Difference between revisions of "Primordial theology"

Revision as of 09:52, 2 August 2014

Some claim that Christianity is simply an adaptation of pagan religions that predated it. It would appear to be impossible to refute that claim if the unstated claims are allowed to stand without challenge.

Which came first?

It is implied that Christian theology did not exist until the time of Christ or thereafter. If that is true, simply showing that theological elements existed before the time of Christ suffices to prove that Christianity borrowed from pagan religions.

However, a cursory review of a few scriptures is sufficient to show that the New Testament authors believed that they derived their doctrine from the Old Testament. (1). It is unfortunate that many Christian dismiss the Old Testament as being irrelevant, since they do not know how to derive New Testament teaching from the Old Testament as Jesus and the apostles did. They lack the ability to read SP.

Since NT authors derived their doctrine from the Old Testament, this pushes the date of the earliest Christian doctrine concerning Christ to the earliest recorded scriptures.

(1)

Mt 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Mt 26:54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

Mt 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Mr 14:49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.

Mr 15:28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

Lu 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Lu 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Lu 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Lu 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

Joh 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Joh 7:42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

Joh 13:18 ¶ I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Joh 19:24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Joh 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

Joh 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

Joh 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

Joh 20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

Ac 1:16 Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

Ac 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

Ac 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

Ac 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

Ac 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Ac 18:28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, [and that] publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

Ro 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

Ro 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Ro 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Ro 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Ga 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, [saying], In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Ga 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Ga 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Jas 2:8 ¶ If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

How early?

Traditionally it has been believed that Genesis was written by Moses around the time of the Exodus. This would place the earliest doctrine about 1400 BC. Again it would appear that the pagan religions predated Judaism. However, P.J. Wiseman has demonstrated a distinct parallel between the structure of Genesis and that of clay tablets dating back to 2300 B.C. (2)

The implication of Wiseman's observation is that "Genesis 1-37 could be a transcript from the oldest series of written records." It could have been written by the eyewitnesses to the events. This places the earliest date of possible prophecies concerning Christ and Christian doctrine to shortly after the day that man was created. If this is true, then doctrine concerning Christ, if it is found in Genesis 1-10, is the primordial theology.

2

"Ancient Records and the Structure of Genesis", P.J. Wiseman.

Theological elements

Specifically, the list below are elements that they claim have been lifted from pagan religions:

Baptism

Afterlife

Final judgement

Virgin birth

Death and resurrection

Crucifixion

Ark of the Covenant

Circumcision

Saviors

Holy Communion

Great flood

Easter

Christmas

Passover

Baptism

Afterlife

Final judgement

Virgin birth

Death and resurrection

Crucifixion

Ark of the Covenant

Circumcision

Saviors

Holy Communion

Great flood

Easter

Christmas

Passover