"…able also to admonish one another."(Romans 15:14)
PUBLISHED MONTHLY IN THE INTEREST OF TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS BY THE
Jackson Drive Church of Christ
1110 Jackson Dr., Athens, AL 35611

Vol. 5

February, 2003

No. 2

The sandstone tablet is only the size of a legal pad, but the 15-line inscription in ancient Hebrew strongly resembles descriptions found in the Old Testament's II Kings, 
specifically 12:1-6 and 12:11-17. The Associated Press reports that Israeli geologists say the words refer to King Joash, who ruled the area 2,800 years ago, and detail repair plans for 
the Jewish Temple of King Solomon. If the stone tablet can be authenticated, it would be a rare piece of physical evidence confirming the Biblical narrative. It would also strengthen 
Jewish claims to a disputed holy site in Jerusalem's Old City that Muslim clerics have long denied was ever there.

But since the origin of the stone tablet is unclear, AP notes that it will be difficult to establish its authenticity. It was first uncovered several years ago during renovations carried out by the 
Muslim administrators of the mosque compound, the Israeli daily newspaper Haartez reported. It was then acquired by a major antiquities collector in Jerusalem. Microscopic bits of 
gold, which could have been burnt into the stone when the building containing the tablet was destroyed, lead researchers to think the tablet was part of Solomon's Temple, which was 
destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.

In the words on the tablet, King Joash tells priests to take "holy money…to buy quarry stones and timber and copper and labor to carry out the duty with faith." If the work is completed 
well, "the Lord will protect his people with blessing," reads the last sentence of the inscription. AP reports that experts from Israel's Geological Institute have studied the tablet during the 
past year. "Our findings show that it is authentic," said Shimon Ilani, who performed geological tests on the inscription. Carbon dating confirms the writing goes back to the 
9^th century B.C., he told AP. Hershel Shanks, editor of the Washington-based Biblical Archaeology Review, said the tablet, if authentic, would be "visual, tactile evidence that reaches 
across 2,800 years." -Cathryn Conroy

An ancient stone tablet is displayed at a Jerusalem archeological institute Monday, Jan. 13, 2003. Israeli geologists said Monday that they have examined the stone tablet detailing repair plans for the Jewish temple of King Solomon that, if authenticated, would be a rare piece of physical evidence confirming biblical narrative. (AP Photo/BAUBAU)

If the Bible affirms some event occurred, it did. If the Bible affirms some person lived, he did! We can trust the Bible because it is "inspired of God" or God-breathed (II Tim. 3:16-17). However, it is interesting when "discoveries" are made that validate from a historical, archaeological, or scientific viewpoint some statement of fact the Bible has long made about which some doubt may exist.

Just a few weeks ago, another discovery of a Bible "relic," or at least a relic of a Bible character, made world news. Discovery was made of an ossuary (receptacle for bones of the dead) on which was written, "James the son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." Tests determining age indicated the ossuary was from the first century. Further, archaeologists and historians say the inscription gives too much detail for the ossuary to be any other than what would have contained the bones of James the "half-brother" of Jesus, the Jesus of the New Testament! Besides giving extrabiblical proof that destroys the Catholic error concerning the "perpetual virginity of Mary" (see also Matthew 13:55-56), this relic provides physical evidence that Jesus lived.

But didn't we believe that Joash was a king in Judah who made repairs to the temple even before this discovery of the "Solomon Tablet"? We should have since II Kings 12 discusses these things. And shouldn't we believe that Jesus of Nazareth actually lived, and that He had brothers and sisters, even before the recent discovery of the James ossuary? We should because the Bible declares it (Matthew 13:55-56). We should believe these things because God spoke about them in His word, regardless of many, few, or no "discoveries."

These "findings" actually compound evidence of the Bible's authenticity, and give even more reason to denounce other "holy"(?) books such as the Book of Mormon. For example, in 1959 a letter was circulated among many Mormons which claimed (and some uneducated among them may still claim) that the Book of Mormon provided a "guide to almost all of the major discoveries" geographically in Central and South America, and that the Smithsonian Institution used that book for such purposes. This was a lie. However, because the Smithsonian received so many questions regarding this, in 1965 they were forced to publish a response. Part of it said,

"The Smithsonian Institution has never used the Book of Mormon in any way as a scientific guide. Smithsonian archaeologists see no connection between the archaeology of the New World and the subject matter of the Book."

In other words, nothing spoken of geographically, scientifically or historically in the Book of Mormon concerning Central and South America, the American Indian, etc., can be verified. How different this is from the Bible! What the Bible says relative to geography, science, and history can be verified, and has been as true. Even such things as dietary laws and treatment of human waste, which the Old Testament mentions, have been verified scientifically as what is best for human living conditions. How can anyone account for all the geographical, scientific, and historical statements the Bible makes, many of which have just recently (last hundred or so years) been verified with highly advanced equipment? It was inspired of God, just as it claims. This is the only logical and reasonable explanation.

The point is this: the Bible is right, true, accurate from every viewpoint, and our faith and confidence can be wholly in it. We may be pleased to learn of these discoveries, but our faith is not it them; it is in Him and His Book.
-- Phillip A. Owens

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One of the fundamental doctrines of most, if not all, premillenialists is that before the end of time God will give to the Jews the land of Canaan. This supposedly is because He gave them that land but has never fulfilled His promise and since God is faithful, He will give them the land. It is true that God promised to the descendants of Abraham (the Jews) this land. However, the Bible shows that it is not true that He has not yet fulfilled His promise. As already observed in Joshua 4:43-45, "So Jehovah gave unto Israel all the land which He sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it and dwelt therein.. .There failed not aught of any good thing which Jehovah had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass."

It was also observed that their keeping of the land was conditioned on their faithfulness. Clearly, they were unfaithful and therefore forfeited their keeping the land. God does not owe them this land because of their unfaithfulness.

Another promise that God made to Abraham's descendants is found in Genesis 13:16 where he said to Abraham, "I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth; so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then may thy seed also be numbered." Then in Geneses 15:5 He said to Abraham, "Look now toward the heaven and number the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, so shall thy seed be." This promise has also been fulfilled. When Baalam tried to curse Israel "Jehovah put a word in Baalam's mouth.. and Baalam said 'Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel?" (Numbers 23:5, 10). In 2nd Chronicles 1:9 Solomon says of God,"Thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth for multitude." In Deuteronomy 10:22 we read, "Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons: and Jehovah thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude." Hence, the promise of numerous descendants has been fulfilled.

The third, and without question, the most important promise to Abraham is the one found in Genesis 22:18. This is the occasion when God told Abraham to offer his only son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. Abraham was in the act of doing this very thing when an angel of the Lord stayed his hand and said because you have not withheld your son, your only son, "In thy seed all nations of the earth shall be blessed because you have obeyed my voice." As the Bible shows clearly, this is a spiritual blessing and promise.

It is plain from Galatians 3:16 just who the seed is. That text says, "Now to Abraham were the promises spoken and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one. And to thy seed, which is Christ."

In Peter's speech in Acts 3:25-26 he said to the Jews, "You are sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, "And in thy seed shall all families of the earth be blessed. To you first, God, having raised up His servant, Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities." ALL families would include Jew and Gentile. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone that believeth: "to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16).

This promise has to do with the forgiveness of sins. The text says that God through Christ is to bless "in turning away every one of you from your iniquities." (Acts 3:25-26). Thus the promise says that in Jesus Christ everyone, whether Jew or Gentile, can be blessed, i.e., have his sins forgiven. -- Hiram Hutto

This book is easy and interesting reading, but most important it is informative relative to the Bible issues that divided brethren during the 1950's & 60's, and which continue to divide brethren today.

While bro. Hall has preached these lessons in numbers of places (among at least three churches in Limestone County alone), not everyone has heard them. Due to the nature and complexity of these issues, plus a desire for a wider dissemination of the truths stated, the elders here at Jackson Drive desired to underwrite the expenses for their publication.

In addition to a wider distribution of the material, having these lessons in print form helps in understanding. One may review, re-study, and more easily digest concepts in book form than in merely being able to hear them discussed once! Further, bro. Hall used a number of charts which aid in understanding. These are included in the book.

While a number of our readers lived through these issues, many did not. Bible principles involved are those that every child of God needs to know. They basically involve how to establish Bible authority for all we do (Col. 3:17; II Jno. 9). In three lessons, bro. Hall discusses these principles and how they pertain to church support of orphan's homes, the sponsoring church arrangement, and kitchens and fellowship halls.

It doesn't take very much observation to know that churches that claim to be "of Christ" are often different--different in what they teach, practice, and especially what they do with money contributed.

I have come to believe that one reason many fail to note differences between churches that claim to be "of Christ" (or perhaps note the differences but fail to see the significance) is because they do not know the significance of the Bible principles involved. Every Christian needs to be grounded firmly in how to establish Bible authority for all we do. A correct application of Bible authority on these issues is paramount, as on every subject (II Tim. 2:15). Issues come and have to be dealt with. What we all should want is the truth, regardless of the issue (II Thess. 2:10-12). It does not matter who is right, but what is right. Then, regardless of who is on what side (family members included, and there are many family members in this county on both sides of these issues), we must determine we will do what is right.

In each lesson bro. Hall states what is and what is not the issue. This is important because many sidestep the problem with issues that are not related (e.g. that if people do not believe it is right for the church to give money from its treasury to support orphan's homes, those people are "orphan haters" or do not care about taking care of them at all; that if people don't believe there is Bible authority for one church to send to another for the purpose of preaching the gospel--sponsoring church arrangement--then those people are against preaching the gospel to the lost, etc.).

Further, in each lesson bro. Hall states a number of the arguments brethren have made to justify churches of Christ supporting orphan's homes, sponsoring churches, and kitchens and fellowship halls, and applies Bible principles to the issues.

These were printed for distribution! Contact us either by mail, phone, or e-mail. Numbers and addresses are on this page. They are free upon request.