Find the faith / find the assumptions

• Give examples of something you think you know about the natural world.
• How did you come to that knowledge?
• Why do you have confidence in that knowledge?

Does it require faith?

• Supernaturalism
• Naturalism
• Christianity
• Atheism
• Agnosticism
• Creationism
• Evolutionism
• Young earth
• Ancient earth

Are science and religion mutually exclusive?

One scientist’s perspective on science and faith.

• Sir Isaac Newton – Principia Mathematica

Relevance of scripture

What does God say about the opposition?

• Psalms 14:1-6
• Psalms 2:1-4
• Psalms 10:4-6, 11-14
• Isaiah 29:9-16
• Isaiah 45:7-12

How ought we regard God?

• With praise – Psalm 148
  • The natural world praises Him.
  • The people of the earth, great and small should praise Him.
• With fear – Psalm 1:7
  • It is the beginning of knowledge.

Introduction

• I John 4:7-21

Love starts with God.

• I John 3:1
• Romans 8:35-39, 32
• Romans 5:6
• Titus 3:3-7
• II Thessalonians 2:16-17
• God loves you!

We should love Him back.

• I John 4:19-21
• Ephesians 2:4
• We can’t love God in the way and to the degree that He loves us, but we must do so with the capacity that we have.
• Ephesians 6:24
• Luke 17:15 – We must show gratitude!
• I John 5:2-3 – We must obey God!
• Revelation 2:2

We should love others like He does.

• I John 4:11
• I John 3:14-18
• Ephesians 5:1-2 – Walk in love.
• Am I willing to help someone that does not deserve it?
• Jonah 4:2
• Luke 15:1-32
• What is our attitude? Am I imitating divine love?
• Matthew 11:28-30
• Matthew 12:20

Introduction

• Psalms 119:105

Translations are a blessing!

• Imagine if you were not able to read the Bible in your own language or at all!

Translations are not inspired!

• The original words were inspired but the translations were not.
• Paul was preaching from a translation of the New Testament in Greek – the Septuagint.

Why are there so many translations?

• Because languages change over time.
  • James 1:2
• Because translation is not simple.
  • Word order changes
  • Idioms
    • Numbers 12:9
  • Examples from Spanish:
    • ¿Como se llama?
      • How do you call yourself? (word-for-word)
      • What is your name? (thought-for-thought)
    • ¿Cuantos años tienes?
      • How many years do you have? (word-for-word)
      • How old are you? (thought-for-thought)

Strengths of word-for-word translations

• Easier to notice recurring words (lexical concourdance)
  • Romans 7:21-23
• Let readers interpret for themselves
  • Revelation 1:1
  • I Corinthians 5:5
  • I Thessalonians 4:3-4
• Retain meaningful sayings
  • Genesis 35:29

Weaknesses or word-for-word translations

• Awkward English that may be confusing
  • I Corinthians 9:16
  • Mark 1:2 (a dead metaphor)

Strengths of thought-for-thought translations

• Natural language that may be more understandable
  • II Corinthians 6:12

Weakness of thought-for-thought translations

• More interpretation allows for less accuracy.
  • II Timothy 4:6

Practical recommendations

Radiometric dating

• Radiometric dating is often used by scientists to determine the age of rocks and, by extension, the age of the earth.
• Video referenced: How Does Radiometric Dating Work?
• Geologic Time, from USGS
• Relative Time Scale, from USGS
• Radiometric Time Scale, from USGS
• Age of the Earth, from USGS
• Radiometric Dating Does Work!, from NCSE
• Uniformitarianism