BiblicalInsights.net

     Recently, the Christian Chronicle (Oct., 2008) printed two articles that reviewed a new one-volume commentary on the entire Bible.  The commentary is called, The Transforming Word. It is edited by: Mark Hamilton, Ken Cukrowski, Nancy Shankle, James Thompson and John Willis.  The new book is published by ACU Press, Abilene, TX (2008) and sells for $69.95.  It covers the entire Bible in 1,140 pages.  Among the 30 authors are representatives of eight colleges and universities associated with Churches of Christ. 
     Various problems with this new book have been identified.  Basically, the book follows many of the higher critics in questioning significant aspects of the Bible.  For example, the book refutes the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch.  It affirms, “The Pentateuch appears to preserve several streams of tradition that did not necessarily originate at the same time” (ref. Christian Chronicle, pp. 36-37).   This statement affirms redaction in regards to the compilation of the material in the Penteteuch. 
     Another problem, the commentary denies the single authorship of the book of Isaiah.  Cecil May Jr. writes, “So the commentary says at least three authors over the course of three centuries wrote this long, prophetic book, though Jesus and the apostles quote from all parts of it and invariably ascribe its words to Isaiah” (Chrisitan Chronicle, 36).  The apostle John quotes from Isa. 53:1 and references Isaiah as the writer.  He also quotes from Isa. 6:10 and references Isaiah as the source (John 12:37-41). 
     The commentary also denies the historicity of the story of Jonah.  This new work concludes that Jonah “is probably a religious drama” (Terry Briley, Christian Chronicle, 37).  It affirms that Jonah was written some time after the Babylonian Captivity.  This would mean that Jonah, the prophet, did not write the book.
     Finally, the commentary states, “There is no unequivocal specific prediction of the coming of Jesus Christ and/or the church in the Old Testament.  New Testament speakers reinterpreted and reapplied Old Testament texts to Christ and/or the church ” (Cecil May Jr., Christian Chronicle, 36).  This means that there is no Messianic prophecy in the Old Testament and no prophecy concerning the coming kingdom (the church).  This is an incredible statement!  It destroys an important link between prophecy and its fulfillment  which is an important evidence of the inspiration of the Bible and the true identity of Jesus Christ as the Messiah. 
     Personally, I could not recommend this commentary for use by Bible students.  There are other problems with it that I did not mention.   I am warning others about it because they may ignorantly attempt to use it and be unaware of its dangerous contents.

     “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44).  Jesus gives the chief identifying characteristic of Satan–he is a deceiver of the hearts of men.  One of Satan’s most important methods of operation is to attempt to imitate the work of God and pass it off as the real thing.  Satan attempts to counterfeit God’s work. 
     Counterfeits are imitations of God’s work.  Can Satan duplicate God’s work?  In Exodus 7:8-12; 22-23, the magicians of Egypt were called upon to duplicate the miracles of God.  They duplicated the miraculous transformation of Aaron’s rod into a serpent (Ex. 7:10) by enchantments.  Enchantments refers to secret magic arts or trickery.  They used sleight of hand to deceive people (including Pharaoh) into thinking they had great power.  In fact, they did not possess any power.  They also duplicated the miracles performed by Moses of turning the water into blood (Ex. 7:22) and the plague of frogs (Ex. 8:7).  Keep in mind that these performances were only tricks, magic, and not a demonstration of any real power.  In Ex. 8:18, we are told that the magicians of Egypt attempted to duplicate the plague of lice, but failed.  Their ingenuity falied them!  They did not duplicate any of the remaining plagues either.  There is a limit to Satan’s ability to duplicate all that God can do. 
     Counterfeits are inferior to God’s work.  The magicians of Egypt made their rods turn into serpents.  Aaron’s rod, changed into a serpent, consummed their rods (serpents).  God demonstrated His superiority over them.  The magicians were completely powerless to take away any of the plagues wrought by the power of God.  This is a tremendous distinction between their fakery and God’s power.  God’s power brought the plagues and God’s power removed the plagues.  The magicians failed to match the scope of God’s power.  They were forced to admit the “finger of God” (Ex. 8:19).  “Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.”  Pharaoh’s own magicians admitted what he refused to admit: that God’s power was superior to their tricks.
     Counterfeits inspire evil men to greater evil.  The magicians imitated some of the work of God.  The result was that Pharaoh’s heart was further hardened in unbelief.  Counterfeits of Satan produce unbelief in the hearts of men and cause them to reject the true God.  Pharaoh’s unbelief led to the destruction of Egypt and ultimately to his own life. 
     We must love the truth and reject all lies of Satan.  Whenever we carefully compare the work of Satan to the work of God, we can discover a real difference.  We must reject fakes and invest in the true work of God. 
     There is an important application of this lesson to the discovery of true religion in our world today.  How do we distinguish false religion from true religion?  How can we know the difference between the true church and false ones?  The church of the New Testament has indentifying marks that set it apart from all others.  The church of the New Testament was established on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:1, 47).  It began in the city of Jerusalem (Isa. 2:1-4, Acts 1, 2).  Jesus built the church (Matt. 16:16-18) and died for it (Eph. 5:23-27).   Multitudes became members of the church by believing the Gospel proclaimed by the apostles, repenting of their sins, and being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38).  The church continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42) and worshipped and served God.  The church is made up of men and women who have responded by faith to the message of the Gospel and have obeyed the Lord’s commands (Matt. 28:18-20).  We can be a part of the New Testament church by following the teaching and example of Jesus Christ.  When we do so, we become a part of the church Jesus built and died for–the church of Christ.