Currently reading The Screwtape Letters (mom made me read it when I was 12, but always meant to read it again) and just finished Social Justice Fallacies by Thomas Sowell. He wrote it in 23 and most likely will be his last book considering his age.
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I'm reading all the books of the Septuagint that aren't in the Protestant OT. I'm almost done with Maccabees and after I finish Baruch I'll be done. I have Cotton Mather's "On Witchcraft" waiting for me after that. He was the lead prosecutor of the Salem witch trials who basically is defending their actions and documenting what went down. I read the introduction and he said Colonial New England was so spirit-filled that no one drank alcohol, swore, or worked on Sundays. Their righteousness made them a target for the enemy. He also said there was an attempt on his life. Disclaimer: I don't believe the witches were just herbalist spinsters but I'd like to find out for myself from a first-hand account.
I’ve always wanted to read the Septuagint. I’ve read some apocryphal books like Gospel of Thomas and Enoch. That Salem book sounds interesting
There's only 7 missing books so it's a quick read. So far I've really enjoyed Soloman's Wisdom and the story in Tobit about Archangel Raphael. Once I get through this, my goal is to read through the rest of the OT from a Septuagint-based translation and see what stands out. My understanding is that the Masoretic text omitted scripture that points to Jesus as the Messiah. I also read that the Septuagint, besides being compiled before Christ, was translated by 70 Jews who were each separated individually so that (one of the Ptolomy's?) would get an accurate translation for his library.
Enoch is great! Check out Jasher and Jubilees too. I have a book full of Gospel apocrypha, I haven't completed it yet, but it's really interesting. The book of Adam and Eve is very sad. Do you have an opinion on apocrypha in general as being edifying or if we should avoid it? I've heard some pastors say the Bible is sufficient, but whose Bible, which translation? KJV is Masoretic, for example. Then unless you deep-dive into Enoch/similar, it makes no sense why The Lord would command the Israelites to destroy the inhabitants of the promised land, and I can see why non-believers/critics would say the Lord as described in the OT comes across as especially harsh. They use stronger words for Him, but you know what I mean.
That’s an interesting discussion. I’ve heard a number of theories concerning the God of the old and New Testament. I don’t see any harm in reading the apocrypha. I know the Bible quotes the book of Enoch and Jesus makes reference to Solomon casting out demons which is from an apocryphal book.
Yes, the Bible quotes Enoch and Jasher in a way that sounds like the books were common knowledge. Joshua 10:12-13 "On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar." Also 2 Cor 11:14 "And no wonder: for Satan himself transformeth himself into an angel of light." is similar to a story from the book of Adam and Eve. Apostle Paul as a Pharisee was educated on Jewish law, I believe had formal education for it, so you have to wonder what books they included in the curriculum.