Contradictory Or Harmonious - 1

Contradictory Or Harmonious - 2Kings 8:26 and 2Chronicles 22:2.

Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. 2Kings 8:26 (NIV).

Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. 2Chronicles 22:2 (NIV).

Ahaziah (841 BC?), King of Judah, was the son of King Jehoram and grandson of King Jehoshaphat (2Kings 8:16). King Ahaziah's prior name might have been Jehoahaz (2Chronicles 21:17). Septuagint, Syriac and Targum writings have the name Jehoahaz in place of Ahaziah. Some scholars say that it's a variant in Hebrew language. Some scholars say that Jehoahaz might have renamed his name as Ahaziah after ascending the throne, as we too know of a few kings who changed their names in the history (for example: Britain's Prince Albert, Duke of York, took the name of George VI). King Ahaziah was also called as Azariah in some versions of the Bible.

However, the question is not about his name Ahaziah, but of his age when he started to reign as King. Is it twenty-two or forty-two? Some try to bring in co-regency with his father Jehoram to make the Scriptures harmonious. But this doesn't fit in. To my knowledge, this can be sought out by hebrew numericals. In his book "A Practical Grammar for Classical Hebrew" by "J.Weingreen", writing under the Hebrew alphabets, he also writes their numerical values. He gives the value "2" to alphabet Vet "ב"; and value "20" to alphabet Kaf "כ"; and value "40" to alphabet Mem "מ". So "כב" makes the value 22 and "מב" makes it 42. The only difference in the scribing is a little stroke which resembles the alphabet Waw "𐡅" (Aramaic form) and "ו" (modern hebrew form). If the scribe misses this small stroke while copying the alphabet Mem "מ" the resultant would end in the resembling alphabet Kaf "כ". While most of the Manuscripts read twenty-two, some like Septuagint, Syriac and Masoretic Texts read forty-two. Out of 5000 and odd Manuscripts found till now, most corroborate with twenty-two, while a few of them with forty-two.

There is an another point to add to this, the undivided books of 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles were written by two different set of authors about the same time period. These undivided books were divided by the translators of Septuagint while translating the Old Testament into Greek. While the authors of 1 and 2 Kings cover the history from 970 BC to 560 BC, the author of 1 and 2 Chronicles (probably Ezra) writes the history of the kings in the middle of the fifth century BC.

In spite of this major authorship, most of the text corroborates with one another. As said in 2Timothy 3:16,17, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work". So, let's keep aside the little contradictory statements, and in fact they are not at all contradictions until the footnotes of the Bible gives the variants; and ask God to equip us with the knowledge and wisdom of His.

*Subject for correction.

The Parables: Ends of Those Discerning and Undiscerning. A Rabbinical and Historical Perspective.

Parable (paraballo) - is derived from two Greek words, "para", means near, and "ballo", means to cast or put near. Hence parable is a short or long story which will make you understand or imagine what is hard to understand or unimaginable, and get you to the nearest possible parallelism to what was the subject disclosed about. Some scholars say that there are 55, to some 38, and to some 40 parables in the New Testament. The parables are not myths, which draw to human ends; nor allegories, which bring characters to draw a moral of the story (ex. Pilgrim's Progress). The purpose of the parables is to reveal the truth to the faithful or to the discerners, and to hide or veil the truth to those unfaithful or to hide to those who are stone hearted. Parables must be studied to hear the message of the Preacher in the context of the situation. The only meaning that is accepted is that of imposed by the Preacher alone. The parables of Jesus always challenges the listeners to make a decision on what was heard and to put it into practice. To some the parables are so easy to understand, but to some it is so difficult to put it into practice, because it demands a responsibility of what was heard. The parables do not appear in the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Apocrypha, or the Pseudepigrapha. They do appear frequently in Talmudic texts. In Rabbinic literature, they are always told in Hebrew and not in Aramaic. The parables of Jesus are classified mainly into two: 1.Parables drawn from man's relations to (heaven and) hell; and 2.Those drawn from man's relations to his fellows (to believers and to unbelievers as well). 

In this blog write-up I want to deal with "The Parable of the Sower", (Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23). Certainly we read about four kinds of soil, the seeds, their growth and their produce. These seeds are the words of life and the soil is the heart/mind of the listener. In the Gospels we read that multitudes followed Jesus. We don't know how many of them accepted the words of Jesus and how many of them stopped following Him. In the Gospel of John, Chapter 6, verse 63, Jesus said that, "The Spirit is the one who gives life... The words that I have spoken to you are from life-giving Spirit". In verse 66 we read that, "Because of what Jesus said, many of His disciples turned their backs on Him and stopped following Him". Even in the Book of Acts we read that some people followed Apostle Paul and some left after listening to him at Athens (Acts 17:32,33). To those who listened and accepted the word thought it, nothing is beneficent than knowing Jesus Christ as the Lord. To put it in the words of Jesus, "This is eternal life: that they may know You (the Father), the only true God, and the one you have sent - Jesus Christ" (John 17:3). So, there are different kinds of people in the society. Within 100 years after the ascension of Jesus we can read in the professional letters between the governor Pliny the younger (61 - 113 AD) and the emperor Trajan (in reign from 98 - 117 AD) four types of people, who are pro and against this new Christian faith.

Let's first deal with why Jesus stressed four kinds of soil? Using numbers in homiletics or in a discourse is practiced in the times before and after Jesus. For example we can read few verses in the Book of Proverbs 30th Chapter, and in the Letter to Hebrews 6:18, reads, where it is impossible for God to lie in two things, His vows and promises. Likewise we can see the use of numbers in the list of generations in the genealogy of Jesus, the number of days of creation, and it's a long chain of list that goes on. In the Talmud writings, The Ethics of the Fathers "Pirke Avot", there are some writings in the same manner as in the Book of Proverbs. In Chapter 5, if we read from 1 to 15, we can see similarities in using the numbers.

For the context of this blog write-up, I will relate a few from the Jewish Rabbinical writings -

1. "There are four types (of disciples) among those who sit before the sages: the sponge, the funnel, the strainer and the sieve. The sponge absorbs all. The funnel takes in at one end and lets it out the other. The strainer rejects the wine and retains the sediment. The sieve rejects the coarse flour and retains the fine flour". Avot 5.15. Of these the worst characteristics is the disciple who let's the teaching go in one ear and out the other. He is like a funnel. The most desirable type of disciple is like a sieve who retains only the best of the teaching.

2. "There are four types of students. One who is quick to understand and quick to forget—his flaw cancels his virtue. One who is slow to understand and slow to forget—his virtue cancels his flaw. One who is quick to understand and slow to forget—his is a good portion. One who is slow to understand and quick to forget—his is a bad portion. Avot 5.12. The one who is considered quick to learn but quick to forget, is like his gain is cancelled by the loss. The best characteristic of a disciple is one who is quick to learn and slow to forget.

3. Rabban Gamaliel the Elder (Died in 50 AD), the grandson of the great Jewish teacher Hillel the Elder and the supposed teacher of Apostle Paul (Saul, Acts 22:3), compared the disciples to four different types of fish. "An unclean fish: who is that? A poor youth who studies the Scriptures ...and is without understanding. A clean fish: who is that? That's a rich youth who studies the Scriptures ...and has understanding. A fish from Jordan: who is that? That's a scholar who studies the Scriptures ...and is without talent for using it in argument. A fish from the great Mediterranean sea: who is that? That's a scholar who studies the Scriptures ...and has the talent for using it for argument". Who is best of four, the fourth one, who in spite of all the difficulties he draws the best meaning and the context of the Scriptures and using it for his best.

4. Philo of Alexandria (20 BC - 50 AD), a famous Jewish thinker and a philosopher, writing about a couple in parenting four types of their children - "These parents have four classes of children. The first is obedient to both; the second is the direct opposite, and gives head to neither, while each of the other two lacks it's half. One of them is heartly devoted to the father and gives ear to him, but disregards the motherand her injunctions. The other, on the contrary, appears devoted to the mother, and serves her in every way, but pays no heed to the words of the father. If these four the first will carry off the palm of victory over all commers, while the second it's opposite will receive defeat accompanied by destruction. Each of others will claim a prize, one the second, the other the third; the second belongs to the class which obeys the father, the third to the class which obeys the mother". The best type absorbs wisdom from both the parents.

By now you would have assessed what my intention of taking the above four writings. Jesus followed the kind of teaching that were used by the Rabbi's of his time. He preached in the same style as like the homilies of his time. This makes the hearers more accommodating to the style they were used to in their synoguages. The aim of Jesus in using the parables is to seed the truth more easily in the hearts and minds of the hearers.

Now let's apply this to the happenings in history within the first hundred years of the ascension of Jesus. As commanded by Jesus (Matthew 28:19,20) to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth, apostles travelled evangelising every area as the Holy Spirit led them. Apostle Paul went through Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit would not let him preach in Bithynia (Acts 16:7). William Steuart McBirnie, in his book "The Search for the Twelve Apostles", writing under the chapter, "Simon Peter", notes a doubtful information written by Eusebius, that "Pontus and the neighbouring regions of Bithynia, Cappadocia and Galatia were dependent on Apostle Peter. The First Epistle of Peter was addressed to the Christians of these regions" as well (1Peter. 1:1). Again in the same book in the chapter about "Luke", writes that, Luke might have "died in Achaia or Bithynia". Hence, Bithynia is the subject of discussion.

Bithynia - By the time of emperor Trajan (in reign 98 - 117 AD), Bithynia was evangelized. Pliny the Younger (61 - 113 AD) was sent as a governor to Bithynia and Pontus in Asia Minor from 110 to 113 AD. There were serious outbreaks of fire in the chief cities of Bithynia. By this time Christianity was not considered as a religion/cult, Christian believers were banned to meet openly. As there was no freedom for them, they met in secret (burial grounds?). The guilt of the crime fell on Christians. Christians were arrested and brought before Pliny for trial and judgement. There were some Roman citizens in the group of believers, and they cannot be judged as like other citizens. At the beginning of his period, Pliny ordered execution of several christians who refused to renounce their faith. But as he realised there were so many of them in his provience that he decided to ask the emperor. In his correspondence he mentions the types of Christians, where we can draw parallels from the Parable of the Sower.

Pliny mentions three types of Christians in his letter to emperor Trajan. And Trajan in his reply mentions a group of people (probably christians?) who barely resemble the fourth type, who wrote complaints to the governor Pliny. This makes four types of people in all as like the soil in the parable.

The first type of people are the parallel to the seeds that fell along the path (Matthew 13:4,19). These people are those who wrote anonymous letters to Pliny with several believers names in it to be punished/executed. These are like the people who might have listened to the Gospel, but their hearts were never transformed as like the path. The seed (Gospel) that was sowed in their heart (soil) was been snatched away by the evil one as like the seeds that were eaten away by the birds. Trajan in his reply to Pliny says that these anonymous letters should not be given any attention, and this is a bad precedent. These people are of no good to be mentioned.

The second type of people are the parallel to the seeds that fell along the rocky ground (Matthew 13:5-6; 20-21). Pliny writing to Trajan mentions about few people when enquired, they said that they had once been Christians but had given up some three years previously, some a longer time, one or two as many as twenty years before [Twenty years before Pliny's governorship would take us back to emperor Domitian's persecution (in reign from 81 - 96 AD)]*. These people are like those who listened to the Gospel, led a very short period of Christian life. To them persecution was like hot sun and no much soil, and their root of faith didn't deep in and their very short lived faith dried up as soon as the persecution came in.

The third type of people are the parallel to the seeds that fell along the thornbushes (Matthew 13:7,22). Pliny in his letter to Trajan mentioned about a few people who at his command cursed Christ and called on the Roman gods and did reverence with incense and wine to the emperor's image which Pliny had brought for this purpose. On drawing a parallelism, the seeds, soil and the thornbushes resemble the people who reverted from their faith. The thornbushes are like the persecution, and these people with their act will win a "bona fide indulgence" (a certificate probably signed or sealed by the emperor), which will acquire them rich, pleasureful and a zero worried life (v22) as long as they live.

The fourth type of people are the parallel to the seeds that fell along the good ground (Matthew 13:8,23). Pliny on his enquiry asked the accused if they were Christians, for which they replied, "yes". He asked them a second and a third time warning them of the execution. When they were persistent, they were ordered to be executed. Pliny also mentions that he tortured two female slaves, who were called "decons" in this process. The good ground is the heart/mind that will heed the Gospel, accept it by faith and live a good Christian life. Such people will take the Gospel to the unknown territories and win souls for the Kingdom of God. As they yield a good fruit, because of them the Church will be multiplied a thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, and some a hundfold times (v23). These people's names were enrolled in the Book of Life (Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5, 20:12 and more).

Let's conclude by reminding a few words of Jesus from Matthew 5th Chapter: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven... I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (v10-12; 44-48).

Hope this blog write-up helped you to understand the Parable of the Sower in a different perspective.

Read below the translation of the letters exchanged between Pliny the Younger and emperor Trajan in this regard.

*For more information read my other blog "The Lord - Sower and Reaper". Redirect link provided.Redirect link:

The Lord - Sower and Reaper.

Probably we all might have listened to this, "the Parable of the Sower" (Matthew 13:3-8; 18-23) by Jesus, either as a Sermon or in a Bible study. To recall the different places the seeds that were scattered, as the seeds dispersed by the sower - because the first area was the road where the seed won't germinate. The second, third, and the fourth areas were where the seeds germinated, but because of the type of land the seeds fell, some grew but didn't last long, some grew but because of the circumstances they were not fruitful, the fourth area was the good soil, the seeds that fell, took a deep root, grew well and were fruitful as well. If we look into the 13th Chapter of Matthew, we notice that Jesus had concentrated more on the peasant to reveal the Kingdom of Heaven. 

The genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17) says that, He is the descendant of King David. Upon reading 2Samuel 7:11,16, we will notice this everlasting promise. "I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever." We notice the same in the advent scence also in the Gospel according to Luke 1:32-33, "The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” We know from Matthew 13:37, that the Sower is Jesus Himself, in other words, Jesus Himself is the peasant. 

Why would Jesus instead of comparing Himself to a King, compared Himself with a peasant? There is a curious tale which supposed to have happened in the reign of Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96). Domitian wanted to be deified as one among Roman gods. He wanted to be worshipped as like the emperors before him. In his reign as an emperor he was more suspicious. He executed number of his senators, as he feared a coup. Maybe, I think he would have been suspicious of the descendants of David too. As part of his precautionary measures, he interviewed two of the members of the family of Jesus (Matthew 13:55,56) (probably the grandsons of His brother Judas, who wrote the epistle), because they claimed descent from the royal line of David. When they were brought before Domitian, he asked them whether they were descended from David, and they admitted it. Then he asked them what property they owned and what funds they had with them now. They replied that they had only 9000 denarii in total, half belonging to each. This also is not available in cash but was estimated value of 25 acres of land which their ancestors owned, from which they pay taxes and the rest to support themselves. They showed their hardened hands and their body as a proof for their hardship for their labour. When the Emperor asked about Jesus and His Kingdom, they explained that it was not of this world or anywhere on earth but would be established at the end of the world, when He would come in the glory to judge the living and the dead, giving every man payment according to his conduct. After interviewing them he found them to be simple peasants and quite uninterested in secular kingship or in a coup or in the formation of any kingdom. On their release they became leaders of Churches and lived into the time of Emperor Trajan (AD 98-117). [Eusebius Church History, Book 3, 19,20].

Is this what Jesus foresaw and compared Himself with a peasant? Don't know, but we can know of His intention when we read Matthew 9:35-38, 'Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”'

Jesus wants us to be His co-workers in the field of His Kingdom. In order to bring down His Kingdom among us (Matthew 6:10), He wants us to be hardened labour with Him. As said in Ephesians 4:11, we have offices of the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and the teachers etc., Let's be faithful in the fields of our gifts, and strive to make the Kingdom of God a reality.

Let's conclude with Galatians 6:7-10, "A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ...as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

*All Scripture are from NIV.

When Your Faith Ridiculed.

           "graffito blasfemo" or blasphemous graffiti.

Above is "Alexamenos graffito", now in Palatine museum in Rome, which is been removed from a wall near the Palatine hill in Rome. This graffiti is said to be of AD 200 or so. On keen observation you can find a donkey or a mule on a cross, and below are scraped Greek letters which read, Ἀλεξάμενος σέβεται θεόν (Alexámenos sévetai theón) which means, "Alexamenos worships (his) God". We can see a young man, probably a guard named Alexamenos, a christian who can be seen raising one hand as a symbol of adoration towards his God.

Emperor Septimius Severus (AD 193 - 211) was reigning in Rome. As a remedy to avoid rebellion and civil war in the country, he opted for religious tolerance, which seems to be a right move by an emperor. But with one clause, that in the pantheon of gods the "unconquered Sun god" is to be accepted above all other gods or the Sun god is to given priority above his/her own faith. This wasn't acceptable to the Jews and the Christians. Although there was religious tolerance in the time of Septimius Severus, Christian history does not forget the execution of five people in AD 203, at Carthage, Africa, at the military games on the eve of emperors birthday. Perpetua, Felicity and Saturus were among the five martyrs on that day. On the other hand due to the persecution by the past emperors there was mockery upon Christians, teasing that the God they believe in was crucified on the cross. For Greeks, one who has not sufficient wisdom to save himself from shameful and horrible death was a sheer folly. To the Romans, they see their gods as all powerful and cannot accept Jesus as God who died a death on the Cross helplessly.

Donkeys were represented in a negative form by the Greeks, where they were generally portrayed as stupid and stubborn, or of a characteristic of slave and generally represented as lower class. They were often contrasted with horses, which were seen as powerful and beautiful. In Aesop's literature "The Ass in the Lion's Skin", he protray donkey as a fool. In Apuleius's "The Golden Ass" he portray donkey as stubborn, foolish, wicked and lowly. The famous Shakespeare popularised the use of the word "ass" as an insult meaning stupid or clownish in many of his plays. This insult continued in the times of the Romans too.

On the flip side, we generally see that breeds like Akita, Appenzeller Sennenhund, Australian Shepherd, Bullmastiff, Catahoula Leopard Dog, Caucasian Shepherd Dog etc., as some of the best watch dogs or guard dogs. Herdsmen generally use these beeds to keep their domestic animals safe. Some of these breeds are so costly to buy. So few herdsmen who can't afford to buy the costly breeds, use donkeys as an alternative source. Donkeys are very affordable at price. Donkeys are a great option for guarding grazing animals like goats or sheep, because they have very similar care requirements. Donkeys are the silent guard animals, and will notify intruders. They will fiercely protect the herd themselves, using kicks and strikes with their hooves and bites with their large teeth. Not only are these territorial animals excellent for guarding, but they can also be useful in more ways for transportation, weighing loads, etc.,

Jesus says, "..often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings.." (Matt 23:37, NLT). As prophet Isaiah says, God is hovering over us like a guard, He will shield and rescue us from the adversary (Isaiah 31:5). As "your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1Peter 5:8, ASV). As Jesus shows his confidence in His sheep and says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand, I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." And to the lost sheep He says, "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and One Shepherd." This Shepherd is ready to lay down His life self willingly for the sake of guarding His (lost) sheep. (John 10:14-18, NIV).

Are we ready to accept the mockery as Alexamenos who was quiet when his faith was been teased and ridiculed? Are we the lost sheep or the sheep of His pen?

Now that you were given the required dots, try to connect the dots accordingly and draw parallels to see the bigger picture.

Birthday Song for Jesus.

Birthday Song for Jesus -

Happy Birthday Jesus

Happy Birthday Jesus

Happy Birthday Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Jesus.

*Thank you for coming

Thank you for the ransom

Thank you for the ransom, Jesus

Paid on my behalf.

°You reign forever

Your Kingdom ever

You reign forever, Jesus

Forever and ever.

Happy Birthday Jesus

Happy Birthday Jesus

Happy Birthday Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Jesus.

Lullaby Inspired by -

*Isaiah 53:5.

°Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:6.

Miracles : History, Witness and A Case Study.

       The Widow of Nain, by Harold Copping.

To those who doubt about the verse from the Gospel of Matthew 27:51-53, which reads like, "The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people (NIV)."

Apostle Paul in his letter to 1Corinthians 15:5,6 writes, "He(Jesus) appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep" (1Corinthians 15:5-6, NIV).

Even after this great testimonial of Paul saying that though some died, he saw some people still living in his time while he was writing a letter to Corinthians in AD 55-60. So, there are saints moving around in AD 55-60. Although this is factual to Paul, to some it might be a fiction. This can only be resolved by other factual evidence from a non-biblical narrative. 

Eusebius of Caesare, an early Church Historian mentions about a person by name Quadratus, an apologist of his time. Quadratus lived in the time of Emperor Hadrian who reigned Rome in the years AD 117-138. Writing a defence of Christianity about the miracles of Jesus as facts, "Our Saviour's works were always there to see, for they were true - the people who had been cured and those raised from the dead, who had not merely been seen at the moment when they were cured or raised, but were always there to see, not only when he Saviour was among us, but for a long time  after His departure; in fact some of them survived right up to my own time", (Eusebius, Church History, Book 4.3). In the same way Aristides, a loyal and devoted Christian also wrote a "Defence of the Faith", addressed to emperor Hadrian.

G.A.Williamson who translated Eusebius Church History writes a footnote saying that, "they [the Nain young man and others who were raised to life at the time of Jesus Crucifixion (Mt 27:52&53)] might well have survived till nineties(age), when Quadratus was presumably a young man". Church Historians place this incident of Quadratus giving his apology to Hadrian in the year AD 124-125.

Case Study : The first miracle of Jesus Christ of raising a dead man to life was recorded in the Gospel of Luke. Luke writes that, "Jesus went to a town called Nain,... As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. ...the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry". Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother." (Lk.7:11-15, NIV).

Observe the word what Jesus calls the dead person, "young man", which in Greek was written as "(νεανίσκος) neanískos". Greek dictionary tells that men under fourty are called as neanískos. Let's assume that the Nain boy was around 20 years of age while Jesus was a 32 year old young man (in the year AD 32). And now, let's assume that by the time Quadratus handedover his apology to Hadrian at Greece was about 50 years of age (AD124-125). If Nain young boy had lived another 50 years after he was been risen from the dead by Jesus Christ, which makes him a 70 year old man, then he would have lived till AD 82. The math goes like 32 + 50 = 82. Now as said Quadratus was 50 years of age at AD 124. If we subtract 124 - 50 = 74. Hence AD 74 was when the apologist Quadratus was born. By the time Nain young man died in the year AD 82, Quadratus would be a 8 year old boy. This makes an overlap of 8 years for both Nain young man and Quadratus lives, which gives enough information to know about this man of Nain his life and the miracle that happened and his post miraculous life after being risen from the dead. This would be the reason why Quadratus said, "...in fact some of them survived right up to my own time".

Whether my case study would be correct or incorrect, but the fact that the confessions written in history are true. Why? Because what if emperor Hadrian was interested as like Herod Antipas was fascinated by the life of John the Baptist, and wanted to bring before him the family members of the Nain young man. If Quadratus was wrong then he would have to face a severe punishment, isn't it.

So, to conclude, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die" (John 11:25, NIV). "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." (Revelation 1:17&18, NIV).

So, believe in the Holy Scriptures, because they are History.

The Advent - The Coronation of a (the) King.

"When you see the earth set under the Cross, remember that the whole world is subject to the Power and Empire of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer".*

The monarch while receiving the Orb which represents the dominion of the Lord over the whole earth and the monarch as His representative accepts this Orb says the pledge, "Receive this orb set under the cross, and remember that the whole world is subject to the power and empire of Christ our Redeemer.” In other words, the Sovereign’s Orb is a reminder, not of the King’s power but of the limits of his power.

Even the monarch limits his own power and gives way to the dominion of the Lord.

Prophet Isaiah 9:6,7 reads, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."

In Gospel of Luke, first chapter, angel Gabriel greeting Mary and gives a good news that, "You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him "Jesus". He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (v31-33, NIV).

In Matthew 2:11, One of the three gifts that were received from the Wisemen by Mary and Jesus included Gold, which represents the Kingship, and the Divine nature of the Lord.

One of the Apocryphal books, the Psalms of Solomon 17: 32-36 read as,

"He will have the nation's to serve Him under his yoke..the nation's may come from the ends of the earth to see His glory...He himself is a righteous King over them... their King is the anointed Lord."

"[LORD] hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  ...[And] on His head are many Crowns. He has a name written on Him.... He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the "Word of God". The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. ...He will rule them with an iron scepter. ... On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: "KING of kings and LORD of lords."

- Matthew 6:9,10; Revelation 19:13-16 (NIV).

We should be aware of this Scripture from John 6:15, "Jesus, knowing that they (people who ate 5 barley loaves and 2 fish) intended to come and make him (Jesus) King by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself." So, there was a strong impulse in the people's heart that Jesus should be the king, but this would destroy the plan what Father intended for Him. So Jesus withdrew from there.

Another incident that followed to show Jesus as King is in Zechariah 9:9. The prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew 21:1-11, when Jesus rode on a donkey. F F Bruce writes that, "once upon a time the ass has been the beast on which judges and kings rode in Israel. But since Solomon's time the horse had replaced the ass for this purpose. ...Jesus accordingly presented Himself to the people of Jerusalem as their King." (The Spreading Flame).

Before His crucifixion, when Jesus stood before Pilate, Pilate asked Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" “You have said so,” Jesus replied. Then He continues saying that, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth." (Matthew 27:11; John 18:36,37 NIV).

The truth is that, Jesus came to this world to shed His blood for each and everyone of us, past, present and future. He said, "This is my blood of the (new) covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins", "as the Son of Man... to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 26:28; 20:28, NIV).

But, He (Jesus) will soon come back and take you... (John 14:3).

Till then, let the Sovereignty of the Lord reign over all the earth forever and ever. Amen. As His representatives we need to take the orb as a responsibility of spreading the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ to the very ends of the earth (Matthew 28:18-20).

- Words within parentheses are my own.

- *Quote inspired from British Coronation Service.

Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III with Orb

"globus cruciger" (Latin for ‘cross-bearing orb’)