Contact: Rick Dack, Defending the Bible Int'l., 763-913-0351
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., April 6, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- John lied about Jesus' dying words (Fox and Friends). Jesus was eaten by wild animals at Golgotha (History Channel). Jesus didn't die on the cross - he was drugged by the Romans and revived in the tomb faking a resurrection (Discovery Channel). For decades atheistic cable networks have excelled at spreading Bible myths for viewers/ratings. Why no rebuttal from the church? Most Pastors rarely present scriptural/archaeological defense information to their congregations. That's why weekly church apologetics classes are desperately needed today, stated Rick Dack of Defending the Bible International (www.defendingthebible.com).
Did John lie about Jesus' dying words? Bill O'Reilly stated on "Fox and Friends" (September 2013) that the words of the crucified Jesus are unknown due to the proximity of the mourners. Contradictorily, O'Reilly's "Killing Jesus" chapter eighteen includes Jesus' words from the cross, "I thirst" (John 19:28) and "it is finished" (John 19:30) and in the recent National Geographic docudrama "Killing Jesus" John hears, "Father, why have you forsaken me?" Crucified victims were typically in close proximity to the general public (a physical and psychological deterrent) not at a distance.
Was Jesus eaten by wild animals at Golgotha? John Dominic Crossan and other television documentary interviewees believe this is probable. It's true that many Roman crucifixion victims were kept on crosses and devoured but it's also true that Jewish law strictly forbade bodies to be left on crosses (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). The Jewish historian Josephus wrote, "...that the Jews used to take so much care of the burial of men, that they took down those that were condemned and crucified, and buried them before the going down of the sun" (Jewish War 4). Further support for Jewish crucifixion burial was discovered in 1968. A crucified right heel bone with wood fragments and a nail, a right arm bone and left heel bone which belonged to Yohanan ben Ha'galgol was uncovered in a Jerusalem suburb bone box (ossuary).
Did Jesus die on the cross or was he drugged by the Romans to conspiratorially fake his death? The Mandrake (plant) "drug" was used as a surgical anesthetic in the first century not to fake death yet could be fatal - the right consistency was necessary yet I can't imagine Roman crucifiers working at the foot of the cross with a Mattel Kiddie Chemistry Set checking levels of toxicity, stated Rick Dack.
Is there potential archaeological support for the resurrection of Jesus? Dr. Clyde Billington's remarkable article "The Nazareth Inscription: Proof of the Resurrection of Christ?" details historical support for the resurrection though he readily admits that it's not definite proof. Dr. Billington discusses the artifacts Jewish context, the Emperor Claudius' concern over tomb desecration/body removal and other issues.
Do you know how to defend biblical history? The "Biographies of the Bible" classes, created by Defending the Bible International, can supply all of the answers your church will ever need. See www.defendingthebible.com for over thirty multimedia class topics.
