Philippians 4:11-14 (NKJV)Philippians 4:11-14 (NKJV)1111. . . I have learned in . . . I have learned in whatever state I whatever state I am, to be contentam, to be content: : 12 12 I know how to be I know how to be

abased, and I know how to abound. abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things Everywhere and in all things I have I have learned both to be full and to be learned both to be full and to be

hungry, both to abound and to suffer hungry, both to abound and to suffer needneed. .

13 13 I can do all things through Christ who I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.strengthens me.

1

Proverbs 14:8

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.

Proverbs 21:30

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.

w65stchurchofchrist.org/Power_Point/The_Gospel_of_Greed.pptx

Julius Wellhausen

Torah studyTorah Fragment

Eichhorn

Astruc

Wellhausen

Jean Astruc (1684-1766) noticed something odd about some lines in Genesis 2.

One referred to God as Elohim. See yellow arrow:

The other used Yhwh. See turquoise arrow:

~Jean Astruc 1684-1766

Genesis composite of 2 Documents

Birth and History of Biblical Criticism and Documentary Hypothesis

Biblical Criticism: Documentary Hypothesis:

Julius Wellhausen proposed that the Pentateuch was composed from four main sources, not written by Moses.

1)J = Yahwist

2)E = Elohist

3)D = Deuteronomist

4)P = Priestly writer

Implications from the Wellhausen hypothesis which became widely accepted

1.Moses did not authored the Pentateuch2.The Pentateuch is much later then the traditional view3. The Law originated after the historical books, not before them.4. The true history of Israel is very different from the history narrated by the OT. 5. Scripture has errors

Biblical Criticism: Documentary Hypothesis:

BC

Higher Criticism: Old TestamentHistorical & Literary Criticism

*Isaiah - Two Parts

Isaiah himself wrote only the first 39 chapters

“Deutero-Isaiah” (or second Isaiah) wrote chapters 40-66

*Daniel – From Maccabean Period (164 BCE to 63 BCE)

(Long after Daniel lived)

Higher Criticism: 20th Century

1. Source Criticism (God or Men?) Who depends on whom ? Refers to the attempt to establish the sources used by the author and/or redactor of the final text

Example: Sources of the Gospels:--“Q” “Quelle” hypothetical lost source (material common to

Matthew and Luke and not found in Mark), --Mark, --L (material unique to Luke) and --M (material unique to Matthew).

B. H. Streeter in 1924

Mark Q

Higher Criticism: 20th Century

2. Redaction Criticism What did the editor add ?

Redaction criticism is when a biblical scholar, like a detective, traces through clues in the text to see how it was pulled together, by some unknown editor or editors who gathered the sources, selected materials and wove them into the biblical accounts.

In the New Testament, there are two stories of Jesus' birth (Matthew 1:18—2:12 and Luke 2:1-19). The redaction critic asks why the two evangelists using the same basic material have told significantly different stories.

Here, as in most cases, it is the editor's purpose and audience which give a clue to the choice of material and presentation of it.

Higher Criticism: 20th Century

3. Form Criticism

Form criticism is the Biblical method which seeks to discover the type of literature which is contained in the Bible.

For instance, when you go to your mailbox and open it you are liable to find various kinds of literature: bills, advertisements, personal notes, and others. Yet you would never treat them all the same. You would never treat a bill as an advertisement or a personal letter as a bill.

You can distinguish between these literary "forms" and interpret them accordingly.

David F. Strauss The Life of Jesus (1835-36) Strauss combined all the critical elements in his work

-denied miracles -denied the integrity of the New Testament -denied the deity of Christ

           

  

1.Adopted Malthusian idea: Population growing faster than food

supply Thomas Robert Malthus, An Essay on the Principle of Population

2. Therefore he concluded there was a struggle for survival. 3. Some Offspring may have slightly improved variations from their parents

4. Through a process of natural selection superior traits will be passed on, those with inferior traits will die out. 5. So a constant process of evolution is at work

Spencer & Social Darwinism

Herbert Spencer (1820 1903) 

He put forward a “General Law of Evolution,” valid for all events in our universe.

Applied biological concepts to social principles:

“Survival of Fittest, Elimination of Unfittest”

“If they are sufficiently complete to live, they do- if not they should die.” Don’t intervene with state supported education, sanitation, health regulation…!

Evils of Darwinism and Social Darwinism

1. Rejection of Bible, *Creation of Universe and Man *Christ as son of God

2. Viewed Bible as an evolutionary product

4. Darwinism an important factor in the growth of secularism, view that nature had no divine purpose, but merely followed blind laws of

chance.

5. Most evils such as war, racism, imperialism…

are the law of nature (survival of the fittest)

Young Marx, 1836

Wife Jenny

Marx, Highgate,London

According to Karl Marx and Communism

Throughout history there has been class conflict -between those owning the means of production and those whose labor has been exploited.

The class that controlled the means of production also controlled:

the shaping of ideas, which werepresented as moral or natural laws. But these were no more than expressions of what was good for the wealthier classes.

Religion was a mere human creation by Owning Class for their benefit

Why is Marxism a Foe of Christianity?

RELIGION IS SEEN AS AN EVIL THING WHICH HELPS MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO

•“RELIGION IS THE OPIATE OF THE MASSES”

– ACCORDING TO KARL MARX, RELIGION DULLS PEOPLE’S PERSPECTIVES SO THAT THEY DO NOT SEE OR QUESTION THINGS

– RELIGION WORKS AGAINST PEOPLE SINCE IT…

– CONSOLES THOSE WHO ARE DEPRIVED AND THUS DEPRIVES THEM OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL CHANGE NECESSARY FOR GREATER EQUALITY

RELIGION IS THE OPIATE OF THE MASSES

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 ESV

OTHERWISE:“…the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith…” 1 Timothy 6:10 ESV

22

Materialist theology is the teaching that authentic Materialist theology is the teaching that authentic religious belief and behavior will result in material religious belief and behavior will result in material

prosperity for the believer. prosperity for the believer.

w65stchurchofchrist.org/Power_Point/The_Gospel_of_Greed.pptx

““I'd always quoted 3 John 2, I'd always quoted 3 John 2, saying, "saying, "Above all things Above all things God wants you to God wants you to prosperprosper.“ .“ I loved that I loved that Scripture. It looks great on a Scripture. It looks great on a TV screen when you're TV screen when you're raising funds, and I raising funds, and I interpreted it as God wants interpreted it as God wants you to be rich… “you to be rich… “

Jim Baker, Christianity Today, Dec. 7, 1998Jim Baker, Christianity Today, Dec. 7, 1998

““Poverty comes from Poverty comes from Hell. Hell. Prosperity comes Prosperity comes from Heaven. from Heaven.

Adam had complete Adam had complete dominion over the dominion over the earth and all it earth and all it contains. . . .” contains. . . .”

(Benny Hinn, Praise-a-thon (TBN), recorded (Benny Hinn, Praise-a-thon (TBN), recorded November 1990)November 1990)

Benny HinnBenny Hinnhttp://www.bennyhinn.org/media-photos/

““Well, you need to hear about Well, you need to hear about money, because you ain't money, because you ain't

gonna have no love and joy gonna have no love and joy and peace until you get some and peace until you get some money!… money!… We established last We established last night that you are not whole night that you are not whole

until you get your money. until you get your money. Amen. Amen.” Amen. Amen.”

((Praise The LordPraise The Lord, July 20, 1999), July 20, 1999)

““Some of you are going to break into that next Some of you are going to break into that next dimension of 1,000 times more that I've been dimension of 1,000 times more that I've been teaching around the country.  I want you to partner teaching around the country.  I want you to partner with me…with me…

“The myth of the poor Jesus needs to be destroyed, because it’s holding people back.”

(Kaylois Henry, “Bishop Jakes Is Ready. Are You?,” The Dallas Observer magazine, June 20-26, 1996, pg. 31. PFO Quarterly Journal Article)

Mercedes-Benz, a Bentley, a BMW, a Lexus and a jet... 9,689-square-foot mansion

http://www.forgottenword.org/jakes.html

http://www.amazon.com/Total-Prosperity-Practical-Receiving-Blessing/dp/0785269002

http://books.google.com/books/about/Life_Overflowing_6_in_1.html?id=3GsUQgAACAAJ

Secularism is one of the important movements in the history of the modern West

A philosophy which forms its ethics and behavior without reference to religious

dogmas

Philippians 4:11-14 (NKJV)Philippians 4:11-14 (NKJV)1111. . . I have learned in . . . I have learned in whatever state I whatever state I am, to be contentam, to be content: : 12 12 I know how to be I know how to be

abased, and I know how to abound. abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things Everywhere and in all things I have I have learned both to be full and to be learned both to be full and to be

hungry, both to abound and to suffer hungry, both to abound and to suffer needneed. .

13 13 I can do all things through Christ who I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.strengthens me.

26

Proverbs 14:8

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.

Proverbs 21:30

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.