Why bible is the truth (2 Timothy 3:12-17)

Why bible is the truth (2 Timothy 3:12-17)

 

¹² Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ¹³ But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

 

Intro)

Today we will discuss about why bible is the truth, and share grace of God.

Body)

A) Sense of inspiration of bible

 Saint Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:16 ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

In here word 'Inspiration' is 'theo pneustos' in Greek. Theo pneustos means 'God-breathed' meaning God put words in human's mind. When God performs this kind of work, words that people can't think will create in their mind and when people record that words it becomes bible.

God's word was expressed by human's not perfect language, but still effective due to God worked through us.

However, God didn't give us exact words. God inspired one's mind and think, therefore there can be different dialects(regional) were used, but nothing wrong with conveying the message.

 

B) Achievement of Word

 To figure out if God's word is truth or not is we can look if his word achieved or not. Today I can't handle all kinds of prophets, so let's discuss 9 main countries, cities, and king Cyrus to reveal bible's absolute truth

 

1. Achieved Tyre's prophet of subversion  

In book of Ezekiel chapter 26 there is subversion about Tyre. This prophet was made in between B.C 592-570 years Tyre was located in where today's Lebanon is at, and was strong harbor city. In bible it says

 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea causes its waves to come up. ⁴ And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. ⁵ It shall be a place for spreading nets in the midst of the sea, for I have spoken,’ says the Lord God; ‘it shall become plunder for the nations, ……⁷ “For thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses, with chariots, and with horsemen, and an army with many people.… ¹² They will plunder your riches and pillage your merchandise; they will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses; they will lay your stones, your timber, and your soil in the midst of the water……¹⁴ I will make you like the top of a rock; you shall be a place for spreading nets, and you shall never be rebuilt, for I the Lord have spoken,’ says the Lord God, ……²¹ I will make you a terror, and you shall be no more; though you are sought for, you will never be found again,’ says the Lord God.”

 

After this prophet came out in 3 years, actually Babylon's king Nebuchadnezzar surrounded Tyre, and after Nebuchadnezzar's attack in B.C 332 there was Alexander's attack, which was achieving verse 3 "many nations to come up against you"

Historian Philip Myers recorded it like this 'Great emperor Alexander's attack continued until Tyre fell. After raid they could rebuild, but it could never be the same country as how it used be. The land became rocky, and became place where fishermen dry their nets.

 

Historian “Joseph Free”says '¹² They will plunder your riches and pillage your merchandise; they will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses; they will lay your stones, your timber, and your soil in the midst of the water.' The prophet in Ezekiel 26:12 was achieved when Alexander throw broken buildings of Tyre into water and made causeway.

teassdasdasdasdasdasd

2. Achieved prophet about Sidon

 In Ezekiel 28:22~23 says

'²² and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“Behold, I am against you, O Sidon;
I will be glorified in your midst;
And they shall know that I am the Lord,
When I execute judgments in her and am hallowed in her.
²³ For I will send pestilence upon her,
And blood in her streets;
The wounded shall be judged in her midst
By the sword against her on every side;
Then they shall know that I am the Lord.

 

Sidon was a harbor city located in 40km north in Lebanon.

 

 “Floyd Hamilton”claims that king Sidon was like a servant of Persia, in B.C. 351 he betrayed King, and could protect their city from Persia. However,   at the end Sidon king decide to save his life and betrayed his people. People of Sidon (over 40,000) knew how cruel Persia's king was; therefore they committed suicide by setting fire on their houses.

 

 “George Davis”recorded like this 'In time of crusader Sidon got invaded by its enemies, and captured by crusaders for 3 times, and got raided by Muslim's army for tree times as well. Sidon had rough history in future as well. In year of 1840 got bombed by England, France, and Turkey.

 

3. Achieved prophet about Samaria

 

In Hosea 13:16 and Micah 1:6 says “Samaria is held guilty,^[i]
For she has rebelled against her God.
They shall fall by the sword,
Their infants shall be dashed in pieces,
And their women with child ripped open, “⁶ “Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the field,
Places for planting a vineyard;
I will pour down her stones into the valley,
And I will uncover her foundations. 

 

According to International standard bible encyclopedia it says that there is ruins were found that king Assyria and Sargon II conquered Samaria in B.C. 722 and 33. Great emperor Alexander (B.C. 120) and Le Hai's canoe’ also invaded Samarians there were many of them were killed.

 

 

 Henry Maundrell recorded history of Samaria in 1697

Saba Ste is a Samaria's kingdom that was built by people how followed 10 tribes who betrayed from David's house. This excellent city is now turned into plain field, and all its left is city's square and church's wrecks.

Also “Van de Velde" claims

‘Samaria where murderer and their poor houses at is now it’s their tomb. It was tombs of giant rocks. Fundamental of city was found the street was damaged by plow and became farm of corn and olive. City was destroyed cornerstones of city were thrown away in valley's slope.

4. Achieved prophet about Edom

 

Edom is located in today's east Israel Mountain.

 

In bible God used 6 prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah to deliver prophecy about Edom's subversion. Isaiah said Edom's trade will be doomed over history of blood, and wild animal will take the place (Isaiah 34:6-7,10,13-15), Jeremiah said there will be no human live on Edom's land (Jeremiah 49:17-18, Ezekiel said Edom will be raided by Israel and many other heathens. Later on, Nabatean people took over the capital of Edom Petra, and Israel conquered Edom according to Bernard Ramm...

 

When Jesus was born, Capital of Edom, Petra was wealthy city. Citing Strabo who lived there at that time period says Petra was wealthy city and it was main trade market with Asia, also where Arabians sell their spice and frankincense.  However, era of Rome empire Edom was called as Idumaea by Romans and Greeks, and when Roman general Titus collapsed Jerusalem Edom people were gone from history. (Unger’s Bible Dictionary).

 

How is Edom nowadays? General Mangles said today's Edom was full of eagles, owls, and hawk flying around and protecting their nest. When I went Edom in 2005 it was just a tourist destination, no signs of wealth in the past.

 

 5. Prophecy about King Cyrus

 

This is about famous Persian king Cyrus, which I've talked about in the past.

In Isaiah 45:1 there is amazing prophecy is recorded, and that is about Cyrus. Reason why it's amazing is because the prophecy was made 150 years before he born. In bible it says“Thus says the Lord to His anointed,
To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—
To subdue nations before him
And loose the armor of kings,
To open before him the double doors,
So that the gates will not be shut

 

In Isaiah 44: 26-28 there is a specific prophecy about king Cyrus drained Euphrates river, attack Babylon and conquer it,  and set Jewish free to let them rebuild Jerusalem castle.

²⁶ Who confirms the word of His servant,
And performs the counsel of His messengers;
Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’
To the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,’
And I will raise up her waste places;
²⁷ Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry!
And I will dry up your rivers’;
²⁸ Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd,
And he shall perform all My pleasure,
Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,”
And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”’

 

As prophecy Cyrus set people of Israel for them to rebuild their castle. If you go to British museum in London there is a rock called 'Cyrus Cylinder' it has King Cyrus's achievements like it’s written in bible.

 

6. Prophecy about Jerusalem, Capernaum, Chorazin, Bethsaida

 

 Many people know well about Jesus' prophecy of Jerusalem's subversion. This prophecy was fulfilled by Romans.

 

But, in bible there are many prophecies that were not revealed. In New Testament

There is Jesus' prophecy about old cities located near Galilee beach Capernaum, Chorazin, Bethsaida will fell.

 

In Mathew 11:20-24 Jesus says Chorizin Bethsaida will receive bigger judgment of day than Tyre and Sidon. In bible these prophecies are fulfilled and it is written in bible.

 

George Davis says in his book ' Bible Prophecies Fulfilled Today’ Capernaum would fall by earth quake in A.D 400, Chorazin and Bethsaida fell during that time period.

  George Davis says Bethsaida was beautiful city in A.D. 700 Albalid was going to build his palace in winter, but King died, therefore  palace couldn't be built only foundation stones and tiles left.

Finally, it's a well-known story general Lew Wallace (1827 ~ 1905) was United States' lawyer, governor, general, and writer known by 'Benhur'. He was the person who tried to put Christian in reality, reveal the fictiveness of Jesus, and bible, but more he research about it he was becoming Christian. After 2years of research he became Christian than who is against Jesus, and he published book called Benhur which is Praising Christian's victory and it even became a movie. Hallelujah.

Con) Yes, Bible is more you look into it you will see truth and bible only book that leads us to salvation.

If you are lacking in faith, peace, and grace read bible. There is God's endless love in bible. Do you seek happiness and success? Read bible and come to church to learn about bible, then eyes of grace will open. Lost your hope? No worries. Bible will be your lighthouse of hope.

Hallelujah!