Grace to you and peace from God the Father
and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself
for our sins, that He might deliver us from
this present evil age, according to the will of
our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Galatians 1:3-5
Man
from the beginning of time unto this present age have been curious in regards
to history and how history has application for their present age. The Christian
Religion professes that the foundations of its faith are rooted in history,
therefore, history has special interest for the Christian. The Christian
Religion has as its greatest foundation that God became man and lived on this
earth as the Son of God in time and space. Those of the Christian Religion
develop a profound interest in history, especially how history of the
Scriptures may enlighten them, therefore, this interest involves an interest in
his/her spiritual ancestry. A person who simply relies on faith alone often
cares little as to history for the development of their faith. Their faith may
be more aligned with common sense. Common sense is not faith, and, faith is not
common sense. Faith does include common sense but is not the basis for faith,
that basis is the person of Jesus Christ. Common sense may be applied in their
search for answers and their approach in a methodical manner, but, it must be
admitted that faith, for some, is more commons sense and an internal belief, an
internal emotional expression that causes a person to feel pious. Having a faith
that is not from something or someone external is wrong by the fact that faith
stands outside of revealed facts. Faith cannot be faith if a person has facts
in his presence. Often though having
faith internally leads to emotion, that emotion has as its base common sense
and not due to the Person of Jesus Christ. Faith based simply on emotion or
common sense does not grow any larger than a person’s reliance on common sense.
A study of history will give information that will aid in growth of faith, but
that information will not save a person. Information is necessary for growth of
faith, and our first source of information is Scripture. Yet, when we consult
Scripture we find questions that need to be answered; therefore, a study of
history will aid us in finding answers. Common sense will be the approach to
any study of history, but faith in an unseen God is external and He is revealed
by facts, both by Scripture and the external world, and by the Holy Spirit
which imbues a person with faith (Ephesians 2:8). The common sense and
methodical approach to study history is not to prove that God exists, rather it
is to aid us in the growth of our faith. This growth in faith enables a person
to be prepared to face opposition, and sanctifies a person in their daily life
as Authentic Biblical Christians.
As faith has, for some, a basis in
common sense, and the Authentic Biblical Christian has their faith based upon
the Person Jesus Christ, we must define faith as to those two concepts. Faith
as a word has more than one meaning and so does the word history. To avoid
problems that might occur in our study of history the definition of history
must be outlined, especially church history. History must become a Guide for
this present age, and future ages. A person not having the knowledge of the
past does not only have the possibility of repeating the past, either good
things or bad things; he has no understanding of himself and how he acts and
believes as the past does affect the future; he knows he exists and may have some
historical knowledge but as to the “why” things are they are, a study of
history is necessary. If a person does not know the history of himself, his
nation, his religion, etc., he will not know how questions and problems have
come to be and if he does not know the problem he will not be able to determine
a solution. Therefore, the study of history is very important and must be done
so that we are able to live in this life as good citizens, and furthermore, as
Authentic Biblical Christians. First then is to come to an understanding of
words for any understanding will make cause for interpretation of any data.
This interpretation may be proper or it may not be proper and then the question
arises as to how would anyone know if an interpretation of data is correct and
proper? This is what is to be covered in this essay. Scripture gives
historicity of people and places but not a study of history. Herodotus is
considered to be the first to study history: “The histories by the Greek
researcher Herodotus of Halicarnassus (fifth century BCE) are the world’s first
historical study”[1] The
English word, history, came from the Greek word historia, which is
derived from the Greek verb, historew. The Attic language of the Greeks
used this word to mean to learn by inquiry or investigation. Paul used this
word in Galatians 1:18 in his interview with Peter in Jerusalem. This word may
be enquired for this definition in Strong’s concordance #2477, historew.
This is Paul’s meaning of the word for Paul inquired from Peter information and
that information would be historical in nature.
In time the Greeks began to use the
word, historikos, for history. This is a noun, not a verb and it
indicates a product, the record; whereas, historia, indicates a process.
Most modern historians use, historikos, or product, that history is a
product. History then refers to; event, documents, process, or product.
Example: Charlemagne in 800 A.D. was emperor of Rome and this was an historic
event. Historians will take an event(s) and attempt to ascertain the facts of
an event and find a process. This attempt should not be a syllogism as in the
formula; A=C, therefore B is A. Product and process cannot be so easily
conjoined as I will demonstrate later in this essay. The account of Charlemagne
is a fact and is history and is a product; this is an absolute. History as a
product is absolute and cannot be changed, once this event occurs. A process is
different for as it is relative and subject to change as data become available.
Also, the men who interpret data also change in who are interpreting and due to
having a different perspective. These men enter into this investigation with
presuppositions; therefore even the historians must be placed under the
microscope and be examined. As can be ascertained that any study of history is
an enormous work that must be carefully done.
The definition of history may be
defined thusly; the interpreted record of human past based upon data collected.
This collection of data must be received through the scientific method, the
archeological, literally, or living sources. Included in this investigation of
history is culture, both governmental and religious as these are necessary if
one is to ascertain true history, that includes especially the history of the
Christian Religion. Furthermore, the approach to this study, of history, must
be as impartial as possible by the investigator. While absolute impartiality is
impossible, there must be an intentional impartiality knowing that their
neutrality is governed by their presuppositions and the framework of
interpretation.
As Christians we are concerned with
church history. Church history is the interpretation and organized story of the
redemption of man by God and of earth. Therefore, history of the church is to
be a record based upon the origin, the progress of Christianity, and what
impact Christianity has had upon society. The collection and interpretation of
data in regards to the Christian church is to be as with any other study, that
is, by using scientific, archeological, documentary, and living sources as well
as culture. We as Christians have the guidance of the Holy Spirit to aid us in
our investigation and interpretation, and we have the inspired word of God
which is a historical truth as God has revealed Himself to prophets of old, and
of the disciples and men who being inspired gave us a historical narrative. The
Christian Religion: the church in its historical investigation must not lag
behind others who will interpret history without the aid of the Holy Spirit,
rather by preformed ideologies and presuppositions that have not included God.
If we don’t investigate history and make known the history of the Christian
Religion, Authentic Biblical Faith, then some will be mislead away from the
fellowship of believers into heresy.
And this commandment we have from Him:
that he who loves God must love his brother also.
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ
is born of God, and everyone who loves Him
who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
1John 4:21; 5:1-2
Make Your Love a Principled Love: A Love of God
Richard L. Crumb
[1] Herodotus, Histories
1.189-191: retrieved from the internet 10/29/2012: www.1iviss.org/ct-cz/cyrus_I/Babylon07.
html#Herodotus
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