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When you read the Word of God do how do you view it? Is it all real history? Is it all allegory? Or is it a mix of both? Do you even know where history begins and allegory ends?
According to etymonline.com this is the etym- ("truth") + -ology ("study of") of history:
history (n.)
late 14c., "relation of incidents" (true or false), from Old French estoire, estorie "story; chronicle, history" (12c., Modern French histoire), from Latin historia "narrative of past events, account, tale, story," from Greek historia "a learning or knowing by inquiry; an account of one's inquiries; knowledge, account, historical account, record, narrative," from historein "be witness or expert; give testimony, recount; find out, search, inquire," and histōr "knowing, expert; witness," both ultimately from PIE *wid-tor-, from root *weid- "to see," hence "to know."
So we see history is more than a dry retelling of dates and events but, an inquiry as to How does one actually know what they know? When we are at social gatherings and meet new people we always ask them: So how do you know each other? or How do you know the bride? Where are you from? etc. It is from these inquiries that we begin to piece together the person's "story" or history. The same thing is done by doctors, thereapists, psyschologists, mechanics, scientists, engineers, bakers, fisherman, construction workers, and just people from all walks of life. So when a stranger, family, or friend asks you:
How do you know Jesus exsted and is a real person?
How do you respond to them? As they probe you further do you become intimdated? Are you confused? Are you impatient? Do you reply in an irritated or angry tone? Sadly many believers take their faith for granted and, when questions come which they do not know how to properly reply to they falter or respond in the wrong way. And if we review the story of Adam and Eve how did that conversation go with the Serpent?
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings."
Genesis 3:1-7
Here we see that Adam and Eve committed a huge flaw by not checking their sources properly, nor seeing if the Serpent was qualified to speak truly about what he claimed. Instead of asking him whether he ate of the Tree of Knowledge they instead got lost and caught up in the benefits of the forbidden fruit that they ultimately failed to go back to God and ask Him to tell them the true story.
Now for those who simply view this event as allegory will not care much for it and shrug it off as not being "real history". To those who view the Bible in such a way I ask:
If the story of Adam and Eve isn't the true history and origins of mankind and the world, then I ask you upon what histories do you base your conclusion on? And are they more ancient than Egypt and Bablyon? If so then where are your written records and archaeological finds? And where are the histories of later people confirming you primary and secondary sources?
Failing to understand the true history of the world and mankind means that we will not know why we exist at present, nor will we know where we are headed in the future.
According to etymonline.com this is the etym- ("truth") + -ology ("study of") of history:
history (n.)
late 14c., "relation of incidents" (true or false), from Old French estoire, estorie "story; chronicle, history" (12c., Modern French histoire), from Latin historia "narrative of past events, account, tale, story," from Greek historia "a learning or knowing by inquiry; an account of one's inquiries; knowledge, account, historical account, record, narrative," from historein "be witness or expert; give testimony, recount; find out, search, inquire," and histōr "knowing, expert; witness," both ultimately from PIE *wid-tor-, from root *weid- "to see," hence "to know."
So we see history is more than a dry retelling of dates and events but, an inquiry as to How does one actually know what they know? When we are at social gatherings and meet new people we always ask them: So how do you know each other? or How do you know the bride? Where are you from? etc. It is from these inquiries that we begin to piece together the person's "story" or history. The same thing is done by doctors, thereapists, psyschologists, mechanics, scientists, engineers, bakers, fisherman, construction workers, and just people from all walks of life. So when a stranger, family, or friend asks you:
How do you know Jesus exsted and is a real person?
How do you respond to them? As they probe you further do you become intimdated? Are you confused? Are you impatient? Do you reply in an irritated or angry tone? Sadly many believers take their faith for granted and, when questions come which they do not know how to properly reply to they falter or respond in the wrong way. And if we review the story of Adam and Eve how did that conversation go with the Serpent?
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings."
Genesis 3:1-7
Here we see that Adam and Eve committed a huge flaw by not checking their sources properly, nor seeing if the Serpent was qualified to speak truly about what he claimed. Instead of asking him whether he ate of the Tree of Knowledge they instead got lost and caught up in the benefits of the forbidden fruit that they ultimately failed to go back to God and ask Him to tell them the true story.
Now for those who simply view this event as allegory will not care much for it and shrug it off as not being "real history". To those who view the Bible in such a way I ask:
If the story of Adam and Eve isn't the true history and origins of mankind and the world, then I ask you upon what histories do you base your conclusion on? And are they more ancient than Egypt and Bablyon? If so then where are your written records and archaeological finds? And where are the histories of later people confirming you primary and secondary sources?
Failing to understand the true history of the world and mankind means that we will not know why we exist at present, nor will we know where we are headed in the future.
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