why do Christians thinkn that quoting the NT is "proof" of anything?

Question

For example: baptism - - - definately not a Jewish ritual.

Seeing Jewish history as a ritual symbol of another religion is just ... wrong headed.

using Corinthians to 'prove' is poor logic. Of course the Christian text supports it!!!

Baptism is not mentioned ONCE in the entire Tanakh (929 chapters, 310,000 words). I think, if it was a significant ritual, it would have come up.

Water baptism belongs to many of the fertility religions of the day, which met near rivers, in olive groves, gardens ---hmmm sound familiar?

Maybe early Christians were looking for converts by meeting in places that other non-conformist religions used too, and adopted some of the rituals.

Guys:

OF COURSE the NT says it was legit -- kind of a vested self-interest there, wouldn't you say? Stop quoting the source that benefits from the quote!

just find me a reading by a local historian. Someone else mentioned Josephus -- he was talking about the christians and other folk religions. FIND THE QUOTE.

There are literally thousands of Jewish texts. Just find me ONE that verifies baptism as a ritual.

Just one.

ANd really, you need to get outside of your little thinking box, and see that your self-referencing is really a glaring weakness.

THIS IS NOT LOGIC: "John the Baptist was Jewish, and John the Baptist wore leather breeches, therefore all Jews wopre leather breeches."

NEITHER IS: "John the Baptist was Jewish, and John the Baptist baptized people, therefore all Jews baptized people."

and BTW most of MY knowledge of 1st century Judaism comes from 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th and 7th century Judaism, right up the the present day 21st century Judaism. One commenter seems unaware that there is a continuous unbroken lineage between then and now.

Answer 1

Christianity in the 1st Century is not the Christianity of today.

Modern day Christanity is a religion without a relationship. A social gathering, like a club od some sort.

The Nazarene Jews were not called Christians until at Antioch, and they were not even Jews, but Gentile beleivers converted to Judism.

The Nazarene branch of Judism 'broke' from the rest of Judism prior to 80 AD and was seen as a seperate and new religion, what we know as Christianity, and the Church.

The apostate Church, as it became dominated by Gentiles, by it's nature became anti-semitic, rooting out the Jewish foundations and adding pagan customs.

The beginning of the Universal Church (Catholic) in the 4th century AD, solidified the pagan customs in the 'Church' in which it evolved until the reformation.

Some of these customs have been challenged and changes were made by some individuals that led to denominations such as Luther (Lutheran), Calvin (Calvinist), etc...

Other customs have also been creeping in, prosperity teachings, name it and claim it, etc...


Much of the NT are direct quotations and paraphrasing from the Tanakh. Also, parables would be better understood with an understanding of Jewish customs of the day as well as the culture.

Basically, a pure form of what we know as 'Christianity' (what is today is far from what was in the 1st century AD) is the same as being of the Nazarene branch of Judism.

Answer 2

Do Christians quote from the New Testament to prove something, or do they quote from it to clarify what they believe? Was John the Baptist a pagan or a Jew? What about the many people who participated in his baptism ritual? All of that is confirmed in Josephus. What about the rites of baptism practiced at Qumran? They sure had an expert command of Hebrew and Aramaic for a bunch of Gentiles, didn't they? You do realize that most of our knowledge of first century Judaism comes from the New Testament? Apparently not.

Answer 3

Baptism was a Jewish ritual, John the Baptist was using baptism within Judaism as a sign of repentance. I'm not sure how long it was used, but it was definitely around in the post-exilic time. I'm not sure what argument I'm getting in the middle of here, not sure who's trying to prove or disprove what- but just thought I would put that out there...

Answer 4

Baptism was introduced to the Jews through the ministry of John the Baptist. As a Christian I believe the Tanakh prophesied his coming as the forerunner of Messiah Yeshua, as it is written:
"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty."
Malachi 3:1
and:
" A voice of one calling:
"In the desert prepare
the way for the LORD ;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God."
Isaiah 40:3

We cite the text of the New Testament because we as Christians assign it the same weight of authority as the Tanakh. You are free to recognize this authority or reject it, but our acceptance of its validity is not detached from a Scriptural context.
Really, the essence of Baptism is connected with the concept of ceremonial washing and purification. Certainly this concept was clearly introduced in the laver of the Tabernacle.

Answer 5

So I guess by your "logic" John the baptist, a jew, really didn't baptize Christ. Oh, that's right- we can't use the bible as a source.
Well, I guess we'd better throw away all of our history books then, because, after all, none us alive today was there to witness any of it. Obviously. It's all a conspiracy to justify the white man's version of history. Right. Yea.

Answer 6

At John 17:17, Jesus said in prayer to his Father: "Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth." He quoted from God's Word when refuting the Devil at Luke 4:4, 8, 12.
True Christians do the same thing to show that their beliefs are Bible-based.

Answer 7

You sound as if the Bible has no validity. The Fool hath said in his own heart there is no God. Wait til you Marry--then you will know Faith.
Baptism is real and valid if water and the triune name are used, even if it is ... therefore to be baptized, as Jewish male infants had previously been ...www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/packer/baptism.html - 8k - Cached - More from this site

Answer 8

People who criticize the New Testament are simply showing how deep their ignorance runs. It is the best preserved set of documents from 2000 years ago.

Once a person has read and UNDERSTOOD what is written in the New Testament, what does it matter what other writings of mere men say?

Answer 9

They, like many devout religion-adherents, (1) think that just because they believe something, it's automatically true, and (2) accept without question what their ministers/priests tell them. And of course the fanatics do their own interpretations.

Answer 10

The Bible is the inspired Word of God.