Early Scripture Fragment in Sydney
Dr. Don Barker, Papyrologist and secretary of the Society for the Study of Early Christianity at Macquarie University recently took the time to show me a third century copy of God’s Word known as P91 which is held there at the Sydney Museum of Ancient Cultures. He has graciously given permission to publish photos of our visit. If you are interested in a similar opportunity, please take a moment to look at Dr. Barker’s Face to Face with the New Testament.
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t was a once in a lifetime experience for me. The only ancient copy of the New Testament that is held in Australia[] is held in Sydney and I just happened to be headed that direction for the weekend. I contacted Dr. Don Barker, of Macquarie University, who kindly agreed to show me the document.
On the agreed day, we set out for Macquarie University—me with my Greek New Testament, my close friend Farid Wardan with his Google Maps-armed iPhone, and his father Tony with his camera. Don Barker took us through a museum area full of hundreds of ancient pieces, most of which I could have spent considerable time taking in.
He led us to a back room which contained a wall of cabinets which house the over 700 ancient documents held by the Museum of Ancient Cultures. After putting on gloves, Dr. Barker opened one of the cabinets and carefully removed a glass plate containing the early papyrus fragment (pictured right, both sides).[]
This ancient document is referred to as a Papyrus fragment because it was copied onto a thin “paper” which was made by weaving together the Egyptian Papyrus plant.
This particular fragment is among the oldest in existence, dating back to the third century.[]
I wish I could put into words what went on in my heart as I looked at this tiny fragment of God’s Word. The God of Adam, of Abraham, and of David; the God of Peter, of Paul, and of John; this God has spoken to us! And He has graciously protected and preserved His Word over four millennia!
It staggers the mind to think that this tiny Egyptian fragment from the AD 200’s is part of a book that was in 2009 the best-selling book in the world.
As I knelt solemnly gazing at this fragment, I was reminded that this book is the book I have committed my life to study, to understand, and to preach.
I hope to post a few more thoughts about this on Friday, but for now I’ll close. May you and I grow in our passion and love for the Word of God. May we rejoice that He has kept it for us through all these centuries.
Farid Wardan, Dr. Don Barker, Jason Harris (Photograph: Tony Wardan)
If you would like to learn more about this fragment and other ancient findings that relate to Christianity, I would encourage you to consider organising a group from your church to attend the Face to Face with the New Testament.
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[] At least in papyrus form. It is my understanding that there are no New Testament manuscripts held in Australia, but I cannot be certain of this.
[] P91 contains portions from Acts 2:30-37, 2:46, and 3:2.
[] The oldest portion of Scripture discovered to this point in history dates to the second century and is also a Papyri fragment.
Face to Face with the New Testament
See this morning’s post for the context of this post.
I wanted to give you the information for Dr. Don Barker’s seminar Face to Face with the New Testament. You can get the information on the web here (go down to #4). The following information is taken directly from the pdf brochure which Dr. Barker emailed to me (download pdf).
Museum of Ancient Cultures
Macquarie University
Hear about the amazing New Testament discoveries from the sands of Egypt.- Learn how the New Testament documents were written and copied.
- Understand why we can have confidence in the New Testament text and its history.
- View one of the earliest fragments of the New Testament that is housed at the Museum.
Macquarie University has at its Museum of Ancient Cultures a unique collection of over 700 ancient documents from Egypt and one of the earliest fragments of the New Testament. Face to Face with the New Testament is a fascinating look at the New Testament documents and the reliability of their transmission. Dr. Don Barker who is a Papyrologist at Macquarie University leads the seminar.
(Because of university costs we prefer groups of not less than 12 persons. If a group is less than 12 the cost is $198.00. For groups over 12 the cost per person is $16.50.)
For further information and bookings contact:
Dr. Don Barker
(02) 9850 9962
dbarker@hmn.mq.edu.au
New Church In Lismore
I am really happy to let you know that a couple of friends of mine are planting a Bible believing church in Lismore, along the north coast of NSW. The team are Pastor Peter Mitchell and Brother Steve Alvarez with their respective families. They are young and gifted men with a heart to see souls saved and believers growing in Christ. Both Peter and Steve are well trained and have significant ministry experience.
They have named the new work Lismore Bible Church and you can email them by clicking here. Pete can give you all the service times and location of their meetings, etc.
Lismore is large regional city conveniently located between Coffs Harbour and Brisbane. It has its own university campus.
So if you know anymore in Lismore or in the surrounds who are looking to attend a good Bible preaching church then tell them about this new endeavour.
Planting churches is still the most Biblical and effective way of fulfilling the great commission and seeing lasting fruit from evangelism and preaching.
At the very least please pray for this new work and even consider sending an email of encouragement to the team.
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.1 Corinthians 3:5-9
Thinking about Bible Software?
The most common mistake people make when choosing Bible software is choosing based on the quantity of resources available. If you talk about your Bible software in terms of “how many books you own” – you really have missed the point (but we won’t hold it against you).
First and foremost, you are investing in a workflow or a process for studying the Bible. I strongly encourage you to test drive the software prior to making a decision. Are you comfortable with the search process? Are you willing to get more training on the advanced features and syntax? Have you asked other users about the weaknesses in the software? How will this software specifically enhance your study of the Bible? Choosing software with the wrong workflow is like driving a Ferrari on the M2 during peak hour… you will get there – slowly. Now let’s talk about some of your options:
Both the ESV Study Bible website and Biblegateway.com provide a simple searching interface and basic textual and commentary helps. E-Sword is a robust tool for studying the Bible. You owe it to yourself to download E-Sword to see if it suits your needs (and it’s free).
Bibleworks is the tool of choice for the ninja exegete. The software specialises in the close study of the text with excellent lexical tools. You need to be comfortable with the original languages to use this product. There is a significant learning curve for the advanced syntax (is there any other way to become a ninja)?
Logos is more accessible for people without experience in the original languages and for accessing the wealth of theological resources in Christendom. You should consider the Silver Scholar package or the Platinum package. Without the NAC, the cheaper packages don’t have enough real-use value. The Platinum package adds the NIGTC, the PNTC, and the excellent BECNT. If you are considering Logos, also save some shekels for the MacArthur commentaries, the pricey NICOT/NICNT set, and the theological journals.
We’ve only had these tools for the past 15-20 years of human history. Most of our favourite authors could only dream of having access to our wealth of resources. If you’re going to buy it – use it!
Evangelism In Australia
Have you ever wished your church was more effective in evangelism? Or that your church could connect better with your community? You might be interested in these statistics. The 2006 National Church Life Survey found that:
- Only 16% of those surveyed actively sought opportunities to talk about their faith. Around half of the respondents felt “mostly at ease” in talking about faith, if the opportunity arises.
- Over 70% were open to inviting others to church, but only 36% had actually invited someone in the past year.
- Pentecostals and the Salvation Army had the highest percentage of people surveyed who invited others to church.
- The most frequent reasons given for not inviting others: “They may not be interested,” ”I do not see the need to do so,” “I don’t know many people outside church,” and “Lack of confidence in talking about my faith.”
Note: this survey includes responses from Roman Catholic and theologically liberal churches, so respondents’ understanding of “faith” will vary! I also recognise that evangelism involves more than simply inviting people to church. Still, most new Australian Christians first joined their church through invitation.
Church historian Iain Murray in Australian Christian Life Since 1788 has described churches’ growing concern over their relevance and outreach to contemporary society. In many evangelical churches, orthodox doctrines were gradually discarded or downplayed, in order to attract newcomers. Those denominations today are shrinking.
Other interesting findings:
- In 2006, most of the 4,400 congregations surveyed had not provided training in outreach / evangelism in the previous two years.
- According to the survey, the profile of an effective ‘faith sharer’ is someone who attends church faithfully, participates in church ministry and has experienced ‘much growth’ in personal faith in the past year.
If independent evangelical churches reflect the survey results to some extent, then we need to be stronger in training the church in evangelism. The survey data also affirms that a healthy church will be an evangelistic church. When we are growing in the Word and in service, our vitality will help lead other lives to Christ.
Of faith that steps out
As the thick jungle finally cleared in front of them, the exhausted pair stumbled into a clearing and stopped abruptly. Before their eyes was a series of peaks standing shoulder to shoulder as if to say “you will never get past.”
The sight could have disheartened the sturdiest of men, but the wise old greybeard was already gathering himself to press forward. Bewildered and stunned, his strong young partner continued to stare in disbelief. All these days of walking only to learn that an impenetrable barrier stood before them and their destination by the sea.
“The sea” he repeated in a wistful voice. Though the harsh desserts lay far behind, nothing but the sight of the sea could fully erase its lasting bitterness in his mind.
“Is there no way around them?” he asked, still staring at the distant collection of thickly jungled summits. “None that does not lead back through the dessert from which we’ve come.” This was not the first time the oldened figure had seen the light dimming in a man’s eyes, but he never got used to it.
“Is there no power to move this mountain?” The youth had slumped to the ground, but still he stared at the imposing mass before them.
“Ah yes.” His wisened face lit up as he told of days gone by and mountains transported before the faith-filled eyes of the weary traveller. With every word he spoke, the young man’s eyes brightened with hope.
His elderly voice began to drift. His face revealed only a glimpse of the experiences he now pondered. Finally, his mind snapped to the present. “Up! Let us be going. The sea waits just beyond these hills.”
“Isn’t faith enough to move them?” asked the young man with a look of confusion. “It is” the greying man responded. “But faith always steps out.” And with that they gathered themselves and started toward the daunting slope.
Minutes turned to hours. Hours to days. They trudged and they trudged, battling jungle so thick you could only rarely see the sky. Many a time did the youth question the wisdom of the elder, but was always met with the same response. “Faith always steps out.” And then he would set his face forward and take another step.
Finally, after days of trudging and battling, the jungle began to clear. But the young man was beside himself with annoyance. Had this wise one not said that faith could move the mountain? Had he not been assured that all he need do is step out?
“You lied to me!” His thoughts burst into words. “You said that faith moves mountains and we’ve but to step out. But we’ve been walking for days!”
Unmoved by the sudden outburst, the old man stopped as his eyes fixed themselves on the youth. Then they softened and he set out down the trail again. “My dear companion. Have you been so distracted that you have not noticed the mountain move? Why, just a few days ago the mountain loomed straight ahead in our path. Yet turn now and see. It has moved far behind us.”
His pace quickened as he added “Faith is not about removing the obstacle. Faith is about strength for the climb.” As he spoke these words, the jungle fell away before them and just beyond lay the sea.
