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| Tuesday, 6 July 2004 |
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The Bible Society Movement celebrates 200 years in existence by Hemal Pieris The Bible Society Movement is celebrating its 200th anniversary in Sri Lanka and worldwide- in 137 countries. It is good to reflect at this time on the Bible as the main source and foundation for Christian witness in society, - both in the national and international context. Historical note All the main religions of the world have their own roots in scripture. The dictionary defines scripture as 'sacred writings.' The Bible is a collection of sacred writings or scripture and spans many centuries upto the time of Christ and His apostles. The Bible is divided into the Old Testament and the New. While the Old Testament deals with Christian beliefs covering the period before Christ going back to the story of the creation of the universe, and of man in the image of God, the New Testament covers the teachings of Christ and His apostles. Much research has gone into trying to discover the origins of both the Old and New testament texts. Up to 1947, the earliest Hebrew manuscripts available were the 9th century AD copies of the Pentateuch - the first five books of the Bible. However with the discovery of the Qumran Library-Dead Sea Scrolls and its texts, we are taken back a further 1000 years to the 1st century BC. Also available were the Septuagint [LXX], the Greek version of the Old testament used by Greek speaking Jews and early Christians. Most of the books in the Old Testament of today are quoted in the New testament, which is an indication that a similar Old testament canon [or authorised books], existed at that time. Jesus too would have used the existing canon, when quoting scripture as he often did. It has been established on evidence that the four Gospels Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, the Acts of the Apostles and the epistles of S Paul were accepted, writings by the end of the 2nd century AD. In the early church manuscripts were on papyrus or parchment scrolls, as had been the practice for centuries, but it is believed that around the 2nd cent AD, that the 'codex' or book form was used which made reference easier. The Latin version or the Vulgate was the official version in the Middle Ages, but after the reformation, there was a desire to translate the Bible into other national languages. These included translations by Luther into German, and into English by Wycliffe [1384], and Tyndale[1526] Other versions in English followed. The familiar King James'version in 1611, the Revised standard version, the New International version and the Good news Bible, are some of the these. [Reference-Lions Handbook of the Bible] At the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th centuries, Bible societies were formed as part of the church's mission to propagate the Christian message, by translating and distributing Bibles to all the peoples of the world. The number of versions run into several hundreds, and translating the Bible into other languages continues, through the work of dedicated specialist groups. Sinhala and Tamil versions of the Bible too are available as also Bible tracts for distribution and can be readily obtained from the Ceylon Bible Society which has been in existence in this country for nearly two centuries. Unique features of Christianity The Bible is a repository of Chritian teachings on ethical behaviour on truth and honesty, on forgiveness and tempering justice with mercy, on the importance of love, on being sincere while eschewing hypocracy and double-talk, and such. Such ethical values have much in common with teachings of the other great religions. However Christianity has unique features as taught in the Bible, in that Jesus Christ was indeed unique. The Bible teaches that Jesus was God incarnate, and the Son of God who was sent to save a fallen world. Fallen through the wiles of Satan, when Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation and ate of the forbidden fruit.[Ref Genesis] Christians believe that Jesus though being sinless was sent into the world by God His Father, being born to a virgin, Mary, to offer himself as a sacrifice for our sins and through His suffering and death on the cross and resurrection, that He has brought to us the gift of forgiveness, whereby even a convicted murderer who is truly repentant can become as white as snow and receive the gift of salvation and eternal life. This doctrine of repentance, forgiveness and the promise of eternal life through the Blood of Christ is unique to Christianity, and attracts many from other faiths into the Christian fold. Christians also believe that after the resurrection of Christ celebrated at Easter, that Christ sent the Holy Spirit as the Comforter to empower them and to intercede on their behalf. The Christian's mission The other feature that attracts non Christians to turn to the Christian Faith is Christian witness in helping the poor and the needy. The work of Mother Therese in the slums of Calcutta is a good recent example. I heard her once being interviewed on radio when she explained that she was not trying to win converts, just performing her Christian duty and calling in helping the poorest of the poor to die with dignity. However she stated that if it happened that any person accepted Christ through her life and example then she would be filled with joy. Numerous examples of nuns and missionaries going out to help the untouchables and lepers and even facing death, is well documented. The parable of the Sheep and the Goats The Christ given mission to His followers to help the needy is amply described in His parable on 'the sheep and the goats'. - S. Mathew Ch25: v31-46. On judgement day at the second coming of Christ who will come as Judge and King, He will separate the Sheep from the Goats to His Right and to His Left. He will tell the "Sheep" on His right "Come you who are blessed, by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me". Then the righteous will ask "when did we see you hungry? When did we see you thirsty......?"-and so on?. Jesus continues - "The King will reply I tell you the truth whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine you did it unto me." He will pose similar questions to the "Goats" on His left and pronounce judgement - "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels". At a midnight service I attended on New Years eve the preacher, a senior priest, based his sermon on the above parable. Owing to recent attacks on churches, there were armed guards present outside. He told his flock, that irrespective of threats or intimidation, or whatever others may say, unjustly, about one's motives, a Christian is called to minister to the poor and the needy, - placing one's total trust in a loving and all powerful God, who is present in all situations. That indeed is part of Christian Witness, as taught in this parable. The Bible the true way In Christ's sermon on the mount, Mathew Chs 5-7, which incidentally Mahatma Gandhi counted as among the best sermons ever preached, is found the passage " Not everyone who says unto me Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven". See Ch7:21-23. Christianity cannot ever be considered a mere "manthram" to reach eternal heavenly bliss, and Christians whatever their status, need to be well balanced in their knowledge, understanding and practice of their faith. Christians have the promise of Gods Grace through Faith, but are also called to repentance and to do His Will. That is the path to Christian Witness, and the Bible as the inspired Word of God, can best show each of us, the true way, when we study it prayerfully under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (The writer is a Chartered Civil Engineer and a member of the Anglican Church.) |
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