R4E130703 – Islam Basics and Jihad by Douglas Jacoby
1 Islam Basics (Original Study Lesson)
2 Islam Jihad (Original Study Lesson)
You can download the full audiobook recording on qobuz or amazon or itunes.
LESSON 4: ISLAM A (Basics)
622 AD
Muhammad
Qur’an (Koran) — plus the traditions in the tens of thousands of Hadith, stories and words of Muhammad written down later by his companions.
Indonesia, India, the Middle East, North Africa, and many other nations
The 5 Pillars of Islam
Confession
Prayer
Almsgiving
Fasting
Pilgrimage
Outreach tips for Muslims
Friendship is of the essence!
Learn about the Qur’an. Read a book on Islam.
Muslims are 22% of the planet; we cannot and must not remain ignorant about their faith. Let’s engage!
LESSON 5: ISLAM B (Jihad)
Then said Jesus, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” – Luke 23:34
“And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out.” -Q 2:191
“If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” – Matthew 5:39
“I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers.” -Q 8:12
“For he who insults you [Muhammad] will be cut off.” -Q 108:3
“Killing disbelievers is a small matter to us.” -Tabari IX.69
“Love your enemies and pray those who persecute you.” – Matthew 5:44
Outreach tips for Muslims in the light of Jihad
Check your sources. Don’t believe everything you hear.
Always remember: Jesus forbade his followers to respond in kind. Please get a copy of Jesus & Islam if you have not already read this book (written by a Christian and a former Muslim).
Only a small percentage of Muslims are radically politicized. Keep this in mind.
Political Islam is little different to political Christianity. The way of force, violence, compulsion, is at completely at odds with what Jesus Christ taught, and how he lived.
Latch on to the true nature of jihad: striving. While Christianity forbids holy war, we do know something about the struggle to master one’s desires, to shoulder the Cross daily.
Allah is not the God of the Bible. He is majestically distant, remote, impersonal — so different to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
One is not made right with God by sincerity. “Better a weak faith in a strong bridge than a strong faith in a weak bridge.” That is, sincerity does create truth.
R4E130701 – Pontius Pilate New Testament Character Study by Douglas Jacoby
You can download the full audiobook recording on qobuz or amazon or itunes.
The man
A Roman, quite possibly Italian.
Governor / prefect of Judea 26-36 AD.
We can build a composite picture from the N.T., several extrabiblical references, and even archaeology:
Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 3,13, 23; Acts 3, 4. 13; John 18, 19; [1 Tim 6].
The writings of Philo (Embassy to Gaius), Josephus (Jewish War and History of the Jews), and Tacitus (Annals).
Pilate stone, found in Caesarea Maritima in 1961. Dedication stone to the emperor Tiberius (r. 14-37 AD) had been recycled as part of the Roman theater. Judea was governed by a prefect; this was changed to procurator starting 44 AD. The Bible uses the correct terms– a testament to its authenticity.
Matthew 27:11-14,18,19,23-24,26; John 18:28-38; John 19:18-22.
Political history
Protege of Sejanus, head of the Praetorian Guard.
Member of the Equestrian class.
Tasked with keeping the peace; collect taxes; governing the distant Syria (including Judea).
Insensitive actions
Soldiers carried idolatrous images into Jerusalem — protests.
Temple money spent on aqueduct: soldiers in crowd at Pilate ‘s signal turned on them beating killing.
Samaritans planning to go up Mt. Gerizim to see alleged Mosaic items — massacred en route.
Recalled to Rome, but by the time he’d arrived the emperor had died (37 AD).
Luke 13:1 fits well with what is known about Pilate from the extrabiblical sources.
Late legend that the emperor Caligula (37-41 AD) ordered him to commit suicide.
Character
A politician (but not in the sense of wooing voters — the emperor could remove him).
Roman: practical man, doing what was expedient.
Still, seems to have been in two minds about how to deal with Jesus. A picture emerges of a man who was unsure how to conduct himself, inconsistently overbearing or, at other times detached.
Insensitive to those among whom he served.
Brutal (e.g, bribery and executions without trial).
Multiple chances to respond in faith
Interview with Jesus (e.g. John 18).
The dream of Claudia.
The baseless charges of the Jewish leadership.
6 years of Christianity before his recall to Rome!
Some late legends that Pilate became a Christian, but this is highly unlikely. It is unthinkable that the gospels would not have recorded such extraordinary news! It is also implausible given his vacillating and cruel character.
Lessons for us
Take responsibility for our actions. Some decisions are impossible to distance ourselves from.
Politics is messy, and often requires moral compromises for the good of the state.
Don’t ignore your wife’s counsel!
Don’t jump to the conclusion that God hasn’t been giving people chances to respond to the truth, or that he is unfair. He is at work in every life (Acts 17); he has forgotten no one.
