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Question #8 -
QUESTION:
Where do Bible manuscripts come from?
ANSWER:
Most existing manuscripts of the Bible are divided into two
"families". These families are generally represented by
the cities of Alexandria, Egypt and Antioch, Syria.
EXPLANATION: There are only two Bibles,
God's and the devil's. There are only two views of the Bible. It
is totally perfect or it is imperfect.
The two Bibles, in manuscript form, and their
corresponding ideologies originate in two vastly different
locations in the Mid East. Alexandria, Egypt and Antioch, Syria.
Discerning which location gives us the perfect Bible and the
correct ideology and which gave us the devil's bible and incorrect
ideology is one of the easiest tasks imaginable. This pursuit is
made childishly easy due to one source, the Bible.
As we have stated so many times, yet shall again, we
accept the Bible as our final authority in all matters of faith
and practice. Therefore, all anyone need do is to
explore the Bible and discover what GOD thinks of
Alexandria, Egypt and what He thinks of Antioch, Syria.
When studying Scripture a fundamental rule that is
followed is called "the law of first mention". This
means that it is generally true that the context
in which someone or something is first mentioned sets the Bible
attitude for that person or place.
In our study of Alexandria and Antioch we find it
impossible to ignore the Bible’s attitude toward Egypt itself.
Egypt
(1) Egypt is first mentioned in Genesis 12:10-12.
10 "And there was a famine in the land: and
Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there: for the famine was
grievous in the land.
11 And it came to pass, when he was come
near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold
now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the
Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife:
and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive."
In Genesis 12:1-3 we find Abraham is given what is
known as the Abrahamic Covenant. Literally it is God's promise to
deliver the world to Abraham and his seed as their own private
possession.
In Genesis 12:10 Abraham goes down into Egypt to
escape a famine in his homeland. In verse 12 we find Abraham's
fear that the Egyptians might kill him and steal Sarai his wife. NOT
exactly a positive context. We see then that the first
mention of Egypt is negative.
(2) In Exodus 1:11-14 we find that the Jews
were slaves in Egypt.
11 "Therefore they did set over them
taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for
Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
12 But the more they afflicted them, the
more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of
the children of Israel.
13 And the Egyptians made the children of
Israel to serve with rigour:
14 And they made their lives bitter with
hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of
service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them
serve, was with rigour. "
In fact, Pharaoh decrees that all male Jewish babies
are to be killed in verses 15 and 16.
15 "And the king of Egypt spake to the
Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and
the name of the other Puah:
16 And he said, When ye do the office of a
midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it
be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then
she shall live."
Obviously a negative connotation.
(3) In Exodus chapter 20, after He had brought
the children out of Egypt, God, with His own voice,
tells what He thinks of Egypt in verse 2 where He describes it as
a "house of bondage" "I am the LORD thy God,
which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house
of bondage."
Again, a negative comment and this
one directly from God's lips.
(4) In Deuteronomy 4:20 Moses refers to Egypt
as "the iron furnace. "
"But the LORD hath taken you, and brought
you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto
him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day."
(5) In Deuteronomy 17:16 Israel is told that,
in the future, when they have a king he is not to carry on
commercial trade with Egypt.
"But he shall not multiply horses to
himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that
he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto
you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way."
(6) And finally in Revelation 11:8, when God
wants to denounce Jerusalem, He compares it to Sodom and Egypt.
"And their dead bodies shall lie in the
street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and
Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified."
This brief study has shown what most Christians
already know. The Bible has a negative outlook on
Egypt.
Alexandria
We find that Alexandria is mentioned only four times
in Scripture and that each mention is bad.
(1) Alexandria is first mentioned
in Acts 6:9.
"Then there arose certain of the synagogue,
which is called the synagogue of the Libertines,
and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of
Asia, disputing with Stephen."
It was Jews from Alexandria who were in the crowd
that disputed with and eventually killed Stephen.
(2) The second mention of Alexandria is in Acts
18:24.
"And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an
eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus."
Here we find a Jew from Alexandria named Apollos who
though fervent in spirit was misinformed concerning the gospel.
Not knowing the true gospel of Jesus Christ he preached, in
Ephesus, the baptism of John the Baptist. (Acts 18:25, 19:3)
Apollos was not saved and neither were his converts.
Later, Apollos is led to Christ by Aquila and
Priscilla (verse 26) and gets his message straightened out (verse
28).
But in its second mention, Alexandria is synonymous
with bad Bible teaching.
(3) The third and fourth mentions of Alexandria
are very similar. After Paul is arrested in Acts 21 and appeals
his case to Caesar he is sent to Rome, and eventual death, on a
ship from, of all places Alexandria (Acts 27:6).
"And there the centurion found a ship of
Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein."
(4) While sailing to Rome, Paul's ship is sunk
in a tempest. After spending three months on the island of Melita
he is sent on his way to eventual death on another ship. And where
is this second ship from that is so ready to carry Paul to his
death?
Acts 28:11: "And after three months we
departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle,
whose sign was Castor and Pollux."
We see then that all four Bible references to
Alexandria are negative. No one with any honesty could pretend
that the Bible's representation of Alexandria is good.
It must also be noted here that Alexandria was a
center of education and philosophy (Colossians 2:8) which it
received from Athens in about 100 B.C. (Acts 17:16) There was a
school of the Scriptures founded there by one Pantaenus who was a
philosopher. Pantaenus interpreted scripture both philosophically
and allegorically. That is to say that philosophically he believed
truth to be relative, not absolute. He did not believe that the
Bible was infallible. By looking at the Bible allegorically he
believed that men such as Adam, Noah, Moses, and David existed
only in Jewish poetry and were not true historical characters. He
was succeeded as head of the school by Clement of Alexandria and
later by Origen. Men who shared his skepticism.
It was Origen, deceived by the duel intoxicants of
education and philosophy who upon receipt of pure copies of
scripture altered them to parallel his twisted thinking. He is the
father of all Bible critics and is not only responsible for the
physical manuscripts which delete such verses as Luke 24:40, Acts
8:37 and I John 5:7, but he is also responsible for the
Alexandrian philosophy parroted by so many of our fundamental
scholars who claim that "The Bible is perfect and
infallible" with one breath and then state "The Bible
has mistakes and mistranslations" with the very next. It is
this demented ideology that gave birth to the corrupt Alexandrian
manuscripts in the first place. Thus we see that not only are the
physical manuscripts of Alexandria corrupt and to be rejected, but
the Alexandrian philosophy, that the Bible has
mistakes in it and must be corrected, is even more subtle and
dangerous and must be forsaken by true Bible believers.
Antioch
Ironically the first mention of
Antioch is found in the very same book and chapter as Alexandria,
Acts chapter 6, but in a radically different context.
(1) When the Apostles saw a need for helpers,
helpers whom today we know as "deacons", they gave
instructions for what kind of men should be chosen for the
position.
Acts 6:3,4: "Wherefore, brethren, look ye
out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost
and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to
prayer, and to the ministry of the word."
The seven men chosen are listed in Acts 6:5.
"And the saying pleased the whole multitude:
and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost,
and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas,
and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:"
Please notice that one of the first deacons, Nicolas,
was of Antioch. Is this a mere coincidence? Certainly not! Neither
is it coincidental that Nicolas is the only
deacon whose home town is given. Neither is it coincidental that
Antioch is mentioned for the first time in Scripture in the same
chapter in which Alexandria is mentioned. And it is certainly no
difficult feat to see that one, Antioch, is first mentioned in a positive
light and the other, Alexandria, is first mentioned in a negative
light.
The next few pertinent appearances of Antioch start
as a trickle and end as a flood of testimony to God's choice of
Antioch for the center of His New Testament church.
(2) Antioch appears next in Scripture in Acts
11:19-21.
19 "Now they which were scattered abroad
upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as
Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but
unto the Jews only.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and
Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the
Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them:
and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord."
Here we find that certain of the Christians who had
taken flight during the persecution preached the gospel as they
fled.
Upon arrival in Antioch they, not knowing what had
happened in Acts 10 with Peter opening the door of the gospel to
the Gentiles, preached the gospel to the Grecians. Verse 21 tells
us that God's Holy Spirit worked mightily in Antioch and that a
"great number" were saved.
We see then that the first great gentile awakening
occurred in Antioch.
(3) In Acts 11:22-24 we find that Barnabus,
(the son of consolation Acts 4:36) was sent to Antioch to see what
was happening in Antioch.
22 "Then tidings of these things came unto
the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth
Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace
of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of
heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the
Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the
Lord."
Through the ministry of this great man of God, many
more people were added to Christ,
(4) In Acts 11:25,26, two important facts are
revealed.
25 "Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to
seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch.
26 And it came to pass, that a whole year
they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.
And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
First, we find Barnabas departing for Tarsus to seek
the young convert Saul. It was Barnabas who defended Paul's
conversion to the doubting disciples in Acts 9:26,27. Doubtless he
was grieved to see the zealous young convert shipped off to Tarsus
(Acts 9:30), and oblivion. Upon finding Saul, Barnabus does not
bring him back to Jerusalem. (And certainly not to Alexandria.) He
returns with him to Antioch, the spiritual capital of the New
Testament church. All that Paul ever became, he owes to the
gracious act of this godly old saint.
(5) In Acts 11:26 we find that born again
believers were called "Christians" for the first time at
Antioch. Thus every time we believers refer to ourselves as
"Christians" we complete a spiritual connection to our
spiritual forefathers in Antioch. Antioch is to the Christian what
Plymouth Rock is to the American.
(6) In verses 27 and 28 we find that God has
now packed up His prophets and sent them north to Antioch.
27 "And in these days came prophets from
Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28 And there stood up one of them named
Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great
dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of
Claudius Caesar."
Jerusalem is left spiritually abandoned. Home only of
the disciples, who were told to leave it years earlier in Acts
1:8.
(7) In Acts 11:29,30 we find that the saints who
God is blessing in Antioch, must send monetary aid to the
saints who God is not blessing in Jerusalem.
29 "Then the disciples, every man according
to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which
dwelt in Judaea:
30 Which also they did, and sent it to the
elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul."
Yet these are not the final Biblical references to
the capital of God's New Testament church.
(8) When God decides to send missionaries out
into the world to preach the gospel, He never even glances in the
direction of Jerusalem. (And most assuredly not Alexandria, Egypt)
He looks instead to His faithful servants at Antioch.
Acts 13:1-3: "Now there were in the church
that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas,
and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen,
which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and
fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the
work whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and
laid their hands on them, they sent them away."
Thus, it is evident that the first
missionary journey mentioned in Scripture originated in Antioch,
with "Christians" from Antioch. And when this great work
was fulfilled, no one wasted any time sightseeing or sending
reports to Jerusalem. They simply returned to Antioch.
Acts 14:25-28: "And when they had preached
the word in Perga, they went down unto Attalia:
26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence
they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which
they fulfilled.
27 And when they were come, and had gathered
the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with
them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
28 And there they abode long time with
the disciples."
Our last two glimpses of Antioch give evidence
that to be in Antioch is to be in the middle of the will of God.
(9) In Acts chapter 15 the disciples in
Jerusalem feel a need to send a pair of envoys to Antioch with
their decrees concerning Gentile believers.
Acts 15:23-27: "And they wrote letters
by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren
send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in
Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that
certain which went out from us have troubled you with words,
subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep
the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25 It seemed good unto us, being
assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our
beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives
for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and
Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth."
Following the completion of the mission, Judas
returns to Jerusalem, and oblivion. Silas elects
to stay in Antioch, and it is Silas who we find gaining a
prominent place in Scripture as Paul's missionary partner on his
second missionary journey.
(10) Of course, the second missionary journey
did not originate in Jerusalem. It originated in the only place
that it possibly could have, Antioch, as Acts 15:40 illustrates.
What was it about Antioch that was so
attractive to God that He chose it as the center of New Testament
Christianity?
It might be noted that, Antioch although it was
a cultural center, had not abandoned itself to pagan religion,
pagan education and pagan philosophy as had such prominent sites
as Rome, Athens, and Alexandria.
It might also be weighed that Antioch, unlike
the above mentioned cities, or even Jerusalem, was located almost
exactly in the middle of the known world, and was built at the
crossing of the East-West trade routes. It even boasted a sea
port, via the Orontes River. These are all important attributes
for the capital of Christianity, which is known for it's mobility.
It may be that many of the original autographs
of Paul's epistles were penned in Antioch.
In the second century, a disciple by the name
of Lucian founded a school of the Scriptures in Antioch. Lucian
was noted for his mistrust of pagan philosophy. His school
magnified the authority and divinity of Scripture and taught that
the Bible was to be taken literally, not figuratively as the
philosophers of Alexandria taught.
So Antioch is not only the point of origin for
the correct family of Bible manuscripts, but is also the source
for the ideology that accepts the Bible as literally
and perfectly God's words. Today many well
meaning, but "Alexandrian" educated preachers are
uplifting the Antiochian Bible (King James) but with the
Alexandrian conviction that it cannot be perfect. In fact, this
Egyptian conviction states that there cannot be a perfect Bible on
earth, in spite of God's promise in Psalm 12:6,7.
To accept the proper Book with an improper
attitude will only predestine one to make the same mistakes and
corruptions that their Egyptian forefathers did.
Can anyone ignore a Bible
admonition and not fall?
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, ignored
the Biblical admonition to avoid Egypt and not go
down to Egypt to multiply horses (Deuteronomy 17:16). In I Kings
3:1 he married Pharaoh's daughter. In I Kings 10:28 he had horses
brought up out of Egypt. What was the result? By I Kings 11:3,4 we
find that his heart had been turned away from following God. In
verses 5-9 he began worshipping other gods. And by verses 9-43 God
has pronounced judgment on him. If God doesn't want His people to
go down to Egypt for horses, do we dare go there
for a Bible or an ideology?
Solomon could not get away with ignoring the
Bible's view of Egypt. Are you wiser than
Solomon?
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