December 15, 2025 • 28 mins
On today’s Bible Answer Man broadcast (12/15/25), Hank answers pressing questions that are often asked this time of year concerning the claims of Christianity and the Christmas holiday. Hank underscores the majesty of Messianic prophecy, including Daniel’s prediction of events hundreds of years before the time of Christ; Isaiah’s virgin birth and suffering Servant prophecies; the details of Christ’s crucifixion, and the answer to Luke’s supposed census blunder.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're just in time for the Bible answer Man Broadcast
with Hank Canagraph, the radio outreach of the Christian Research Institute.
Our purpose here at CRII is to equip Christians to
provide Biblical answers to life's most important questions, to read
the Bible for all it's worth, and counter the teachings
of cults and world religions that deviate from the plumb
(00:30):
line of God's word, because life and truth matter. For
more information, to order resources or donate, call eight eight
eight seven thousand CROI, or go online to equip dot org.
That's equip dot org. The following program was pre recorded.
(00:50):
Now here's the president of the Christian Research Institute, Hank Canagraph.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Thank much, Randy. This is a special Christmas edition of
the Bible and NA broadcast Christmas in the sense that
I'm going to be answering questions that deal specifically with
the Christian Christmas narrative. Has always the resources that I
talk about on the broadcast you can find on the
web at equipped dot org. You can also write a
(01:18):
set box eighty five hundred Charlotte, North Carolina, zip code
two eight two seven to one or just talk to
one of our resource consultants at number triple eight seven thousand,
and the letters c R I. I want to start
with a question I think is very very important, because
it's asked over and over again during the Christmas holidays.
(01:43):
How could someone like Daniel, who is writing six centuries
before the time of Christ have predicted exactly what was
going to happen hundreds of years later? Or perhaps we
might add ask why are Messianic prophecies a golden key
(02:04):
that ends up unlocking the hearts of even hardened skeptics.
I asked that question in light of the words that
we find in Isaiah chapter nine. For to us a
child is born, to us a son is given, and
(02:27):
the government will be on his shoulders, and he will
be called wonderful counselor Mighty God, ever lasting Father, Prince
of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace,
there will be no end. He will reign on David's
throne and over David's kingdom, establishing it and upholding it
(02:53):
with justice and righteousness. From that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. This,
of course, is a prophecy made by the prophet Isaiah
Isaiah chapter nine, verses six through seven. Prophecy I think
(03:16):
is so important for us because what it does is
represent one of the most powerful proofs of the divine
origins of the Biblical text, and the Book of Daniel
is a classic case in point. Sometimes we forget that
he was writing in the midst of the sixth century
(03:36):
Babylonian captivity, and at that time, Yahweh, the God of Israel,
reveals through Daniel his present and I would say, his
eternal purposes for Israel and of course for the world.
So Daniel ends up accurately predicting a progression of kingdoms
(03:57):
from Babylon through the Median and Persian empires, to the
further persecution and suffering of the Jews under Antiicus, the
Fourth Epiphanies, including the Surrean despots, desecration of the Jerusalem Temple,
and his untimely death and freedom for the Jews under
(04:17):
Judas Maccabeus way back in one sixty five BC. What's
interesting about this is this is something that is remembered
in Jewish congregations around the world every single year. It
is one of those epic events in human history, and
epic event that involves an Old Testament anti Christ, and
(04:43):
so the Book of Daniel prophetically looks forward to the
coming of Messiah. Now Jewish congregations are not looking forward
to the coming of Messiah as happened two thousand years ago.
They don't believe Messiah has yet come. But think about
what Jeremiah prophesied Jerusalem said. Jeremiah would experience a partial
(05:08):
restoration after seventy years of exile. However, as revealed through
the Angel Gabriel, the return from exile was merely a
type of the anti typical freedom that would be experienced
through Judas Maccabeus, which itself was typological as something. That
(05:30):
something is the ultimate restoration that comes through Jesus the Messiah.
And we have to look at the singular fact that
Jesus ends up being the fulfillment of the law and
the prophets. And therefore it should never surprise us that
(05:51):
when we read the scripture, prophecies regarding Jesus outnumber all
other prophecies. Of these prophecies would have been impossible for
Jesus to deliberately conspire to fulfill How could he do that?
With respect to his descent from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
(06:14):
or his birth in Bethlehem, or think about this his
crucifixion with criminals as foretold by Isaiah and Isaiah chapter
fifty three, the piercing of his hands in his feet
on the cross, or the soldiers gambling for his clothes,
(06:36):
the piercing of his side, and the fact that his
bones were not broken at his death. And maybe the
capstone is ironically his burial among the rich and perhaps
the most beloved of all the Old Testament prophecies is
(07:00):
encapsulated in the words of Isaiah, who eight centuries before
the birth of Christ. Think about that, eight centuries before
the birth of Christ wrote these immortal words. We all
know them. For to us a child is born, to
(07:22):
us a son is given, and the government will be
on his shoulders, and he will be called wonderful counselor
Mighty God, everlasting Father, in other words, the possessor of
eternity and the moniker prince of peace. Only Messiah, born
(07:49):
of a virgin could match the meaning of these kind
of majestic monikers. And not only that, but the Christ
who walked through the doorway of Isaiah's messianic prophecy made
the ultimate prediction destroy this temple, and I will raise
(08:13):
it again in three days. And after he was raised
from the dead, his disciples recalled what he has said,
and then they believed the scripture and the words that
Jesus had spoken. Over the years, I have discovered time
and time again that Messianic prophecy is the golden key
(08:38):
that unlocks the hearts of even hard boiled skeptics. How
is it possible that the Old Testament prophets were able
to predict the coming of Christ with such meticulous precision
(08:59):
his ans, you can't fake that his birthplace. Remember Micah
said that it would be Beth for him Efrita, and
only Beth for him Efrita would do. Of all the
towns and hamlets in the world, only one could be
(09:22):
the fulfillment of the words of the Old Testament prophets.
Or think about the details surrounding his death. He was
to be crucified. Now, crucifixion was not invented by the Romans.
(09:43):
It was invented long before the Romans by the Persians.
It was only popularized by the Romans. And yet the
details of his crucifixion were given to us in such
meticulous fashion that only Jesus in the death of Jesus
(10:06):
on the Cross could be their fulfillment. Well, this is
one of those issues that I'm so excited about messiatic prophecy.
I've written about this in many different places, including the
Heart of Christmas, a devotional for the season available through
the ministry of the Christian Research Institute. I've written about
this as well in my book Has God Spoken. Many
(10:28):
of these resources, in fact, all of them can be
found on the web at equip dot org. When I
come back from the break, I'm going to answer the
question did doctor Luke make a colossal historical blunder that
discredit scripture when he said that Augustus Caesar issued a
(10:49):
decree that a census should be taken and that that
decree would take place when Jesus Christ was born. We're
going to answer that objection when we come back.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is under siege.
Turn on the TV or your computer, engage with social media,
or listen to the radio, and you'll hear the word
of God ridiculed, misinterpreted, or treated as outright lies. The
Bible answer Man broadcast the Hank Unplugged podcast, The Christian
Research Journal and the other outreaches of the Christian Research
(11:22):
Institute exist to help you defend your faith against these attacks.
But we need your support to produce the resources you
depend on to help us continue equipping you to stand strong.
Call now before the year ends eight eight eight seven
thousand CRII eight eight eight seven thousand CRII. Or give
(11:42):
your tax deductible year end gift right up to the
last minute at equip dot org. That's equip dot org.
Stay tuned. Hank Hanagraph will return in a moment. The
Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition is the comprehensive collection
(12:05):
of the most often asked questions Hank Hannigraph has received
throughout his four decades as host of the Bible answer
Man broadcast. With more than half a million copies already
in print, this newly revised and expanded Collector's Edition helped
seekers and skeptics alike sort through the truth on topics
such as reliability of the Bible, religions and cults, the
(12:28):
resurrection and afterlife, and many more issues vital to a
better understanding of God in Christ and our relationship to Him.
To receive your copy of the Complete Bible answer book
Collector's Edition revised and expanded. Call eight eight eight seven
thousand CRII and make a gift to support the Christian
(12:48):
Research Institute's life changing outreaches eight eight eight seven thousand
CRII or visit us at equip dot org.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
To fully grasp the significance of Christ's Messianic rule, you
must drink deeply from the wellspring of Old Testament prophecy
in Hebrews. As in the rest of the New Testament,
the Old Testament history of Israel is interpreted as a
(13:22):
succession of types that find ultimate fulfillment in the birth, death, resurrection,
and ascension of the Christ we celebrate at Christmas.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Hank Hantagraph has penned The Heart of Christmas, a devotional
for the season, to ensure that just as you prepare
your home for Christmas, you likewise prepare your heart. Order
the Heart of Christmas, a devotional for the season, by
calling eight eight eight seven thousand and two seven four
or by going online to www. Dot equip dot org.
(14:05):
Has God spoken? Are the words of Scripture merely human
in origin? Or are they in fact the very words
of God himself? Three years in the making and based
on two decades of research and reflection, Hank Henagraph's monumental
book Has God Spoken answers what is surely the most
(14:25):
important question facing our world. In Has God Spoken? Memorable
proofs of the Bible's divine inspiration, Hank counters the contentions
of the Bible attackers and clearly shows that belief in
the Holy Scriptures is not a guess or wishful thinking.
It is the only logical conclusion after an honest examination
of overwhelming evidence. Order Has God Spoken? From the Christian
(14:49):
Research Institute by calling eighty eight seven thousand CRII, or
go online to equip dot org equip dot org. If
you were going into combat, what would be more important
(15:10):
the number of those who were for you or the
number of those who were with you. Now apply that
question to today's battle for the hearts and minds of
literally millions of people at home and abroad. That's what
makes members of CRI's support teams so vital. They're not
simply for CRI's critical mission. They're standing with CRI each
(15:32):
and every day. If you want your voice and your
values to be heard twenty four to seven through the
outreaches of the Christian Research Institute become a member of
CRI's support team today. Just call eight eight eight seven
thousand CROI to stand with CRI daily in the battle
for life and truth. And as our thanks, Hank Hanagraph
(15:54):
will personalize to you a copy of his Complete Bible
answer Book Collector's Edition revived and expanded. Call eight eight
eight seven thousand CURI or visit our website at equipp
dot org. Once again, here is Hank Canagraph.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
And you have tuned into a special edition of the
Bible answer Man Broadcast of answering questions that are raised
over and over again this time of the year. And
as we say so often on the Bible answer Man Broadcast,
we are called to be ready always to give an answer,
a reason for the hope that lies within a send
to do that with gentleness and with respect. The whole
(16:34):
idea is not to win the argument. It is to
reach a person, a person who, without Jesus Christ, has
a vacuum that will never be filled. Before the break,
I was mentioning a question that comes up over and
over again this time of the year. It's actually a
question that is motivated by something that doctor Luke said
(16:59):
in luke Cha Chapter two and Luke is considered to
be a meticulous historian, and therefore this question calls into
question a larger question. How reliable is not only doctor Luke,
but how reliable is the Bible at all. The words
(17:21):
of doctor Luke in chapter two have to do with
those days, those days in which Caesar Augustus issued a
decree that a census should be taken of the entire
Roman world. And this was the first census that took
place while Querinius was governor of Syria. And according to Luke,
(17:47):
everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph
also went up to the town of Nazareth in Galilee,
to Judea, to Bethlehem, to the town of David, because
he belonged to the house in line of David, and
he went there to register with Mary, who was pledged
(18:11):
to be married to him and at the time was
expecting a child. And while they were there, the time
came for the baby to be born, and she gave
birth to her first born, her first born, a son,
and she wrapped him in claws and placed him in
(18:32):
a manger because there was no room for them in
the inn well. On NBC there was a special called
the birth of Jesus, And on that special a man
named doctor John Dominic Crosson, who happens to be co
founder of the wildly popular Jesus Seminar, called into question
(18:56):
the historical veracity of the Bible by saying, Luke tells
us the story that at the time Jesus was born,
Augustus had decreed a sensus of the whole earth, and
then he said this. Now, every scholar is going to
(19:17):
tell you that there was no such senses. Ever, the
question we have to ask at this point is is
he correct or is the canon correct? If he's correct,
the canon is corrupt. So did doctor Luke make a
(19:41):
colossal historical blunder that effectively discredits sacred scripture. In an
age in which the historical reliability of the Bible is
being questioned, it is ever more crucial that Christians are
equipped to demonstrate that the Bible is the infallible repository
(20:07):
of redemptive revelation. So how do we respond to critics
like John Dominic Crossen. Is his pontification on NBC a
defensible argument or is it merely a dogmatic assertion? Well,
(20:27):
it turns out to be the latter. It's a dogmatic assertion,
while Crossin made his pontification with typical bravado, It's patently false.
Caesar Augustus was famous for census taking, so famous, in fact,
(20:47):
that this issue is no longer even debated among credible historians.
The Jewish historian Josephus actually refers to a Roman taxation
in eighty six, and considering the scope of the taxation,
it is logical to assume that it took a very
(21:09):
long time to complete. Undoubtedly, it began with Caesar Augustus
around five BC and was likely completed a decade later.
But there's more. Luke, Ever, the meticulous historian, notes that
the census took place when Quirinius served as governor of Syria.
(21:34):
An ancient historian, doctor Paul Meyer, co author of one
of my books, an esteemed professor of ancient history at
Western Michigan University, noted once on the Bible answer Man
broadcast that Romans took forty years to get a census
done in Gaul, and therefore for a province fifteen hundred
(21:58):
miles away from Rome to take a decade is eminently reasonable.
Not only that, but since the senses came in under
the administration of Corinius, it would correctly be labeled as
his senses. And not only that, but given Luke's impeccable
(22:22):
credentials as a historian, it would have been far more
circumspect for someone like John Dominic Crossen to temper his dogmatism,
and those who follow in his train should do so
as well. These are issues that are not trivial. These
(22:44):
are critical issues. If Luke is wrong, the Bible is wrong.
And if the Bible is wrong here, how can we
trust the Bible as a reliable authority. We need to
remember the experience of a brilliant archaeologist. His name was
(23:05):
Sir William Ramsey. He was very much like Crossing in
his own day. He was bent on undermining Luke's historical reliability. Therefore,
through his painstaking Mediterranean archaeological adventures, he was expecting well
(23:26):
to underscore his own biases. But something else happened. He
discovered that, one after the other, the historical illusions that
doctor Luke provides were accurate. If, as Ramsey points out,
Luke does not air in referencing a plethora of countries
(23:50):
and cities and islands and all the details that surround them,
then there's no reason to doubt him concerning the censes either.
So on this sacred occasion, an occasion where we are
looking forward to the coming of Jesus Christ by way
(24:13):
of celebration, why not make a commitment, a commitment that
we ask you to make each and every year, not
just once, but throughout the year. Always be prepared, Always
be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks
you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
(24:35):
And remember, even if you don't have an answer ready
at your fingertip, you can always research and return, and
a great place to do that is on the web
at equip dot org. That's why we pray, and we
do pray about this earnestly. May God use your web
(25:00):
well reason answers this Christmas season as an opportunity to
share the grace, the truth, the light that only the
Christ of Christmas can bring to the human heart. And
once again I ask people to stand with His shoulder
(25:21):
to shoulder in the battle for life and truth. Not
because the organization needs it, but because in giving to us,
you give through us and touch the lives of people,
not only for time but also for eternity. Thank you
this Christmas season as you stand with us shoulder to
shoulder of the battle for life and truth. You can
(25:42):
give them say secure fashion on the webit, equipped dot org,
write me at box eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina,
zip code two eight two seven to one, or talk
to one of our resource consultants triple eight seven thousand,
and the letters c RII. Thanks for tuning in to
this special edition of the Bible Instrument Broadcast.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
We appreciate you tuning in to the Bible answer Man Broadcast.
Before we sign off today, here's our contact information by
phone dial eight eight eight seven thousand, CRII, which translates
to eight eight eight seven thousand two seven four On
the Internet, go to equip dot org. That's equip dot org.
(26:26):
You can also write CRII at Post Office box eighty
five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina. The zip code is two
eight two seven one. Our prayer is that today's broadcast
has equipped you to better defend your faith and encouraged
you to pursue sound doctrine and godly living. Thank you
for listening. The Bible answer Man Broadcast is supported by
(26:48):
listeners like you. We're on the air because life and
truth matter. The Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition is
the comprehensive collection of the most often asked questions Hank
Hannigraph has received throughout his four decades as host of
(27:11):
The Bible answer Man broadcast. With more than half a
million copies already in print, this newly revised and expanded
Collector's Edition helped seekers and skeptics alike sort through the
truth on topics such as reliability of the Bible, religions
and cults, the resurrection and afterlife, and many more issues
(27:31):
vital to a better understanding of God in Christ and
our relationship to Him. To receive your copy of The
Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition, Revised and Expanded, call
eight eight eight seven thousand CRII and make a gift
to support the Christian Research Institute's life changing outreaches eight
(27:51):
eight eight seven thousand CRII or visit us at EQUIP
dot org.
You're just in time for the Bible answer Man Broadcast
with Hank Canagraph, the radio outreach of the Christian Research Institute.
Our purpose here at CRII is to equip Christians to
provide Biblical answers to life's most important questions, to read
the Bible for all it's worth, and counter the teachings
of cults and world religions that deviate from the plumb
(00:30):
line of God's word, because life and truth matter. For
more information, to order resources or donate, call eight eight
eight seven thousand CROI, or go online to equip dot org.
That's equip dot org. The following program was pre recorded.
(00:50):
Now here's the president of the Christian Research Institute, Hank Canagraph.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Thank much, Randy. This is a special Christmas edition of
the Bible and NA broadcast Christmas in the sense that
I'm going to be answering questions that deal specifically with
the Christian Christmas narrative. Has always the resources that I
talk about on the broadcast you can find on the
web at equipped dot org. You can also write a
(01:18):
set box eighty five hundred Charlotte, North Carolina, zip code
two eight two seven to one or just talk to
one of our resource consultants at number triple eight seven thousand,
and the letters c R I. I want to start
with a question I think is very very important, because
it's asked over and over again during the Christmas holidays.
(01:43):
How could someone like Daniel, who is writing six centuries
before the time of Christ have predicted exactly what was
going to happen hundreds of years later? Or perhaps we
might add ask why are Messianic prophecies a golden key
(02:04):
that ends up unlocking the hearts of even hardened skeptics.
I asked that question in light of the words that
we find in Isaiah chapter nine. For to us a
child is born, to us a son is given, and
(02:27):
the government will be on his shoulders, and he will
be called wonderful counselor Mighty God, ever lasting Father, Prince
of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace,
there will be no end. He will reign on David's
throne and over David's kingdom, establishing it and upholding it
(02:53):
with justice and righteousness. From that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. This,
of course, is a prophecy made by the prophet Isaiah
Isaiah chapter nine, verses six through seven. Prophecy I think
(03:16):
is so important for us because what it does is
represent one of the most powerful proofs of the divine
origins of the Biblical text, and the Book of Daniel
is a classic case in point. Sometimes we forget that
he was writing in the midst of the sixth century
(03:36):
Babylonian captivity, and at that time, Yahweh, the God of Israel,
reveals through Daniel his present and I would say, his
eternal purposes for Israel and of course for the world.
So Daniel ends up accurately predicting a progression of kingdoms
(03:57):
from Babylon through the Median and Persian empires, to the
further persecution and suffering of the Jews under Antiicus, the
Fourth Epiphanies, including the Surrean despots, desecration of the Jerusalem Temple,
and his untimely death and freedom for the Jews under
(04:17):
Judas Maccabeus way back in one sixty five BC. What's
interesting about this is this is something that is remembered
in Jewish congregations around the world every single year. It
is one of those epic events in human history, and
epic event that involves an Old Testament anti Christ, and
(04:43):
so the Book of Daniel prophetically looks forward to the
coming of Messiah. Now Jewish congregations are not looking forward
to the coming of Messiah as happened two thousand years ago.
They don't believe Messiah has yet come. But think about
what Jeremiah prophesied Jerusalem said. Jeremiah would experience a partial
(05:08):
restoration after seventy years of exile. However, as revealed through
the Angel Gabriel, the return from exile was merely a
type of the anti typical freedom that would be experienced
through Judas Maccabeus, which itself was typological as something. That
(05:30):
something is the ultimate restoration that comes through Jesus the Messiah.
And we have to look at the singular fact that
Jesus ends up being the fulfillment of the law and
the prophets. And therefore it should never surprise us that
(05:51):
when we read the scripture, prophecies regarding Jesus outnumber all
other prophecies. Of these prophecies would have been impossible for
Jesus to deliberately conspire to fulfill How could he do that?
With respect to his descent from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
(06:14):
or his birth in Bethlehem, or think about this his
crucifixion with criminals as foretold by Isaiah and Isaiah chapter
fifty three, the piercing of his hands in his feet
on the cross, or the soldiers gambling for his clothes,
(06:36):
the piercing of his side, and the fact that his
bones were not broken at his death. And maybe the
capstone is ironically his burial among the rich and perhaps
the most beloved of all the Old Testament prophecies is
(07:00):
encapsulated in the words of Isaiah, who eight centuries before
the birth of Christ. Think about that, eight centuries before
the birth of Christ wrote these immortal words. We all
know them. For to us a child is born, to
(07:22):
us a son is given, and the government will be
on his shoulders, and he will be called wonderful counselor
Mighty God, everlasting Father, in other words, the possessor of
eternity and the moniker prince of peace. Only Messiah, born
(07:49):
of a virgin could match the meaning of these kind
of majestic monikers. And not only that, but the Christ
who walked through the doorway of Isaiah's messianic prophecy made
the ultimate prediction destroy this temple, and I will raise
(08:13):
it again in three days. And after he was raised
from the dead, his disciples recalled what he has said,
and then they believed the scripture and the words that
Jesus had spoken. Over the years, I have discovered time
and time again that Messianic prophecy is the golden key
(08:38):
that unlocks the hearts of even hard boiled skeptics. How
is it possible that the Old Testament prophets were able
to predict the coming of Christ with such meticulous precision
(08:59):
his ans, you can't fake that his birthplace. Remember Micah
said that it would be Beth for him Efrita, and
only Beth for him Efrita would do. Of all the
towns and hamlets in the world, only one could be
(09:22):
the fulfillment of the words of the Old Testament prophets.
Or think about the details surrounding his death. He was
to be crucified. Now, crucifixion was not invented by the Romans.
(09:43):
It was invented long before the Romans by the Persians.
It was only popularized by the Romans. And yet the
details of his crucifixion were given to us in such
meticulous fashion that only Jesus in the death of Jesus
(10:06):
on the Cross could be their fulfillment. Well, this is
one of those issues that I'm so excited about messiatic prophecy.
I've written about this in many different places, including the
Heart of Christmas, a devotional for the season available through
the ministry of the Christian Research Institute. I've written about
this as well in my book Has God Spoken. Many
(10:28):
of these resources, in fact, all of them can be
found on the web at equip dot org. When I
come back from the break, I'm going to answer the
question did doctor Luke make a colossal historical blunder that
discredit scripture when he said that Augustus Caesar issued a
(10:49):
decree that a census should be taken and that that
decree would take place when Jesus Christ was born. We're
going to answer that objection when we come back.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is under siege.
Turn on the TV or your computer, engage with social media,
or listen to the radio, and you'll hear the word
of God ridiculed, misinterpreted, or treated as outright lies. The
Bible answer Man broadcast the Hank Unplugged podcast, The Christian
Research Journal and the other outreaches of the Christian Research
(11:22):
Institute exist to help you defend your faith against these attacks.
But we need your support to produce the resources you
depend on to help us continue equipping you to stand strong.
Call now before the year ends eight eight eight seven
thousand CRII eight eight eight seven thousand CRII. Or give
(11:42):
your tax deductible year end gift right up to the
last minute at equip dot org. That's equip dot org.
Stay tuned. Hank Hanagraph will return in a moment. The
Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition is the comprehensive collection
(12:05):
of the most often asked questions Hank Hannigraph has received
throughout his four decades as host of the Bible answer
Man broadcast. With more than half a million copies already
in print, this newly revised and expanded Collector's Edition helped
seekers and skeptics alike sort through the truth on topics
such as reliability of the Bible, religions and cults, the
(12:28):
resurrection and afterlife, and many more issues vital to a
better understanding of God in Christ and our relationship to Him.
To receive your copy of the Complete Bible answer book
Collector's Edition revised and expanded. Call eight eight eight seven
thousand CRII and make a gift to support the Christian
(12:48):
Research Institute's life changing outreaches eight eight eight seven thousand
CRII or visit us at equip dot org.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
To fully grasp the significance of Christ's Messianic rule, you
must drink deeply from the wellspring of Old Testament prophecy
in Hebrews. As in the rest of the New Testament,
the Old Testament history of Israel is interpreted as a
(13:22):
succession of types that find ultimate fulfillment in the birth, death, resurrection,
and ascension of the Christ we celebrate at Christmas.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Hank Hantagraph has penned The Heart of Christmas, a devotional
for the season, to ensure that just as you prepare
your home for Christmas, you likewise prepare your heart. Order
the Heart of Christmas, a devotional for the season, by
calling eight eight eight seven thousand and two seven four
or by going online to www. Dot equip dot org.
(14:05):
Has God spoken? Are the words of Scripture merely human
in origin? Or are they in fact the very words
of God himself? Three years in the making and based
on two decades of research and reflection, Hank Henagraph's monumental
book Has God Spoken answers what is surely the most
(14:25):
important question facing our world. In Has God Spoken? Memorable
proofs of the Bible's divine inspiration, Hank counters the contentions
of the Bible attackers and clearly shows that belief in
the Holy Scriptures is not a guess or wishful thinking.
It is the only logical conclusion after an honest examination
of overwhelming evidence. Order Has God Spoken? From the Christian
(14:49):
Research Institute by calling eighty eight seven thousand CRII, or
go online to equip dot org equip dot org. If
you were going into combat, what would be more important
(15:10):
the number of those who were for you or the
number of those who were with you. Now apply that
question to today's battle for the hearts and minds of
literally millions of people at home and abroad. That's what
makes members of CRI's support teams so vital. They're not
simply for CRI's critical mission. They're standing with CRI each
(15:32):
and every day. If you want your voice and your
values to be heard twenty four to seven through the
outreaches of the Christian Research Institute become a member of
CRI's support team today. Just call eight eight eight seven
thousand CROI to stand with CRI daily in the battle
for life and truth. And as our thanks, Hank Hanagraph
(15:54):
will personalize to you a copy of his Complete Bible
answer Book Collector's Edition revived and expanded. Call eight eight
eight seven thousand CURI or visit our website at equipp
dot org. Once again, here is Hank Canagraph.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
And you have tuned into a special edition of the
Bible answer Man Broadcast of answering questions that are raised
over and over again this time of the year. And
as we say so often on the Bible answer Man Broadcast,
we are called to be ready always to give an answer,
a reason for the hope that lies within a send
to do that with gentleness and with respect. The whole
(16:34):
idea is not to win the argument. It is to
reach a person, a person who, without Jesus Christ, has
a vacuum that will never be filled. Before the break,
I was mentioning a question that comes up over and
over again this time of the year. It's actually a
question that is motivated by something that doctor Luke said
(16:59):
in luke Cha Chapter two and Luke is considered to
be a meticulous historian, and therefore this question calls into
question a larger question. How reliable is not only doctor Luke,
but how reliable is the Bible at all. The words
(17:21):
of doctor Luke in chapter two have to do with
those days, those days in which Caesar Augustus issued a
decree that a census should be taken of the entire
Roman world. And this was the first census that took
place while Querinius was governor of Syria. And according to Luke,
(17:47):
everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph
also went up to the town of Nazareth in Galilee,
to Judea, to Bethlehem, to the town of David, because
he belonged to the house in line of David, and
he went there to register with Mary, who was pledged
(18:11):
to be married to him and at the time was
expecting a child. And while they were there, the time
came for the baby to be born, and she gave
birth to her first born, her first born, a son,
and she wrapped him in claws and placed him in
(18:32):
a manger because there was no room for them in
the inn well. On NBC there was a special called
the birth of Jesus, And on that special a man
named doctor John Dominic Crosson, who happens to be co
founder of the wildly popular Jesus Seminar, called into question
(18:56):
the historical veracity of the Bible by saying, Luke tells
us the story that at the time Jesus was born,
Augustus had decreed a sensus of the whole earth, and
then he said this. Now, every scholar is going to
(19:17):
tell you that there was no such senses. Ever, the
question we have to ask at this point is is
he correct or is the canon correct? If he's correct,
the canon is corrupt. So did doctor Luke make a
(19:41):
colossal historical blunder that effectively discredits sacred scripture. In an
age in which the historical reliability of the Bible is
being questioned, it is ever more crucial that Christians are
equipped to demonstrate that the Bible is the infallible repository
(20:07):
of redemptive revelation. So how do we respond to critics
like John Dominic Crossen. Is his pontification on NBC a
defensible argument or is it merely a dogmatic assertion? Well,
(20:27):
it turns out to be the latter. It's a dogmatic assertion,
while Crossin made his pontification with typical bravado, It's patently false.
Caesar Augustus was famous for census taking, so famous, in fact,
(20:47):
that this issue is no longer even debated among credible historians.
The Jewish historian Josephus actually refers to a Roman taxation
in eighty six, and considering the scope of the taxation,
it is logical to assume that it took a very
(21:09):
long time to complete. Undoubtedly, it began with Caesar Augustus
around five BC and was likely completed a decade later.
But there's more. Luke, Ever, the meticulous historian, notes that
the census took place when Quirinius served as governor of Syria.
(21:34):
An ancient historian, doctor Paul Meyer, co author of one
of my books, an esteemed professor of ancient history at
Western Michigan University, noted once on the Bible answer Man
broadcast that Romans took forty years to get a census
done in Gaul, and therefore for a province fifteen hundred
(21:58):
miles away from Rome to take a decade is eminently reasonable.
Not only that, but since the senses came in under
the administration of Corinius, it would correctly be labeled as
his senses. And not only that, but given Luke's impeccable
(22:22):
credentials as a historian, it would have been far more
circumspect for someone like John Dominic Crossen to temper his dogmatism,
and those who follow in his train should do so
as well. These are issues that are not trivial. These
(22:44):
are critical issues. If Luke is wrong, the Bible is wrong.
And if the Bible is wrong here, how can we
trust the Bible as a reliable authority. We need to
remember the experience of a brilliant archaeologist. His name was
(23:05):
Sir William Ramsey. He was very much like Crossing in
his own day. He was bent on undermining Luke's historical reliability. Therefore,
through his painstaking Mediterranean archaeological adventures, he was expecting well
(23:26):
to underscore his own biases. But something else happened. He
discovered that, one after the other, the historical illusions that
doctor Luke provides were accurate. If, as Ramsey points out,
Luke does not air in referencing a plethora of countries
(23:50):
and cities and islands and all the details that surround them,
then there's no reason to doubt him concerning the censes either.
So on this sacred occasion, an occasion where we are
looking forward to the coming of Jesus Christ by way
(24:13):
of celebration, why not make a commitment, a commitment that
we ask you to make each and every year, not
just once, but throughout the year. Always be prepared, Always
be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks
you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
(24:35):
And remember, even if you don't have an answer ready
at your fingertip, you can always research and return, and
a great place to do that is on the web
at equip dot org. That's why we pray, and we
do pray about this earnestly. May God use your web
(25:00):
well reason answers this Christmas season as an opportunity to
share the grace, the truth, the light that only the
Christ of Christmas can bring to the human heart. And
once again I ask people to stand with His shoulder
(25:21):
to shoulder in the battle for life and truth. Not
because the organization needs it, but because in giving to us,
you give through us and touch the lives of people,
not only for time but also for eternity. Thank you
this Christmas season as you stand with us shoulder to
shoulder of the battle for life and truth. You can
(25:42):
give them say secure fashion on the webit, equipped dot org,
write me at box eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina,
zip code two eight two seven to one, or talk
to one of our resource consultants triple eight seven thousand,
and the letters c RII. Thanks for tuning in to
this special edition of the Bible Instrument Broadcast.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
We appreciate you tuning in to the Bible answer Man Broadcast.
Before we sign off today, here's our contact information by
phone dial eight eight eight seven thousand, CRII, which translates
to eight eight eight seven thousand two seven four On
the Internet, go to equip dot org. That's equip dot org.
(26:26):
You can also write CRII at Post Office box eighty
five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina. The zip code is two
eight two seven one. Our prayer is that today's broadcast
has equipped you to better defend your faith and encouraged
you to pursue sound doctrine and godly living. Thank you
for listening. The Bible answer Man Broadcast is supported by
(26:48):
listeners like you. We're on the air because life and
truth matter. The Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition is
the comprehensive collection of the most often asked questions Hank
Hannigraph has received throughout his four decades as host of
(27:11):
The Bible answer Man broadcast. With more than half a
million copies already in print, this newly revised and expanded
Collector's Edition helped seekers and skeptics alike sort through the
truth on topics such as reliability of the Bible, religions
and cults, the resurrection and afterlife, and many more issues
(27:31):
vital to a better understanding of God in Christ and
our relationship to Him. To receive your copy of The
Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition, Revised and Expanded, call
eight eight eight seven thousand CRII and make a gift
to support the Christian Research Institute's life changing outreaches eight
(27:51):
eight eight seven thousand CRII or visit us at EQUIP
dot org.
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