, died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day.

The Indwelling Christ 

When you accept Christ as your Savior, the Holy Ghost seals you and takes up residence within you. You are no longer your own, you've been bought with a price- the blood of Jesus Christ- and you are kept by God from damnation.

I Corinthians 6:19- What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Colossians 1:26–27- Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Galatians 2:20- I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Romans 8:11- But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

This mystery overlaps with another mystery, the rapture. Because you have been sealed, you inherit the promises of salvation. What are they? That your soul will go to heaven when your body dies. That, one day, your body will be taken to heaven and rejoined to your soul for eternity. And that you will get a place in New Jerusalem with Christ in the ages to come.

The Mystery of the Rapture

The rapture is what we call the event where living and deceased believers are gathered up to meet Christ in the air to go to heaven with Him before the Tribulation period.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52- Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Ephesians 4:30- And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Ephesians 1:13-14- In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Romans 8:11 (above) also references this event. We are sealed until the day of redemption. In the Old Testament the spirit of God would come on a man and then leave him once the task had been accomplished; that's why David prays, "take not thy spirit from me".

The mystery has to do with God's spirit remaining with us until the rapture takes place. The spirit indwells us and, just as Christ was physically raised from the dead, so then all those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will be raised to sit with Him in heavenly places.

 
The Mystery of the Church 

The church is a group of believers, both Jewish and non-Jewish (Gentile), from the time of Acts until the rapture, that are united equally into one "body" through their faith in the Gospel.

Ephesians 3:1–6- For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Ephesians 5:25–32- Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Col 1:24-28- Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

If you read through the genealogy of the kings, you'll find there are a few places where a Gentile woman marries into the family. This isn't a random instance. A few of the prophets even married Gentile women. God recorded these occurrences in the Old Testament for a reason- the Gentiles are going to get a chance to join God's family.

The Jewish people thought very ill of the Gentiles. No way would they have ever considered allowing them in on the promises of God. But God opened the door to whosoever would believe regardless of their race.
 
The Mystery of Israel’s Partial Blindness

The concept that Israel would experience a temporary spiritual blindness, which allows the Gospel to spread to the Gentiles until the "fullness of the Gentiles" has come.

Romans 11:25- For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Romans 11:13,1523-24- For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

When the Jews rejected their Messiah, and when they rejected Paul's preaching to the, God blinded the nation of Israel. It was a temporary thing to accomplish God's purpose. He did it to provoke them. God wants them to get jealous and seek Him!

Acts 13:46- Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Romans 11:11- I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Romans 10:19- But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

The church age is a time when God is dealing with both Jew and Gentile. The fullness of the Gentiles began nationally with the Babylonian Captivity, and began personally (for individuals) with the rejection of Paul's preaching by the Jewish leaders.

This is only a momentary time frame. Once the rapture occurs, God will turn His attention back to the nation of Israel. That doesn't mean that Gentiles can't seek after God, it just means that God's focus will be on getting the Jews to accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah.

The Mystery of Iniquity

This mystery opens upon the close of the Church Age. The kingdoms of this world are under the control of Satan, and therefore all governments will see a decline because of the ongoing, unseen spiritual force of evil that is actively at work in the world. The sole purpose is to culminate a society in which the people of this world accept the appearance of the Antichrist as that of the Messiah.

2 Thessalonians 2:7-10- For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4- Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Daniel 9:26b-27- and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Daniel 11:31-34- And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.

Daniel 12:11- And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Mark 13:14,19- But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

Jeremiah 30:7- Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

We call this time period the Tribulation. Jeremiah referenced it as the time of Jacob's trouble. The entire world will reel from the wrath of God poured out on creation; and Satan will also be wreaking havoc on mankind during this time.

Just as Jesus Christ was God manifest in the flesh, so the AntiChrist will be Satan manifest in the flesh. This is the mystery of iniquity! Iniquity is a noun that refers to gross immorality, gross injustice, or a wicked act. I can't think of a more accurate description of the Antichrist!

Mystery Babylon

Our last mystery was revealed to the Apostle John while he was on the isle of Patmos. The symbolic depiction of a corrupt, end-times system that opposes God, and exalts the AntiChrist. This system is a mystery because it has always had some existence throughout history.

Revelation 17:5- And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.Revelation 18:3- For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

This system can be traced back to Babel and Nimrod (and possibly before that time). It's a religion that appears holy but is actually evil. God states that this religious system is responsible for all murders and death. John probably saw religions like this during his lifetime, and yet he still marveled at it. Why? Because John knew Jesus and Mary personally. John marveled that anyone could worship Mary, she’s just a human woman used by God to birth the Savior. He could see that the portrayal of Christ was erroneous. John couldn’t see what religion would do to Christianity to corrupt it after 2,000 years; he is just seeing the end result of that corruption.

When Jesus speaks to the religious leaders of His day, it sounds like He's talking to the Roman Catholic Church- call no man your father. Paul warns against the doctrine of devils which the Roman Catholic Church enforces- Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from eating meat.

There is a deceptive religion out there that claims to be founded by Jesus and His disciples, but in reality it is founded by Satan. And in Revelation it is identified as having a golden cup as a symbol, colors of scarlet and purple, and has a headquarters that is a city built on seven hills. The mystery is how many people are misled by this system.

There may be many other mysteries in the Bible, but these are the ones that are called out. Paul instructs Christians to study, and God states in the Old Testament that it is the honor of kings to search out a matter. Those who wish to be wise would do well to search the Scriptures and find what God has "hidden" from those who profess to be knowledgeable and yet are arrogant fools!

The Title "Christian"

 One of the most interesting verses in Acts is also one that most people read right past without giving it much thought. Acts 11:26​b says, "​And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." Because we have heard the word Christian our entire lives, it does not sound unusual to us. It is on church signs, book covers, social media profiles, coffee mugs, T-shirts, and enough decorative wall art to convince future archaeologists that our civilization communicated primarily through inspirational sayings and farmhouse décor. But when Luke wrote those words, this was something completely new. Nobody had ever been called a Christian before.

That means Peter was not originally called a Christian. John was not called a Christian. Mary was not called a Christian. The disciples were not walking around introducing themselves as Christians. The early believers had other names. They were called disciples, believers, saints, brothers and sisters, and followers of "The Way." Then something happened in Antioch that caused the people around them to start using a brand-new term. The fact that Luke specifically mentions it tells us this was a significant moment in the history of the church.

Antioch was one of the largest and most influential cities in the Roman Empire. It was crowded, wealthy, multicultural, and filled with people from every imaginable background. If Jerusalem was the center of Jewish life, Antioch was a crossroads of the world. It was also known for its sharp wit and its tendency to give people nicknames. If you stood out in Antioch, people noticed. If enough people noticed, they would probably come up with a label for you. Human nature has not changed much in two thousand years. Give people enough time and they will eventually come up with a nickname for almost anything. Antioch simply appears to have been unusually efficient at the process.

The believers in Antioch stood out because they were unlike anything people had seen before. Jews and Gentiles were worshiping together. People from different social classes were gathering together. Former pagans were sitting alongside people who had spent their lives studying the Scriptures. More importantly, they all seemed to have one thing in common. Everything revolved around Jesus. Their teaching was about Jesus. Their prayers were offered through Jesus. Their hope rested in Jesus. Their conversations kept returning to Jesus. If you spent enough time around them, you quickly realized that whatever subject you started with, eventually you were going to end up hearing about Jesus.

At some point the people of Antioch decided they needed a name for this growing movement. The word they chose was the Greek word Χριστιανός, pronounced Christianos. The first part comes from the Greek word Χριστός (Christos), meaning "Anointed One." That Greek word was itself used to translate the Hebrew word מָשִׁיחַ (Mashiach), which is where we get the word Messiah. In other words, Christ was never Jesus' last name. Joseph was not standing in line at the Roman census trying to explain that his son was "Jesus Christ of Nazareth" while a government official struggled with the paperwork. Christ is a title. It means the Anointed One, the Messiah, the promised King whom Israel had been waiting for.

The second part of the word is just as fascinating. The ending "-ianos" was commonly used throughout the Roman world to identify people who belonged to or were loyal to a particular leader. It was a way of saying, "These people belong to him." So when the people of Antioch combined Christos with that Roman suffix, they created a word that essentially meant "the people of Christ," "those who belong to Christ," or "those loyal to Christ." In everyday language, they were basically saying, "There go the Christ people again." It was a label that identified who these believers belonged to.

What makes this even more interesting is that there is a good chance it was not originally intended as a compliment. We often picture the word Christian being bestowed as some great honor from the beginning, but that may not have been the case. It may have carried a slightly sarcastic tone. It may have been dismissive. It may have been the first-century equivalent of rolling your eyes and saying, "Oh great, here come those Jesus people again." Human beings have always been remarkably creative when it comes to taking something important to someone else and turning it into a label. Apparently that tradition was already well established by the first century.

Yet the believers embraced the name. They did not reject it. They did not hold meetings to determine whether it accurately reflected their mission statement. They did not form a committee to develop alternative branding options. They accepted the name because, whether intended as an insult or not, it was true. They belonged to Christ. They were loyal to Christ. Their lives had been changed by Christ. The label fit because Jesus really was at the center of everything they did.

Years later Peter would write​ in I Peter 4:16, "​Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." Think about that for a moment. Peter took a name that may have begun as an outsider's label and treated it as a badge of honor. Not because there was anything special about the word itself, but because of the One behind it. If suffering came because someone identified you with Christ, Peter said there was no shame in that. In fact, there was glory in it.

What strikes me most is why the name stuck. The believers were not called Christians because they occasionally attended religious services. They were not called Christians because they owned copies of Scripture. They were not called Christians because they checked a box on a census form. They were called Christians because the people around them looked at their lives and could not separate them from Christ. The connection was obvious. Their words pointed to Him. Their actions pointed to Him. Their priorities pointed to Him. Their loyalty pointed to Him. Even the people outside the church could see who they belonged to.

​

That should probably make us stop and think for a moment. If the people of Antioch were handed a modern list of our hobbies, interests, social media posts, conversations, spending habits, priorities, and reactions, what nickname would they come up with? Would Christ be the first thing that came to mind? Would they see enough evidence of Jesus in our lives to say, "Those are Christ's people"? Because that is where the name Christian came from. Not from a denomination. Not from a church building. Not from a political movement. Not from family tradition. Not from a cultural identity. It came from people observing believers and concluding that they belonged to Christ.

The believers in Antioch did not choose the name Christian. The world chose it for them. And perhaps that is what makes the story so powerful. The people who did not follow Jesus looked at the lives of those who did and could think of no better description than, "Those people belong to Him." Two thousand years later, that is still the heart of what the word means. A Christian is not merely someone who knows about Christ. A Christian is someone who belongs to Christ. And honestly, there are far worse things to be known for.

-Farmer Girl

Abuse And How To Handle It

There have been growing reports of abuse in Catholic church and Southern Baptist Convention made against clergy. Just become someone is in a position in the church does not mean they aren't still a sinner.

When a person gets saved, their soul is saved from an eternity in hell, but their body is not saved from the sin nature. This means they are not perfect and they face their share of temptations. Should they choose to indulge in the temptations, they have sinned against God and man- they should not be protected.

There are also reports of church lawyers telling the victims to remain quiet. In no way, shape, or form should this be the guidance given to a victim of assault - whether sexual or physical. A person in an abusive marriage should not remain married and quiet about the situation, or they and their children could up a casualty. It is never safe to stay in an abusive situation!

Some theologians may say that you do not have biblical license to divorce for physical abuse; you should pray and ask the Lord what to do in this situation. I have done a three part study on what they Bible says about Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage, which you can read here. But regardless as to whether you stay married or divorce, you should separate and file charges.

As far as sexual assault goes, there is clear direction in the Bible.

Deuteronomy 22:25-27- But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter: For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.

A rapist is worthy of death.

Leviticus 20:13- If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Homosexuality is worthy of death, therefore someone who has sodomized another in an assault should be killed.

It doesn't matter what type of rape has occurred, the person who committed the offense should be killed.
Exodus 21:16- And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

Whether the person is taking a person and selling them as a slave or as a sexual transaction, that person is committing a sin worthy of the death penalty.

Here is an excerpt from an officer who deals with abuse victims. This is how it usually begins.

​Predators “hook” their prey first. Slowly. Intentionally. Psychologically.

Here’s what the conversations often look like in the real world:

Step 1: Isolation

They work to separate the ​person emotionally from their​ friends and family.

• “Your parents don’t really understand you.”

• “You’re way more mature than they treat you.”

• “Nobody knows you like I do.”

• “You can trust me. Not them.”

The goal is simple: make the ​person feel misunderstood at home and understood by the predator.

Next comes sympathy and emotional dependence.

• “My puppy died and I don’t know how to cope.”

• “My grandma is sick and she’s all I have.”

• “You’re the only person I can talk to.”

Now the ​person feels responsible for the emotional survival of a stranger. That’s a powerful hook for a developing brain.

Step 3: Control Through Fear or Anger

Once emotional leverage exists, pressure begins.

• “If you don’t respond, I’ll be really upset.”

• “If you don’t send this, something bad could happen to your family.”

• “You’ll ruin everything if you tell anyone.”

This is Control 101. It works on adults. Kids stand even less of a chance against it.

Reality Check​- This happens to thousands o​f people. A predator doesn't even need to be physically present anymore; all they need​ is a phone, patience, and psychology.

Officer Gomez

So, what does one do if they find themselves in this situation? If you can get out before anything bad happens, then do so. Ask for help from friends and family to get away from the predator.

Should you find yourself already trapped and being abused, the first step is to verify the accusation. If you are hearing about the crime, you need to verify it before just accusing a person.

Exodus 23:1- Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

Deuteronomy 1917-19- Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.

You don't want to just follow a "believe them no matter what" philosophy. That could get you into a lot of trouble. Make certain before you bring an accusation!

If you are the victim, get a rape kit done immediately. These are not pleasant, but they will be able to confirm whether a rape has actually occurred. If there was no protection used, you will also have the DNA of the assailant.

Second step is to file a police report. This can sometimes be done simultaneously with the rape kit.
Do not change your clothes. Do not wash up. Do not remove any evidence.

Make certain you have proof and get a lawyer to file charges. The police should be able to recommend a lawyer who specializes in such cases.

Do not remain silent or you are enabling the predator. The more a criminal gets away with a crime, the more emboldened they are to continue committing it. Your silence could doom another to the same fate.
You are not sinning by turning the person over to local government authority - that's their purpose. It is the government's job to dole out punishment. 

Romans 13:3-4- For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Should you live in a wicked place, or happen upon an evil judge who sides with the perpetrator. Give it over to God. He can do more than you could ever dream in terms of vengeance.

Once you have followed all these steps, go to God and get comfort. Most of the time the victim sees the incident as being somehow their fault - it's not. There is nothing that you could have done differently. The fact that they are evil and chose you as their victim would not have been changed had you acted differently. Go to God, find a Christian counsellor, and get help.

And, lastly, be a voice for others. Not everyone will get to walk away. There will be some victims who don't have the ability to speak out and ask for help. Keep your eyes open and your ears alert, and speak for those who can't.

I really hope no one who reads this will actually need it. But I am not naïve enough to believe that these things aren't happening. Don't be the person who destroys their own life, or allows the lives of others to be destroyed, because they thought they needed to keep it quiet. God doesn't say anywhere in Scriptures that we are to keep abuse quiet. Handle it like a Christian; but make certain you take care of it.

Multiple Bible Versions And The Gospel Of Christ

 Over the years of discussing the Bible version issue with various people, some of what we discuss are discrepancies in the modern versions, confusion caused by multiple versions, and major doctrines attacked.

After discussing these subjects, I’ve come to several conclusions about individuals who still don’t view modern versions and multiple versions as extremely problematic​:

1. Prior to our conversation, they were never aware of an issue with modern versions.

2. They are dishonest and remain unchanged despite the indisputable evidence presented.

3. They are apathetic concerning the subject.

If you don’t believe there’s a huge problem with a version that removes the blood of Jesus Christ, removes the deity of Jesus Christ, attacks the virgin birth, and makes Jesus a liar, then you’re dishonest and ​are intent to remain willfully ignorant.

1 Corinthians 14:38 KJV
But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

When you think of someone who would correct the ​King James Version Bible and cast doubt on the words of God, you might envision a seminary professor, a Hebrew or Greek scholar, or even a pastor.

However, these Bible correctors aren’t confined to the classroom or the pulpit. The​re are keyboard theologians ​who have emerge​d online behind a spiritual smokescreen, declaring “the mistakes” in the ​KJV text and offering a “better wording​".

One major problem with this approach is that the standard for truth shifts from the scriptures to a private interpretation. The individual who corrects the scriptures has effectively set himself up as the final authority, implying that God made a mistake in the preservation process. If the words and wording of scripture is fluid, they no longer remain an objective standard of truth.

Job 12:2 KJV
No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

Romans 3:4 KJV
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Recently someone commented, “multiple faithful translations can help clarify meaning rather than confusion.”

Faithful translations? By this they meant accurate scholarly translations by evangelical Christians, who affirm the inspiration and inerrancy of scripture. Examples. ESV , NASB , CSB, NIV .

Now​, I will provide just a few examples to prove his statement is ABSOLUTELY False, and prove by just comparing 2 versions- the KJV and another version- that multiple versions cause confusion and not clarity.

The words in BOLD PRINT will prove differences that are contrary and cause confusion.

Psalm 10:5 KJV
His ways are always GRIEVOUS ; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

Psalm 10:5 NIV - His ways PROSPER at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them.

Ephesians 5:9 KJV
(For the fruit of the SPIRIT is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Ephesians 5:9 - NASB - For the fruit of the LIGHT​ consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

Jeremiah 10:5 KJV
They are upright as the PALM TREE but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

Jeremiah 10:5 - NIV Their idols are like SCARECROWS in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good."

1 Timothy 3:16 KJV
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

1 Timothy 3:16 NIV - Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: HE was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

This verse should be highly considered before making arbitrary claims without providing evidence.

Proverbs 25:8 KJV
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

How many times have you heard someone say, ​"I don’t argue about the Bible , I just preach the gospel. Arguing with someone is a waste of time and no one is going to get saved because of an argument, God just wants us to preach the gospel.​"

What they may not realize is that they are actually arguing while they claim arguments are a waste of time. This is a self refuting statement.

While we are commanded to preach the gospel,​ that doesn’t relieve us from the responsibility of having intellectual conversations and arguments for the faith.

Paul’s pattern was not only proclamation, but also persuasion.​ Biblical Christianity isn’t merely about blind faith​; Believers should be able to set forth good evidence for why we believe what we believe​.

When Paul proclaimed the resurrection of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15, he didn’t say believe that Christ died and was buried and rose again just because the scriptures prove it.

He gives good reasons to believe the resurrection, he names specific eyewitness​es, he mentions over 500 people at once saw the risen Christ​. He says most of them are still alive​ at the time of his writing so they can be questioned if ​one would like, and he mentions his testimony that he is a changed man by God’s grace​. His final point was if Christ didn’t rise from the dead Christianity crumbles.

Christians don't just preach the gospel as a shield from intellectual discourse.​ 

​Philippians 1:10 KJV

​That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

​Paul took time to tell people not only what they should believe, but why they should believe it! And we are to follow his example.

Acts 26:25-28 KJV
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

-Brant Zeller

Extraterrestrial Aliens

There is something that the world seems to be gearing up to accept- aliens from another planet. This sentiment has been on the fringe of our society for a while, but now it seems to be getting mainstream attention.

As a Christian, I view everything through the lens of Scripture. But, are aliens in the Bible? And are Christians warned against them?

First, let's look at what most people believe aliens are.

The majority of people would refer to these beings as extra terrestrial entities, meaning they are from a planet other than our own. They are sometimes referred to as "little green men" or "greys" and they are small with large heads and big black eyes. They fly around in flying saucers, also called UFO's or UAP's, and they have advanced technological capabilities.

There are a few other factions that believe there are a few different species of aliens- the main ones being Blondes (tall blonde human like creatures), Greys (the aliens described above), and Reptilians (very tall amphibian type creatures that walk around on two legs like humans).

Look as hard as you may and you won't find extraterrestrials mentioned as such in the Bible, though many Christians believe they exist. This has some scholars believing that the Bible's silence on these creatures implies their irrelevance to human salvation, rather than their non-existence.

I, however, think the Bible does give us a small insight into these beings.

There is something similar to a UFO in Ezekiel 1.

Ezekiel 1:15-20- Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.

 When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

This "wheel within a wheel" sounds an awful lot like a typical flying saucer, and the "rings being full of eyes" kind of sounds like windows or port holes in the machine.

Whatever, exactly, this was that Ezekiel saw, it is most certainly connected with spiritual beings.

Another verse that comes to mind is the one that describes Nephilim.

Genesis 6:1-4- And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

 The Bible mentions giants as a byproduct of the union of fallen angels and humanity. But, what if there were other mutant creations that came from them as well. We know that Scripture doesn't always give us ALL of the details, but it does give us the most important ones- like only naming 3 of Adam and Eve's children.

The creatures that came from the fallen angels are described as being mighty and evil.

One verse that always made me wonder was in Psalm 8 where David is ascribing God as Creator.

Psalm 8:8- The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

What, other than fish, would be passing through the paths of the seas.

Paul and John both kind of give us a little hint that there is something beneath the oceans.

Philippians 2:10-11- That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 5:13- And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Why are they talking about things under the earth? John differentiates between things in the sea and things under the earth.

Paul makes mention that we fight against spiritual beings.

Ephesians 6:12- For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

There is a propensity for Christians to view this verse as if these are non-corporeal spirits, but the Bible doesn't say that. It never tells us that spirits can't have or use a corporeal form!

Zechariah speaks with the Lord regarding a flying roll (UFO?) and some creatures that come from it.

Zechariah 5:1-11- Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

According to Zechariah's vision, there's a flying object that brings a curse to the earth. Going forth from this object, or with this object, are women with stork wings- sounds an awful lot like the description people believe to be angels- who establish something in the land of Shinar. I'm guessing that would be like a base of operations in modern day Iraq. But, God is very quick to tell Zechariah that this is wickedness!

Paul warns us that there will be a strong delusion from Satan during the Tribulation to get them to believe a lie.

II Thessalonians 2:7-12- For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

When the Antichrist shows up, he comes with 10 mutant kings to rule the earth according to Daniel. It is possible that these are "extraterrestrial" or "interdimensional" aliens. Why do I say this? Because in Revelation there is a big focus on accepting God as the creator.

Revelation 4:16-17- And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

It's possible that these mutant kings come as advanced aliens from another planet that claim to have created our world.This theory originally brought to light by Carl Sagan is already ingraining itself in our media. We already see this theory in many movies that are coming out. Almost like they are trying to plant the thought so that people will readily accept it.

Now, with former intelligence officials and the government coming out with all this "classified information" being made available to the public, it appears that the time for this deception is drawing near.

Paul already warned us that part of a degenerate course is to view the created being as more worthy of worship than the one who created it.

Romans 1:25- Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

My theory is that what we call aliens have been on earth for a very long time, possibly since before the flood. These beings are not "extraterrestrial" as many think but rather "interterrestrial" as in they live under our oceans, and that's why there's reference to things being under the seas in the Bible. They have been slowly showing themselves to mankind so that when they finally show up they will be accepted as benevolent helpers of humanity instead of the wicked deceitful workers of Satan.

Satan told Eve back in the beginning of creation that disobeying God's command would give her knowledge to become like God. I believe he's just repackaging this age old lie into a new, modern one. The "aliens" will bring advancement to our race to help us eliminate disease and aging! A promise to make us more like God who doesn't get sick or die. But, it will come with a painful price!

Revelation 13:16- And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

Revelation 16:2- And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Revelation 14:11- And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

When Paul gave his warning about another gospel, perhaps he was warning against something more than a messed up denomination of Christianity.

Galatians 1:8- But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Maybe he was warning that a fallen angel would bring beings that claimed to come from heaven and they would preach their own message about worshipping a beast and accepting his mark in their body for "salvation".

In a time when many will be "looking to the stars", the wise will be looking to Scripture to avoid deception which will lead to damnation.

The King James Bible

 This lesson was created with the help of The King James Bible Course by James L. Melton.

Psalms 12:6-7- The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

There are professing Christians out there who think that God could not preserve His word. They say that the originals were inspired, but that there is no translation available today that isn't infallible.

How could an Almighty God not be able to preserve His word as an infallible book? And, if there is an infallible translation available today, which one is it?

First, we need to take a closer look at inspiration. According to Webster's 1828 dictionary, inspiration is the act of drawing air into the lungs; the inhaling of air; a branch of respiration, and opposed to expiration. Isn't that interesting. We think of inspiration as something that causes a creative spark, but it's connected to breathing.

2 Timothy 3:16-17- All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

God inspired His word. He literally breathed it. You know something else that has God's breath in it? You!

Genesis 2:7- And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

When God made man, He breathed into him the breath of life. He only had to do this once. This life giving breath has been passed down to each subsequent human born. If His breath has been preserved with living creation, why can't it work that way with Scripture?

2 Peter 1:21- For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

God told the writers of Scripture what to write. If He is the author, then He should also be able to preserve His words since He is eternal. He promised that His word would be here forever.

Matthew 24:35- Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

So, if God has preserved the Scriptures, then which version would it be? It can't be all of them, because each translation is different. Sometimes they even contradict each other and God is not the author of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33).

If we say that all translations are God's word, even though they differ, we are now faced with the opportunity for less scrupulous men to tell us which of these readings are more accurate, and that would move a man into the position of authority, rather than God.

This is a bad position to be in because mankind is fickle and sinful.

Psalms 39:5- Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Romans 3:23- For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

So, let's look at a few reasons why the King James Version is the infallible, inspired word of God.

First, it was translated under a king by a group of highly educated men. That matters.

Ecclesiastes 8:4a- Where the word of a king is, there is power:

The new versions have been translated by committees, not a monarch. God's form of government is a theocratic monarchy- this is how Christ will rule during the millennium. In fact, four books of the Bible are written about kings ruling their kingdom.

"James" is the English word for "Jacob". Remember that God renamed Jacob in the Old Testament to "Israel" and that is the name His people are known by. So, why not name His Words following the same idea?

The translators of the King James Bible believed they were handling the very words of God. They weren't in this for money. Their scholarship far exceeded that of modern version translators, yet they remained humble and allowed God to use them. They didn't set out to "correct" the Scriptures, their sole purpose was to translate God's word for the English speaking people.

How did they go about this task? The men were divided into six companies (2 at Westminster, 2 at Oxford, and 2 at Cambridge).Each member of the company made his own translation first. The members would then meet to compare one another's work. When each group completed a book, it was sent to the other five groups for their independent assessment.

When the complete Bible was translated, it came before a select committee of 12 men, who met daily for nine months. The complete process ensured that each passage was scrutinized a minimum of fourteen times!

Now, let's take a look at just a few of the men who were chosen to translate:

John Boise could read Hebrew at 5 years old. At 14, he became a student at St. Johns College. While there, he was well known for corresponding with his superiors in Greek. 

Lancelot Andrews possessed knowledge of Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Chaldean, Syriac, and Arabic. He was conversant in fifteen languages. He was called a "walking library" and was said to be covetous of nothing but books. 

John Reynolds entered Oxford at 13. It was said that he was most prodigiously seen in all kinds of learning and most excellent in all tongues.

That's just three of the 47 men who from 1604 to 1611 made it their life's work to translate the Scriptures. All of the men chosen were academically excellent in many different areas of knowledge.

These men made certain that they translated honestly. There are some who make a big deal out of the italicized words in the King James Bible. You can look at any new version and see there are no italicized words. So, why does the KJV have them?

The italic words in the King James Bible are there to shown when the translators added to the text. This is necessary when translating from one language to another so that the context of the translation makes sense. They put these in even when there was enough evidence that it wasn't needed.

Example:

2 Samuel 21:19- And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

I Chronicles 20:5- And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam.

In the passage in 2 Samuel, the translators added "the brother of" because it wasn't in the originals. It would have created confusion had they left these important words out because everyone knows that David killed Goliath. The words are present in the original story as told in I Chronicles. They didn't need to italicize those words because they were present in another portion of Scripture that was a retelling of the same story. However, because they were honest, they wanted to show that they had added these words. 

They even included the apocrypha in the original version. Note that apocrypha means "doubtful writings". No one in any other part of the Bible ever quotes anything in the apocrypha. The apocryphal books aren't written in Hebrew like the rest of the Old Testament, excluding Daniel. And, they contained statements which contradicted other Scriptures.

The King James Bible translators primarily used the Hebrew Masoretic Text for the Old Testament, the Greek Textus Receptus for the New Testament, and the Greek Septuagint for the Apocrypha. They also consulted other manuscripts in various languages, previously translated works, and Scriptural commentaries during their translation process.

When people find new portions of Scripture, like the Dead Sea scrolls, they agree with the King James translation showing even more proof that God was behind their endeavor.

The King James Bible has no copyright. No one will get in trouble for printing, reciting, or using this translation. The new versions all have a copyright, and it's not God who gets the royalties.

Some people will say that the original version had a crown copyright of the 1611, but it was only copyrighted then for the purpose of allowing the printer to finance the publication. They were not making merchandise off God's words.

There are some King James Version Bibles today that hold copyrights, but that does not include the words. Those copyrights are on the publisher's maps and notes. No one needs to request permission or pay royalties to another for the Scripture text of a King James Version Bible.

The King James Bible has benefits that the original Greek and Hebrew did not have. First, it's all compiled together in one volume! The originals were multiple scrolls or letters that had to be copied meticulously to keep from being destroyed through use.

Next, God isn't against translations. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, with the exception of Daniel, which was written in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek. There are many passages in the New Testament that are quotes from the Old Testament, but these quotes have been translated into Greek. 

Why, then, did God not choose to use on of the English Bibles translated prior to 1611? I can't give a definitive answer, but we can make an educated guess. 

The English language was still being developed prior to the 17th Century. And, being unstable would have made it difficult to get an accurate translation. God chose English because He knew it would become the next universal language due to the expansion of the British Empire.

The previous versions were generally translated by just one man- Tyndale, Luther, etc. And these translations sometimes had doctrinal or personal opinion associated with them. God wanted His words to be without man's opinion.

2 Peter 1:20- Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

A final point, the King James Translators used "old" English because it was the only way to to maintain precise grammatical distinctions. This was not contemporary speech in the 17th Century. The "old" English was able to show the formal difference between the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person.

Example:

1st person- I write
2nd person- Thou writest
3rd person- He writeth

There are other words in the "old" English that show when an audience is being addressed or whether a person is being addressed. Thou, thy, and thee are singular and indicate one person being addressed, whereas ye, you, and yours are plural and indicated more than one person is being addressed.

Example:

John 3:7- Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus- thee (singular).

But what He says next is for everyone- ye (plural).

In our modern English we would have translated both as "you" and we would have lost the distinction.

God has a reason for everything! And the above shows us His reason for choosing the language and the time period of the King James Version for His words to be translated for us today.

Joseph in Archaeology

Bear Grylls: The Passion Week

Join Bear Grylls as he tours Israel and shows where Jesus' final days were spent.

Bear Grylls: Renegade Mission

Join Bear Grylls as he tours Israel and shows where some of Jesus' miracles occurred.

Bear Grylls: Exploring Galilee

Join Bear Grylls as he tours Israel and show you where Jesus and his disciples walked.

Bear Grylls: Baptism and the Wilderness Temptation

Join Bear Grylls as he tours Israel and shows you where Jesus was baptized and where he faced the temptations from the devil.

Bear Grylls: Jesus' Birth and Fleeing From Herod

Join Bear Grylls as he tours Israel and shows where Jesus was born, and how he became a refugee in Egypt.

Historical Evidence Of Jesus Outside The Bible

 I came across a news article by Diana Rose which I found to be quite fascinating. She mentions a few different historical records where Jesus is mentioned that are not biblical or scriptural texts, but rather historical documents.

Whether this woman is a Christian, or not, is unknown to me. Her conclusions and her words have not been edited by myself, nor can I say that I 100% agree with them, but I believe you will find her evidence and her take on the subject quite interesting.

Believing in historical figures usually requires a leap of faith, but finding Jesus’ footprints outside the Bible feels like striking gold. I remember my first deep dive into ancient history during college. I wanted to know if this figure actually walked the earth or if he remained a myth constructed by followers. You might feel the same skepticism.

I found that critics and historians from the Roman Empire actually documented his existence. These writers had no reason to promote Christianity. In fact, most of them despised the movement.

Bart Ehrman, a renowned agnostic scholar, states that “Jesus certainly existed” because virtually every competent scholar of antiquity agrees on this point. I find this consensus fascinating because it bridges the gap between theology and history. We see a man named Jesus emerging from the ink of his enemies rather than just his friends. This list breaks down the most compelling non-biblical accounts that place Jesus firmly in the history books.

Cornelius Tacitus is among the most trusted historians of the ancient world. He wrote his Annals in 116 AD and did not hold back his disdain for Christians. Tacitus detailed how Emperor Nero blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome to deflect rumors that he started it himself. In this account, Tacitus connects the name “Christians” directly to “Christus” and mentions his execution.

I love this entry because Tacitus clearly has no agenda to support the religion. He calls Christianity a “mischievous superstition,” yet confirms two massive historical facts. He notes that Pontius Pilate executed Jesus during the reign of Tiberius. This aligns perfectly with the biblical timeline. IMO, this hostility makes his testimony even more reliable.

Flavius Josephus gives us a Jewish perspective on first-century Judea. In his work Antiquities of the Jews, published around 93 AD, he references Jesus twice. The most accepted passage involves the execution of James. Josephus identifies James specifically as “the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ.” Scholars like Louis Feldman regard this passage as highly authentic because it lacks the flowery language Christian scribes might add later.

This brief mention carries heavy weight in the historical community. Josephus does not preach here. He simply uses Jesus as a marker to identify James. Most historians agree that this casual reference proves Jesus was a known public figure at the time.

Pliny serves as a fascinating source because he wrote from the perspective of a frustrated government official. As the governor of Bithynia in 112 AD, he wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan asking how to handle Christians. He described their practice of gathering before dawn and singing hymns to Christ “as to a god.”

I find this letter incredible because it captures the early church in action through the eyes of an outsider. Pliny cared about law and order, not theology. His letter confirms that within a few decades of his death, Jesus had a dedicated following willing to die for him.

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus served as a court official under Emperor Hadrian. In his Lives of the Twelve Caesars, written around 121 AD, he mentions a disturbance during Claudius’s reign. He writes that the Emperor expelled Jews from Rome because they “constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus.”

Most scholars agree that “Chrestus” is a common misspelling of “Christus” or “Christ.” This aligns with the biblical account in Acts 18:2, where Paul meets Priscilla and Aquila after they left Rome. It shows that Jesus’ influence reached the empire’s capital within roughly 20 years of his death.

The Babylonian Talmud contains rabbinic writings that offer a hostile but confirming view of Jesus. In Sanhedrin 43a, the text mentions “Yeshu,” who was “hanged” on the eve of the Passover. The text accuses him of practicing sorcery and leading Israel astray.

I appreciate this source because it represents the opposition. The writers had every reason to deny his existence if he were a myth. Instead, they attempt to explain his power through sorcery. This confirms he performed deeds that people could not easily explain.

Mara bar Serapion wrote a letter to his son from prison sometime after 73 AD. He compares the deaths of Socrates, Pythagoras, and the “wise King” of the Jews. He observes that the Jews lost their kingdom after killing this wise ruler.

Though he does not use the name Jesus, scholars universally agree that he refers to him. He credits this “wise King” with laying down new laws. I think this letter is touching because it frames Jesus as a philosopher and a martyr rather than just a religious figure.

Lucian brings a touch of satire to the historical record. A Greek satirist writing in the second century, he poked fun at Christians in The Passing of Peregrinus. He calls Jesus “the man who was crucified in Palestine” and mocks his followers for worshipping him.

Lucian of Samosata describes Jesus as a “crucified sophist” who introduced new mysteries. While his goal involves ridicule, he inadvertently cements the fact that Jesus existed and died by crucifixion. It proves that even comedians of the era knew exactly who Jesus was.

Celsus wrote The True Doctrine around 175 AD as a comprehensive attack on Christianity. We know his arguments because the church father Origen wrote a massive rebuttal titled Contra Celsum. Celsus did not deny that Jesus performed miracles. Instead, he claimed Jesus learned magic in Egypt.

This mirrors the accusations found in the Talmud. I find this line of attack very telling. Celsus could not simply say “Jesus never did those things.” The evidence was likely too strong. So he attacked the source of the power rather than the events themselves.

Thallus provides one of the earliest potential references to Jesus. Although his original works are lost, Julius Africanus quotes him in a history written around 221 AD. Africanus debates Thallus regarding the darkness that fell over the land during the crucifixion. Thallus argued it was a solar eclipse.

Africanus points out that a solar eclipse cannot occur during a full moon, which falls on Passover. This debate is significant. FYI, it shows that even skeptics did not deny that the darkness occurred. They simply tried to find a natural explanation for it.

The historical existence of Jesus is supported by nine ancient non-Christian sources, including writings by Roman historians such as Tacitus and Jewish sources such as Josephus. These texts provide independent verification of his life, execution under Pontius Pilate, and the early worship practices of his followers, separating the man from the myth. Collectively, these diverse accounts from critics and historians alike confirm that Jesus was a real figure who left an undeniable mark on the ancient world.