Sermon Central
-
The Book "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" Speaks Of The ... PRO
Contributed by Scott Weber on Mar 14, 2006 (message contributor)
The Book "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" speaks of the destruction of early Christian texts during the persecutions of the emperor Diocletion of 303 A.D., after which it continues: “As a result Christian documents—especially in Rome—all but vanished. When Constantine commissioned new versions of these documents, it enabled the custodians of orthodoxy to revise, edit, and rewrite their materials as they saw fit, in accordance with their tenets. It was at this point that most of the crucial alterations in the New Testament were probably made and Jesus assumed the unique status he has enjoyed ever since. The importance of Constantine’s commission must not be underestimated. Of the five thousand extant early manuscript versions of the New Testament, not one predates the fourth century. The New Testament as it exists today is essentially a product of fourth-century editors and writers—custodians of orthodoxy … with vested interests to protect.”
There are a number of inaccuracies in this passage. In the first place, no credible historian would accept Holy Blood Holy Grail’s assertion that all extant copies of the New Testament perished during the persecution begun under Diocletion in 303, nor its claim that “Of the five thousand extant early manuscript versions of the New Testament, not one predates the fourth century.” The most obvious reason being in both cases that numerous New Testament manuscript portions exist today that predate 303 – the time of the Diocletian persecution and even predate the year 100 A.D. And these can often be viewed by the public in various universities and museums. (by the way, there are well over 25,000 ancient N.T. manuscript examples, not 5,000). Furthermore, the authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail appear to show their ignorance of basic facts when they say that: “Christian documents—especially in Rome—all but vanished.” The assumption behind the statement seems to be that since Diocletian was the Roman emperor, Rome must have been hit hardest, since it would have been the center of his activities. As a matter of fact, however, Diocletian reigned from his capital in the East, at Nicomedia.
The reality is that Constantine could have never gotten away with changing the Bible. Christians like Athanasius of Alexandria, for example, who suffered exile under “Christian” emperors no less than five...
Continue reading this sermon illustration (Free with PRO)Related Sermon Illustrations
-
Pornography Now Nets Over $40 Billion A Year ... PRO
Contributed by Tom Lovorn on Jul 26, 2004
Pornography now nets over $40 billion a year selling 400 porno magazines openly. The 3rd largest grossing industry in the US is illegal drug sales. 15 million alcoholics cause over half of our traffic deaths, and that number increases by 1500 every day. Shoplifting losses net over $30 ...read more
-
There's A Far Side Cartoon That Shows A Bum ... PRO
Contributed by Kory Wilcoxson on Jan 12, 2005
There’s a Far Side cartoon that shows a bum sitting in a dirty alley, and there’s a giant bug next to him. And the bug is saying, “There I was, vice president, stock options, corner office, Mercedes, then one day someone comes in and says, “Wait a minute! He’s nothing but a giant cockroach!” Very ...read more
-
When She Turned 21, Tammy Harris From Roanoke, ...
Contributed by Kenneth Henes on Jun 23, 2004
When she turned 21, Tammy Harris from Roanoke, Virginia, began searching for her biological mother. After a year, she had not succeeded. What she didn’t know was that her mother, Joyce Schultz, had been trying to locate her for twenty years. According to a recent Associated Press story, there ...read more
-
Quote From Jerry Vines, ...
Contributed by Troy Borst on Feb 2, 2005
Quote from Jerry Vines, http://elbourne.org/sermons/index.mv?illustration+2567 “Our churches are in serious trouble today. There is virtually no difference between the average church member and the person who is not a Christian. God meant for the Christian to be different, to live a different ...read more
-
From National Public Radio -- June 6, 2002 -- ...
Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Feb 19, 2005
From National Public Radio -- June 6, 2002 -- Writer Bob Greene calls it "the miracle of the trains." Starting in December 1941 and throughout World War II, volunteers in North Platte, Neb., greeted and comforted millions of soldiers and sailors heading off to battle as troop trains made brief ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Ye Are Complete In Him
Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 13, 2013
An exhortation and three warnings frame what might be another Christ hymn.
-
False Teaching Series
Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jan 17, 2017
Wolves have entered the church and Paul writes to correct the errors that they're promoting
-
Woes To The Pharisees And Lawyers - Part 1 Series
Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Aug 23, 2014
Jesus warns us of the danger of spiritual hypocrisy.
-
Final Words From Paul Series
Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Apr 7, 2012
Paul gives his final preparations regarding his planned trip to Corinth. Paul has tried to counsel and encourage the Corinthian church with only limited success. Now he is coming in person to deal with the problems that have continued in spite of h
-
Uncovering Counterfeits Series
Contributed by C. Philip Green on Mar 5, 2020
To discern true or false preachers, look beyond their apparel; look beyond their appeal; and look beyond their approach.
