New evidence for the Bible?

[Richleebruce]

When Old and New Testament characters have the same name there are frequently similar elements in their stories. Judah suggested that Joseph be sold into slavery for silver, Judas sold Christ for silver.

In some cases like Judah and Judas the story is similar, but in the case of Saul and Paul the story was in some ways the opposite. King Saul kills himself with a sword to avoid capture and torture at the hands of his enemies. The Apostle Paul preferred capture and quite possibly torture and death to having his jailer commit suicide with a sword. There are many other parallels between Saul and Paul.

I found parallels between the stories of Joseph, Jesus, John the Baptist, Simon-Peter, John the Apostle, and Judas. In addition some of the most impressive parallels are between Thomas and various sets of twins in the Old Testament and Acts.

I have asked people to examine and find an error in my thinking. I get several thousand hits a year, but little criticism. So I thought I was ask the Catholic Answers forum to try to refute the work, before I post a link on sites where Christians and atheists fight things out.

richleebruce.com/miracle/names.html

You can leave a note in my guest book or come back here and post your comments.

 

[JD_799]

I honestly can’t think of any way to refute the arguments. However, I will have to admit that I have honestly never heard about these arguments before. Good question, though.

 

[Akini]

I really cannot remember who actually said this (not exact quote); “The New Testament (NT) is hidden in the Old Testament (OT) and the OT is revealed in the NT”. May be by St.Augustine?

Anyway, there is NOTHING NEW. The NT is the revelation of the OT. That’s all there is to it.

Akini

 

[Eucharisted]

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

140 The unity of the two Testaments proceeds from the unity of God’s plan and his Revelation. the Old Testament prepares for the New and the New Testament fulfills the Old; the two shed light on each other; both are true Word of God.

489 Throughout the Old Covenant the mission of many holy women prepared for that of Mary. At the very beginning there was Eve; despite her disobedience, she receives the promise of a posterity that will be victorious over the evil one, as well as the promise that she will be the mother of all the living. By virtue of this promise, Sarah conceives a son in spite of her old age. Against all human expectation God chooses those who were considered powerless and weak to show forth his faithfulness to his promises: Hannah, the mother of Samuel; Deborah; Ruth; Judith and Esther; and many other women. Mary “stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, who confidently hope for and receive salvation from him. After a long period of waiting the times are fulfilled in her, the exalted Daughter of Sion, and the new plan of salvation is established.”

1094 It is on this harmony of the two Testaments that the Paschal catechesis of the Lord is built, and then, that of the Apostles and the Fathers of the Church. This catechesis unveils what lay hidden under the letter of the Old Testament: the mystery of Christ. It is called “typological” because it reveals the newness of Christ on the basis of the “figures” (types) which announce him in the deeds, words, and symbols of the first covenant. By this re-reading in the Spirit of Truth, starting from Christ, the figures are unveiled. Thus the flood and Noah’s ark prefigured salvation by Baptism, as did the cloud and the crossing of the Red Sea. Water from the rock was the figure of the spiritual gifts of Christ, and manna in the desert prefigured the Eucharist, “the true bread from heaven.”

 

[JD_799]

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1094 It is on this harmony of the two Testaments that the Paschal catechesis of the Lord is built, and then, that of the Apostles and the Fathers of the Church. This catechesis unveils what lay hidden under the letter of the Old Testament: the mystery of Christ. It is called “typological” because it reveals the newness of Christ on the basis of the “figures” (types) which announce him in the deeds, words, and symbols of the first covenant. By this re-reading in the Spirit of Truth, starting from Christ, the figures are unveiled. Thus the flood and Noah’s ark prefigured salvation by Baptism, as did the cloud and the crossing of the Red Sea. Water from the rock was the figure of the spiritual gifts of Christ, and manna in the desert prefigured the Eucharist, “the true bread from heaven.”

Thanks for bring this up, Eucharisted. I recall back when I used to go to Calvary Chapel, the bigoted pastor would belittle the Catholic Church on baptism and communion. Besides his “views” on infant baptism, he also screamed about baptism requiring “the full body being submerged in water” and his “beautiful baptismal font” (which was a typical horse trough that you would find at a feed store) and bash the idea of pouring water on someone’s head for baptism. I am glad that the Catechism addresses those issues, noting that the parting of the Red Sea and Noah’s Ark involved moving water.

 

[JD_799]

By the way Eucharisted, do you know where the Catechism addresses the precious blood?
Thanks.