Can We Trust the New Testament?

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Can We Trust the New Testament? Can we trust the New Testament? In a culture that dismisses faith as unreasonable, can we remain confident that the Bible is both reliable and relevant? Bible Society Australia, in partnership with The Centre for Public Christianity and City Bible Forum, presents an evening with historian, author and public advocate for the Christian Faith Dr John Dickson. In 2012 Bible Society Australia is running a campaign called “Live Light in 25 Words” to see people engage with the Bible and to develop a love of reading and applying the Words of Scripture. This event addresses the authenticity of the Bible and focuses on how history supports the reliability and centrality of the gospels. Dr John Dickson (PhD) is a Director of the Centre for Public Christianity (publicchristianity.org) who writes regularly for mainstream newspapers and appears in the media promoting thoughtful Christianity. He is the presenter of two major historical documentaries for commercial television, The Christ Files and Life of Jesus. The author of a dozen books, he is also a Senior Research Fellow of the Department of Ancient History at Australia’s Macquarie University and is a Lecturer on the Historical Jesus for Sydney University’s Department of Jewish Studies. He lives with his wife and three children in Sydney’s North Shore, where he also serves as a local parish minister. Live light in 25 words www.biblesociety.org.au/25words citybibleforum.org/Melbourne “No one does a better job of presenting the historical case for Jesus than John Dickson. Good humoured, great scholarship and an ability to answer the hard questions on everyone’s lips. Don’t miss him!” Dr Greg Clarke, CEO Bible Society Australia 4th September 2012 Melbourne City Conference Centre Auditorium 333 Swanston Street Melbourne VIC 3000 8.00pm– 9.30pm Free online registration for reserved seating: http://www.trybooking.com/BQPQ Free Admission Live light in 25 words www.biblesociety.org.au/25words citybibleforum.org/Melbourne.
Recommended publications
  • Greendale Road, Bringelly, NSW
    Douglas Partners Pty Ltd ABN 75 053 980 117 www.douglaspartners.com.au Unit 5, 50 Topham Road Smeaton Grange NSW 2567 Phone (02) 4647 0075 Fax (02) 4646 1886 Project 76678.00 Macarthur Developments 4 June 2015 1150 Camden Valley Way RWG LEPPINGTON NSW 2765 Attention: Mr Stephen McMahon Email: [email protected] Dear Sirs Site Clean-up Status Report Lot 101 Greendale Road, Bringelly, NSW 1. Introduction Douglas Partners Pty Ltd (DP) was commissioned by Macarthur Developments (MD) to prepare a status report for remediation works currently being undertaken on Lot 101 Greendale Road, Bringelly, NSW which is currently owned and occupied by Boral Property Group. Transpacific Industrial Solutions Pty Ltd (TIS) previously prepared Surplus Site Clean Up Plan Boral Bringelly (Job No.: QN666224) dated 24 September 2014 (TIS, 2014). The TIS report includes the identification of four areas within the site where stockpiles of waste are present. 2. Background DP understands the following with respect to the site and MD’s requirements: Clean-up of the site, with reference to TIS (2014) is currently being conducted by remediation contractor Budget Demolitions; MD have been instructed by the Commonwealth Bank to provide a status report that investigates and reports on the progress of the clean-up of the Boral land in accordance with the requirements of the TIS (2014); and MD has requested the report include the following information, with particular reference to the four areas of concern identified Figure 2 of TIS (2014); o Inspect the site and interview the site foreman from Budget Demolitions; o Observe the extent of clean up works underway, completed and yet to be commenced as referenced in TIS (2014); o Identify and estimate of the scale of clean up works that, based on progress, will be required after Monday 15th June 2015 to ensure compliance with TIS (2014); and o Identify and estimate of the cost and timeframe of any clean up works, based on progress, that will be required after Monday 15th June 2015 to ensure compliance with TIS (2014).
    [Show full text]
  • The Christ Files: How Historians Know What They Know About Jesus Free
    FREE THE CHRIST FILES: HOW HISTORIANS KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT JESUS PDF John Dickson | 128 pages | 25 Dec 2010 | ZONDERVAN | 9780310328698 | English | Grand Rapids, United States The Christ Files: How Historians Know What They Know about Jesus - John Dickson - Google книги In The Christ Filesa four-session small group Bible study, scholar John Dickson examines the Christian faith through a historical look at the Christian faith and life of Jesus from both Scriptural and other non-Bible documentation. He illustrates how historians assess the reliability of data, and provides an honest and informed perspective on where historical issues or clear-cut and where personal faith comes into play. The Christ Files will help you and your small group expand your understanding of early Christianity and the life of Jesus. This page Participant Guide includes seven chapters of reading and background contextual information, along with questions for four impactful small group sessions. Chapter titles: 1. Secret Gospels…Jesus in the Gnostic Writings 3. Before the Gospels…Jesus in the Oral Tradition 7. Small Group Study sessions include: 1. Gnostics and Romans 2. Jews and Christians 3. Lost Sources and Oral Traditions 4. Archaeologists and Artifacts. He has hosted three TV documentaries and is a regular media commentator. In he founded the Centre for Public Christianity. He has held lecturing and research positions at both Macquarie University Sydney and the University of Sydney, where he teaches a course on the historical Jesus. A visiting academic in the department of Classics at Oxford University forhe lives in Sydney with his wife and three children.
    [Show full text]
  • How Can One Guy Be Wrong in So Many Ways?
    HOW CAN ONE GUY BE WRONG IN SO MANY WAYS? A Reply to Matthias Media’s Women, Sermons and the Bible: Essays Interacting with John Dickson’s Hearing Her Voice John Dickson August 2014 (This document may be freely copied and distributed) Chapter 1 INITIAL REFLECTIONS I remarked at the conclusion of Hearing her Voice that I hope to receive criticisms of my case for women giving sermons “cheerfully”. With the publication of Matthias Media’s Women, Sermons and the Bible (WSB) I was given the opportunity to test that sentiment. At one level, I read the book with gratitude. It is a compliment, in a roundabout way, to have six authors interact so directly with my argument. But did the critique fill my life with good cheer? Not really. Of course, no criticism is pleasant. In this case, though, my dissatisfaction comes from knowing that WSB does not bring the clarity to this discussion that I hoped it would. 1. Some good arguments This is not to say that there aren’t good insights in WSB, ones that give me pause and have clarified or challenged my thinking. I want to offer a few examples, before turning to what I regard as the clear deficiencies in the project. The book starts well, with the kind of godly affection I would expect from Tony Payne, with whom I have had a long professional and personal association. Matthias Media was the only publisher back in 1991 who thought Hanging in There, my first book, had something salvageable in its pages. Peter Tong's chapter is also surprisingly good.
    [Show full text]
  • Originsof Christianity
    Ridley College Tours Expertise, Fellowship & Value 2 - 9 Dec 2020 OF CHRISTIANITY Join us on a historical and ORIGINS cultural adventure for believers and sceptics alike A guided tour of Israel with Dr John Dickson + Tour Highlights Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Sepphoris, Nazareth, Galilee, Caesarea Martima Origins of Christianity Cost per person Single supplement 2-9 Dec 2020 $4,490 (excludes airfares, $950 (subject to lunches and visa) terms and conditions) What really happened in first-century Galilee and Judaea? Join author and historian, Dr John Dickson, on a journey throughout the length and breadth of modern Israel—from the Dead Sea to Lake Galilee, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean. We will investigate the key sites of Jesus’ life, explore his cultural background, separate fact from fiction, and piece together how a peasant preacher changed the course of history. Rather than a spiritual pilgrimage, this tour is a historical and cultural adventure for believers and sceptics alike, complete with daily onsite lectures from Dr Dickson on The Varieties of First-Century Judaism, The Social and Political Influence of Rome, Jesus Among Other Healers, The Causes of Jesus' Death, How Christianity Become a World Religion, and much more. ❉ Register now: www.trybooking.com/BGVKP | Deposit required upon registration by 27 March 2020 TOUR ITINERARY Dec 2 Wed Arrival in Israel Dec 4 Fri Sepphoris – Nazareth – Galilee Upon arrival at Ben Gurion airport at 07:40 am (Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong) We get to know the Galilee that Jesus knew. This morning we check out of we will clear customs and transfer to the holy city of Jerusalem.
    [Show full text]
  • The Week That Changed the World D the World
    The week that changed the world Why is Easter so potent? Surely it is because Easter deals with the most spine-tingling topic possible: death, judgement, and the possibility of surviving them both. “The great tragedy at the heart of Easter, the crucifixion of Jesus as a claimed king or messiah, is attested by Christian and non-Christian sources of the ancient world and is regarded as ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ by all reputable historians today.” Dr John Dickson, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University. Founding Director, Centre for Public Christianity. The week that changed the world biblesociety.org.au citybibleforum.org/theweek The week that changed the world is the initiative of City Bible Forum, produced in partnership with Bible Society Australia. We would like to gratefully acknowledge the work of Claire O’Neill in producing the pilot version of this booklet in Adelaide in 2011. City Bible Forum seeks to offer workers in the central business districts of Australia the opportunity to thoughtfully engage with Christianity and the Bible. To contact our team in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney, please visit our website at www.citybibleforum.org or email us at [email protected] Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Anglicised® (ESVUK®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publish- ers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Publication © Bible Society Australia 2012 Locked Bag 7003 MINTO NSW 2566 www.biblesociety.org..au ISBN: 978 0 647 51813 7 Printed in Australia The week that changed the world Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
    [Show full text]
  • Evangelical Perspectives on Gender, Scripture, and the Christian Life
    Evangelical Perspectives on Gender, Scripture, and the Christian Life EDITED BY EDWINA MURPHY AND DAVID STARLING FOREWORD BY TIMOTHY GEORGE THE GENDER CONVERSATION Evangelical Perspectives on Gender, Scripture, and the Christian Life © Morling Press and Wipf and Stock Publishers 2016 First Published in Australia in 2016 Morling Press 122 Herring Rd Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Australia Phone: +61 2 9878 0201 Email: [email protected] www.morlingcollege.com/morlingpress Wipf and Stock Publishers 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3 Eugene, OR 97401 United States of America www.wipfandstock.com The publication is copyright. Other than for the purposes of study and subject to the conditions of the Copyright Act, no part of it in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, micro-copying, photocopying or otherwise) may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without the permission of the publisher. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version™ (NIV™), copyright © 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ISBN: 978-0-9922755-9-4 Designed by Brugel Images & Design www.brugel.com.au Cover image source: Freepik.com Contents Additional Resources .......................ix First Things First: Reading Genesis 1–3 in Its Pentateuchal Context ...................45 Contributors ...............................xi G. Geoffrey Harper Foreword .................................xvii Response: Anthony Petterson. .56 Timothy George Response: Margaret Mowczko ..............58 Introduction
    [Show full text]
  • Can We Trust the New Testament?
    Can we trust the New Testament? In a culture that dismisses faith as unreasonable, can Christians remain confident that the Bible is both reliable and relevant? Bible Society Australia, in partnership with The Centre for Public Christianity, presents an evening with historian, author and public advocate for the Christian Faith Dr John Dickson. In 2012 Bible Society Australia is running a campaign called “Live Light in 25 Words” to see people engage with the Bible and to develop a love of reading the Words of Scripture and apply them to their everyday life. This “Can we trust the New Testament?” event is aimed at both Christians and non Christians addressing the authenticity of the Bible and focuses on how history supports the reliability and centrality of the gospels. Dr John Dickson (PhD) is a Director of the Centre for Public Christianity (publicchristianity.org) who writes regularly for mainstream newspapers and appears in the media promoting thoughtful Christianity. He is the presenter of two major historical documentaries for commercial television, The Christ Files and Life of Jesus. The author of a dozen books, he is also a Senior Research Fellow of the Department of Ancient History at Australia’s Macquarie University and is a Lecturer on the Historical Jesus for Sydney University’s Department of Jewish Studies. He lives with his wife and three children in Sydney’s North Shore, where he also serves as a local parish minister. Live light in 25 words www.biblesociety.org.au/25words “No one does a better job of presenting the historical case for Jesus than John Dickson.
    [Show full text]
  • ORIGINS of CHRISTIANITY Lectures and Readings by John Dickson For
    THE ORIGINS OF CHRISTIANITY 29 October—5 November 2019 Lecture Notes & Readings Dr John Dickson Copyright © 2019 John Dickson Jerusalem 2 LECTURE 1: JESUS IN CONTEMPORARY SCHOLARSHIP 1. The temptation to 'project' an image of Jesus 2. The non-Christian evidence. [Readings 1, 2 & 3] 3. The early date of the New Testament (NT) evidence 4. The NT has the best-attested manuscripts of all ancient classical literature 5. Archaeology and the Gospels All readings can be found at the back of this booklet, from page 18 Reading 1: Jesus the ‘sorcerer’ in the Jewish Talmud, baraitha Sanhedrin 43a (a tradition of the early second century) Reading 2: The origins of the malignant ‘Christus’ cult, Tacitus Annals 15.44 (AD 115) Reading 3: The teacher, healer and martyr Jesus, and his brother James Josephus Antiquities 18.63-64, 20.200 (AD 93) 3 Jerusalem Qumran Masada 4 LECTURE 2: THE JUDAISMS OF JESUS' DAY 1. Brief history of Israel from the close of the Old Testament period to Roman rule • Persian rule (539 – 301 BC) • Greek rule (301 – 165 BC) [Reading 4] • Jewish self-rule: Maccabees and Hasmonean period (165 – 63 BC) • Roman rule (63 BC – AD 135 and beyond) [Reading 5] 2. Types of Judaism in the period of Jesus 1. Sadducees 2. Pharisees [Reading 6] 3. Zealots [Reading 5 and 8] 4. Essenes [Reading 7] 5. ‘Baptists’ [Readings 9 & 10] Wadi Qelt 5 Reading 4: The victory of Judas Maccabeus over the Greeks, 165/164 BC, and establishment of the Hanukah festival. 1 Maccabees 4:1-59 Reading 5: The fall of Masada at the end of the war with Rome, AD 73.
    [Show full text]
  • Lowes Creek & Maryland
    Maryland Homestead 773 The Northern Road, Bringelly, NSW Historical Context February 2015 Rosemary Broomham Consultant Historian/Archaeologist 49 Darghan Street, Glebe NSW 2037 M 0417 411 486 E [email protected] Contents 2.0 Historical Context 2.1 Introduction 1 2.2 More numerous than expected – the inland Aborigines of New South Wales 2 The Cowpastures Frontier 3 Conflict on the southern frontier 4 2.3 John Dickson: a favoured immigrant 6 Nonorrah, John Dickson’s country estate 6 Sale of Cowpasture Estates 1840 – 1854 10 2.4 Thomas Barker – apprentice engineer to public figure 12 Thomas Barker – mentor to young, single immigrants 13 Maryland, Thomas Barker’s country estate 15 Thomas Barker – grazier and wine producer 17 Maryland in 1876 18 2.5 Thomas Charles Barker Esquire, Maryland, Bringelly 1863-1940 20 2.6 Ninian Alan Thomson – Maryland, company director’s retreat 21 2.7 Elizabeth and Annette (Annie) Thomson – dairy farmers of Maryland 24 2.8 New owners for Maryland 2009-2013 25 2.9 Appendixes 27 2.10 Select Bibliography 40 Maryland, Bringelly, Contextual History Rosemary Broomham 2 2.0 Historical Context 2.1 Introduction Figure 1: Maryland in on The Northern Road [Route 18] about half-way between Narellan and Luddenham. Google Maps The property called Maryland is a remnant of a 3,000 acre grant that Governor Macquarie issued to John Dickson, an engineer who emigrated to New South Wales in 1813. Dickson’s land occupied a prominent position, east of Cobbitty in the Parish of Cook, County of Cumberland. It was surrounded by several other large grants to men who were regarded as settlers of the ‘superior class’.
    [Show full text]
  • John Dickson
    EADM 826 Assignment #4 Miles Nachbaur Executive Book Summary University of Saskatchewan 11265479 HUMILITAS John Dickson A LOST KEY TO LIFE, LOVE, AND LEADERSHIP About the author: John thinks, writes, and speaks for a living. Starting out as a professional singer-songwriter, he now works as an author, academic, and media presenter. He was the Founding Director of the Centre for Public Christiani- ty (2007-17), and has published over 15 books and three TV doc- umentaries. He teaches a course on the Historical Jesus at the University of Sydney, Australia, and researches the origins of Christianity in the Roman empire as a Visiting Academic (2017-2020) in the Faculty of Classics at the University of Oxford. In all that he does, whether in the media or the church, creative INSIDE THIS ISSUE or academic, he strives to be a public advocate for the Christian Introduction .......................2 faith. Chapter 1 Thesis .................2 Chapter 2 Leadership .........3 CAN GREATNESS COME FROM HUMILITY? Chapter 3 Common Sense ..4 Chapter 4 Aesthetics ..........4 This is the question that John Dickson asks in his book entitled Chapter 5 Philotimia ..........5 Humilitas. Through examples of historical figures that practiced Chapter 6 Cruciform ..........6 humility, Dickson attempts to impart their experiences in busi- Chapter 7 Growth ...............6 ness, history, psychology, and sociological settings. Chapter 8 Persuasion .........7 The concept of holding your power, not for one’s own personal Chapter 9 Inspiration .........8 gain but for the good of others is a common theme throughout Chapter 10 Harmony ..........8 the book. Chapter 11 Steps .................9 Finally, high achievement is possible without humility and hu- Critical Analysis……………..10 mility does not mean a person is guaranteed high achievement, Key Concepts………………...10 Dickson puts forth the premise that true greatness can only occur if one practices humility.
    [Show full text]
  • We in Prayer Praise News & the Bible
    WE IN PRAYER PRAISE NEWS & THE BIBLE WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ROSEVILLE SUNDAY 17TH MARCH 2019 ST ANDREW’S IN NEWS All that’s going on around St Andrew’s FROM THE SENIOR MINISTER REV JOHN DICKSON colleges). And, in any case, the next 12 months of public speaking are pretty much booked out Senior Minister (including a stint here at St Andrew’s). Dear St Andrew’s, I can let you know of one particular partnership that fell into place in the last As it gets closer to my departure as Rector, I couple of weeks. I am being appointed (part- thought I would give you a small update on my time) to the faculty of Ridley College plans—to the extent that they are clear. Melbourne as Distinguished Fellow and Senior As I said in my announcement of 9 December, Lecturer in Public Christianity. The title is a after much prayer and consultation, Buff and I mouthful. It just means I will be helping to came to the view that St Andrew’s would be train students and ministers around the better served by finding a full-time Rector who country to make Christ public through Ridley’s can give the church undivided leadership and certificate, degree, and doctoral programs. I pastoral attention. At the same time, we have long admired Ridley’s academic rigour believe that I should devote myself full-time to and educational innovation (you may know a wider ministry of reaching the sceptical that Mel Bell and Ness Hughes are both public with the gospel.
    [Show full text]
  • Thomas Barker Estate: Maryland & Lowe's Birling Conservation
    Thomas Barker Estate: Maryland & Lowe’s Birling 773-975 The Northern Road, Bringelly, NSW Conservation Management Plan prepared for the NSW Department of Planning and Environment via Macarthur Developments Pty Ltd February 2017 REF: 1425: CMP Issue 07 DRAFT Tropman & Tropman Architects Architecture Conservation Landscape Interiors Urban Design Interpretation 55 Lower Fort Street Sydney NSW 2000 Phone: (02) 9251 3250 Fax: (02) 9251 6109 Website: www.tropmanarchitects.com.au Email: [email protected] TROPMAN AUSTRALIA PTY LTD ABN 71 088 542 885 INCORPORATED IN NEW SOUTH WALES Lester Tropman Architects Registration: 3786 John Tropman Architects Registration: 5152 Tropman & Tropman Architects i Conservation Management Plan Ref: 1425:CMP Thomas Barker Estate: Maryland & Lowe’s Birling February 2017 Report Register The following table is a report register tracking the issues of the Thomas Barker Estate: Maryland & Lowe’s Birling Conservation Management Plan prepared by Tropman & Tropman Architects. Tropman & Tropman Architects operate under a quality management system, and this register is in compliance with this system. Project Issue Description Prepared Approved Issue To Issue Date Ref No. No. by by 1425:CMP 01 PRELIMINARY DRAFT Joanne Lester Lester Tropman 29th April Conservation Management Rogers Tropman Via Email 2015 Plan 1425:CMP 02 DRAFT Conservation Joanne Lester Lester Tropman 30th Sept Management Plan Rogers Tropman Via Email 2015 1425:CMP 03 DRAFT Conservation Joanne Lester Client August Management Plan Rogers Tropman
    [Show full text]