Want a NOOK? Explore Now
Are Christians Guilty of Blind Faith, or Is The Bible Really God's Inspired Word?
Can You Ever Know For Sure?
Join best-selling author Hank Hanegraaff for a stirring defense of theBible as the Word of God and your only reliable foundation for life. Inanswering the riveting question, “Has God spoken?”, Hanegraaff usesmanuscript evidence, archeology, predictive prophecy, and much moreto memorably demonstrate that the Bible is divine rather than merelyhuman in origin.
Hanegraaff demolishes modern objections to Scripture, such as:
There are more mistakes in manuscript copies of the Bible thanthere are words in the New Testament.
The biblical account of King David is no more factual than talesof King Arthur—there simply is no evidence in archeology orhistory for Israel’s quintessential king.
Contemporary prophets are proven 100 percent wrong, 100 percentof the time, and biblical prophets are just as unreliable.
Has God Spoken? joins its predecessors—The Face That Demonstrates theFarce of Evolution and Resurrection—as Hanegraaff’s final book in atrilogy that provides complete and compelling answers to the mostcritical issues facing Christians today.
The Bible is the chief moral cause of all that is good, and the best corrective of all that is evil, in human society; the best Book for regulating the temporal concerns of men, and the only Book that can serve as an infallible guide ... the principles of genuine liberty, and of wise laws and administrations, are to be drawn from the Bible and sustained by its authority. The man therefore, who weakens or destroys the Divine authority of that Book may be accessory to all the public disorders which society is doomed to suffer. —Noah Webster
Writing a book is an arduous process. In the early years all I had at my disposal were a yellow pad and a Pentel with an eraser invariably worn down to the nub. Thankfully, those days were short-lived. Greg Laurie, one of the best evangelists on the planet, dropped by my office and sold me on "the gospel according to Mac." I instantly converted, enrolled in typing classes at a community college, found my way to the nearest Apple store, purchased a computer, and never looked back. Today, more than two decades later, I can't even imagine going back to writing a manuscript with a pen and a yellow pad.
Yet for thousands of years a Pentel and a piece of paper would have been considered a luxury. Throughout history people etched their words on materials ranging from stone and silver to papyrus and parchment. Paul references his etchings on parchment when he implores Timothy to bring "the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments" (2 Timothy 4:13), and John mentions the use of "paper and ink" in his second epistle (2 John 1:12). Someone writing some seven centuries before Christ etched the priestly benediction found in Numbers 6 on silver amulets uncovered in a burial chamber outside the Old City of Jerusalem at Ketef Hinnom—these tiny, rolled-up silver sheets representing the oldest of all extant Hebrew manuscript fragments. And Joshua, son of Nun, one of two legendary figures who survived the wilderness wanderings to lead the Israelites into the promised land, "copied on stones the law of Moses, which he had written" (Joshua 8:32).
Those who copied the autographs of biblical writers likewise faced an arduous task. Imagine being an Old Testament copyist engaged in the practice of hand-copying biblical manuscripts prior to the invention of computers. Perhaps you were one of the exiles who had just exited Babylon and reentered the land of promise. Your hero might well have been Ezra—the Michael Jordan of scribes. Thrilled to be back in the homeland, you coupled yourself to a community of copyists committed to the preservation of the sacred text. In your wildest imagination you could not have conjured up the image of movable type—much less a Mac computer or a mechanized copier.
Each day, you engaged in the tedious process of hand-copying an Old Testament missive—letter by letter by letter. No letter could be inscribed without looking back at it and verbalizing the text. As a Sopher (literally, a counter), you had to tally the words and letters to make certain that nothing was amiss. You must ever remain aware of the middle letter of the middle word of the manuscript so as to have an enduring reference point by which to make certain that not a jot was found missing. You must even allow for a prescribed number of letters and words in each column of the painstaking practice. Should the most exalted dignitary address you during your labors, you must ignore him, for you are a copyist in the employ of the King of kings and Lord of lords. And you must not so much as hazard to write the sacred name YHWH with a freshly dipped reed lest it blotch and desecrate the name of your God. Indeed, as part of the Jewish Sopherim, you would have had such an exalted view of the Old Testament text that you would perceive the missing of a mere tittle—a microscopic appendage at the end of a Hebrew letter—to be an affront to the holiness of your Creator. In short, you would make certain that your copy was as good as the copy that preceded it.
In time the Jewish Masoretes would succeed you. And they would be ever as vigilant. As underscored by professor of Old Testament Dr. Kenneth Barker, the Masoretes developed a system of checks and balances to ensure that every copy produced was as perfect as humanly attainable.
To make certain they had not added or left out even a single letter, they counted the number of times each letter of the alphabet occurred in each book. They noted and recorded the middle letter of the entire Old Testament. They recorded the middle letter on each page and the number of letters and words in each column. They examined every copy of the Old Testament and withdrew from circulation all copies in which any error was discovered. These carefully copied Hebrew texts have remained virtually unchanged since about 600 to 700 AD. In 1947 the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls yielded copies from all the major sections of the Old Testament, except Ruth, dating back more than a century before Christ. When compared to these ancient copies, the Masoretic texts were found to be virtually identical.
The point here should not be missed. The Dead Sea Scrolls predated the earliest extant text—Masoretic—by more than a millennium. Yet when compared to one another, differences in style and spelling were noted but no significant difference in substance. The Great Isaiah Scroll (c. 100 BC), discovered in the first of the Qumran caves, is an apt illustration. When compared to the text of the Masorites (c. AD 1000), it was found to be virtually identical—despite the passage of eleven hundred years. The famous fifty-third chapter contained only seventeen variants from the Masoretic text. Ten were a matter of spelling, four a matter of style, and three accounted for by the Hebrew letters in the word light. None substantially alters the meaning of the text.
Even where copyist errors exist in the text, they are generally relegated to mere matters of mistaken names or numbers. A classic case in point is 2 Chronicles 22:2—riveted in our minds due to a memorable address as well as the political intrigue involved. Some translations of 2 Chronicles, such as the King James Version and New King James Version, identify Ahaziah—youngest son of Jehoram (fifth king of the Southern Kingdom)—as forty-two years of age. The parallel passage (2 Kings 8:26) has him exactly twenty years younger when he mounted the throne. Thus, the problem. Was Ahaziah twenty-two or forty-two when he became king? As with other copyist errors, this question is easily resolved by a cursory look at context. Two verses prior to the error, we read that Ahaziah's father, Jehoram—whose death, like that of Judas, includes a description of spilled-out bowels—was forty years old when he died (2 Chronicles 21:20). Thus, the "aha" moment. Ahaziah would, obviously, not have been older than his father!
In sum, Old Testament scribal luminaries ranging from Ezra to the Masorites set an unimaginable standard of excellence in their copyist practices—a standard that should provide us with complete confidence in the Old Testament canon. Says Barker, "Bible students of today can be confident that the text available to us is not significantly different from the texts which Jesus and his disciples read twenty centuries ago."
In contrast to Old Testament copyists, New Testament counterparts were not constrained by the same systematized copyist practices. Instead they were rather like you and me. They likely loved the Lord and thus willingly sacrificed themselves to the tedious practice of copying the sacred text. And considering the hardships involved, copying the text was more than a career; it was a considerable calling.
Some stood at writing desks, and others worked in unbearable cold. One New Testament copyist describes the physiological effects in daunting terms: "Writing bows one's back, thrusts the ribs into one's stomach, and fosters a general debility of the body." Another adds a marginal warning akin to that found in the Apocalypse of John: "If anyone adds anything [words] to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book" (Revelation 22:18–19). Guided by the admonition "Do not add to it or take away from it" (Deuteronomy 12:32), New Testament copyists engaged their copyist practices with reverential awe akin to their Old Testament predecessors.
Did they make mistakes? Of course! While they engaged their craft with care, they were far from infallible. Unlike preprogrammed automatons, they were subject to all the frailties that are part and parcel of the human condition. The beauty from a biblical perspective, however, is the wealth of manuscripts by which textual critics can sort out their errors even apart from context and common sense.
While fundamentalists on the left obsess over their many errors, textual critics render them trite, trivial, and easy to resolve. What is more difficult to resolve is public sentiment to the contrary. People en masse are being deluded by books such as Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why, in which Bart Ehrman alleges "mistakes and changes that ancient scribes made to the New Testament and shows the great impact they had upon the Bible we use today." Says Ehrman, "The more I studied the manuscript tradition of the New Testament, the more I realized just how radically the text had been altered over the years at the hands of scribes, who were not only conserving scripture but also changing it." Worse yet, according to Ehrman, were the dark and sinister motives of the copyists. According to Ehrman, "the anti-Jewish sentiment of early Christian scribes made an impact on the texts they were copying." For in text after text, "it was anti-Jewish sentiment that prompted the scribal alteration." In evidence he offers the following copyist variant from Matthew 27:26:
Pilate is said to have flogged Jesus and then "handed him over to be crucified." Anyone reading the text would naturally assume that he handed Jesus over to his own (Roman) soldiers for crucifixion. That makes it all the more striking that in some early witnesses—including one of the scribal corrections in Codex Sinaitius—the text is changed to heighten even further the Jewish culpability in Jesus' death. According to these manuscripts, Pilate "handed him over to them [i.e., to the Jews] in order that they might crucify him." Now the Jewish responsibility for Jesus' execution is absolute, a change motivated by anti-Jewish sentiment among the early Christians.
If anything, Ehrman succeeds only in demonstrating his own anti-Christian bias. Had copyists genuinely been motivated by anti-Jewish sentiments, the very next words (Matthew 27:27) would attribute the stripping, mocking, and crucifying of Jesus to Jews, not Romans. Moreover, it is instructive to note that the variants in question occur only in two manuscripts and are at best ambiguous.
While the public has taken a significant bite out of this poison apple, textual critics are well aware of the fact that Ehrman has presented the skin of the truth stuffed with a lie. Even if Ehrman has rightly judged copyists as anti-Semitic, the notion that their sinister motives lie undetected in modern Bibles would be laughable if it were not so tragic. The sheer volume of extant manuscripts is more than sufficient to retrieve the original message of New Testament authors.
This, however, has not deterred the sophists. A new generation of scholars is now disseminating the notion that not just copyists, but the gospel writers themselves were singularly anti-Semitic. As noted, William Klassen (Judas: Betrayer or Friend of Jesus?), like Ehrman, suggests that John wanted "to vilify Judas," thus his gospel gets "caught up in anti-Jewish propaganda." Robert Funk, founder of the Jesus Seminar, took it one step further by suggesting that Judas might well have been invented as an anti-Semitic slur. As we have seen, Funk claims the story of Judas's betrayal of Jesus was "probably a fiction because Judas looks to many of us like the representation of Judaism or the Jews as responsible for His death. If it is fiction it was one of the most cruel fictions that was ever invented."
The problem here, of course, is not anti-Semitism but ahistorical sophistry and vindictive prejudice. New Testament writers and their copyists clearly proclaimed that salvation through the Jewish Messiah was given first to the Jewish people and then to the rest of the world (Matthew 15:24; Romans 1:16). Additionally, Peter's vision followed by Cornelius's receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 10) and the subsequent Jerusalem council (Acts 15) clearly demonstrate both the inclusive nature of the church as well as the initial Jewish Christian resistance to Gentile inclusion (Galatians 2:11–14).
Far from being anti-Semitic, New Testament manuscripts simply record the outworking of redemptive history as foretold by the Jewish prophets who foresaw that one of Christ's companions would betray him (Psalm 41:9; John 13:18). There is nothing subtle about the crucifixion narrative. The Jewish gospel writers explicitly state that it was their leaders who condemned Christ of blasphemy (Matthew 26:57–68; Luke 22:60–71; John 19:1–15). There would be no motive to fabricate a fictional Judas to represent the quintessential Jew.
As is obvious to any unbiased person from scholar to schoolchild, the New Testament is anything but anti-Semitic. Jesus, the twelve apostles, and the apostle Paul were all Jewish! In fact, Christians proudly refer to their heritage as the Judeo-Christian tradition. In the book of Hebrews, Christians are reminded of Jews from David to Daniel who are members of the faith hall of fame. Indeed, Christian children grow up with Jews as their heroes! From their mothers' knees to Sunday school classes, they are treated to Old Testament stories of great Jewish men and women of faith from Moses to Mary and from Ezekiel to Esther.
The Bible goes to great lengths to underscore the fact that when it comes to faith in Christ there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile (Galatians 3:28) and that Jewish people throughout the generations are no more responsible for Christ's death than anyone else. As Ezekiel put it, "The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son" (Ezekiel 18:20). The "cruel fiction" referred to by Funk is not Judas but the notion that Christian copyists were anti-Semitic. Truly, such scholars owe the world an apology for an idiosyncratic brand of fundamentalism from the left that foments bigotry and hatred by entertaining the absurd notion that the biblical accounts of Judas were fabricated because "'Judas' meant 'Jew.'"
While biblical authors and their copyists were clearly not anti-Semitic, they were, as previously acknowledged, far from perfect. Thus Ehrman's contention that "there are more differences among our manuscripts than there are words in the New Testament" is factually defensible. The notion that these copyist changes "dramatically affected" everything from the "divinity of Jesus" to the "divine origins of the Bible" is not. While such assertions make for great rhetoric, they are clearly ridiculous. Most copyist variants are mere matters of spelling and style and as such are easily discernable. Where the text was altered by copyists, no essential teaching of the faith was compromised. Moreover, as I will demonstrate shortly, the quality and quantity of manuscripts is sufficient to ferret out copyist slips and supplements.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from HAS GOD SPOKEN? by Hank Hanegraaff Copyright © 2011 by Hank Hanegraaff. Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction x
Part 1 Manuscript C-O-P-I-E-S 1
1 Copyist Practices 9
2 Oral Culture 17
3 Papyrus and Parchment 25
4 Internal Evidence 32
5 External Evidence 40
6 Science of Textual Criticism 48
Part 2 Archaeologist's S-P-A-D-E 57
7 Steles and Stones 61
8 Pools and Fools 71
9 Assyrian Archaeology 79
10 Dead Sea Scrolls 87
11 Epic of Gilgamesh 96
Part 3 Prophetic S-T-A-R-S 107
12 Succession of Nations 113
13 Typological Prophecy 128
14 Abomination of Desolation 145
15 Resurrection Prophecies 166
16 Superstar ABCs 186
Part 4 Scriptural L-I-G-H-T-S 209
17 Literal Principle 212
18 Illumination Principle 222
19 Grammatical Principle 230
20 Historical Principle 239
21 Typology Principle 255
22 Synergy Principle 265
Conclusion 280
Appendix: The Legacy Reading Plan 291
Notes 295
Selected Bibliography 347
Subject Index 362
Scripture Index 374
About the Author 382
This was a difficult read. Not because of its content, but because of its length. It begins as an exciting exploration into the deep that is Bible histology, but evolves into an act of repetition to drive the author's point home.
Hank Hanegraaff, popularly referred to as "The Bible Answer Man," states that this book is his magnum opus, has been known to ruffle feathers in the Christian community. His level of insight allows the book to develop in intricate ways-such as the MAPS exploration. Where it fails, however, is in the fact that his passion for proving the Bible to be just and true sends readers over the same words constructed in different sentences.
For example, the following sentences below reflect that same idea:
God created heaven, earth and mankind.
Heaven, earth and mankind, were created by God.
God, the Creator, made heaven, earth and mankind.
Perhaps the dynamics of this book were lost on me. It seems to be a better reference guide for further studies than a stand alone experience.
-
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I am not required to write a positive review whatsoever. The opinions I have expressed are completely my own. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.kamebear
Posted September 2, 2011
If you want to read a book book on this subject, I would recommend Josh McDowell's "More Than A Carpenter" before this. Even Lee Strobel's Case for Christ & Faith are better than this.
This is a terribly biased book written with week arguments based on incorrect/false facts, no sources to back up much of what is said, and also the author comes across very angry and hateful, slandering other authors every chance he gets. Such completely UNCHRISTIAN behavior immediately turned me off from this book. Any solid Christian or solid Athiest or Agnostic could easily tear the book apart because it has no case. Only Baby Christians would be fooled into believing this stuff.
The author comes across with an EXTREMELY strong bias for Christianity and against all non-Christians. His bias takes him so far that he turns into a ranting raving lunatic in his own book! With claims like "Islam is false because husbands are allowed to beat wives". But he fails to address WAAAY worse verses in our own Christian Bible! Read Exodus, Numbers, Lev and Deut and you will be shocked at what the Bible really says on how women and slaves are to be treated. And when he tries to argue for the Bible, he often resorts to lies or false information or weak biased sources to back him up. Nothing this author says holds ANY water and in many MANY cases, he doesn't give us the sources to his quotes! If you start reading and thinking it sounds good, he's probably tricked you already.
Claims of this author:
Introduction Pg xi: Jesus's death is "one of the most well-established realities of ancient history" Oh really? No source or proof or even evidence given. "There is a virtual consensus among CREDIBLE scholars.... that Jesus did in fact die on a cross" No source, proof or evidence given. Who are the "credible" scholars?
Pg xiv The author berates Bart Erham for claiming "Biblical Christianity is so dangerous... it stops people from thinking" Sorry, I'm a very strong Christian and even I see that this is true! How many times have you been told "God is mysterious. Stop asking questions. You aren't supposed to have answers for everything" In otherwords, "STOP THINKING. GOD IS MYSTERIOUS. JUST ACCEPT YOU AREN"T SUPPOSED TO KNOW" Now sure, maybe God is mysterious and we won't know everything, but Jesus does tell us to test what we are told and we are to seek to know God. We aren't supposed to just give up because one verse puzzles us. If we really seek, we usually get some answers!
Pg xiv The author writes "the validity of the virgin birth can be historically established." Really? Where is the proof?
I can't go on because seriously, ever other page is missing sources, making outlandish claims, and making severe personal attacks against other authors who question the Bible. What is with the personal attacks? This author goes into childish name calling over and over again as he attacks Bart Erham (former Christian author). This author plays SOOO DIRTY. How UNCHRISTIAN. This author wrotes "the only reasonable explaination is..." But I can think of several other MORE REASONABLE explainations than his on pg 24.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not r
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.reading-for-growth
Posted August 17, 2011
In Has God Spoken?, Hank Hanegraaff, "the Bible Answer Man" turns his attention toward the attacks on the reliability of Scripture. He does so through catchy (if sometimes forced) alliteration and acronym-filled arguments while sprinkling in the occasional pop culture reference, possibly to lighten the mood from what he fears may be getting too academic (though I can't say that for certain). Hanegraaff opens the book by stating the problem of popular attacks on Biblical inerrancy, specifically citing Barak (Obama), Bart (Ehrman) and Bill (Maher) among a "procession of political pundits, professors, and public personalities" that call into question its reliability. (I told you he liked alliteration.) Having established the attacks, Hanegraaff proceeds to answer some key questions while providing evidence, utilizing the tool of acronyms for memory purposes. He offers MAPS to follow in this debate - Manuscripts, Archeology, Prophecy and Scripture. These main headings he breaks down further. I'll discuss them briefly. Manuscript COPIES - in this section, Hanegraaff offers a look into the stringent practices of historical copyists of Scripture while examining the impressive precision of oral tradition in cultures that thrived upon it. He also points out the many pieces of manuscripts and early dates of them while marveling at the harmony within Scripture and historians' support of what Scripture says. Archeologist's SPADE - Hanegraaff points out that other religious writings make claims about places and events that simply cannot be backed up archeologically. The Bible stands in stark contrast. Many of its places have been excavated and archeology is time and again revealing that Scripture is accurate in what it says. Prophetic STARS - pointing to various prophecies and their fulfillments, Hanegraaff highlights the impressive track record of Scripture. Scriptural LIGHTS - Having used Manuscript Copies, Archeologist's Spade and Prophetic Stars to illuminate the reliability of Scripture, Hanegraaff focuses this last chapter on ways in which one may read and study Scripture well - interpreting it accurately and applying it faithfully. For a layman, this book is a good starting point. It will bolster your assurance in the reliability of Scripture, offering sound reason for believing the truth that is found in the pages of your Bible. However, it falls short in what seems to be Hanegraaff's main claim, to provide a sound, academic defense of inerrancy. Before you stone me as a heretic, let me explain. He repeatedly alludes to Bart Ehrman, a notable professor who writes and teaches against the accuracy of Scripture. Hanegraaff also uses some very technical terms for textual criticism, terms which he uses incorrectly and which are very familiar to Ehrman (and any other textual critic regardless of whether they side for or against inerrancy). If Hanegraaff were to enter into an academic debate with Ehrman using the material he presents here, he'd be torn to shreds. That said, if you're looking for an academic discussion, this is not the book you'll choose, for the casual reader concerned about the reliability of their Bible, this is a great place to start.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Leninovitski
Posted January 13, 2012
En tiempos donde el cristianismo enfrenta tantas influencias para apartarlo de la suficiencia de la Biblia como fundamento de nuestra fe y conducta, Hank Hanegraaff ha escrito una joya.
"Has God Spoken?" , (¿Ha hablado Dios?), es un recorrido documental sobre la importancia de la Revelación especial que Dios nos ha hecho de sí mismo. Al mismo tiempo es una respuesta firme a los dudosos manifiestos de la Crítica Textual y los últimos escritos de Bart Ehrman.
Hanegraaff, ya conocido por su más famoso libro "Cristianismo en Crisis", explora cuatro aristas para responder a la pregunta que corona el título del libro. Primero, detalla la manera en que manejaron los manuscritos los copistas, hasta nuestros días. Segundo, enumera los hallazgos arqueológicos más importantes que confirman varios de los eventos, milagros, hechos trascendentes y costumbres que la Biblia con antelación ya nos había dado a conocer. En tercer lugar el autor trata la relación profecía-cumplimiento, erigiendo una roca sólida con respecto al Mesías prometido, sus obras y su trascendente misión.
Finalmente "Has God Spoken?" nos expone a la luz transformadora de la palabra santa de Dios, mostrándonos los principios para un correcto acercamiento a la verdad bíblica.
Un hecho destacable es la actualidad y vigencia de los argumentos de Hanegraaff, donde aborda temas tan interesantes como "El Sabbath", (Día de Reposo), a la luz del cristianismo y de la Biblia, y el tratamiento serio a casos como el de Harold Camping y sus falsas profecías supuestamente basadas en lo que Dios ha dicho en su Palabra.
Algunos encontrarán uno que otro desacuerdo irrelevante en algún subtema, pero a groso modo debo recalcar que lo que Hank Hanegraaf nos ha legado es una obra de gran valor para la comunidad eclesiástica, así como para los entornos académicos.
Por mi parte, "Has God Spoken?" goza de una recomendación expresa para mis alumnos y lectores.
--------------------------------------------------
Recibí este libro como parte del programa para bloggers de BookSneeze®, Thomas Nelson ni el programa BookSneeze® requieren que yo de una revisión positiva, sino que de mi opinión aunque sea negativa.
This is a very helpful book for Christians to give an answer for their faith with reason and respect. Hank Hanegraaff gives a helpful acronym MAPS to give proofs for the divine origin of the Bible. This book is well written and well researched. This book would be helpful for a new Christian as well as a Christian who is well versed in the faith.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.gccbookworm
Posted November 29, 2011
Hank Hanegraaff, better known as the "Bible Answer Man," tackles Bart Ehrman thesis that the Bible is not credible as well as others by countering with his book "Has God Spoken." In "God Has Spoken", Hanegraaff uses an extensive arsenal to give support to the credibility of the Bible ranging from ancient manuscripts to archaeological evidence. But I think what makes this book different from other apologetics is his usage of acronyms to help remember and internalize the information. For instance, he uses the subacronym S-P-A-D-E to help remember the archaeological evidence providing support to the places and people of Bible times. There were times I felt I was getting bogged down by so much information. Yet, it was needed to grasp a full understanding of Hanegraaff's view and the world's view.
By the end of the book, one can't help but shout "Yes, I knew it!" The Bible is credible. God is real. If you walk away still not sure, then you need to read it again.
I received this free book to review for BookSneeze and offer my opinion.
livingwaterj410
Posted November 26, 2011
If you have doubts about the Bible and it's authenticity this book is a must read. Hanegraaff has done his research. In this day and age when everyone has a take on truth Hank allows the Bible itself to do the work of revealing God's Truth. I loved it.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 1, 2011
Hank Hanegraaff has answered the question posed in the title of his book, Has God Spoken? This non-fiction title includes memorable proofs of the Bible's divine inspiration from God to the writers of his word. Not only does Mr. Hanegraaff employ use of manuscript records and archeology to show proof of certain facts given throughout the Bible, but he gives both sides of many controversies concerning these issues. Throughout this book are numerous examples of so-called myths and lies of the Bible and how science has eventually proven them to be true accounts. Published in 2011, this book lists many recent findings by archeologists that are in total agreement with passages from the Bible. As one who believes that the Bible is God's word given to men to pen down, I really enjoyed all the updated archeological findings that have proven certain passages. I believe this is a very thorough and well thought-out book that is a wonderful addition to any library. I will say that it is not an easy or light read. It is definitely written for students of the Bible, or for those who have at least some knowledge of the Bible. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who longs for substantial proof that God's word really is true. It is a book full of facts and does use some technical language, but if you want to know how to defend God's word, then this book is for you. I have to give this book a 5 star rating
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.DeannaM
Posted October 31, 2011
First, I must thank the wonderful BookSneeze Team for allowing me to review Hank Hanegraaff's book, Has God Spoken?: Proof of the Bible's Divine Inspiration, from Thomas Nelson Publishing. In Has God Spoken? Hanegraaff, host of Bible Answer Man, cites a plethora of evidence to prove not only is God's Word inspired, but also infallible truth to be grasped and lived by. Within its 290 pages, he relies on biblical manuscript copies, archaeology's finds, fulfilled prophecy and scriptural principles to disprove the world's cynical disbelief.
Hanegraaff makes use of acronyms throughout to allow the reader to not only peruse the book, but hopefully grasp its knowledge. The author's desire is for the reader to be ready to share with unbelievers the treasure trove of eternal riches contained in Scripture. The four parts of the book are labeled Manuscript C-O-P-I-E-S, Archaeologist's S-P-A-D-E, Prophetic S-T-A-R-S and Scriptural L-I-G-H-T-S. Between the array of acronyms far and wide, as well as Hanegraaff's eloquence, this book was a joy to read. The chapters are of manageable size, so you don't feel you need to pause your reading in the middle of a chapter.
This volume truly is a "Wow" book to be read by anyone who is a believer and wants an awesome lesson and overview of the Bible. Why do Christians have such hope? The seeker and skeptic alike would do well to pick up a copy of Has God Spoken? to see if the Bible fits their vision or not. "In place of a sign, Jesus presented a prophecy. Not just a prophecy---the prophecy. The prophecy demonstrating that the whole of the Law and the Prophets pointed forward to him. The prophecy signifying that the Word of God cannot be broken. The prophetic star shining brightest in the constellation of biblical prophecy." (pg. 169)
Another point that must be made is that if anyone has read a book by Professor Bart D. Ehrman, this book is definitely one to enlighten you. I had read his books in the past and apparently escaped his mission to shake the faith of believers. Ehrman takes things for face value in the Bible, rather than using methodical research to derive conclusions. A former believer, Ehrman presumes fallacy in the Bible and the Christian faith, making use of material improperly scrutinized, if at all. Thank the Lord for Hanegraaff's strong and poignant rebuttal found throughout Has God Spoken? I mention this only for the reason that Hanegraaff uses Ehrman's book as fodder for his own. Well, that and I was utterly amused.
Hank Hanegraaff has encapsulated years of arduous study in Has God Spoken?: Proof of the Bible's Divine Inspiration. May believers use this as a guide along side God's Word to be ready with an answer for an unbelieving, darkened world. As 1 Peter 3:15 states, "being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you."
n his book Has God Spoken?, accomplished author and radio host Hank Hanegraaf, has added another textbook to the library for modern-day apologetics. This book is systematically laid out in four sections that are broken down into specific subject matter, all of which are identifiable with acronyms, that are easily understandable. He uses picture images as page tabs, as well as, a repetitive style throughout to make his points, which give it the feel of a textbook. He takes a methodical approach to teaching the many facets used to determine the facts that lead conclusively to answer his question in the affirmative, while simultaneously debunking some of the more noteworthy myths surrounding the Bible. In his conclusion, he compels all readers to do their own thorough investigation using the methods he employs, which have been taught, used, and recommended by Bible academia for centuries. Has God Spoken? I would say He has, and Hank Hanegraaf has shown us why.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
McDawg81
Posted October 7, 2011
Has God Spoken? Proof of the Bible's Divine Inspiration is the latest book from Hank Hanegraaff. If you like apologetics (and anagrams) you will like this book.
Many today proclaim the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God. Most, even some of today's most powerful preachers, proclaim this rather vociferously - even though the only basis to their claim is their substantial faith. Hank Hanegraaff sets out to provide a resource that all can use to strengthen their apologetic foundation.
Early on the author address the post modernism logic that is pervasive in today's culture, along with the idea that some might be disappointed to find there is not much depth to the evidence presented within the book. The author chooses to draw from inferential textual criticism to lay the foundational proofs for his claims.
The use of anagrams is pervasive in this book, retaining the author's style of teaching through the use of this tool. When the author chooses to emphasize a point, he will do so through comparison of other's ideas. Such is the case with his disagreements with UNC - Chapel Hill's liberal leaning professor Bart Ehrman.
This book will present a challenge to some, as I am sure they, as I did, will find areas of the authors arguments a little difficult to swallow and counter to a fundamental view of hermeneutics. Overall, this is a good book, but I believe the author falls a little short by trying to cover so much within one title.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through their bloggers review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
patters2day
Posted October 4, 2011
Has God Spoken? by Hank Hanegraff - is compelling reading and includes many opinions of supporters and antagonists alike - those who agree the Bible is truth and those who dispel its' contents as storytelling. Whatever your belief, persuasion or faith, you cannot fail to be enthralled by the diligent and in-depth interpretations presented by Hank Hanegraff. You'll read texts from Roman intellectuals that prove the accuracy of the contents of the Bible: you'll read scathing assaults upon its' content by unbelievers; most of all, you'll have many aspects of thought and opinion presented in an easy-to-read book that will clarify any doubts you might have on the authenticity of the Christian Bible, while raising questions that, as the book progresses will be answered with intelligent backup and physically supported proof. Thousands of scripts- found to date - verify the contents of the Word of God! How can you deny the truth when it is validated by written proof from the time of Christ and through the years following His death and resurrection. Archaeologists meanwhile are finding more and more physical proof that supports and corresponds to what the scriptures report. I am not an academic - but this is tantalizing reading covering manuscripts that support biblical teachings, to archaeologists findings that also support biblical accuracy on to the prophetic - all in all, a book that commands your attention to the meticulous detail contained within its' pages, and demands a possible rethinking in your beliefs. I would wholeheartedly say, that God has spoken through the manuscripts, scrolls and stones discovered through the ages, by credible and respected academics and scientists, and presented here as physical proof that you can research for yourself and I suggest that only fools would dismiss as nonsense.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Turboguy
Posted October 4, 2011
Has God Spoken? is just the right book for those who need proof that God is a communicating God and He has caused to be written exactly what He wants said. And He has left proof. This book is well written. This is a mini-introduction to the doctrine of inspiration. I recoomend this to everyone.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I admit that I've always been a research and logic-driven person so I love the books that show evidence proving why our faith has stood the test of time. I don't need it -- but it is nice. :o)
This book manages to straddle sometimes being a bit over my head and sometimes feeling a little repetitive. I also wasn't sure I liked the acronyms or alliteration the author liked to use. It made me feel a little like it was a VBS or children's Sunday School lesson instead of a book clearly intended for adults. At times I wished a little less time was spent explaining (in great detail) the false claims and theories of those who don't believe in the Bible. I would let them write their own book for that.
In the end, I really liked the section on the archaeological finds the best. I loved how some skeptical scientists have become Christians just by what has been unearthed that supports the Biblical accounts. Those kinds of stories made the book for me.
This is a great book to have on hand for those questioning the trustworthiness of the Bible because it goes into a lot of different areas. It would be a great book for church libraries as well. I want to thank Thomas Nelson for providing this book in exchange for my honest review.
Arias_Myles
Posted September 15, 2011
The last time I heard someone try to give a reason why we should believe that the Bible is God's word, he used 2 Timothy 3:16. Well, that's all well and good, since I already believe the Bible is true. I believe the Bible is God's word. But how can you use a single verse from the Bible to prove it's true, unless you already believe it's all true? I can say I'm telling the truth, but that doesn't make what I'm saying true just because I told you it is.
In his book Has God Spoken?, Hank Hanegraaff uses information both from the Bible and other sources. He starts with disproving the argument that the Bible has been distorted over the years by faulty copying practices and therefore cannot be true. He also notes archaeological finds that prove the Biblical events really did happen, and compares what the Bible says to what has been noted in history. He also compares the Old Testament to the New, to show that the Bible does not contradict itself. The last section of this book address misconceptions about what the Bible says, and how to correctly interpret Scripture.
Although I do believe the Bible is God's Word, I want to be able to explain why I believe that to someone else. Using a verse from the book I'm trying to prove true isn't going to cut it. And although proving that requires reading of the Bible for oneself (which the author encourages), Has God Spoken? shows that the Bible is in fact God's word.
I received this book for free from Booksneeze for its review. I was not required to write a positive review.
Anonymous
Posted September 13, 2011
Hello, there. I've recently gotten a new book from booksneeze called "Has God Spoken?" By Hank Hanegraaff. Before I get started, however, I simply must tell you that I received this book for free from the booksneeze blogging program offered by the Thomas Nelson publishing company. I am under no obligation to give this book a positive review. Any and everything that I say is legitimately my own opinion. Now, on with the show! So, I was very excited to receive this book, because I love those books that prove the existence of God through logical, scientific means. Think, Lee Strobel, Josh McDowell, C. S. Lewis, so on and so forth. Those that present God as a loving, omniscient, powerful Being and Christianity as a logical, scientific, grounded set of beliefs. Because, honestly, Christianity is perhaps the most logical, scientific, grounded, amazing religion. It's the people who practice it that mess up the Christian name so often?. So when I heard that the Bible Answer Man, Hank Hanegraaff was coming out with a book on booksneeze, I was thrilled. However, when I read the book, I was disappointed. He had a very. childish way of putting things, and if he perhaps had a valid point, it was covered by his rants. If you are curious as to how the Bible fits into the saga of history, I would suggest a Lee Strobel book over this. "Has God Spoken?" Was not worth the money one might spend on it, and a person has to give this a very sober look-over in order to get the nuggets of truth from the miry foundation that was in this book. I give it only 3 out of 5 stars.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.crichmanfreebies
Posted September 11, 2011
Has God Spoken" Proof of the Bible's Divine Inspiration is a book written by Hank Hanegraaff and published by Thomas Nelson. There are a lot of controversial issues when it comes to religion and beliefs. Reading this book, I learned a lot because almost every page was filled with scripture and "proof" of some of the Bible stories you hear or read.
Hank Hanegraaff, in this book, strongly defends the Bible. This book is written with passion and a understanding for the types of criticism that the Bible and religion receive.
If you are looking for a good read that will lift up your spirits than look no further. It is quite a thick book, but flowed nicely. I read it in no time. Great read!!!
Khamneithang
Posted September 10, 2011
Popularly known as The Bible Answer Man, radio host and Bible scholar Hank Hanegraaff of the Christian Research Institute (CRI) is an authority on a wide variety of Christian issues. In his book Has God Spoken? he deals with the subject of divine inspiration of the Bible which has been under constant attack in recent times. Employing the easy-to-remember acronym MAPS, Hank Hanegraaff offers four proofs to confirm the divine inspiration of the Bible: M - the manuscript A - archaeological proofs P - the prophecies of the Bible S - scriptural unity, consistency and harmony He argued that MAPS is a confirmation of the trust worthiness and reliability of the Bible, which is in fact the repository of the word of God. Readers will be taken from one page to the other with proofs after proofs by means of MAPS establishing the reliability and divine inspiration of the Bible. Every page of this book is backed up by scripture and offers proof of the Bible stories that many critics have refused to believe as true accounts.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.5 HIGHEST - 1 LOWEST STARS: 1 Stars
READ IT OR SKIP IT? SKIP IT
WHO MIGHT LIKE/HATE THIS BOOK?
Any thinking Christian really searching for the truth will not like this book because it provides no solid answers but mostly angry assertations without any sources to back them up. This book is highly slanderous of other authors and doesn't make Christians look good, so Christians concerned for Jesus' image won't like this book. Christians who just want some basic ideas or to hear some some additional information on the subject may enjoy this book because they aren't needing solid arguments and can sift through the mud. Pentecostals may enjoy this book as Hanegraaff declares "Greg Laurie one of the best evangelists on the planet".
BOOK REVIEW:
I was shocked by how angry, aggressive and slanderous Hanegraaff is. His personal attacks were completely un-Christ-like and even to the point of childish name-calling. Continuously thoughout his book, he gives personal jabs to other authors, especially Bart Erham, who he calls "a spiritual terrorist", a "seduce[r] of audiences" and a "professor gone wild" on Pg 3. Who else sees a really gross dig/reference to the pornographic "Girls Gone Wild" videos widely available today?
See how you feel about the below sections of this book and judge for yourself if this book is worth reading. If you pass on this book, instead get a book by RC Sproul, Josh McDowell "More Than A Carpenter" or "Evidence Demands a Verdict", or Lee Strobel "A Case for Christ" on the same subject matter.
Pg x: "The Qur'an is a hopelessly flawed document full of faulty ethics and factual errors." [Hanegraaff then says Sura 4:3 where men are allowed to take multiple wives as proof the Qur'an isn't from God. While you may agree the Qur'an isn't infallible, that doesn't make THIS PROOF it isn't from God. After all, how many 100s of wives did David and Solomon have in the Bible?]
Pg xii: "Nowhere does the Bible suggest that slavery is okay." [Didn't Paul's friend Philemon have slaves in the NT and the OT is full of the forefathers owning slaves?]
Pg 11: Hanegraaff quotes Dr Kenneth Barker's website, where Barker makes a completely inaccurate claim that is easily proven false: "These carefully copied Hebrew texts have remained virtually unchanged since about 600 to 700 AD. In 1947 the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls yielded copies from all the major sections of the Old Testament...... When compared to these ancient copies, the Masoretic texts were found to be virtually identical" [FALSE. Per Wikipedia and other sources, Exodus & Samuel differ significantly and other scholars have listed many other significant differences. The more you honestly research this topic, the more differences you'll come up with. Many church fathers during the years right after the Apostles also declared the scriptures were being corrupted. Jer 8:8 also declares this. Church father Tertullian, Origen and others also believed there were many many corruptions]
Pg 12: "New Testament [copyists] were rather like you and me. They likely loved the Lord and thus willingly sacrificed themselves to the tedious practice of copying" [No proof here! Where is evidence? If this is true, why does Jerome who wrote the Latin Vulgate Bbile write that the NT scriptures were changed in uncountable verses and the KJV
Steven_Ruff
Posted September 1, 2011
In our day, critics continually and consistently launch assaults on the validity, accuracy, reliability, and sufficiency of the Bible. Their thought seems to be that if the Bible can be reduced to just simply a collection of fables and stories, then there is no need for faith, repentance, Christianity, or even Christ Himself. In his latest book, "Has God Spoken? Proof of the Bible's Divine Inspiration", Hank Hanegraaff has written a powerful work that leaves no room for debate that God has truly spoken through His word. His proofs enable us to not only trust the Bible, but allow it change and guide our lives. "Has God Spoken?" is separated into four major parts. The parts are presented by using the acrostic M-A-P-S; Manuscript Copies, Archaeological Spade, Prophetic Stars, and Scripture Lights. The first part of his book utilizes the subacronym (Hanegraaff's term) C-O-P-I-E-S. In this section, Hanegraaff tackles the object that errors, intended and unintended, were made in the copying of the original manuscripts which lead critics to sat the Bible is in no way accurate. The second part of his book utilizes the subacronym S-P-A-D-E. Hanegraaff demonstrates how archaeological discoveries prove the existence of, and are consistent with, places described in the Bible. The third part of his book utilizes the subacronym S-T-A-R-S. In this section, Hanegraaff shows how the truthfulness and validity of biblical prophecy only further prove the Bible's accuracy. He also demonstrates how biblical prophecy is inconsistent with divination and predictors of the future. In his final part of the book, he uses the subacronym L-I-G-H-T-S. Here the author gives the reader tools to better understand biblical interpretation. I enjoyed this book a great deal. Although this book is written by an apologist and serves as a defense for the validity of the Bible, it is not overly scholarly. This allows it to be used by Christians in every stage of their faith walk to better understand and be prepared to give a defense of the Bible's accuracy. One thing I noticed seemed to get in the way. Within the subacronyms there were other acronyms that Hanegraaff likely intended to be helpful in further understanding his point. At times I found these distracting. That being said, "Has god Spoken?" is a great resource and a well-written and researched work. I highly recommend. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Neslon Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
Are Christians Guilty of Blind Faith, or Is The Bible Really God's Inspired Word?
Can You Ever Know For Sure?
Join best-selling author Hank Hanegraaff for a stirring defense of theBible as the Word of God and your only reliable foundation for life. Inanswering the riveting question, “Has God spoken?”, Hanegraaff usesmanuscript evidence, archeology, predictive prophecy, and ...