What is the difference between the Torah, the Pentateuch, and the Tanakh?

What is the difference between the Torah, the Pentateuch, and the Tanakh?

The Torah and the Pentateuch are the Hebrew and Greek names for the first five books of the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. The word “Torah” in Hebrew can be translated to a number of things, namely instruction, teaching, or even “hitting the mark.” The word “Pentateuch” in Greek means “five books.” The books represented in these definitions are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and…

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What is the difference between the Torah, the Pentateuch, and the Tanakh?

The Torah and the Pentateuch are the Hebrew and Greek names for the first five books of the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. The word “Torah” in Hebrew can be translated to a number of things, namely instruction, teaching, or even “hitting the mark.” The word “Pentateuch” in Greek means “five books.” The books represented in these definitions are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It should be noted that these five books contain the Law of Moses which contains the central theological precepts of Orthodox Judaism. “Tanakh” is an acronym for “Torah,” “Nevi’m,” and “Ketuvim.” The Tanakh can be described as the Old Testament in its entirety, with its books having been divided into categories. The Torah is the first five books of the Old Testament; The “Nevi’im” which is a word that means “prophets” or “spokespeople,” contains the stories of the prophets of Israel, and gives documentation of the prophets’ guidance, prophecies, and warnings for Israel. Here is a list of the Nevi’im in the Tanakh.

Joshua
Judges
I Samuel
II Samuel
I Kings
II Kings
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Ezekiel

And a list of the Twelve Prophets of the Nevi'im is as follows: Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

The “Ketuvim,” a Hebrew word that means “writings,” is Bible narratives that generally tell stories of chivalry, romance, war, lamentation, prophecy, and palace intrigue, all within historical contexts. The Ketuvim generally contains very poetic literary devices, and like the Torah and the Nevi’im, it covers the lives, words, and actions of specific people throughout its narrative. Here is a list of the Ketuvim in the Tanakh.

Psalms
Proverbs
Job
Song of Songs
Ruth
Lamentations
Ecclesiastes
Esther
Daniel
Ezra
Nehemiah
I Chronicles
II Chronicles

The Origins of Man: Scientific and Biblical Examinations

The Origins of Man: Scientific and Biblical Examinations

I have divided this discourse into two sections. Section one of this discourse is the scientific examination of the origins of man, and section two of this discourse is the biblical examination of the origins of man.

Section One: Scientific Examinations:

Upon many hours of reading, thorough consideration, and contemplation, I am inclined to believe that mankind originated in the same general…

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Ezekiel's Wheel and the Extraterrestrial Question

Ezekiel’s Wheel and the Extraterrestrial Question

There is a story in Ezekiel chapter 1, known as “Ezekiel’s Wheel”. This story is believed by many people both Christian and non-Christian alike, to represent an alien encounter experienced by the prophet Ezekiel. The four beasts in this story are often interpreted to be aliens, and the wheels are often interpreted to be flying saucers. However, the vision seen by the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel…

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2 Corinthians Chapter 4 from E. I. Smith on Vimeo.

How powerful were the Knight Templars?

How powerful were the Knight Templars?

The Knight Templars, which originated in the year 1120, became quite powerful in their later years, although it took quite a bit of planning, implementation, strategy, and patience. The Knight Templars were a religious military order who with the blessing of the Frankish king, Baldwin II King of Jerusalem, organized themselves so as to protect the Christians in the Kingdom of Jerusalem from…

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The Origins of Man: Scientific and Biblical Examinations

I have divided this discourse into two sections. Section one of this discourse is the scientific examination of the origins of man, and section two of this discourse is the biblical examination of the origins of man.

Section One: Scientific Examinations:

Upon many hours of reading, thorough consideration, and contemplation, I am inclined to believe that mankind originated in the same general manner that the galaxies originated.

The galaxies in the material universe did not originate from a single parental galaxy. This means that the galaxies that fill the material universe originated simultaneously and in a similar time-frame after the big bang occurred nearly fourteen-billion years ago. They all appeared in the material universe simultaneously, and in the same general time-frame because the physical mechanisms that persisted during that period of time in the development of the material universe were pervasive and seemingly eternal. I believe personally that new galaxies are forming all the time due to these same pervasive mechanisms. Now I do not know whether or not new Earths or similar planets capable of sustaining life are presently forming as Earth in my own estimation is a one-of-a-kind structure; but due to the eternal nature of the death and rebirth of stars, death and rebirth of galaxies, and the unending death and formation of new planets, I personally cannot comprehend the how the universe as a whole will ever end. I am not saying that the end of the material universe is impossible, but I do not believe that mankind has devised a number that can begin to measure how far off that event will be in terms of years.

Now to the main point of this discourse. I am thoroughly inclined to believe that mankind spawned across the Earth in the same general way that the galaxies spawned across the universe. It is not within the realm of possibility in my opinion for all men to have originated from one male and female couple. My reasoning for this train of thought is as follows:

Modern humans are thought to have originated two-million years ago. It is not known exactly where on earth the first humans originated, although the oldest known human remains were found in Africa. Furthermore, there were other hominids that existed at that same time, but they were not as genetically advanced as humans and eventually died out. I am inclined to believe that the logistics of mankind originating from a single male and female couple, migrating all over the world, and populating it, just isn't feasible; especially considering the vast limitations in human technology, medicine, and education; and especially considering the vastly shorter life-spans of early humans to today's humans. My thinking is that whatever the mechanism was that spawned the origins of what became the first man and woman, happened all over the world simultaneously and in a similar time-frame.

I believe that all of the various peoples of the world each have their own unique common ancestors and do not share the same ancestor or even common ancestors of people of other races. Furthermore, I believe that the biological ancestors of mankind across the spectrum of various races, peoples, and nations, are similar but not common. The mechanism that spawned the origins of the first man is presently unknown to scientists. Whatever this mechanism was, however, had to have spawned around the entire world, namely in the form of a microbial organism that must have evolved into the modern human.

I am inclined to believe that this very mechanism had to have happened in every part of the world simultaneously. The reason being is because the mechanism that spawned the origins of what would become man had to have come to pass at a time that was biologically right, both in the Earth and for the being that would become mankind. The Earth was not always capable of housing life but became capable after billions of years. This means that at some point in Earth's history it became able to accommodate life, and then life began naturally. The point is, that whenever it was in Earth's history that it became able to accommodate life, then the entire Earth was able to accommodate life and not just certain parts of the Earth.

I am inclined to believe that the mechanisms that spawned the first man, happened all over the world, and in the same fashion, resulting in many fertile ancestral hominids appearing all over the Earth and around the same time, rather than one pair of ancestral hominids appearing in one part of the earth birthing what would become the first humans who would then later migrate all over the world. I believe that this early biological mechanism repeated itself all over the world, hundreds of thousands of times, throughout a specific time-period, resulting in the beginnings of human-kind. The descendants of these first hominids naturally took after their originators. The descendants of these originators were, however, similar enough to the descendants of other originators to make procreation with them a biological possibility.

In my estimation, these phenomena only could have happened had the mechanism that enabled the origins of the human race taken place for each and every one of the original ancestors for all of the different races of people in the world, albeit under different geological, and celestial circumstances which certainly lead to different physical characteristics. Furthermore, the geological and celestial mechanisms that led to the creation of the peoples of the world must have resulted in different DNA patterns for the ancestors of each race of people that exists today.

The full plight of human races is unknown as the development of the races happened in pre-recorded history. Furthermore, we only have a brief snapshot of how certain people ended up in certain areas of the world. We do know, however, that the people that dwell in certain areas of the world have similar appearances to people in their same geographic area. For example, people in Africa have similar physical characteristics to those of other Africans, people in Europe have similar characteristics to those of other Europeans, people in East-Asia have similar physical characteristics to those of other East-Asians, and so forth and so on all over the world. This fact tells me that there were very precise biological processes that facilitated the forming of the first hominids in each part of the world and that these same processes occurred uniquely in the formation of each of the different races of people.


Section Two: Biblical Examinations:

In the Bible, namely in the book of Genesis 1:1, it says that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. It goes on to say that God created light, plants, animals, man, and woman. This for all intents and purposes is the order in which material things evolved. I am inclined to believe that the biblical allegory of Adam and Eve as the first man and the first woman is a representation of the first free-thinking, enterprising people that appeared on the Earth, namely in the near-east. This as opposed to the idea that Adam and Eve represented the very first people that appeared on the earth altogether. I believe that these first modern people struggled with worldly mechanisms and temptations that caused them to pursue their own individual interests rather than the collective interests of mankind; as a result, these unseemly forces that did not always produce goodness in mankind began to prevail and still do to the present day. The Book of Genesis was originally written some 3,300 years ago by scribes (possibly Moses and his subordinate priests) that were not learned in advanced scientific methods. The mystery of Genesis is the narrative concerning the creation of material things by an immaterial God. The New Testament, however, which was written approximately 1,800 years ago, speaks of an omnipotent God whose own son is the standard by which all material things were formed. Furthermore, the New Testament speaks in depth of a God that is a living being much like his creation, man, is a living being.

I am inclined to believe that the allegory of creation as presented in the Holy Bible is a representation of the "first cause" of all material things. What I mean by first cause is the “spark” by which all material things were created. I believe that the scribe, namely Moses, who is believed to have written the book of Genesis, uses the allegory of an almighty God, imagining, designing, and creating the material universe the way an artist paints a masterpiece, devised this allegory as an easily consumable narrative concerning the creation of things. When it comes to the feasibility of an almighty creator creating all things, I find the following concept to be the best and most ideal concept; It was God that set the processes in motion that eventually led to the material universe. What I mean by this is that whatever it was that caused the first spark of physical phenomena that lead to the first stars, the first galaxies, the first planets, the first micro-organisms, and the first man, was God. I believe that this concept is more feasible and reliable than a narrative that states that God personally formed the universe and everything in it piece-by-piece the way a child builds a Lego kingdom by stacking Legos piece-by-piece. In my estimation, the Bible's creation narrative is the story of an untold number of years leading from God's earliest involvement with the creation of the first atoms, to the appearance of the first man.

In summary, scientific and biblical comparisons concerning the creation of natural things are always fascinating. In my opinion, even the most devout Jews and Christians view much of the creation story as allegory, representing a much more mysterious and unknowable reality that lead to something, namely the material universe which is astronomical in its scope, and monumental in its possibilities.

Ezekiel's Wheel and the Extraterrestrial Question

 



There is a story in Ezekiel chapter 1, known as “Ezekiel’s Wheel”. This story is believed by many people both Christian and non-Christian alike, to represent an alien encounter experienced by the prophet Ezekiel. The four beasts in this story are often interpreted to be aliens, and the wheels are often interpreted to be flying saucers. However, the vision seen by the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel chapter 1, is likely a reference to the “Four Conquering Empires” of the Holy Bible namely Babylon, Persia, Macedon, and Rome. It should be noted that there are similar visions of four beasts had by the Prophet Daniel in the book of Daniel chapter 7, which turn out to be these same empires. In the book of Revelations Chapter 4, the Apostle John also documents his own visions that are similar to Ezekiel and Daniel’s visions in regards to beasts representing empires. Because of these similarities in representations concerning the dreams and visions had by prophets and apostles, I encourage the historical study of biblical narratives before reading and attempting to interpret dreams, visions, and revelations as they are presented in the Holy Bible.

With the advent of the science fiction genre of entertainment, namely comic books, video games, television shows, and movies, the human imagination is more creative and vibrant than ever, making concepts such as aliens seem less impossible. The Bible does not address the existence of extra-terrestrial beings as we know them in the science fiction genre of entertainment. There are however, reports in the Bible of Angels appearing to man in modern times; Hebrews 13:2 tells us that these angels assume the appearance of everyday mortal men and that a person would not know that these men are of a divine nature. In my opinion, a person needs devout faith to believe in aliens, namely beings from distant galaxies that possess intelligence.

In my estimation, the sketchy photographs and imaginative artistic renderings of aliens and their spacecrafts and technology are not reliable as factual. Imagine if concrete evidence of Alien life was found. Whatever that evidence was, would be the centerpiece of every political address, film documentary, news story, magazine cover, religious sermon, and scientific inquiry all over the world. Museums would acquire the rights to these discoveries and charge healthy prices to the general public in order to view them. If living aliens were found, they would be placed in specialized zoos, open to any and all who could pay the money required to observe them. Scientists would dissect the bodies of deceased aliens and publish their findings in academic journals, and academic textbooks all over the world. The trajectory of human life would be forever changed based on these findings. Due to the absence of any of these historical, commercial, and scientific events, I conclude that the existence of extraterrestrials and their technology is a matter of personal belief, not much unlike the faith and personal belief that it takes to believe in angels or demons, albeit without the guidance of a holy book to contextualize the existence of such beings.

How powerful were the Knights Templar?

The Knights Templar, which originated in the year 1120, became quite powerful in their later years although it took quite a bit of planning, implementation, strategy, and patience for this power to arrive. The Knights Templar were a religious military order who with the blessing of the Frankish king, Baldwin II of Jerusalem, organized themselves to protect the Christians in the Kingdom of Jerusalem from the frequent attacks of the Muslim raiders that habitually attacked the Christians out of a sense of nationalism and resentment for the Crusader victory of 1099.

One of the official names of the Knights Templar was “The Poor Knights of Christ,” meaning that their very existence was one of Christian servitude rather than self-aggrandizement or knightly glory. The Knights Templar were, above all, “knight monks” that were chaste, sober, and ever-Christian in their daily movements. The Knights Templar, while a noteworthy and significant appendage of the French Crown, were ultimately beholden to the French Crown and lived lives of servitude and duty to the Christian pilgrims of Jerusalem. The Templars had a special regard for the Virgin Mary, and strictly adhered to Catholic religious doctrine with vigilant reverence.

By the Mid 12th-century, the Knights Templar managed to accumulate wealth, status, and relationships with the kings of Europe on account of their accumulation of bullion, and a monetary system that they devised in order to sustain themselves, accomplish their goals, and make a name for themselves throughout the Holy Roman Empire. It should be noted, however, that their wealth and status was ultimately beholden to the French Crown and was therefore not purely the possession of the Templars.

By 1291, the city of Acre, an important appendage to the Kingdom of Jerusalem and a city that the Knights Templar were supposed to protect, fell to the Muslims. Because of this event, the relevance of the Knights Templar came into question namely by their rivals, the Knights Hospitaller of Jerusalem. By 1304, King Philip IV, presumably shaken, envious, and desirous of the Templar’s status, wealth, and power, had begun to paint them as heretics and subversives that worshiped a graven image called “Baphomet.” Philip IV further accused the Templars of habitually performing sacrilegious pagan rituals.

By March 22nd of 1312, after years of arrests, trials, and convictions, all of which were ordered by Pope Clement V at the behest of King Philip IV, the wealth of the Knights Templar was confiscated and transferred to the Knights Hospitaller, and many of the Templars and their leaders were jailed and/or executed. The Templars since then have been reverenced by many as the quintessential example of fraternity, fidelity, sacrifice, and duty; their example and their memory have been adopted into many theological fraternal organizations as a way of preserving their essence and their values.

Has proof of the existence of the prophet Isaiah been found in Jerusalem?

Has proof of the existence of the prophet Isaiah been found in Jerusalem?

Archaeologists in Jerusalem have found a 8th century B.C. clay mold, with an impression of a seal of which is believed to be that of the prophet Isaiah. This discovery is all the more significant because the seal of king Hezekiah of Judah was found ten feet away from Isaiah’s seal. This is important because the prophet Isaiah counseled king Hezekiah concerning the king’s life and the impending…

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Has proof of the existence of the prophet Isaiah been found in Jerusalem?

Archaeologists in Jerusalem have found an 8th century B.C. clay mold, with an impression of a seal of which is believed to be that of the prophet Isaiah. This discovery is all the more significant because the seal of King Hezekiah of Judah was found ten feet away from Isaiah’s seal. This is important because the prophet Isaiah counseled king Hezekiah concerning the king’s life and the Assyrian army's impending invasion of the Kingdom of Judah (Isaiah chapter 38).

The Hebrew word for Isaiah, “Yeshayahu” can be seen on the seal. The Hebrew letters “NVY” (the first three letters of the Hebrew word "prophet") were also found on the seal.

I am sure this find will be continually analyzed, however it is a striking discovery nonetheless.

1LKkvLW8JXIFQxfgP_1qVPDIZPwXF3Bp9 from E. I. Smith on Vimeo.

What was the "Promise of the Father" that Jesus spoke of in Luke 24:49?

What was the “Promise of the Father” that Jesus spoke of in Luke 24:49?

The book of Luke 24:49 takes place in Emmaus, a city that is approximately 60 stadia northwest of Jerusalem. Jesus had already risen from the dead and had given the disciples comfort and instructions concerning his impending departure and the work that they must do as his Apostles. The “Promise of the Father” that Jesus told them that they must remain in Jerusalem to receive, is none other than…

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How did religious factors affect nationalism during the First Crusade?

How did religious factors affect nationalism during the First Crusade?

Religious factors affected nationalism immensely during the First Crusade. It should be noted that Pope Urban II, Pope of the Catholic Church from A.D. 1088-A.D. 1099, utilized a combination of both Bible doctrine, and racial rhetoric to rally the clergyman of the Catholic Church support the crusade, and to rally the nobles of France and Germany to lend their best soldiers to the cause and carry…

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What was the "Promise of the Father" that Jesus spoke of in Luke 24:49?

The book of Luke 24:49 takes place in Emmaus, a city that is approximately 60 stadia northwest of Jerusalem. Jesus had already risen from the dead and had given the disciples comfort and instructions concerning his impending departure and the work that they must do as his Apostles. The “Promise of the Father” that Jesus instructed the Apostles to remain in Jerusalem and wait for, is none other than the Holy Spirit, the third member of the “Holy Trinity”.

In the book of Acts chapter 2, we see the Promise of the Father fulfilled. As the Apostles were praying in the upper-room of a residence that the Apostles lived in, the Holy Ghost, in what is one of the more memorable miracles of the Holy Bible, descended from Heaven in the form of “cloven tongues like as of fire,” and rested on the heads of the Apostles (Acts 2:3). The Apostles then began speaking in “tongues” (languages) that they presumably never studied. By the power of this Holy Ghost, the Apostles spoke languages ranging from Grecian to Persian, as well as languages from every territory in between. It is said that the Apostles were saying in foreign tongues, everything that the Holy Spirit told them to say, (Acts 2:4). The Holy Spirit was telling them to preach in foreign tongues of “the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:11). A small crowd of men from different nationalities soon gathered to where the Apostles were, and were amazed at their fluency in every man’s language. They even at one point said, “are not all these which speak Galilæans?” (Acts 2:7).

Overall, this story is indicative of what the ministry of the Apostles was all about, and that is preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues (Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:17, Galatians 3:28, & Revelation 7:9).

How did religious factors affect nationalism during the First Crusade?

Religious factors affected nationalism immensely during the First Crusade. It should be noted that Pope Urban II, Pope of the Catholic Church from A.D. 1088-A.D. 1099, utilized a combination of Bible doctrine and racial rhetoric to rally the Holy Roman Empire, namely the clergyman of the Catholic Church and the nobles of France and Germany to lend support and their best soldiers respectively to an invasion of Jerusalem, namely a crusade that would result in Jerusalem, the Holy Land, being claimed by the Franks.

The Council of Clermont, was a synod, (assembly) called by Urban II in November of 1095, that served as a papal rallying cry in which Urban II urged the audience, which consisted of bishops and princes from Germany and France, to claim Jerusalem for the “race of the Franks” namely for the “remission of sins.” At this time, all of Palestine and much of the near-east was controlled by the Seljuk Empire, an empire that was Sunni Muslim religiously, and Turko-Persian ethnically. The Pope during his speech at Clermont called the Turks a “despised and based race which worships demons” further stating that they should never have conquered a people (the European Byzantine Empire) that have the “faith of Omnipotent God, and is made glorious with the name of Christ!” Urban II further described the Turks as an “accursed and foreign race,” that did not have their hearts right with God. During his speech, Urban II highlighted the Turks’ fierceness in battle as well as their tendency to brutalize the Christians of Jerusalem, make slaves out of the Christians that they allowed to live, desecrate the Christian churches and altars, forcibly circumcise the Christian males, and perform sacrilegious rituals with the blood of the circumcisions.

Urban II further stated that “It is better to say nothing of their (the Turks) treatment of (Christian) women.” Urban II further elaborated that the Turks had wrested from Greece a tract of land so large that it takes “two months to travel through it.” Urban II quoted Matthew 10:37 during this speech to illustrate that this crusade should take precedence over the Crusaders’ families as this crusade was a holy endeavor that would be done in the name of Jesus Christ. Urban II told the congregation that it is their duty and responsibility to take Jerusalem for the French people. He said that the Lord gave the Franks a sense of military courage and a sense of chivalry that other nations lacked. It should be noted that while not expressly preached by Urban II at the Council of Clermont, the importance of laying siege to the “Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” a site believed by Christians to be the approximate location of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the approximate location of the tomb of Christ, was a major motivating factor in Pope Urban’s desire for an invasion of Jerusalem. Urban II evidently believed that in order to rally the Franks to undertake an endeavor of the magnitude of invading Jerusalem and defeating the fierce Turks in battle, that appealing to the Franks' sense of duty to God as well as to their sense of ethno-religious nationalism was essential.

This image is entitled: Pope Urban II preaching at the Council of Clermont in 1095. The artist is Jean Colombe c. 1474 (France).

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/fb/62/aa/fb62aa73e51c45299d69e8c070858530.jpg

Was Jesus a witch and a pagan philosopher?

Was Jesus a witch and a pagan philosopher?

In biblical narratives, Jesus was not a witch; he never invoked the name of any pagan gods or spirits before performing any of his miracles nor did he ever preach pagan philosophies. During his ministry, Jesus Christ asserted in response to suggestions that the practiced the “dark arts” that if it were by the power of Hades that he performed his miracles, then it would be self-destructive on the…

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Was Jesus a witch and a pagan philosopher?

In biblical narratives, Jesus was not a witch; he never invoked the name of any pagan gods or spirits before performing any of his miracles nor did he ever preach pagan philosophies or say anything during his ministry that could be mistaken as such. As a matter of fact, Jesus was very anti-pagan as evidenced in his remarks to Satan in the book of Luke 4:8.

During his ministry, Jesus Christ asserted in response to suggestions that he practiced the “dark arts,” that if it were by the power of Hades that he performed his miracles, then it would be self-destructive on the part of Satan, the prince of Hades, to facilitate this (Matthew 12:25–26). Jesus said this because the reason that he performed miracles was to promote faith in God; the same God in fact, that condemned Satan, Satan’s angels, Death, and Hell to eternal torment (Isaiah 14:12–15, & Revelation 21:14).

I have, however, heard some rather interesting arguments made by occultists who say that Jesus was a witch. Some have indicated that Jesus learned mysticism and magic in Egypt, Persia, and India from the ages of thirteen to age 30, and this is why the Bible does not reveal Jesus’ life during this seventeen-year period. Furthermore, there are occultists that speculate that the reason that Jesus chose twelve disciples is because a witch coven is only effective when it has thirteen members. However, Jesus likely chose twelve disciples in homage to the original Twelve Tribes of Israel (Deuteronomy 33:6–25).

Some occultists have asserted further that the miracles that Jesus performed in the Four Gospels, such as the casting out of devils from various persons (Matthew 12:22,) turning water into wine (John 2:1–11,) healing of the sick (Mark 1:40–45,) walking on water (Matthew 14:22–33,) raising Lazarus from the dead (John 1:38–44,) and Jesus’ own resurrection (Matthew 28:1–7,) were all acts of witchcraft that Jesus performed due to his mastery of powerful magic spells and his conjuration of powerful demonic spirits. Even the Pharisees speculated that Jesus performed miracles such as the casting out of evils spirits from various persons by the power of Beelzebul, the “Prince of Demons” (Matthew 12:24).

Overall, some people find the idea of Jesus being a witch to be romantic or even exciting; and while mysticism, magic, divination, and witchcraft were very in-demand in the first-century near-east, I believe that the Bible does a fairly effective job in refuting any argument that Jesus Christ was a practitioner of these arts.

What was Rome's reason for attacking Carthage in the Third Punic War?

What was Rome’s reason for attacking Carthage in the Third Punic War?

The siege of Carthage was decided years before the Third Punic War (149–146 B.C.) actually took place. In the Roman Republic during this time period, there were consuls and censors that acted jointly as the supreme political authorities. Cato the elder who was Censor of Rome from 184–149 B.C., made a trip to Carthage in 157 B.C. to negotiate peace between Carthage and Numidia. When Cato returned…

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What was Rome's reason for attacking Carthage in the Third Punic War?

The siege of Carthage was decided years before the Third Punic War (149–146 B.C.) actually took place. In the Roman Republic during this time period, there were Consuls and Censors that acted jointly as the supreme political authorities. Cato the elder who was Censor of Rome from 184–149 B.C., made a trip to Carthage in 157 B.C. to negotiate peace between Carthage and Numidia. When Cato returned to Rome, he decided to rally support for a Roman invasion of Carthage. He told the Roman Senate stories of how wealthy Carthage was, and that it was “crowded with vigorous young men, was abounded with immense quantities of gold and silver, and had prodigious magazines of arms and all war-like stories.” Cato then displayed to the Senate a bundle of African figs that were the biggest and most beautiful the Roman senators had ever seen. He then informed the Senate that only a three-day journey separated the Romans from the Carthaginians. Cato believed further that the Carthaginians were becoming too rich and too powerful and thus posed a continual threat to the prosperity of Rome. Cato often and famously told the Senate, “Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam” which translates to “However, I think that Carthage must be destroyed.”

Cato’s political opponent, Publius Corculum, a Consul, did not want Rome to go to war with the Carthaginians because he feared that his countrymen, who were already swelled with pride on account of their regional dominance, would lose all sense of decency and humanity should they begin conquering foreign nations. Furthermore, Corculum did not see the Carthaginians as an immediate threat to Roman prosperity overall. Corculum did, however, see them as dangerous enough to where he figured that an invasion into Carthaginian territory would prove disastrous for the Roman military, its government, and its people.

In the end, however, Cato the Elder’s arguments in favor of a Roman invasion of Carthage prevailed in the Senate. The official declaration of war that was proclaimed by the Senate asserted that Carthage broke a 50-year peace treaty that it had with Rome when it went to war with Numidia, a North African nation that was an ally of Rome. It should be noted that the Romans themselves instigated the battles between the Carthaginians and the Numidians so as to have a reason to invade Carthage. Furthermore, the Senate proclaimed that the Carthaginians mistreated the son of the king of Numidia in their battles with the Numidians, furthering the Romans’ justification for an invasion.
It was under these pretexts that the Romans invaded Carthage and the rest is history. By the end of 146 B.C., the Romans, having commanded an army of 80,000 soldiers, had completely annihilated Carthage and for the next 581 years Carthage remained subject to Roman rule.

Why is Christianity not considered a cult?

Why is Christianity not considered a cult?

Christianity is a religion that is rooted in ancient theological precepts. Furthermore, Christianity at its root advocates the belief in an unseen God, the supreme creator, his son, the redeemer of mankind, and the Holy Spirit, the “translator” of God’s will to man. In Christianity, this trinity, or “Godhead” is the final authority on all matters relating to right and wrong as well as on all…

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What is a cult?

What is a cult?

A cult is officially defined as an association of people that exhibit a stern reverence for a central figure, usually the founder of the cult. The cult’s members abandon their sensibilities in favor of the recommendations, suggestions, and assertions made by their cult-leader. The recommendations made by the cult-leader oftentimes defy logic and require “faith” or the “suspension of disbelief” on…

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Why is Christianity not considered a cult?

Christianity is a religion that is rooted in ancient theological precepts. Christianity at its root advocates the belief in an unseen God, the supreme creator of the universe, his son, the sacrificial redeemer of mankind, and the Holy Spirit, the divine “translator” of God’s will to man. In Christianity, this trinity, or “Godhead” is the final authority on all matters relating to right and wrong as well as on all inquiries into the divine.

Christianity encourages study, discussion, contemplation, and enlightenment (Matthew 7:7–8). Asking questions and vetting the precepts that govern Christianity is a part of being a good Christian. Each person is expected to decide for themselves whether or not they believe these precepts and whether or not they want to be Christians. Christianity is not intrusive. Its precepts and governing theological ideas are outlined clearly in the Holy Bible for all the world to see. The teachers of Christianity’s precepts are expected to interpret them from the Bible, which is accepted as the final written authority regarding these precepts. The book of Revelation chapter 22:18–19 gives strict instructions regarding how the Bible should be interpreted in relation to its divine authenticity.

In contrast, “cults,” in many respects, keep their members uninformed on certain matters. Sometimes the members are asked to “just believe” or “obey” without being given meaningful reasons why or to what end. Furthermore, cults give the words and actions of a living “leader” the same theological value as any god or other deity (Matthew 24:24). Cults also tend to shun those that question its teachings. Some cults become derogatory or even violent with members that choose to think or reason independently. Cults are totalitarian in structure. It isn’t considered seemly in cult organizations for its members to question authority, which often times leads to abuse of the members. Some cults even attach harmful labels to people that leave it and they even criminally harass the exiter and their families for this same reason. Cults are, at their root, about control rather than enlightenment; this fact alone makes them the antithesis of Christianity.

What is a cult?

A cult is officially defined as an association of people that exhibit a stern reverence for a central figure, usually the founder of the cult. The cult’s members abandon their sensibilities in favor of the recommendations, suggestions, and assertions made by their cult-leader. The recommendations made by the cult-leader oftentimes defy logic and common sense and require “faith” or the “suspension of disbelief” on the part of the members of the cult in order to establish a sense of commonality among them. This mechanism leads to a “brainwashing” of the members, generally to the pleasure of the cult-leader who acts as a “shepherd” in relation to his followers.

Cults also tend to be anti-government in various capacities and like to live by “their own rules.” This mode of thinking among the members of the cult can lead to criminal activity that eventually leads to the demise of the cult, usually by law-enforcement intervention. Examples of this reality consist of the fates of the Ku Klux Klan, the Manson Family, the Order of the Solar Temple, Heaven’s Gate, River Road Fellowship, and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All-in-all, you rarely hear about “cults” being ever-enduring, successful, or even profitable; I am inclined to believe that the reason for this is because the very foundation of a cult is never in any notable ideal, but is to criminally defy institutions and organizations that already exist, namely vast corporations and various systems of government and religion.

Overall, if you really look into the cult mechanism, from its founding to its end, you will see an obvious pattern; the pattern follows a blueprint-like path that leads to the dismantling of the cult by law enforcement agencies. I suppose that this is what makes a cult a “cult” as opposed to being an association of friends; in a cult, the end goal is criminality that is exercised by the members and the leaders alike. America, being a nation of law and order, shan’t stand for such organizations. In an associations of friends however, the end goal is enlightenment, friendship, and a roundly mutual desire to become better people.

Who were the Four Evangelists?

Who were the Four Evangelists?

The Four Evangelists were St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke and St. John, the four disciples of Jesus Christ that are credited with the writing of the “Four Gospels” namely the New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It should be noted that these books are the first four books of the New Testament. The histories of the Four Evangelists are not fully documented in the scriptures and…

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How many variations of Baalim were worshipped by the biblical Canaanites?

How many variations of Baalim were worshipped by the biblical Canaanites?

In the Old Testament in particular, there were several different “Baalim” (Lords) that were worshiped by the Canaanites. Baal was a storm/fertility god that was worshiped notably in the land of Canaan. Baal-Peor was a similar deity that was worship in the area corresponding to Mount Peor in Gilead. Baal-ze-bub was a Baal that was worshiped in the area corresponding to Ekron, which was a city that…

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How did the ancient Greeks and other civilizations worship their Gods?

How did the ancient Greeks and other civilizations worship their Gods?

The worship of gods in ancient Greece, and in other civilizations was done in a number of different ways. The lay-Greeks, tended to worship gods in their homes, possibly building small shrines to the gods they chose to worship. The more affluent, powerful Greeks worshiped Greek deities in temples. The Romans had a similar structure of worship to the Greeks in respects to the higher classes,…

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What did the Legio X Fretensis do?

What did the Legio X Fretensis do?

The Legio X Fretensis was a Roman legion founded by Augustus Caesar (who at that time went by the name Gaius Octavius) in the year 41 B.C. The legion lasted from 41 B.C. to A.D. 410 and was famous for its campaigns in Judea during the First Jewish-Roman war as well as its use of cutting-edge tactical weapons including the ballista, a catapult, that could launch projectiles up to 400 meters away.…

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Who were the Four Evangelists?

The Four Evangelists were St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke and St. John, the four disciples of Jesus Christ that are credited with writing the “Four Gospels,” namely the New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It should be noted that these books are the first four books of the New Testament. The biographies of the Four Evangelists are not fully documented in the scriptures and the details concerning their lives and works are in many respects oral tradition.

St. Matthew was a publican, namely a tax-collector, who was called by Jesus Christ to serve as his disciple when Jesus was preaching in Galilee (Matthew 9:9–13). St. Matthew may have at some point in his career as a tax-collector collected taxes on behalf of Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee that had John the Baptist beheaded.

St. Mark was born in Cyrene, North Africa, and was a disciple of Jesus Christ. He is believed to have founded the first Christian church in Alexandria, Egypt. It should be noted that the church in Alexandria is one of the original Apostolic Sees in the Eastern Orthodox Church alongside Rome, Antioch, Constantinople, and Jerusalem.

St. Luke was born in Antioch, Syria, and was a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was a physician by trade (Colossians 4:14) before he became a disciple of St. Paul. He was a disciple of Paul in various capacities until Paul’s martyrdom at the hands of Emperor Nero in A.D. 67.

St. John was a disciple of Jesus Christ. He is believed to have been born in Jerusalem. He is believed to be “the disciple that Jesus loved” (John 19:26–27). St. John is the likely author of the book of John, the Johannine Epistles (1, 2, and 3 John,) and the book of Revelation.

The exact date that the Four Evangelists wrote the Four Gospels is difficult to know, however, it is believed that they wrote them between the years of A.D. 65 and A.D. 95.

How many variations of Baalim were worshipped by the biblical Canaanites?

In the Old Testament, there were examples several different “Baalim” (Lords) that were worshipped by the Canaanites. Baal was a storm/fertility god that was worshipped notably in the land of Canaan (Numbers 22:41). Baal-Peor was a similar deity that was worshipped in the area corresponding to Mount Peor in Gilead (Numbers 25:3). Baal-ze-bub was a Baal that was worshipped in the area corresponding to Ekron, which was a city that was inhabited by the Philistines (2 Kings 1:2). There were statues, temples, and groves erected to Baal by the Canaanites throughout the narrative of the Old Testament. Often times, the Israelites, enamored with the idea of worshipping a god that they could physically see, would adopt Canaanite religious ordinances and systems of worship, and begin worshipping these deities themselves.

Much of the narrative of the Old Testament, in fact, was preoccupied with stories concerning the oral and written law of Moses to the Israelites, the establishment of Israel as a kingdom, their battles with neighboring Levantine kingdoms, the Israelites’ tendency to worship Baalim, the prophets’ condemnations and warnings against this “idol worship,” and God’s various political remedies for this idolatrous “whoredom”.

How did the ancient Greeks and other civilizations worship their Gods?

The worship of gods in ancient Greece and in other civilizations was done in a number of different ways. The lay-Greeks tended to worship gods in their homes, namely by building small shrines to the gods they chose to worship. The more affluent Greeks worshiped Greek deities in temples. The Romans had a similar structure of worship in respects to the higher classes; the ruling classes had more sophisticated options concerning the worship of gods as well, namely temple worship. The middle-class Romans built household shrines called Larariums, which were shrines that honored the “Lares” (spirits) that dwelt in and protected the home.

The worship of gods in ancient civilizations was not like the worship of gods in the present day. Today’s societies offer churches that allow anyone who wants to worship a god the opportunity to do so. The worship of gods in ancient cultures was more of a privilege than a right. There were no state constitutions allowing for the freedom of religion or anything of the sort. In ancient civilizations, there were priests of various cult religions that provided the general populace a religious foundation for worship via written documents and oral traditions. This is true in regards to the examples of Baal, Molech, and Astarte in the Levant, Zeus, Apollo, and Athena in the Mediterranean, Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury in Rome, etc… The act of worship in ancient civilizations was often festive and celebratory in nature. In ancient Palestine for example, there were various instances where a statue of a god was erected in a particular place, and during various feasts and ordinances, the people would worship the god in the way of song, dance, prayers, chanting, and sacrifices. The worship of gods in ancient civilizations was not necessarily a continual “lifestyle” like it is in today’s religions; it was more of an activity, a system of mysticism, and a system of reverence to the state that people participated in ever so often.

What did Legio X Fretensis do?

Legio X Fretensis was a Roman legion founded by Augustus Caesar (who at that time went by the name Gaius Octavius) in the year 41 B.C. The legion, which lasted from 41 B.C. to A.D. 410, was famous for its successful military campaigns throughout Judea during the First Jewish-Roman war. It was also famous for its use of cutting-edge tactical weapons, namely the ballista, which was a catapult that could launch projectiles up to 400 meters away.

As the First Jewish-Roman war neared its conclusion, with Legio X Fretensis having previously captured nearly every Zealot stronghold, Emperor Vespasian of the Roman Empire ordered Legio X to siege the remaining Zealot strongholds of Herodium, Machaerus, and Masada. One legend concerning Legio X Fretensis, set during the legion’s long march towards Masada, tells the story of how Lucilius Bassus, the commander of Legio X circa A.D. 71, captured Eleazer, an enemy Zealot, as he was taunting the legion while outside of the safety of his fortress. This act was presumably an attempt by Eleazer to boost the morale of his comrades, whose defeat to Legio X was imminent. Lucilius Bassus then had Eleazer stripped, tied to a wooden stake and whipped in full view of his comrades. Bassus then ordered his troops to erect a cross for Eleazer to be crucified on. Eleazer, seeing the cross and knowing what it was used for began to scream, cry, and plea for his life in such a horrific manner, that his comrades offered the Romans a ransom; if the Romans freed Eleazer, then the Zealots would vacate the fortress. The Romans, having no interest in engaging in such a transaction, disposed of Eleazer, took his comrades as slaves, and then proceeded to continue its march to Masada, arriving in A.D. 73. The Romans garrisoned the fortress of Masada, only to find that the Zealots had burned the fortress and committed a mass suicide amounting to 960 soldiers.

This story is a testament to the bitterness and desperation that accompanied the First Jewish-Roman War.

Why is Petrine primacy known to popes as the primacy of the Bishop of Rome?

Why is Petrine primacy known to popes as the primacy of the Bishop of Rome?

The reason that Petrine primacy is known to popes as the primacy of the Bishop of Rome is because it is generally accepted in the Roman Catholic cultural tradition that St. Peter (whose name is the root of the word “Petrine”) was the first pope and the founder of the first Christian church in Rome, Italia circa A.D. 56.

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Why is Petrine primacy known to popes as the primacy of the Bishop of Rome?

The reason that Petrine primacy is known to popes as the primacy of the Bishop of Rome is because it is generally accepted in the Roman Catholic cultural tradition that St. Peter (whose name is the root of the word “Petrine”) was the first pope and the founder of the first Christian church in Rome, Italia circa A.D. 56.

What does Genesis 3:15 mean?

What does Genesis 3:15 mean?

In Genesis 3:15, we see where Adam and Eve had already been persuaded by the serpent to disobediently eat of the “forbidden fruit,” and at this point, Adam had already blamed Eve for his misstep and Eve had already blamed the serpent for her misstep. God, being disappointed and let down had already begun issuing punishments to all parties for their misdeeds. At this point in the story, God is in…

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What does Romans 8:31b-34 mean?

What does Romans 8:31b-34 mean?

In these verses the Apostle Paul is speaking to the newly established Christian church in Rome, Italia. At this time in history (ca. A.D. 57,) Christians were not a popular lot in the Roman Empire. The Orthodox Jews did not like them because they claimed that the gospel that they preached perfected the Law of Moses, the 1400 year old holy law that the Jews already deemed to be perfect. The Roman…

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2 Corinthians Chapter 1 from E. I. Smith on Vimeo.

What does Genesis 3:15 mean?

In Genesis 3:15, we see where Adam and Eve had already been persuaded by the serpent to disobediently eat of the “forbidden fruit”. At this point in the story, Adam had already blamed Eve for his misstep and Eve had already blamed the serpent for her misstep. God, feeling disappointed and let down by Adam and Eve’s disobedience and their submission to the Serpent’s coercion, had already begun issuing punishments to all parties involved for their misdeeds. At this point in the story, God is in the middle of punishing the serpent for disrupting the order which God had set forth in his creation of the material universe and mankind. He says to the serpent that he will put “enmity” between him and the seed of Eve. This means that future generations, namely those that descend from Adam and Eve, will strive with the serpent, and war against the serpent. This asserts that man, namely the people that choose obedience to God over and above the serpent’s trinkets and treasures, will be a constant source of looming defeat to the serpent. In verse 15b, God says that “he shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel.” This asserts that because of God’s capacity to supply mankind with the tools he needs to overcome the serpent, that man will naturally always have an advantage over the serpent and will generally exercise dominion over the serpent.

Overall, Genesis 3:15 should be seen as a verse prophesying man’s ultimate victory over the the serpent then and now, namely through God’s divine guidance and man’s own willingness to overcome the serpent.

What does Romans 8:31-34 mean?

In these verses, the Apostle Paul is speaking to the newly established Christian church in Rome, Italia. At this time in history (ca. A.D. 57,) Christians were not a popular lot in the Roman Empire. The Orthodox Jews did not the Christians because the Christians claimed that the gospel that they preached perfected the Law of Moses, the then 1400-year-old holy law that the Jews already deemed to be perfect. The Roman Emperors did not like the Christians because the Christians taught that Jesus Christ was the son of God; it should be noted that the Roman Emperors believed that they themselves were Gods and the Sons of God. In Romans 8:31, the Apostle Paul is instructing the Christians to take courage, because God himself is on their side in their endeavors in proselytizing. Verse 32 expands upon this sentiment by indicating that God, being generous enough to send his only begotten son to die for the sins of mankind, would never hesitate to give his earthly children “all things” meaning anything they could ever want and need. Verse 33 is indicating that no man on the earth could ever hold God’s children in contempt, but that it is God himself who is the ultimate judge. Verse 34 suggests that Jesus the Christ, the Son of God who died and then rose again is perpetually speaking to God on behalf of the saints (Christians) so as to ensure their success in this life and in the next.

Who were the biblical Caphtorim

The Caphtorim were a Semitic people that originated near the Nile Delta in Egypt ca. 22nd century B.C.

Are all religions idolatrous, since they all give special status to objects?

Are all religions idolatrous, since they all give special status to objects?

In Bible narratives, idolatry is when a material object is worshiped by people as a god. This same concept is true of any number of religious objects, namely talismans, crucifixes, artifacts, medallions, chalices, statues, garments, altars, vases, portraits, holy books, menorahs etc…

According to Christian cultural traditions, objects such as these ought to serve as complements to a religion and…

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Did the Romans ever hold themselves responsible for crucifying Jesus Christ?

Did the Romans ever hold themselves responsible for crucifying Jesus Christ?

I wouldn’t say that the Romans hold themselves as “guilty” or “responsible” for crucifying Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, to the government of the Roman Empire, was above all, a seditionist. He taught bold religious doctrines, and said things about his own divinity that contradicted Roman tradition and sensibilities. He called himself the “King of the Jews,” a title held by Tiberius Caesar alone…

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What was the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus?

What was the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus?

I have read several articles on the significance of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus which stood from the years 509 B.C. – A.D. 392. This Rome based monument was particularly useful to Roman authorities. It was a place where Roman politicians would worship Roman gods and offer sacrifices to a cult statue of Jupiter, it was a political conference center, and likewise, a fellowshipping hall…

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How many of Jesus original Apostles were martyred?

How many of Jesus original Apostles were martyred?

All of them. Simon Peter was crucified upside down (at his request) by Emperor Nero in Rome, Italy. Andrew was crucified in Western Greece on an “X” shaped cross and lived for two days thereon in the year A.D. 69. James the Greater was beheaded by a sharpened sword in Judea by the orders of Herod Agrippa in A.D. 44. John the Revelator was exiled to Patmos and died in his old age as a prisoner in…

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Are all religions idolatrous, since they all give special status to objects?

In Bible narratives, idolatry is when a material object is worshiped as a god by mortal men. This same concept is true of any number of religious objects, namely talismans, crucifixes, artifacts, medallions, chalices, statues, garments, altars, vases, portraits, holy books, menorahs etc...

According to Christian cultural traditions, objects such as these ought to serve as complements to a religion and not substitutes for the God of that religion. So for example, if you were to start a church, and have a statue of Jesus Christ built inside of it as a compliment to the Christian atmosphere of the sanctuary, then that is not idolatry. However, if you were to begin to bow down to the statue, worshiping it and praying to it, then you would be engaging in idolatry because it is a material object. I should add, that prayer is something that is done before God in Jesus' name and not to Jesus directly (John 14:13, 14).

Did the Romans ever hold themselves responsible for crucifying Jesus Christ?

I wouldn’t say that the Romans hold themselves as “guilty” or “responsible” for crucifying Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, to the government of the Roman Empire, was above all, a seditionist. He taught bold religious doctrines, and said things about his own divinity that contradicted Roman tradition and sensibilities. He called himself the “King of the Jews,” a title held by Tiberius Caesar alone (John 19:15). Jesus to the Romans was a mere criminal, an insurrectionist that sought to overthrow the Emperor of Rome in his own interests. The only thing that separated Jesus from any other condemned criminal in the empire, was his notoriety, which superseded the notoriety of John the Baptist. The Romans did not think that Jesus was the son of God, or a divine figure, or a royal figure; they saw him as a trouble-making Jew and they executed him as they would a common thief albeit with applied mockery, e.g. the crown of thorns, the purple robe, the “INRI” marker on his cross etc…

So in this respect, I would say that the Romans saw what they did to Jesus as the right and lawful thing to do considering the political circumstances that were present at that time.

What was the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus?

I have read several articles on the significance of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus which stood from the years 509 B.C. - A.D. 392. This Rome based monument was particularly useful to Roman authorities. It was a place where Roman politicians would worship Roman gods and offer sacrifices to a cult statue of Jupiter, it was a political conference center, and likewise, a fellowshipping hall for Roman politicians. It also served as a public records archive, and it also served as the endpoint for Roman triumph processions. The Temple, being the centerpiece of Area Capitolina, a precinct where certain assemblies met, and it was an important religious, political, and cultural symbol that was rebuilt four times, this being a true testament to the temple's importance to Rome's cultural identity.

What kinds of medicines were used during the time of Christ?

What kinds of medicines were used during the time of Christ?

During the life and times of Jesus Christ (A.D. 1 – A.D. 34,) medicines and pharmaceutical remedies for sicknesses were commonly used and were fairly well developed. The medicines used were for the treatment of diseases ranging from the palsy to leprosy to boils and more. The medicines used during the life of Christ were as follows: Myrrh, mineral baths, therapeutic oils, opium, sweet cinnamon,…

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How many of Jesus original Apostles were martyred?

All of them; although not all of the deaths of the Apostles are documented in the Bible. Many of the deaths of the Apostles can, however, be found in extra-biblical records. The deaths of the original Apostles of Christ are as follows: In A.D. 34, a repentant Judas Iscariot crucified himself in Palestine by hanging (Matthew 27:3–4). In A.D. 44, James the Greater was beheaded by a sharpened sword in Judea by the orders of Herod Agrippa. In the year A.D. 54, Philip was scourged and crucified in Heliopolis, Egypt. In the year A.D. 67, Paul was beheaded by Emperor Nero in Rome, Italia; Simon Peter was crucified upside down (at his request) by Emperor Nero in Rome, Italia also in the year A.D. 67 (John 21:19). In the year A.D. 69, Andrew was crucified in Western Greece on an “X” shaped cross and lived for two days thereon; also in the year A.D. 69, James the Just was thrown off of the pinnacle of the temple of Jerusalem and beaten to death with a club. Bartholomew was skinned alive and beheaded. Thomas was run through by a sharpened spear. Matthew was stabbed in the back with a sharpened sword by the orders of King Hertacus of Ethiopia. Thaddeus was crucified in Edessa, Asia Minor in A.D. 72. Simon the Canaanite was crucified in England in A.D. 74. James the Less was beaten in the head with a large club during a riot circa A.D. 90. John the Revelator was exiled to Patmos and died in his old age as a prisoner in A.D. 100. All of the Apostles of Jesus Christ met violent ends, and it is a true testament to the conditions that existed for the early Christians of the first century Roman Empire.

What kinds of sports were played during the times of Jesus?

What kinds of sports were played during the times of Jesus?

During the life and times of Jesus Christ, (c. A.D. 1 – A.D. 34,) the sports that were played by citizens of the Roman Empire were like today’s sports in that they were also played professionally. The kinds of sports that were played during the life of Christ were as follows: foot-racing, archery, boxing, wrestling, an early variation of soccer, javelin throwing, discus throwing, the high-jump,…

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What is evil according to your beliefs?

What is evil according to your beliefs?

In my own beliefs, evil is when public employees use public resources to commit acts of corruption. If a person is a civil servant, and receives a good living courtesy of taxpayer dollars, then that person ought to serve the public thankfully and faithfully. Too many times in the history of this country, and even to the present day, I see news story after news story highlighting instance after…

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What kinds of medicines were used during the times of Christ?

During the life and times of Jesus Christ (A.D. 1 - A.D. 34,) medicines and pharmaceutical remedies for sicknesses were commonly used and were fairly well developed. The medicines used were for the treatment of diseases ranging from the palsy to leprosy to boils and more. The medicines used during the life of Christ were as follows: Myrrh, mineral baths, therapeutic oils, opium, sweet cinnamon, cassia, galbanum, niter, and mandrake. It would appear to me that such medical remedies were aimed more at “soothing” the patient as the “cure” that the patient needed were not always contained within these remedies. Furthermore, the medical technology and education that was present in these times was obviously not as advanced as today’s medical technology and therefore likely did not yield the same results for various ailments.

What kinds of sports were played during the times of Jesus?

During the life and times of Jesus Christ, (c. A.D. 1 - A.D. 34,) the sports that were played by citizens of the Roman Empire were like today’s sports in that they were also played professionally. The kinds of sports that were played by men during the life of Christ were as follows: dice rolling, foot-racing, archery, boxing, wrestling, an early variation of soccer, javelin throwing, discus throwing, and the high-jump. The women of the empire participated in athletics as well, namely, competitive dancing competitions.

What is evil according to your beliefs?

It is my belief that evil is when public employees use public resources to commit acts of corruption. If a person is a civil servant, and receives a good living courtesy of taxpayer dollars, then that person ought to serve the public thankfully and faithfully. I have read of too many occurrences in the history of this country, even to the present day, of news story after news story highlighting instance after instance of public corruption in which the taxpayer is routinely defrauded, with no thought whatsoever given to the well-being of the taxpayer. A good Bible verse that illustrates this point can be found in 2 Peter chapter 2 verse 19 which reads, “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” What this verse indicates is that the problem of public corruption is more than 2,000 years old, and it is something that carries devastating consequences to mankind and the institution of nations.

What did the Zealots do?

The Israeli Zealots (c. A.D. 6 – A.D. 73) were, above all, poverty-stricken insurrectionists that were disgusted at the conditions imposed on Judea by the Roman Empire and their Jewish collaborators, namely the Herodian Dynasty. They are generally classified as “ruffians,” “bandits,” and “undesirables”. Their poverty is reported to have been brought on by the “foreclosure” mechanisms that were…

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Why did God create other planets if we can't live on them?

Why did God create other planets if we can’t live on them?

The creation of other planets besides Earth is simply a “byproduct” of the “first cause”. The first cause is referred to in philosophy and theology as the first “spark” of motion that caused the first atoms to form in the material universe. I have argued that God, being this first cause, did not “build” the universe as a child builds a Lego kingdom piece-by-piece. God is the “Force” that put the…

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What did the Zealots do?

The Israeli Zealots (c. A.D. 6 - A.D. 73) were, above all, poverty-stricken insurrectionists that were disgusted at the conditions imposed on Judea by the Roman Empire and their Jewish collaborators, namely the Herodian Dynasty. They are generally classified as “ruffians,” “bandits,” and “undesirables”. Their poverty is reported to have been brought on by the “foreclosure” mechanisms that were imposed upon poor families that could not pay taxes, levies, and loan interest that was imposed upon them by the Roman Empire and their collaborators. Their primary insurrectionist activity was theft. They weren’t particularly educated or riveting in their political or theological oratory; they simply believed that no man should be called “ruler”, but God, and that he alone is worthy of this title. They were against paying taxes to Rome and deeply resented the Romans’ continued occupation of Judea.

The first Jewish-Roman War of A.D. 66–73 was the ultimate rebellion on the part of the Zealots against the Roman Empire. In A.D. 66, Zealots who had been expelled from their native Galilee migrated south to Jerusalem and revolted, causing much political turmoil. The Zealots, along with the Idumeans, and other various ethnic groups were able to gain ground in their movement by virtue of their fierce desire to resist. Eventually, Emperor Vespasian sent his son, Titus, to quell the revolt, and in the summer of A.D. 70, the walls of Jerusalem were breached, the temple was destroyed, and the rebels were disposed of. The end of the Zealots came about in A.D. 73, when Lucilius Bassus, a military Legatus appointed by Emperor Vespasian to “clean up” the remaining insurrectionists in Judea, led the Legio X Fretensis and several thousand Jewish prisoners to Masada, the last rebel stronghold. By the time this stronghold was circumvented, 960 out of 967 of the rebels had committed suicide.

Why did God create other planets if we can't live on them?

The creation of other planets besides Earth is simply a “byproduct” of the “first cause”. The first cause is referred to in philosophy and theology as the first “spark” of motion that caused the first atoms to form in the material universe. I have argued that God, being this first cause, did not “build” the universe as a child builds a Lego kingdom piece-by-piece. God is the “Force” that put the very first atoms into motion, which eventually led to all that exists, namely through the physics mechanism over tens of billions of years. Every solar system that exists and all of the planets including Earth were formed as a byproduct of the first cause as well. The “foreordination” of mankind and the human soul were all a result of this first cause.

I give a full discourse/analysis of this concept at the following link.

Proof of the existence of God — St. Thomas Aquinas — The Five Ways

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Quora.com Q&A

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What did the Essenes believe in?

The Israeli Essenes (150 B.C. – A.D. 70) were in many respects the “monks” of the Jewish faith. They woke up to daily cold water “baptisms,” refrained from marriage, were perpetually celibate, refrained from any pleasure deemed “sensuous,” and they strictly observed the Sabbath. The believed in a “messiah,” although they are not mentioned in the Holy Bible. They believed that the body should be…

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What did the Sadducees believe in?

Israeli Sadducees (c. 167 B.C. – A.D. 73,) generally held important and powerful positions in society and they also held the majority of seats in the Sanhedrin. Israel, during the later years of the Sadducces was ruled by the Roman Empire and the Sadducees generally agreed to whatever decisions were made by Rome. This attitude was not liked by the common people, and they did not think highly of…

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What did the Pharisees believe in?

The Pharisees was a socio-political group among the Jews that was made up of common people. This class of people was prominent during the Hasmonean Dynasty and they were an “opposition group” to the Sadducees because of various differences in their respective social and political statuses, and further differences in theological beliefs. Pharisees were adherents to the Oral Torah, and they…

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What did the Essenes believe in?

The Israeli Essenes (150 B.C. - A.D. 70) were in many respects the “monks” of the Jewish faith. They woke up to daily cold water “baptisms,” refrained from marriage, were perpetually celibate, refrained from any pleasure deemed “sensuous,” and they strictly observed the Sabbath. The believed in a “messiah,” although they are not mentioned in the Holy Bible. They believed that the body should be the ultimate temple of the Holy Spirit, and therefore adhered to rigid dietary restrictions. The Essenes also believed that poverty was the purest form of reverence to God. In order to join the Essenes, one had to cast all of their possessions into the common treasury of the order of the Essenes. Furthermore, the Essenes believed that there were “eight stages” that one had to pass through to achieve the “ultimate holiness”. These stages consisted of the following: 1) The outward purification of the body by baptisms, 2) Refraining from sexual intercourse, 3) The subsequent attainment of “inward purity,” 4) Renouncing anger and remaining humble, 5) The subsequent attainment of holiness, 6) Becoming a Temple of the Holy Spirit and prophesying, 7) The attainment of a level in which he could perform miracles and raise the dead, and 8) Becoming an emulation of Elias, and attaining the position of a forerunner to the “messiah”. Overall, the Essenes were the most self-restricting, and the least imposing of all of the Judaic sects during their respective time periods.

What did the Sadducees believe in?

Israeli Sadducees (c. 167 B.C. - A.D. 73,) generally held important and powerful positions in society and they also held the majority of seats in the Sanhedrin. Israel, during the later years of the Sadducces was ruled by the Roman Empire and the Sadducees generally agreed to whatever decisions were made by Rome. This attitude was not liked by the common people, and they did not think highly of the Sadducees. The Sadducees believed only in the written Law of Moses as prescribed in the Torah, and they did not approve of the Oral Torah. They did not believe in the afterlife and they opposed that the priesthood be given to any other class of people other than themselves.

 
It should be noted that in Bible narratives, neither the Pharisees or the Sadducees wanted to acknowledge a Messiah. The reason being is because it would diminish their place in society as religious leaders; because after all, if there is a unifying Savior in Israel that fulfills all of the law and the prophets, who is also the eternal son of God, and the final authority in all earthly matters concerning righteousness, then what need would Israel have for Pharisees and Sadducees? This probable mode of thinking of the Pharisees and Sadducees, was inspiration enough for them to have Jesus set-up for sedition, tried, and executed.

What did the Pharisees believe in?

The Pharisees was a socio-political group among the Jews that was made up of common people. This class of people was prominent during the Hasmonean Dynasty and they were an “opposition group” to the Sadducees because of various differences in their respective social and political statuses, and further differences in theological beliefs. Pharisees were adherents to the Oral Torah, and they believed in the after life, resurrection, and the existence of angels. The Oral Torah can be effectively described as a combination of Rabbinic philosophical opinings regarding the Law of Moses, which is 613 commandments consisting of 248 positive ("thou shalt") mitzvot (commandments), and 365 negative ("thou shall not") mitzvot.

Where in the Bible does it state that life starts at conception?

Jeremiah 20:17 indicates that life starts at conception. Its reads, “Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.” By saying that he was not “slain” in the womb, the prophet Jeremiah is indicating that he was “alive” in the womb; otherwise he naturally could not have been slain. This verse does not specify if Jeremiah…

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Where in the Bible does it state that life starts at conception?

The book of Jeremiah 20:17 indicates that life starts at conception. It reads, “Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.” By saying that he was not “slain” in the womb, the prophet Jeremiah is indicating that he was “alive” in the womb; otherwise, he naturally could not have been slain. On account of the Iron Age limitations in knowledge concerning pregnancies, this verse does not specify if Jeremiah is a zygote, an embryo, or a fetus. Thus, it can be safely assumed, that the prophet Jeremiah is talking about the entire developmental period following conception.

What is the difference between the Torah and the Pentateuch?

The Torah and the Pentateuch are the Hebrew and Greek names for the first five books of the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. The word Torah in Hebrew can be translated to a number of things, namely, instruction, teaching, or even “hitting the mark”. The word Pentateuch in Greek means “five books”. The books represented in these definitions are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.…

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Was the Holocaust God’s punishment to the Israelites for rejecting his son?

No; in biblical narratives, the last punishment that God placed upon the Israelites as a “whole” would most likely have been the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem by the Roman Empire in A.D. 70, (Matthew 24:1–2); and even this event can’t be traced directly to transgressions made by Israelites, but was more of a sign of the times (Matthew 24:15–25). You could more reliably assert that the…

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Was the Holocaust God’s punishment to the Israelites for rejecting his son?

No; in biblical narratives, the last punishment that God placed upon the Israelites as a “whole” would most likely have been the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem by the Roman Empire in A.D. 70, (Matthew 24:1–2); and even this event can’t be traced directly to transgressions made by Israelites, but was more of a sign of the times (Matthew 24:15–25). You could more reliably assert that the invasion of Israel by the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, and then the Romans all of which took place from 605 B.C. - 63 B.C. respectively, were a result of God’s wrath, mainly due to the Israelites engaging in political corruption and practicing idolatry. These events were prophesied in the Nevi’im of the Old Testament.

The Holocaust was more complicated than that. The Holocaust was one of many large-scale massacres that took place in recent history due to the lack of international treaties, peace agreements, and oversight.