The Immune System – It’s Intelligently Complex!

The Immune System – It’s Intelligently Complex!

I have been reading a book lately called “Darwin’s Black Box” by Michael J. Behe. The book is about how Darwin himself set the conditions for how his theory of evolution could be proven false. In his own words Darwin said, “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” In his book, Behe demonstrates with several examples at the molecular level how gradual evolutionary change fails because of the need for multiple things to evolve simultaneously, which is mathematically impossible.

Complex immune system

We have a complex immune system.

Part of his research involves studying the complexity of the immune system in the human body and how the body responds to foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. It is an incredibly complexly designed system the details of which could not be explained in this short article. One interesting thing about the system is that each antibody has a unique protein “key” that matches the unique protein “lock” on the invading organisms. One would wonder how the antibodies could “match” up. There are so many of these different antibodies in our bodies that the diversity of “keys” is guaranteed to match up with the unique “locks.” Once the body finds the correct “key,” it then immediately begins to manufacture millions of these antibodies with the correct “key” to attack the invading organisms. The result is that the bacteria or virus is attacked and destroyed by the body’s defenses. (I apologize to our medical people for my crude description of this system. I know it is much more complicate than this!) This system demonstrates tremendous intelligence to anticipate the numerous invaders that could destroy the body. God’s design is truly amazing.

 

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A Proper View of What God Treasures

A Proper View of What God Treasures

It is foolish to fail to think soberly about what really matters. Our secular world focuses on misguided values and attributes while failing to see that heaven’s value system is so different from theirs. Far too many Christians suffer from low self-esteem simply because we have embraced a secular view of how we measure ourselves. The worldly view of importance is determined by the job we have, our educational attainments, how we look in the mirror measured by Hollywood’s standard of beauty, and by the awards and honors we have received.

The proper view of beauty and outward appearance. If our value is determined by how beautiful or handsome we appear as we look in the mirror, we may all be in trouble. Answering one question can help us see that outward appearance does not show our value. How handsome was Jesus? “And when we see Him, He has no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isa. 53:2). His worth, and more importantly ours, is not determined by beauty. It’s alright to be ugly!

The proper view of the kind of work we do and where we are employed. Our world says that the closer we are to making minimum wage the less important we are. How true is this? When Jesus came, what kind of job did He do? He was a laborer, a carpenter like His father. His worth, and more importantly yours, is not determined by the place you work. It is alright to have an insignificant job!

The proper view of your bank account. When God sent His Son into the world, how rich was He? If wealth really matters, then surely God would allow the King of the world to be wealthy. Those wise men from the east sought to find the new king in Herod’s place—they were not that wise. Ignorant shepherds found Him with Divine guidance. “You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). How wealthy was He in His adult life? “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has no place to lay His head” (Matt. 8:20). It’s alright to be poor!

The proper view of education. The same question shows one’s worth is not determined by the degrees he has earned. The educated men of His day said of Jesus, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied” (John 7:15)? It’s alright to never have finished high school!

What are you worth? Let God answer the question for He alone knows what really matters. You matter—just ask God! “Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him” (James 2:5)? Just love God with all your heart and let Him determine what you are really worth!

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¿PORQUÉ MARCOS 1:2 CITA A MALAQUÍAS?

¿PORQUÉ MARCOS 1:2 CITA A MALAQUÍAS CUANDO REALMENTE LA CITA ES DE ISAÍAS?

Ciertamente es una buena pregunta que amerita una respuesta concreta. Hace muchos días escuché por internet a un ateo decir que el texto de la Biblia estaba corrupto y era incoherente, el hombre citó este lugar en Marcos 1. Creo firmemente que se debe de responder con una base sólida pero no solamente para darles respuesta a los ateos sino porque en verdad la inerrancia de la Biblia podría ser la primera tela de juicio que puede venir a la mente de muchos que ya son creyentes.

 La cuestión que encierra esta pregunta entra en la disciplina a la que llamamos “Critica textual” y no se llama así porque hablemos mal de los textos, sino que tiene que ver con el pensamiento crítico y las disciplinas que rigen ese pensamiento. Más específicamente esta pregunta tiene que ver con las variantes textuales. Por lo que, al ser un tema meramente técnico, nos ayuda a avanzar e incursionar en el maravilloso universo de la crítica textual.

Debería el texto de leer “como está escrito en los profetas” (ἐν τοῖς προφήταις) o debería de leer “como está escrito en el profeta Isaías” ( ἐν τῷ Ἠσαίᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ).  Los unciales (manuscritos más influyentes por antigüedad) siempre son la primera fuente para consultar. Para la primera opción “como está escrito en los profetas” el testigo más importante a favor es el códice Alejandrino (A) y también el códice Washintoniano (W), ambos muy respetados por su antigüedad. Otros como algunos cursivos (180,579, 1006 entre otros) junto con los “Byz” que representan cientos de manuscritos griegos con no menos de 900 años de antigüedad también están a favor de esta lectura.

 Para la otra lectura “como está escrito en el profeta Isaías” es sostenida por su parte por el códice vaticano (B), Códice Sinaítico, algunos otros códices del Siglo X y cerca de 10 manuscritos cursivos.

 Bien se sabe en que en las variantes textuales no importa la cantidad que puedan respaldar una lectura o la otra sino, lo que importa es la calidad del manuscrito que lo respalda (y por calidad me refiero principalmente por antigüedad). En este caso dos unciales contra uno pueden tener mucho más peso de un lado de la balanza.

Cuando Jerónimo estaba en lo más y mejor de su obra más prominente, la Vulgata latina   al llegar a Marcos 1:2 adoptó  la lectura que menciona el nombre del profeta Isaías y James Snapp Jr, es quien comenta que se vio obligado a hacer un comentario al margen de este texto. El dice:

En la erudición en todo su esplendor para defender su trabajo de traducción, Jerónimo acierta que hasta donde él tenía conocimiento, Mateo cita mal Zacarías 13:7 en Mateo 26:31, en esta ocasión partiendo de mi juicio el evangelista es culpable de la falta de suscribirte a Dios aquello que eran las palabras del profeta, dice Jerónimo.

La posición de Jerónimo solamente nos orilla a una alameda un poco más compleja. Sea cual sea el asunto que defendía se nos hace parecer que ahora tenemos dos distintos errores muy similares y que parecen ser graves con distintos profetas. Pero la solución podría parecer más simple de lo que parece. De hecho al observar varias versiones provenientes del textus receptus como Reina Valera entre otras parece no existir ninguna diferencia con las versiones que provienen de otros textos griegos distintos como la Biblia de las Américas que usó como texto base a Westcott y Hort.

El asunto radica más bien en la forma de pesar las variantes. Cada copista de estos manuscritos principales, fueron muy valientes e inteligentes al hacer su trabajo de forma meticulosa. Resulta ser que cada pasaje de los antes mencionados, particularmente el de Marcos 1:2 está compuesto por dos citas del antiguo testamento citadas al mismo tiempo. Aquí el texto como tal: “Como está escrito en Isaías el profeta:  He aquí yo envío mi mensajero delante de tu faz, El cual preparará tu camino delante de ti. Voz del que clama en el desierto: Preparad el camino del Señor; Enderezad sus sendas.” (Énfasis HLM).

Note con especial delicadeza que la parte que no se encuentra subrayada proviene de Malaquías 3, mientras que la parte subrayada de Isaías 40:3. El escriba al observar las dos citas combinadas en una, sencillamente para no citar a ambos profetas prefiere utilizar al profeta más prominente y el profeta menor queda a inferencia del estudiante de la Biblia. Esa es la razón por la que en los manuscritos más antiguos siempre se leerá la citación al profeta Isaías y pasa lo mismo en cualquier caso igual o similar al de Marcos 1, donde una cita está compuesta por dos textos distintos citados al mismo tiempo.

Es satisfactorio apreciar la tremenda ayuda que nos ofrece la disciplina de la crítica textual. Otras versiones ahora comienzan a traducir “en los profetas” a lo que el conocido crítico de textos y erudito, Bruce M. Metzger considera esta opción como una fórmula introductoria más incluyente,  tal como lo está en algunas  versiones en Ingles: King James, MIV y la WEB.

Personalmente considero que la lectura de,  los profetas en nuestras versiones podría ser de entendimiento muy amplio mientras que la de Isaías el profeta, ubica rápidamente al estudiante que podrá hacer un rebusco y llegar a la otra cita omitida. Para nada es un error, sencillamente es un aspecto técnico de los muchos que pudieran existir, pero que con un poco de interés y diligencia los hijos de Dios podemos resolver con facilidad.

Referencias

Bruce M. Metzger. (2006). Un Comentario Textual al Nuevo Testamento Griego. Alemania : Sociedad Bíblica Alemana .

James Snapp Jr.. (Octubre 25, 2017). Marcos 1:2 Orígenes, Eusebio y Jerónimo. Mié.26 Enero de 2020, de The Text of the Gospels Sitio web: https://www.thetextofthegospels.com

 

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Dealing with a Preteen

Dealing with a Preteen

Most individuals know the story of Jesus being separated from His parents because they accidentally left Him behind after observing the Passover. He was only twelve years of age, but this event shows just how sincere and devoted a preteen can be to God. Too often we overlook the ability of those of this age to be devoted to the Lord.

preteen boy

He can be devoted!

Look carefully at the words used to describe this time in the life of young Jesus. We sometimes think that this was the first trip Jesus made to the holy city, but Jesus grew up in a family in which from infancy God was first in the family. He had been circumcised on the eighth day just as God had commanded (Luke 2:21). The firstborn son belonged to God, for He bought them by the blood of lamb in the last plague in Egypt (Ex. 13:2), so forty days after His birth Jesus was brought from Bethlehem to the temple in Jerusalem and presented to God “according to the law of Moses” (Luke 2:22). The proper sacrifices were made “according to what is said in the law of the Lord” (Luke 2:24). “So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to…Nazareth” (Luke 2:39).

Jesus grew up knowing the importance of consistently doing what God said. “His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover” (Luke 2:41). Think of the impact this had on Jesus in contrast to a modern child saying, “Are we going to Bible class this Sunday?” From infancy Jesus had been taught to do what God says all the time.

After three days of searching, Joseph and Mary found young Jesus in the temple. Read the text carefully. Mary said, “Your father and I have sought You anxiously” (Luke 2:48). Now look at how Jesus reminded them that He had another Father who had first claim over Him. “I must be about My Father’s business.” It is remarkable that “they did not understand the statement He spoke to them” (Luke 2:50). Twelve-year-old children really can have deep understanding of spiritual truth.

In response to Mary’s words about their anxiety, Jesus simply implied that they could have avoided this anxiety and found Him much sooner had they realized that they had trained Him well. It is as though He said, “You should have known where I would be.” The ESV reflects the impact of the Greek language when it says, “Did you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?”

Let me appeal to those who have younger children. Make sure the daily conversation in your home includes talking about God. Teach them by example the importance of worship and Bible study. Never underestimate the ability of preteens to have great spirituality. Make sure you do not lose your child.

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After a Promise is Confirmed

After a Promise is Confirmed

The Gentile churches in Galatia were being troubled by Judaizing teachers who sought to bind the keeping of the Old Testament law (specifically circumcision) on them. Both Jews and Gentiles could recognize that God’s threefold promise to the fathers was that every family on the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:3). These teachers made the keeping of the law absolutely essential to obtaining this blessing. The church at Rome also had this problem. Paul answers this false teaching by looking at a secular promise or covenant. He looked at an ordinary covenant and states, “Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed no one annuls or adds to it” (Gal. 3:15). Think of a business contract which once it is “signed, sealed and delivered,” it cannot be changed.covenants

The covenant made with the fathers was given and confirmed by God. God made the covenant (and remember He cannot lie) and sealed it with an oath. He swore by Himself that He would keep that covenant promise (Heb. 6:13-18). That covenant was “signed, sealed and delivered” and nothing could change it.

Now note how Paul uses the simple truth about ordinary business contracts (covenants). He first shows that the covenant was given before circumcision. The covenant was made in Genesis 13 and circumcision was given 20 years later in Genesis 17.  Read Romans 4:9-12 to see this “time” argument. Paul makes the same “time” argument to the Galatians when he clearly states that the law came 430 years after the covenant. Thus, neither circumcision nor the law have anything to do with God’s confirmed covenant.

What is the significance of this to us and how does the “time” argument impact us? God has made a New Covenant (testament) with us. Like He gave the covenant with the fathers and confirmed it, He has given a new covenant with us.

How did He confirm this New Covenant? Read the closing verses of Mark. “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through accompanying signs” (Mark 16:19-20). Those miracles were the confirmation. They were God’s seal of the New Testament.

Those miracles no longer exist. The dead are no longer being raised! The covenant has been given and confirmed. What follows is that once given and confirmed, “No one annuls or adds to it.” No synod, convention, church hierarchy or pastor can make a single change to it. Think about this!!

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