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HEBREWS 11
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
KJV .. look up
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
KJV .. look up
Recently a doubting Thomas sort of false "christian" explained to me that Paul had an atomic revelation but I was very circumspect in my reply. Atoms are not mentioned in The Bible at all.
Paul is not saying that things which are seen, the moon for example, were made from minute building blocks too small to be observed and in any event scientists who promote atomic theory claim that atoms are in fact visible.
How do we answer the secularist on this point?
Let's check out Paul's own background, he mentions it occasionally, and find out what sort of an education he enjoyed.
ROMANS 1
14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
KJV .. look up
14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
KJV .. look up
So a broad educational background, plenty of travel, contact with Barbarians, Greeks (he wrote in Greek), Romans, Jews and in the latter case he describes his education as a pharisee quite specifically:
PHILIPPIANS 3
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
KJV .. look up . additional example HERE
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
KJV .. look up . additional example HERE
So what is Paul describing?
Invisible, or unseen, things do feature elsewhere in Paul's writing and Romans 1 kicks of with just such an exposition:
ROMANS 1
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
KJV .. look up
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
KJV .. look up
Tthe invisible things are very clearly identified here as God's eternal power and divinity. Nothing to do with atoms. But perhaps Paul equated Godhead with atoms? the secularist might opine. No chance. None at all. Zilch. These ideas about atoms are not new. Pagan philosophers had arrived at atomic theory centuries before Paul, indeed the word "atom" is a Greek word from that very period. Additionally, they proposed quantum mechanics—quanta were called minima in Greek—with very similar ideas to those being proposed today. Paul certainly had the word atom available had he wished to use it. And he was familiar with Greek schools of philosophy even debating with them on more than one occasion.
EXAMPLE 1 in dialogue with Epicureans and Stoics
.EXAMPLE 2 Dionysius the Areopagite persuaded by Paul's presentation
..DEMOCRITUS atomic theory summarised here
...ARISTOTLE counter arguments in the dialogue
....EPICURUS took those ideas on a bit more in dialogue with the STOICS
.EXAMPLE 2 Dionysius the Areopagite persuaded by Paul's presentation
..DEMOCRITUS atomic theory summarised here
...ARISTOTLE counter arguments in the dialogue
....EPICURUS took those ideas on a bit more in dialogue with the STOICS
There can be no doubt that if Paul were describing atoms he would have used the word. He did not use it. That is a sort of negative evidence as secularists might see it. They are strongly deluded however so God did not stop there providing positive evidence to, that a thorough answer may be given.
Paul engaged in dialogue with Greek scholars very effectively. He could not do so if he had no understanding of their philosophy and is very direct in explaining that what he is teaching is NOT philosophy. It is something altogether different and altogether inaccessible using scientific logic.
I CORINTHIANS 1
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
KJV .. context
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
KJV .. context
Paul quoted Greek poets—in the Mars Hill address linked above they are Cleanthes and Epimenides—presented The Gospel effectively in terms other than natural philosophy even explaining that Christ crucified seems foolish by those criteria and he prevailed. That would be impossible if he had no knowledge of what those criteria were.
He had the education, the language and the arguments. He would certainly know about atoms and even though he was not an Epicurean and might not accept atomic theory he would at least know the word. But he did not use it.
He was talking about something else.
Ask your secularist whether they are familiar with these details, or your fluffy bunny. I can guarantee that they will not be. If they were they would not be talking rubbish. And to claim that Paul had atomic revelations is just that. Rubbish.
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