Christian Doubt » Scripture

Codex Sinaiticus

Mark Lefers — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:55:12 +0000

Someone the other day pointed me to this great link that has the Codex Sinaiticus online. The Codex Sinaiticus is is one of the most important hand-written ancient copies of the Greek Bible. It It has been dated to the 4th century (based on palaeographical analysis) and contains one of the very oldest and best manuscripts of the New Testament. The only earlier New Testament manuscripts contain small portions of the text.

I easily burned through several hours just playing with the different features. It was a little clunky at times, but to click on different parts of the manuscript, then see the translation, and compare it to my NIV version was really cool. I wish they could do this for some of the other early manuscripts too. For those who don’t know the field well (like myself), it adds so much to actually see the manuscripts and to see the translations and to compare it to the Bible I have in hand today. It gives me a bit more confidence that what we have today is what the Gospel writers wrote back then. I just have to keep thinking and pondering whether what they wrote down is true or not (unfortunately the harder part).

Prayer of the Week

Mark Lefers — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:15:11 +0000

Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.“ My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!

Psalm 27:7-9

Prayer of the Week

Mark Lefers — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 01:43:06 +0000

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest.
Be not far from me,
for trouble is near,
and there is none to help.
I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast.
You, O Lord, do not be far off!
O you my help, come quickly to my aid!
Amen.

(From Psalm 22)

Psalm 13

Mark Lefers — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:17:44 +0000

How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy of doubt triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, LORD my God.
Give me some evidence, or I will give up, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
I want to trust in your unfailing love, but instead I doubt whether you even exist.
My heart wants to rejoice in your salvation, but I don’t know if it is true.
I want to sing the LORD’s praise, or should I sing a different tune?