Bybelstudie / Bible Study – Opstanding / Resurrection – 4

English follows after Afrikaans

Voordat ons Paulus se getuienis in 1 Korintiërs 15 bestudeer en aanvaar, kom ons kyk eers na ‘n tydlyn (Datums is by benadering, so naby as wat konsensus bereik kan word).

• 30nC sterf Jesus aan die kruia. Kort hierna begin Petrus, Jakobus die broer van Jesus en die ander apostels Jesus se opstanding en Goddelikheid verkondig. Handelinge 2
• 32 of 33nC ontmoet Paulus die opgestane Heer op die pad na Damaskus en kom tot bekering. Hand 9
• 35nC gaan Paulus Jerusalem toe om die apostels Petrus en Jakobus te ontmoet en om seker te maak dat die Evangelie wat hy verkondig dieselfde waarhede bevat as wat die ooggetuies van Jesus se lewe, dood en opstanding ook verkondig. Die ander het sy boodskap bevestig. Gal 1:18-19.
• 51nC verkondig Paulus die evangelie van Jesus aan die mense in Korinte, en baie kom tot bekering. Hierna word in 1 Korintiërs verwys.
• 55nC skryf Paulus 1 Korintiërs en gee die feite oor Jesus weer wat hy van die ander apostels gekry het en wat hy self geweet het waar was.

Paulus die vervolger het totaal verander – hoekom? Hy verwys self na sy ontmoeting met die opgestane Here op die pad na Damaskus as die rede vir sy verandering. Hy skryf self oor sy bekering vanaf ‘n vervolger van die kerk na een wat die evangelie verkondig in die briewe aan die gemeentes in Korinte, Galate en Fillipi.

Paulus was gevrees deur die gelowiges. Oor hom sê hulle: “Hy wat ons voorheen vervolg het, verkondig nou die geloof wat hy vroeër probeer vernietig het!” (Gal 1:22-23) Ander het geweet van sy aksies teen die kerk voor hy gelowig geword het. Ons weet van Paulus se vroeëre lewe deur Paulus se eie getuienis, Lukas se rekord in Handelinge en ook die stories oor hom wat in Galate versprei is.

Sy oortuiging dat hy die opgestane Here ontmoet het was so sterk dat hy, soos die oorspronklike dissipels, bereid was om te ly vir die evangelie, selfs tot op die punt van martelaarskap. Hierdie punt is goed gedokumenteer deur Paulus self, sowel as Lukas, Klemens van Rome, Policarpus, Tertullianus, Dionysius van Korinte en Origines. Ons het daarom veelvuldige, vroeë en eerstehandse getuienis daarvan dat Pauls bekeer is van ‘n sterk teenstander van die Christelike geloof tot een van die geloof se grootste verkondigers. Die ontmoeting met die Opgestane Jesus het hom verander!

Galasiërs 1:11-24

11 Ek wil hê julle moet weet, broers, dat die evangelie wat deur my verkondig is, nie ‘n menslike saak is nie; 12 want ek het dit nie van ‘n mens ontvang of geleer nie, maar wel deur ‘n openbaring van Jesus Christus. 13 Julle het immers gehoor hoe ek vroeër volgens die Joodse godsdiens geleef het, dat ek die kerk van God tot die uiterste vervolg en dit probeer vernietig het, 14 en dat ek in die uitlewing van die Joodse godsdiens baie van my tydgenote in my volk oortref het, deurdat ek my soveel meer beywer het vir die tradisies van my voorvaders. 15 Toe God dit egter goedgevind het – Hy wat my afgesonder het van voor my geboorte af en my deur sy genade geroep het – 16 om sy Seun aan my te openbaar, sodat ek Hom aan die heidene sou verkondig, het ek nie dadelik vlees en bloed geraadpleeg nie. 17 Ook het ek nie na Jerusalem opgegaan na hulle wat vóór my apostels was nie, maar ek het wel na Arabië gegaan, en toe weer na Damaskus teruggekeer. 

18 Eers later, ná drie jaar, het ek na Jerusalem opgegaan om Sefas te ontmoet, en ek het vyftien dae by hom gebly; 19 maar van die apostels het ek niemand anders gesien nie, behalwe Jakobus, die broer van die Here. 20 Wat ek vir julle skryf, kyk, dit sê ek voor God – ek lieg nie! 21 Later het ek na die streke van Sirië en Silisië gegaan, 22 maar ek was persoonlik onbekend by die Christelike gemeentes in Judea. 23 Al wat hulle steeds bly hoor het, was: “Hy wat ons voorheen vervolg het, verkondig nou die geloof wat hy vroeër probeer vernietig het!” 24 En hulle het God oor my verheerlik.

• Wat tref jou in die gedeelte?
• Lees dit weer, hoe laat dit jou voel?
• Lees dit ‘n derde keer. Wat kan jy met jou saamneem?

Bibliographie

Habermas, Gary. (2020): Evidence For The Historical Jesus: Is the Jesus of History the Christ of Faith. Christian Publishing House. 

Habermas, Gary R, and Licona, Michael R. (2004): The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus. Kregel Publications.

Afrikaans hierbo / English below

Before we study and accept Paul’s witness in 1 Corinthians 15, let us look at a timeline (dates are approximate, as close as we can get consensus on them):

• In 30 AD, Jesus died by crucifixion. Shortly thereafter, Peter, James the brother of Jesus, and the other apostles preached Jesus’ resurrection and deity. Acts 2
• In 32 AD, Paul met the risen Christ while he was on the road to Damascus and became a Christian. Acts 9
• In 35 AD, Paul went to Jerusalem to meet the apostles Peter and James and to check out his gospel to see if his message contained the same truths that the other eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection also preached. The others confirmed his message. Gal 1:18-19
• Then in 51 AD, Paul preached the gospel orally to people in Corinth, and many become Christians. As referred to in 1 Corinthians.
• In 55 AD, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians and recorded the facts that he received from the other apostles about Jesus and knew to be true himself.

Paul the persecutor changed totally – why? He himself refers to his meeting the risen Christ on the road to Damascus as a reason for his change. In his letters to the churches in Corinth, Galatia, and Philippi, Paul himself writes of his conversion from being a persecutor of the church to one who strongly promoted the Christian message.

Paul was in fact feared amongst the believers: “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy,” verifying that others either knew or had heard of his pre-Christian actions against the church (Gal 1:22-23). Thus, Paul’s notorious pre-Christian activities and conversion are multiply attested. We have Paul’s own testimony, Luke’s record in Acts, and a story that was circulating among Christians in Galatia.

His belief that he had witnessed the risen Christ was so strong that he, like the original disciples, was willing to suffer continuously for the sake of the gospel, even to the point of martyrdom. This point is well documented, reported by Paul himself, as well as Luke, Clement of Rome, Polycarp, Tertullian, Dionysius of Corinth, and Origen. Therefore, we have early, multiple, and firsthand testimony that Paul converted from being a staunch opponent of Christianity to one of its greatest proponents. Meeting the risen Christ changed him!

Galatians 1:11-24

11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles – only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie. 21 Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: ‘The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.’ 24 And they praised God because of me.

• What strikes you in this passage?
• Read it again, how does it make you feel?
• Read it a third time, what can you take with you?

Bibliography

Habermas, Gary. (2020): Evidence For The Historical Jesus: Is the Jesus of History the Christ of Faith. Christian Publishing House. 

Habermas, Gary R, and Licona, Michael R. (2004): The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus. Kregel Publications. 

Hand 7:55-60 – “Jesus bly vir my alles!”

Gepreek by die NGK Stutterheim 7 Mei 2023

Ons weet wat ‘n martelaar is. Ja, dit is iemand wat gemartel word omdat hy of sy glo. In die geskiedenis van die kerk was daar baie Christene wat gemartel is net omdat hulle in Jesus glo! 

Sommige van hulle is in ‘n arena gesit saam met leeus. In die middel was daar ‘n oop gedeelte en rondom baie sitplekke vir die toeskouers. Die mense het gesit en kyk hoe die leeus die Christene verskeur. So ken ons die verhale van hoe Nero Christene vervolg het, van hoe mense onthoof en op brandstapels verbrand is. 

Wat mens soms vergeet is dat daar vandag nog mense is wat vir hulle geloof in Jesus gemartel word. Een van die plekke waar dit redelik onlangs nog gebeur het, was Soedan, in die noorde van Afrika. Die regering was onder die beheer van Moslems en hulle wou die Christene uitroei. Daar was ‘n lang burgeroorlog tussen die groepe – vir 22 jaar lank (van 1983 tot 2005). Twee en ‘n half miljoen mense is doodgemaak. Helfte van hulle was van die Anglikaanse kerk. Baie kerkleiers is uitgesonder en het ‘n marteldood gesterf.

Kamal Tutu, ‘n Christen in die suide van Soedan, het kwaai brandwonde opgedoen toe die regering hulle kerk aangeval het. Hy vertel: “Hulle het die priester gevang en hom vermoor, saam met ander priesters in die omgewing. Baie mense is in die kerk aan die brand gesteek. Hulle het my vasgemaak en my in die son gelos. Nadat hulle die kerk met die mense daarin afgebrand het, het hulle my op die gloeiende kole van die afgebrande kerkgebou gegooi. Toe het hulle vertrek. My hande is permanent geskend. My vrou moet nou alles vir my doen, want ek kan niks self doen nie – nie eens op my eie eet nie. Maar Jesus bly my alles.”

Ten spyte van hierdie wrede vervolging, het die Christendom verstommend gegroei. 

Daarom word dikwels gesê: Die bloed van die martelare is die saad van die kerk. Dit beteken: As Christene bereid is om te ly omdat hulle in Jesus glo, oortuig dit ook ander om in Hom te glo.

Ons gaan bietjie gesels oor die verhaal van nog ‘n martelaar. Sy naam was Stefanus. Hy het in Jesus se voetspore gevolg en daarom is hy gestenig. Hulle het hom met klippe doodgegooi…

Hy was een van die diakens wat gekies is om die Griekssprekende weduwees te versorg. Hy is egter op valse klagtes voor die Joodse Raad gebring, waar hy hulle aangevat het oor die kruisiging van Jesus. Hulle het boosaardig geword en hom gestenig.

Stefanus sien egter ‘n ander realiteit raak. Dit is juis hoekom die mense hom wil stenig. Hy kies doelbewus om God te volg. Dit is veral duidelik in sy laaste woorde: “Here Jesus, ontvang my gees!” (v 59). Ten spyte van die mense se haat bid Stefanus vir hulle. Hy gebruik ‘n Joodse slaaptydgebed en bid: “Here, moet hulle tog nie hierdie sonde toereken nie!” (v 60). 

Stefanus word beskryf as iemand wat vol is van die Heilige Gees. Stefanus doen wat van hom verwag is, maar die mense het nie verstaan nie. Net soos met Jesus wou hulle hom dood hê. 

Die Afrikaanse spreekwoord lui: Die waarheid maak seer. Stefanus se opponente skreeu en bedek hul ore. Hulle is woedend. Hulle toon ‘n rou haat teenoor iemand wat hulle nie ken of verstaan nie. 

Maar die Gees van God is by Stefanus, nie teen hom nie. Dikwels voel dit of God nie regtig aan ons kant is nie. Dinge gebeur wat nie moet nie. In ‘n oomblik waar ons absolute angs en paniek sou verstaan, ervaar Stefanus egter die glorie van God. Hy sien Jesus aan die regterkant van God staan. Die posisie dui die belangrike plek van Jesus aan, maar ook dat God die heerser is oor die heelal. Jesus staan, Hy sit nie, soos ons gewoonlik in die Evangelies lees nie. Dit dui op Jesus se gereedheid om Stefanus te verwelkom en om as sy advokaat op te tree.

Met ‘n teks soos hierdie op ons harte ingegraveer kan ons die lewe aanpak.

Bybelstudie / Bible Study – Opstanding / Resurrection – 3

English follows after Afrikaans

In die vorige Bybelstudie het ons saamgestem dat Jesus werklik gesterf het a.g.v. Sy kruisiging. Maar opgestaan? Kan ons werklik die vroegste getuies – die dissipels – glo? Kom ons kyk na die getuienis wat ons het: (1) Die dissipels het self getuig dat die opgestane Jesus aan hulle verskyn het, en (2) daarna is hulle gedrag totaal verander van bang, wegkruipende individue wat Hom verloën en verlaat het tydens Sy gevangeneming en kruisiging na sterk verkondigers van die evangelie van die opgestane Heer. 

Eerstens, die dissipels het getuig dat Hy opgestaan het en aan hulle verskyn het. Hierdie gevolgtrekking kan gemaak word uit nege vroeë en onafhanklike bronne wat in drie kategorieë uiteengesit kan word: (1) Paulus se getuienis oor die dissipels; (2) die vroeë kerk se mondelinge tradisie; en (3) die geskrewe werke van die vroeë kerk.

Kom ons kyk na ‘n opsomming van die feite oor die drie kategorieë: (1) Paulus het beweer dat sy gesag in die kerk dieselfde was as die van die ander apostels (2 Kor 10:8, 11:5, 13:10, 1 Tess 2:6, 4:2, Filippense 1:21). Sy gesag is erken deur die apostoliese vaders van die vroeë kerk kort na die Nuwe Testament voltooi is (Paulus se geskrifte word 21 keer deur vyf van die apostoliese vaders aangehaal). Paulus het sommige van die apostels geken, ook die “groot drie”, Petrus, Jakobus en Johannes (Gal 1:18–19; 2:2–20). Handelinge rapporteer dat Paulus en die dissipels mekaar geken en saam aanbid het (Hand 9:26–30; 15:1–35). Ander christelike skrywers uit die tydperk binne ‘n 100 jaar na Christus se opstanding sien Paulus en die ander as kollegas, aangesien hulle Paulus insluit by die “apostels”.

Apostoliese Vaders: Christelike skrywers van die eerste en tweede eeue wie se leringe ooreengestem het met die prediking van die twaalf apostels. Hulle het nie noodwendig die apostels geken het nie, alhoewel hulle in kontak met hulle kon gewees het.

(2) Voor die dae van selfone en bandopnemers het mense hulle geheue gebruik om belangrike feite te onthou! Wanneer hierdie feite oor geloof in God en Jesus gaan word dit ‘n geloofsbelydenis genoem. Een van die vroegste en belangrikste geloofsbelydenisse word aangehaal deur Paulus in sy brief aan die kerk in Korinthe (c.55 nC) (15:3-5): “Christus het vir ons sondes gesterf, volgens die Skrifte; Hy is begrawe en op die derde dag opgewek, volgens die Skrifte; en Hy het aan Sefas verskyn, en toe aan die twaalf.”

(3) In die geskrifte van die vroeë kerk is daar baie verwysings daarna dat die dissipels dit geglo het toe dié gesê het dat hulle Jesus na Sy kruisiging gesien het. Die meeste van die dissipels het met hulle lewens betaal vir hierdie geloof. Tertullianus, ‘n vroeë kerkvader (c.160-c.240 nC) sê as ‘n mens nie die Christelike rekords aangaande die martelaarskap van sommige van die apostels wil glo nie, hulle welkom is om dit in die publieke rekords aangaande “The lives of the Caesars” te gaan lees.

AANHALING: Die dissipels se gewilligheid om te ly en te sterf vir hulle geloof dui aan dat hulle daardie geloof as die waarheid gesien het. Die saak is baie sterk dat hulle nie sommer na willekeur gelieg het oor die ontmoetings met die opgestane Here nie. Leuenaars is nie goeie martelare nie. 

Acts 4:1-3, 13

1Terwyl hulle nog besig was om die volk toe te spreek, het die priesters en die bevelvoerder van die tempelwag en die Sadduseërs op hulle afgekom, 2 hewig ontsteld omdat hulle die volk onderrig en in Jesus die opstanding uit die dood verkondig. 3 Hulle het hulle toe gevange geneem en onder bewaking geplaas tot die volgende môre, omdat dit reeds aand was. 

13 Toe hulle Petrus en Johannes se vrymoedigheid sien en besef dat hulle ongeleerd en leke is, was hulle verbaas en het hulle hulle herken as mense wat saam met Jesus was. 

• Wat tref jou in hierdie gedeelte?
• Lees dit weer, hoe laat dit jou voel?
• Lees dit ‘n derde keer, wat kan jy saam met jou neem?

Bibliografie

Habermas, Gary. (2020): Evidence For The Historical Jesus: Is the Jesus of History the Christ of Faith. Christian Publishing House. 

Habermas, Gary R, and Licona, Michael R. (2004): The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus. Kregel Publications. 

Smit, G.D.S (2003): Mens en natuur – ‘n Bronnestudie oor die Bybelse- en na-Bybelse perspektiewe. Ongepubliseerde M.A. (Grieks) verhandeling. Univ van Pretoria

Wright, N.T.; Bird, Michael F. (2019): The New Testament in Its World. Zondervan Academic. 

English, Afrikaans hierbo

We agreed in the previous study that Jesus actually died as a result of the crucifixion. But resurrected? Can we believe the earliest witnesses – the disciples? First of all (1) the disciples themselves claimed that the risen Jesus had appeared to them, and (2) subsequent to Jesus’ death by crucifixion, his disciples were radically transformed from fearful, cowering individuals who denied and abandoned him at his arrest and execution into bold proclaimers of the gospel of the risen Lord.

Jesus’ disciples claimed he rose from the dead and appeared to them. This conclusion can be reached from nine early and independent sources that fall into three categories: (1) the testimony of Paul about the disciples; (2) the oral tradition that passed through the early church; and (3) the written works of the early church.

Let us look at a summary of the facts: Paul claimed that his own authority in the church was equal to that of the other apostles (2 Cor 10:8; 11:5; 13:10; 1 Thess 2:6; 4:2; Phil 1:21). That authority was acknowledged by a number of the apostolic fathers soon after the completion of the New Testament (Paul’s writings are cited twenty-one times by five of the apostolic fathers). Paul reported that he knew at least some of the other disciples, even the big three, Peter, James, and John (Gal 1:18–19; 2:2–20). Acts reports that the disciples and Paul knew and fellowshipped with one another (Acts 9:26–30; 15:1–35). Other early Christian writers within one hundred years of Jesus also seemed to hold that the disciples and Paul were colleagues, since they included Paul in the group called “apostles.”

Apostolic Fathers: Christian writers from the first and second ages who taught the same as the apostles. They didn’t necessarily know the apostles, although they could have been in contact with them.

Before the days of cellphones and tape recorders people used to orally remember important facts. When it comes to believes about God and Jesus these are called creeds. One of the earliest and most important is quoted in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church (c. A.D. 55). He wrote in 15:3–5, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”

Regarding the writings of the early church there are numerous examples citing that they believed the disciples that they saw Jesus after His crucifixion. Most of them paid with their lives for that believe. Let me quote one church father on this: According to Tertullian (c160-c240AD), if one did not want to believe the Christian records concerning the martyrdoms of some of the apostles, he could find the information in the public records, namely “the lives of the Caesars.”

QUOTE: The disciples’ willingness to suffer and die for their beliefs indicates that they certainly regarded those beliefs as true. The case is strong that they did not wilfully lie about the appearances of the risen Jesus. Liars make poor martyrs.

Acts 4:1-3, 13

1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

• What strikes you in this passage?
• Read it again, how does it make you feel?
• Read it a third time, what can you take with you?

Bibliography

Habermas, Gary. (2020): Evidence For The Historical Jesus: Is the Jesus of History the Christ of Faith. Christian Publishing House. 

Habermas, Gary R, and Licona, Michael R. (2004): The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus. Kregel Publications. 

Smit, G.D.S (2003): Mens en natuur – ‘n Bronnestudie oor die Bybelse- en na-Bybelse perspektiewe. Ongepubliseerde M.A. (Grieks) verhandeling. Univ van Pretoria

Wright, N. T.; Bird, Michael F. (2019): The New Testament in Its World. Zondervan Academic. 

1 Cor 15:1-11 – Life before death!

Preached at the Stutterheim Presbyterian church – 23 Apr 2023

What do you belief? Paul uses an ancient confession of faith, a creed if you want to, to summarise the whole of the Gospel. (:3-4) “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” In verse 5 and further he then adds that Jesus appeared, after the resurrection, to Cephas and then a long list of other people. These are the four pillars of our faith! Christ died, was buried, raised on the third day and appeared physically to people, even ate with them!

These pillars are the Gospel that Paul received and preached to the Corinthians, which they accepted and on which they have taken their stand. These 5 verses basically gives the foundation for our faith.

Now where did this confession of faith that Paul received come from? People that study lamguage, like the German theologian Joachim Jeremias, shows that the whole structure of verses 3 to 7 is Aramaic (The version of Hebrew that Jews spoke in Jesus’ time). So firstly, it must be from early christians, who were mostly jewish. Secondly, Paul writes in Galatians 1:18 that he spent 15 days with Peter three years after him meeting the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. He also spent time with James, Jesus’ brother and leader of the church in Jerusalem, at this time. These were some of the early witnesses that met the risen Christ. It is most probable that he received this confession of faith at that time.

Paul thinks it is important to write about this, because this is the foundation of our faith, “of first importance” (:3). It was important to mention this to the church in Corinth because there was division, especially about the resurrection. They lived in a Greco-Roman culture where the immortality of the soul was accepted, but resurrection of the body… that’s nonsense! Even for us today this remains a strange thing, almost unbelievable. That is why Paul spends a lot of time giving the names of people that met Jesus, because for him, this, the resurrection, is the final proof that Jesus is the promised Messiah. The resurrection is so central that he says in :17: “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile.”

As christians we can differ about lots of things – and we do!! The way we worship, the way we structure services, the way we baptise, hold communion, etc, etc. The one thing, “of first importance”, that we can’t differ about is the fact that Jesus died, was buried, rose and appeared to people. 

This faith is important because it makes a difference to how we live NOW, not only one day or in the afterlife. As another german theologian puts it: “Where Jesus is, there is life… abundant life, vigorous life, loved life. There is life before death. (Jürgen Moltmann)”.

And this “life before death” is what is important. We don’t live a life “before death” in order that we may go to heaven one day. We live a “life before death” because I met the risen Christ somewhere in my life, I am in church this morning, in this service, because I met the risen Christ somewhere in my life, I worship and honour God because I met the risen Christ. But more than that! I am still meeting Hom daily in my life in trust, in faith. 

That is our hope, no, better, He is our hope! For life before death and life after death. 

Bybelstudie / Bible Study – Resurrection / Opstanding – 2

English follows after Afrikaans

Voordat ons na die opstanding self kyk moet ons onsself afvra – is Jesus ooit gekruisig en het Hy werklik aan die kruis gesterf? Vir ‘n gelowige mag hierdie dalk na ‘n onnosel vraag klink, maar daar is mense wat beweer dat Jesus nooit gekruisig is nie. Of, indien Hy wel gekruisig is, dat Hy nie werklik gesterf het nie. Islam se Koran beweer dat Jesus opgevaar het na die hemel voor die kruisiging. Ander beweer dat Hy bloot flou geword het of in ‘n semi-koma verval het.

Kruisiging is algemeen deur die Romeine gebruik om lede van die laer klasse, slawe, soldate, geweldadige rebelle en aangeklaagdes van verraad te straf. Josephus, die 1^ste eeuse Joodse geskiedskrywer, vertel dat gedurende die val van Jerusalem in 70nC die Romeinse soldate sulke haat vir die Jode gehad het, dat hulle ‘n menigte van hulle in verskillende posisies gekruisig het. In die 1^ste eeu vC noem Cicero dit die aakligste marteling. So erg is die kruisiging gesien dat hy skryf dat die woord “kruis” ver verwyder moet word van ‘n Romeinse burger, asook sy oë, gedagtes en ore. In die 2^de eeu verwys Tacitus daarna as die uiterste straf. 

Al vier die evangelies teken aan dat Jesus gekruisig is. ‘n Klompie nie-Christelike bronne uit daardie tyd noem dit ook. Josephus skryf dat, “toe Pilatus hoor dat Hy aangekla word deur manne van die hoogste stand onder ons, hy Hom oorgegee het om gekruisig te word”. Tacitus skryf ook dat “Nero die skuld (vir die brand van Rome) op ‘n klas wat gehaat is vir hulle gruwels geplaas het. Hulle is Christene genoem deur die bevolking. Christus, van wie die naam afkomstig is, het die uiterste straf ondergaan gedurende die heerskappy van Tiberius aan die hand van een van ons prokurators, Pontius Pilatus.” Lucianus van Samosata, ‘n Griekse satirikus, skryf: “Die Christene aanbid jou werklik ‘n man tot vandag toe – die vooraanstaande persoonlikheid wat hulle nuwe rites ingestel het en daarvoor gekruisig is.” Die Romeinse filosoof Mara Bar-Serapion skryf in ‘n brief aan sy seun vanuit die tronk: “Wat se voordeel het die Jode behaal deur die moord op hulle Wyse Koning, siende dat hulle van daardie tyd af hulle koninkryk net verder verloor het.” Alhoewel Mara nie kruisiging as die metode van Jesus se dood noem nie, sê hy wel dat Hy doodgemaak is. Die Joodse Talmus rapporteer dat “Yeshu op die vooraand van die Pasga opgehang is.” Yeshu is Josua in Hebreeus, Iēsous of Jesus in Grieks. Om gehang te word aan ‘n hout was die manier om kruisiging te beskryf in antieke tye. Duidelik is Jesus se kruisiging ‘n historiese feit wat deur ‘n klomp getuienis gestaaf word. 

Die hoogs kritiese geleerde van die “Jesus Seminar”, John Dominic Crossan, skryf, “That he was crucified is as sure as anything historical can ever be.”

Net een opmerking rakende die bewering dat Jesus net flou geword het aan die kruis – nadat Hy gegesel is, geslaan is, gekruisig is met spykers deur Sy voete en gewrigte, sou Jesus bo-menslike krag moes gehad het om die klip weg te rol voor die graf en om dan ‘n aansienlike afstand te loop na waar die dissipels was. Dit is net nie menslik moontlik nie. 

AANHALING: Geskiedkundiges het duidelik die gereedskap om te sê dat die beste data bevestig dat Jesus dood is as gevolg van Romeinse kruisiging. – Habermas

Acts 2:22-24 (Petrus se toespraak)

22 “Israeliete, luister na hierdie woorde! Jesus van Nasaret was ‘n man wat deur God aan julle bekend gemaak is deur kragtige dade en die wonders en tekens wat God deur Hom in julle midde verrig het, soos julle self ook weet. 23 Julle het hierdie man, wat deur die vaste plan en voorkennis van God uitgelewer is, deur die hand van wettelose mense gekruisig en doodgemaak. 24 God het Hom egter laat opstaan en van die lyding van die dood bevry, omdat dit onmoontlik was dat Hy deur die dood vasgehou word.

• Wat tref jou in hierdie gedeelte?
• Lees dit weer, hoe laat dit jou voel?
• Lees dit ‘n derde keer, wat kan jy saam met jou neem?

Bibliografie

Habermas, Gary. (2020): Evidence For The Historical Jesus: Is the Jesus of History the Christ of Faith. Christian Publishing House. 

Habermas, Gary R, and Licona, Michael R. (2004): The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus. Kregel Publications. 

Wright, N. T.; Bird, Michael F. (2019): The New Testament in Its World. Zondervan Academic. 

English below, Afrikaans hierbo

Before we can look at the facts surrounding Jesus’ resurrection, we have to ask the question – was He actually crucified, and did He actually die? For a believer this sounds like a nonsense question, but there are people who deny that He was crucified. Or, if He was crucified, that He actually died. Islam claims that Jesus was not crucified but ascended into heaven before the crucifixion. Others claim that He just fainted or “swooned”.

Crucifixion was a common form of execution employed by the Romans to punish members of the lower class, slaves, soldiers, the violently rebellious, and those accused of treason. The first-century Jewish historian Josephus reports that during the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the Roman soldiers felt such hatred toward the Jews that they crucified a multitude of them in various postures. In the first century B.C., Cicero calls it the most horrendous torture. So hideous was the act of crucifixion upon a man that he also writes that “the very word ‘cross’ should be far removed not only from the person of a Roman citizen but from his thoughts, his eyes and his ears.” Tacitus in the second century refers to it as “the extreme penalty.”

That Jesus was executed by crucifixion is recorded in all four gospels. However, a number of non-Christian sources of the period report the event as well. Josephus writes, “When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing amongst us, had condemned him to be crucified….” Tacitus reports, “Nero fastened the guilt [of the burning of Rome] and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus.” Lucian of Samosata, the Greek satirist, writes, “The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day—the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account.” The Roman philosopher Mara Bar-Serapion, writing to his son from prison comments, “Or [what advantage came to] the Jews by the murder of their Wise King, seeing that from that very time their kingdom was driven away from them?” Although Mara does not mention crucifixion as the mode of Jesus’ execution, he does say that he was killed. The Talmud reports that “on the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged.” Yeshu is Joshua in Hebrew. The equivalent in Greek is Iēsous or Jesus. Being hung on a tree was used to describe crucifixion in antiquity. Clearly, Jesus’ death by crucifixion is a historical fact supported by considerable evidence.

The highly critical scholar of the Jesus Seminar, John Dominic Crossan, writes, “That he was crucified is as sure as anything historical can ever be.”

Just one comment on the claim that Jesus only fainted – after being flogged, beaten , hung on a cross with nails through His feet and wrists, it would have taken a superhuman effort to roll away the stone from the grave Himself and then walk a distance to where the disciples were. It is just not feasible.

QUOTE: Historians… definitely have the tools to say that our best data indicate that he died as a victim of Roman crucifixion. – Habermas

Acts 2:22-24 (Peter’s speech)

22 ‘Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

• What strikes you in this passage?
• Read it again, how does it make you feel?
• Read it a third time, what can you take with you?

Bibliography

Habermas, Gary. (2020): Evidence For The Historical Jesus: Is the Jesus of History the Christ of Faith. Christian Publishing House. 

Habermas, Gary R, and Licona, Michael R. (2004): The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus. Kregel Publications. 

Wright, N. T.; Bird, Michael F. (2019): The New Testament in Its World. Zondervan Academic.