THE AUTHENTICITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITINGS

General Titus Gaius Arch in the FORUM ROMANUM in Rome

My wife and I visited Rome during April 2016 and the FORUM ROMANUM in Rome was on my list to visit. If you click on this link, you can read about it in inter alia Wikipedia and a host of other websites. This should just wet your appetite to delve deeper into this fascinating place.

I was aware that on the left hand side of the Arch there are reliefs of the war loot he brought back from Jerusalem after he destroyed it in 70 n.C.  And I wanted to see that because the Apostle John's book REVELATION is all about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.

On the inside of this Arch you can see the Jewish minora and the table of the showbread and other artifacts. Just as an aside the Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus writes extensively about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in his WARS OF THE JEWS.

My photograph of the Jewish Minora that was captured by General Titus Gaius in 70 n.C. after he destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.

I knew this Arch was there and I wanted to see it.

But then like a lightning bolt out of clear blue skies, something totally unexpected happened to me while we were walking down into the valley staring at the ancient buildings. All of a sudden on my left hand side I saw this notice board:

Temple of Castor and Pollux

This temple dedicated to Castor and Pollux was built round about 484 BC - that is a very long time ago and here it is standing in all its ancient glory and I was looking at it on my left hand side. I stopped and stared at it and then I grabbed my wife's hand and blurted out: "My dear, I read about Castor and Pollux in the Book of Acts! And now I see a temple dedicated to the patron saints of the seafarers! And it was built a very very long time ago!!

The apostle Paul was on a ship named named after these two guys on his way to Rome to defend himself because of his belief in Jesus Christ in front of the Caesar." You should also bear in mind that we entered the crypt of the St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City just a day or two ago. While we were down in the crypt, father Simon Donelly pointed out the area where the apostle Peter's body was found after he was murdered. All of this was still fresh in my mind, when I came across this amazing place.

 And it looks like this:

I was stunned because I read about Castor and Pollux in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 28: 11. I am of the opinion that it corroborates the Scriptures. When the author of the Book of Acts wrote this down, it was a current thing. The specific verse in Acts reads as follows: "After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux." Please visit the Bible Society of South Africa's website by clicking here. 

You can do a simple exercise and work out how long ago all of this happened. The remains of it still stands for all to see. This simple piece of evidence proofs to me the veracity of the Holy Scriptures. I am still stunned by this experience - I count it as a special blessing.

I intend to do more write-ups about the reliability and authenticity of the New Testament Scriptures. In the meantime, please write me note about your views. My e-mail address is: neelscoertse@wirelessza.co.za 

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DIE BETROUBAARHEID EN OUTENTIEKHEID VAN DIE NUWE TESTAMENTIESE GESKRIFTE

Dis die laaste uitnodiging voor Maandagaand. Ek hoop regtig jy kan dit maak; kom asseblief en gesels saam met ons.

Die snypunt van die Christelike geloof en enige ander godsdiens ter wêreld is die opstanding van Christus. As Hy nie opgestaan het nie, “… is ons verkondiging sinloos, en ook julle geloof sinloos. Boonop word ons as valse getuies vir God bevind, omdat ons teen God getuig het dat Hy Christus  opgewek het …” [1 Korintiërs 15: 14 – 15]. ‘n Valse getuie in ‘n hof is ‘n onding.

Wat het die Apostel Johannes gesien toe hy daar by Golgota gestaan het?

En toe verskyn Christus aan vrouens -  hulle getuienis was uiteraard onder verdenking en hulle sou nooit in ‘n hof kon getuig nie.

Is daar verdere leesstof beskikbaar oor hierdie onderwerpe? Ja – daar is. Ek beveel aan dat jy die webtuiste http://www.apologetics315.com/ opsoek en dit ernstig bestudeer. Moenie ‘n fout maak en dink dat hierdie goeters val uit die lug op ‘n mens nie. Dis harde werk. Tog daag ek jou uit om jou lewe hieraan te wy om Christus te soek en te volg.

Kom luister Maandagaand 25 Julie 2016 om 18:00 in die Parksig Kerksaal, Dundalk Laan, Parksig/Parkview wanneer ek hieroor gaan praat [en oor ander goeters].

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DIE BETROUBAARHEID EN OUTENTIEKHEID VAN DIE NUWE TESTAMENTIESE GESKRIFTE

Dis die laaste uitnodiging voor Maandagaand. Ek hoop regtig jy kan dit maak; kom asseblief en gesels saam met ons.

Die snypunt van die Christelike geloof en enige ander godsdiens ter wêreld is die opstanding van Christus. As Hy nie opgestaan het nie, “… is ons verkondiging sinloos, en ook julle geloof sinloos. Boonop word ons as valse getuies vir God bevind, omdat ons teen God getuig het dat Hy Christus  opgewek het …” [1 Korintiërs 15: 14 – 15]. ‘n Valse getuie in ‘n hof is ‘n onding.

Wat het die Apostel Johannes gesien toe hy daar by Golgota gestaan het?

En toe verskyn Christus aan vrouens -  hulle getuienis was uiteraard onder verdenking en hulle sou nooit in ‘n hof kon getuig nie.

Is daar verdere leesstof beskikbaar oor hierdie onderwerpe? Ja – daar is. Ek beveel aan dat jy die webtuiste http://www.apologetics315.com/ opsoek en dit ernstig bestudeer. Moenie ‘n fout maak en dink dat hierdie goeters val uit die lug op ‘n mens nie. Dis harde werk. Tog daag ek jou uit om jou lewe hieraan te wy om Christus te soek en te volg.

Kom luister Maandagaand 25 Julie 2016 om 18:00 in die Parksig Kerksaal, Dundalk Laan, Parksig/Parkview wanneer ek hieroor gaan praat [en oor ander goeters].

Read More

DIE BETROUBAARHEID EN OUTENTIEKHEID VAN DIE NUWE TESTAMENTIESE GESKRIFTE

Dis die laaste uitnodiging voor Maandagaand. Ek hoop regtig jy kan dit maak; kom asseblief en gesels saam met ons.

Die snypunt van die Christelike geloof en enige ander godsdiens ter wêreld is die opstanding van Christus. As Hy nie opgestaan het nie, “… is ons verkondiging sinloos, en ook julle geloof sinloos. Boonop word ons as valse getuies vir God bevind, omdat ons teen God getuig het dat Hy Christus  opgewek het …” [1 Korintiërs 15: 14 – 15]. ‘n Valse getuie in ‘n hof is ‘n onding.

Wat het die Apostel Johannes gesien toe hy daar by Golgota gestaan het?

En toe verskyn Christus aan vrouens -  hulle getuienis was uiteraard onder verdenking en hulle sou nooit in ‘n hof kon getuig nie.

Is daar verdere leesstof beskikbaar oor hierdie onderwerpe? Ja – daar is. Ek beveel aan dat jy die webtuiste http://www.apologetics315.com/ opsoek en dit ernstig bestudeer. Moenie ‘n fout maak en dink dat hierdie goeters val uit die lug op ‘n mens nie. Dis harde werk. Tog daag ek jou uit om jou lewe hieraan te wy om Christus te soek en te volg.

Kom luister Maandagaand 25 Julie 2016 om 18:00 in die Parksig Kerksaal, Dundalk Laan, Parksig/Parkview wanneer ek hieroor gaan praat [en oor ander goeters].

Read More

DIE BETROUBAARHEID EN OUTENTIEKHEID VAN DIE NUWE TESTAMENTIESE GESKRIFTE

Dis die laaste uitnodiging voor Maandagaand. Ek hoop regtig jy kan dit maak; kom asseblief en gesels saam met ons.

Die snypunt van die Christelike geloof en enige ander godsdiens ter wêreld is die opstanding van Christus. As Hy nie opgestaan het nie, “… is ons verkondiging sinloos, en ook julle geloof sinloos. Boonop word ons as valse getuies vir God bevind, omdat ons teen God getuig het dat Hy Christus  opgewek het …” [1 Korintiërs 15: 14 – 15]. ‘n Valse getuie in ‘n hof is ‘n onding.

Wat het die Apostel Johannes gesien toe hy daar by Golgota gestaan het?

En toe verskyn Christus aan vrouens -  hulle getuienis was uiteraard onder verdenking en hulle sou nooit in ‘n hof kon getuig nie.

Is daar verdere leesstof beskikbaar oor hierdie onderwerpe? Ja – daar is. Ek beveel aan dat jy die webtuiste http://www.apologetics315.com/ opsoek en dit ernstig bestudeer. Moenie ‘n fout maak en dink dat hierdie goeters val uit die lug op ‘n mens nie. Dis harde werk. Tog daag ek jou uit om jou lewe hieraan te wy om Christus te soek en te volg.

Kom luister Maandagaand 25 Julie 2016 om 18:00 in die Parksig Kerksaal, Dundalk Laan, Parksig/Parkview wanneer ek hieroor gaan praat [en oor ander goeters].

Read More

DIE BETROUBAARHEID EN OUTENTIEKHEID VAN DIE NUWE TESTAMENTIESE GESKRIFTE

Dis die laaste uitnodiging voor Maandagaand. Ek hoop regtig jy kan dit maak; kom asseblief en gesels saam met ons.

Die snypunt van die Christelike geloof en enige ander godsdiens ter wêreld is die opstanding van Christus. As Hy nie opgestaan het nie, “… is ons verkondiging sinloos, en ook julle geloof sinloos. Boonop word ons as valse getuies vir God bevind, omdat ons teen God getuig het dat Hy Christus  opgewek het …” [1 Korintiërs 15: 14 – 15]. ‘n Valse getuie in ‘n hof is ‘n onding.

Wat het die Apostel Johannes gesien toe hy daar by Golgota gestaan het?

En toe verskyn Christus aan vrouens -  hulle getuienis was uiteraard onder verdenking en hulle sou nooit in ‘n hof kon getuig nie.

Is daar verdere leesstof beskikbaar oor hierdie onderwerpe? Ja – daar is. Ek beveel aan dat jy die webtuiste http://www.apologetics315.com/ opsoek en dit ernstig bestudeer. Moenie ‘n fout maak en dink dat hierdie goeters val uit die lug op ‘n mens nie. Dis harde werk. Tog daag ek jou uit om jou lewe hieraan te wy om Christus te soek en te volg.

Kom luister Maandagaand 25 Julie 2016 om 18:00 in die Parksig Kerksaal, Dundalk Laan, Parksig/Parkview wanneer ek hieroor gaan praat [en oor ander goeters].

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DIE BETROUBAARHEID EN OUTENTIEKHEID VAN DIE NT GESKRIFTE

Generaal Titus Gaius se Triomfboog in die Romeinse Forum, Rome - dis reg langsaan die Colosseum. 

Wie is Flavius Josephus? En wat het hy te sê oor ons NT geskrifte? 

Dit lyk of Josephus die geskrifte van Paulus geken het want hy het daaruit aangehaal toe hy met die Grieke oor die liggaamlike opstanding uit die dood geargumenteer het. 

Het Christus aan die Kruis gesterf? Of was Shlomo Piprz reg dat die dissipels Sy liggaam in die nag kom steel het? Shlomo het immers hierdie bewering teenoor my gedurende 2014 gemaak – dis ‘n ou storie wat steeds die rondes doen.

Wat het van die geskrifte geword wat in die tempel was toe Generaal Titus Jerusalem verwoes het? Daar is ‘n redelike betroubare weergawe hieroor. 

As jy meer hieroor wil hoor moet jy Maandagaand 25 Julie 2016 om 18:00 kom luister want dan gaan Neels Coertse onder andere hieroor praat. Die ontmoeting is by Parkkruin NG Gemeenskapskerk, Dundalk Laan, Parkview – sommer stap afstand van die Dieretuin en die meer.

Jy hoef nie in die verleentheid te wees oor die outentiekheid en betroubaarheid van ons NT Geskrifte nie

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DIE BETROUBAARHEID EN OUTENTIEKHEID VAN DIE NT GESKRIFTE: 'N UITNODIGING

Hoe betroubaar is ons Nuwe Testamentiese Skrifte? Hoe outentiek is dit? Miskien is dit vrae wat jy al gevra het of moontlik selfs jou eie navorsing gedoen het.

Christus het nie aan die kruis gesterf nie. Sy liggaam is deur Sy dissipels gesteel en vir Moeder Maria gegee wat dit na ‘n ander land geneem het – aldus Shlomo Piprz. Dis ‘n ou storie wat in 2014 deur ‘n Jood oor vertel is.

Ek het al gehoor dat Petrus beskryf was as ‘n redelike oningeligte visserman. Moenie dit glo nie. Hy was besonder goed onderleg in die Ou Testamentiese Skrifte – dit was immers die enigste Skrifte wat hulle destyds gehad het.

Petrus skryf aan die gemeente in die Diaspora en vertel hulle hy het die stem uit die hemel self gehoor “… toe ons saam met Hom op die heilige berg was. En dit het vir ons die boodskap van die profete nog meer bevestig.” [2 Petrus 1:18] Petrus verwys natuurlik na die gebeurtenis waaroor Matteus in Hoofstuk 17 skryf. Petrus was een van Johannes die Doper se dissipels. Dit beteken vir my dat die Doper sy dissipels goed opgelei het.

Die Doper was dié mens wat Christus drie keer uitgewys het as Messias sonder dat Christus ‘n woord met die Doper gepraat het.

As jy meer hieroor wil hoor moet jy Maandagaand 25 Julie 2016 om 18:00 kom luister want dan gaan ek onder andere hieroor praat. Daar gaan nog baie ander aspekte wees waaroor ek gaan praat. 

Dit vind plaas by die NG Gemeente Parkkruin Gemeenskapskerk, Dundalk laan, Parksig.

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GOOD THINGS DO HAPPEN IN JAILS?!

Good deeds still occur in life - even in a prison with prisoners breaking free to help their jailer who apparently suffered a stroke.

Lately we are bombarded by Police brutality and the "innocence" of the "victims."  Looking at the video clips it seems as if the good guys are the civilians and the baddies are the police. Whether this is factually correct or not, it is all in our faces. It is easy to feel somewhat bewildered and lost in the mayhem.

Are there only bad people out there doing bad things? Or are there still something good and positive going in life? Whether in South Africa or overseas? Here is a wonderful story about prisoners who broke free from custody to save their jailer's life. Is it true? Yes, have a look at the video footage by clicking here. Remarkable!

I remembered an incident in Randburg Magistrate's Court some year ago. I was attending to a matter and walking in the corridors looking at the people sitting, standing around and just walking about. Earlier that morning I was in this specific courtroom and a Metro Police lady officer was giving evidence against an accused. The magistrate was standing the matter down for a time and she and the accused left the courtroom to sit outside on the benches. By the time I left the courtroom, they were sitting next to one another and just watching the other people going about their business. 

All of a sudden the accused fell off the bench and landed on the floor. In a flash this Metro Police lady flew off the bench and landed on top of him and started CPR and mouth to mouth. What felt like ages the ambulance arrived and took over from her - by that time she was utterly exhausted. This is something you will always remember: the one moment she was giving evidence against him; the next she was trying to save his life!

Please write me an e-letter at my e-address; neelscoertse@wirelessza.co.za and tell me about something positive that happened today in your life.

Let us do good even in the face of all the bad that are surrounding us - that is part and parcel of the Christian life.

Thank you for reading my posts.

Read More

GOOD THINGS DO HAPPEN IN JAILS?!

Good deeds still occur in life - even in a prison with prisoners breaking free to help their jailer who apparently suffered a stroke.

Lately we are bombarded by Police brutality and the "innocence" of the "victims."  Looking at the video clips it seems as if the good guys are the civilians and the baddies are the police. Whether this is factually correct or not, it is all in our faces. It is easy to feel somewhat bewildered and lost in the mayhem.

Are there only bad people out there doing bad things? Or are there still something good and positive going in life? Whether in South Africa or overseas? Here is a wonderful story about prisoners who broke free from custody to save their jailer's life. Is it true? Yes, have a look at the video footage by clicking here. Remarkable!

I remembered an incident in Randburg Magistrate's Court some year ago. I was attending to a matter and walking in the corridors looking at the people sitting, standing around and just walking about. Earlier that morning I was in this specific courtroom and a Metro Police lady officer was giving evidence against an accused. The magistrate was standing the matter down for a time and she and the accused left the courtroom to sit outside on the benches. By the time I left the courtroom, they were sitting next to one another and just watching the other people going about their business. 

All of a sudden the accused fell off the bench and landed on the floor. In a flash this Metro Police lady flew off the bench and landed on top of him and started CPR and mouth to mouth. What felt like ages the ambulance arrived and took over from her - by that time she was utterly exhausted. This is something you will always remember: the one moment she was giving evidence against him; the next she was trying to save his life!

Please write me an e-letter at my e-address; neelscoertse@wirelessza.co.za and tell me about something positive that happened today in your life.

Let us do good even in the face of all the bad that are surrounding us - that is part and parcel of the Christian life.

Thank you for reading my posts.

Read More

THE DOMPAS BOOK IS BACK! MAKWEREKWERE - NOT SO!

THE DOMPAS IS BACK: COURTESY THE SAPS

THE HATED DOMPAS OF AN ERSTWHILE ERA IS BACK

[this image was downloaded from the Internet]

Can you believe this lot?

The hated dompas is back courtesy the South African Police Servives. It is parading heavily disguised as a South African Identity Book. That is Professor Rabelani Dagada's experience. His story was published on News24 voices web on 5 July 2016; you will agree with me that News24's website is pretty powerful. 

Professor Dagada writes, and you can read his whole story by clicking here:

"DURING the May 2008 xenophobic attacks in South Africa, I had to retreat to Rustenburg because of fear of being attacked. A lot of Vhavenda and Shangaans, who are actually South Africans, are regarded as “Makwerekwere” a derogatory term which black African foreigners are called by some people in South Africa, and thus they (Vhavenda and Shangaans) too suffered from the xenophobic attacks.

Even today, I cannot walk Joburg’s inner city streets without my identity book because otherwise I will be arrested due to my very dark complexion. I have never gone to the inner city and left without being asked for my passport."

I do remember how Black people were arrested and bundled into the back of the dreaded Black Maria's - that was how the police vans were called.

Well, let me return to the Professor's story line and remind you what these dompas really looked like:

This is a well used dompas. Why this one is cancelled, I don't know. 

[image downloaded from the internet]

He tried speaking to the SAPS in English and even in IsiZulu but that is too bad and it might get him into further trouble; the police officers might think he is Zimbabwean. He resorts nowadays to his native Tshivenda. He further tells the story that it is "... it is only black African policemen who treat me like this." Is this racism? Black on black? It cannot be law enforcement. Maybe the Professor might have an answer to this question. In the meantime, please help me.

 Look at this well used rubber stamp. 

[image downloaded from the internet]

What can I as a whitey do about this lot? If you encounter such a incident on the street, you might try and reason with the policeman; I suggest that it would be at your own peril and you might regret it speedily. There was this story told to me about a similar incident. A white person witnessed a police officer being very aggressive towards another black person. Whitey stopped his vehicle, got out and inquired what the reasons were. He was informed that the civilian did not have his passport with him and that was the reason why the officer wants to arrest this man. Whitey offered his hands and said: "Please arrest me as well because I don't have my passport with me either." The police officer "warned" the other man and "... let him off the hook."

At the moment I am protesting against it and say to the Professor that I do hope that it will never happen again to him. 

Government release a document called NATIONAL ACTION PLAN to COMBAT RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED INTOLERANCE. Government called for the public to react to this by no later than 30 June 2016. I submitted my views and recommendations. I will publish in a subsequent article.

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DIE BETROUBAARHEID EN OUTENTIEKHEID VAN ONS NUWE TESTAMENTIESE GESKRIFTE

DIE TEMPEL VIR CASTOR & POLLUX WAT IN DIE ROMEINSE FORUM GEBOU IS

484vC

Ek het hierdie foto van die tempel wat in die Romeinse Forum in omtrent 484vC opgerig was, geneem. Dit was ter ere van die beskermengelle vir die seevaarders. 

Die uithangbordjie oor Castor en Pollux

Het jy al gehoor van die skip met die snaakse naam CASTOR & POLLUX? Wel, Paulus het daarop na Rome gevaar om daar verhoor te word. Jy onthou seker hoe Paulus gearresteer was vir sy opruiende prediking en toe verhoor was? Skielik beroep Paulus hom op die Keiser. “Agrippa het vir Festus gesê: “Hierdie man kon vrygelaat gewees het as hy hom nie op die keiser beroep het nie.” [Lees dit in Handelinge 26:32 & 28:11 – lees sommer die hele hoofstuk].

Ds Chris Du Preez het al in een van sy preke verwys na Jesus wat ‘n boodskap vir “… daardie jakkals …” gestuur het [Lukas 13:32]. Waarom het Christus die volgende snaakse woorde gesê: “… dit kan nie gebeur dat ’n profeet buite Jerusalem omkom nie.”? Christus het doelgerig Jerusalem toe gestap, reguit na Sy dood toe. Ek dink dat Flavius Josephus agtergrond verduideliking hiervoor het. Christus was getrou aan die wet van Moses - getrou tot in die dood om ons vry te maak.

Hoe bring ek dit by Josephus uit? 

Kom luister Maandagaand 25 Julie 2016 om 18:00 in die Kerksaal van Parkkruin NG Familiekerk, Dundalklaan 13, Parkview wanneer ek hieroor gaan praat [en oor ander goeters].

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