Posted on 08/04/2002 3:00:50 PM PDT by blam
Christian Designs Found in Tomb Stones of Eastern Han Dynasty
[2002-08-02] Studies show that as early as 86 A.D., or the third year under the reign of "Yuanhe" of Eastern Han, Dynasty Christianity entered into China, 550 years earlier than the world accepted time.
When studying a batch of stone carvings of Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 A.D.) stored and exhibited in the Museum of Xuzhou Han Stone Carvings, Christian theology professor Wang Weifan was greatly surprised by some stone engravings demonstrating the Bible stories and designs of early Christian times.
Further studies showed that some of these engravings were made in 86 A.D., or the third year under the reign of "Yuanhe" of Eastern Han Dynasty, 550 years earlier than the world accepted time of Christianity's entrance into China.
The 74-year-old professor, who is also a standing member of the China Christian Council, showed reporter a pile of photos of Han stone carvings and bronze basins taken by him. He also compared the designs on them with that of the Bible, composed of fish, birds, and animals demonstrating how God created the earth.
Designs on these ancient stones displayed the artistic style of early Christian times found in Iraq and Middle East area while bearing the characteristics of China's Eastern Han times.
The stone carvings, being important funeral objects, are mainly found in four cities, and Xuzhou is one of them. It is reported that by now more than 20 intact Han tombs have been found, from which nearly 500 pieces of engraved stones were discovered.
It is globally accepted that Christianity was first carried into China by a Syrian missionary Alopen in 635 A.D. the ninth year under the reign of "Zhenguan" of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.).
Some experts once raised doubts that Christianity may have entered China in an early time as the Eastern Han, but lack evidence. Nevertheless, professor Wang's discovery serves to strongly back up the theory and the earlier works of his own. By PD Online Staff Member Li Heng [From: CL2000.com]
Using the definition "whelp" for gentile makes no sense. I did not say Strong's Condordance makes no sense in every case. Do not misrepresent what I said.
Lost Tribe doesn't know what he is talking about.
Yes, I think that is self-evident.
Placing the designation of "Jew" ... after the Babylonian captivity ... is completely arbritrary
Yes, it is arbitrary, since the English language did not even exist in those times and the original (Hebrew) language makes no such distinction.
FORGETABOUT IT !
You may not realize it, but the Hebrew language is the pillar of much of Christian theology as well. Did you think the Old Testament was originally written in English? All of the prophesies were written in Hebrew and translated into other languages.
The New Testament was written in Greek, but translated from Aramaic, which is not much more precise than Hebrew.
So, obviously, if my theology is built on shifting sand, so is yours.
That argument has all the intellectual charm of "My Dad can whip your Dad." Oh, yeah! Wanna bet?
I am merely saying that all Jewish and Christian theology is ultimately based on the Hebrew language, which is admittedly imprecise. The fact that the Hebrew text has been translated into other languages does not magically make it any more precise.
I'm glad we found something to agree about.
Of course that is not to say the Hebrew language is Jewish, for it is not. It's roots are Israelite. Jews were merely the custodians of the Hebrew language after the Israelites from the north began their long journey.
Now you are confusing the word "Israelite" with the post-Solomonic northern kingdom of Israel. The word Israelite applies to Jews as well as to the northern kingdom. The Jews are the only Israelites still known to exist.
To say that the Jews are merely the "custodians" of the Hebrew language is incorrect. Virtually the entire Old Testament after the 5 books of Moses was written by Jews, including all of the books of the prophets. All of the later prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc. were Jews.
How then did Jews "create" the Hebrew language?
Virtually the entire Old Testament after the 5 books of Moses was written by Jews, including all of the books of the prophets. All of the later prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc. were Jews.
So what does that prove? The Jews were still merely users of the Hebrew language. They did not create the language, and as far as I'm concerned they do not own it. I don't know where or when the Hebrew language began, but it was long long before there were any jews.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this ping list.
There are those "experts" who cannot be bothered to learn the Jewish perspective about anything. The ideas "Lost Tribe" is expressing are from the 19th century movement called "British Israelism" -- basically, the belief that the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon peoples are the Lost Tribes of Israel. Evidently, they believed that God is a practical joker -- why else would He have all these Jews go to the Synagogue, study Hebrew, etc. for thousands of years while all along the "real" Israelites were revelling in their Aryan purity in Scotland, England, Germany, etc.
The modern offshoot of British Israelism is the so-called Christian Identity movement, by the way. While the followers British Israelism were content to believe that the British Empire was the Kingdom of God on earth, the members of the Christian Identity movememt seem to have a fetish for the Third Reich. Their idea of heaven seems more like hell to me. Do a search for "Christian Identity" and you will quickly find some very unsavory things.
Especially if the Ark of the Covenant and the temple items have been found: Wyatt Archeological Research
There's extraordinary evidence of His travels, are there not? The Lord had to go to Egypt for a while as a Youngster.
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