The Homeless Preacher

A preacher transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the church that he was to be introduced as the head preacher that morning. He walked around his soon-to-be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service. Only three people said "Hello" to him, most looked the other way. He asked people for change to buy food because he was hungry. Not one gave him anything.

He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was told by the ushers that he would need to get up and go sit in the back of the church. (See James 2:2-4.) He said "Hello" to people as they walked in but was greeted with cold stares and dirty looks from people looking down on him and judging him.

He sat in the back of the church and listened to the church announcements for the week. He listened as new visitors were welcomed into the church that morning, but no one acknowledged that he was new. He watched people around him continue to look his way with stares that said, "You are not welcome here."

Then the elders of the church went to the podium to make the announcement. They said they were excited to introduce the new preacher of the church to the congregation: "We would like to introduce you to our new preacher." The congregation stood up and looked around clapping with joy and anticipation. The homeless man sitting in the back stood up and started walking down the aisle.

That's when all the clapping stopped and the church was silent. With all eyes on him, he walked up to the podium and reached for the microphone. He stood there for a moment and then recited so elegantly a verse from the Bible...

“Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'"

After he recited this, he introduced himself as their new preacher and told the congregation what he had experienced that morning. Many began to cry and bow their heads in shame. "Today I see a gathering of people here, but I do not see a church of Jesus. The world has enough people that look the other way. What the world needs is disciples of Jesus that can follow this teachings and live as he did. When will YOU decide to become disciples?"

He then dismissed service until the following Sunday.

His sermon had been given.

If this describes YOUR character and behaviour toward a homeless person in your church, or someone wearing shorts in your church, I suggest you REPENT, remove the log buried in your eye, and earnestly seek Christ Jesus to be Lord of your entire life so that you may imitate Him fully and completely WITHOUT hypocrisy and unbelief.

To Preach or Not to Preach

"Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it."
—Will Durant, Twentieth-century American Historian

Basically, the same disobedience committed by Israel when they possessed the Promised Land and were commanded by Yahweh to destroy all the other peoples was committed by the Christians in the fourth century and beyond—especially by the Roman Catholics. They adopted every form of paganism imaginable in an attempt to "convert" followers. Christians are supposed to remove all elements of sin from among themselves (Eph.5:3, et al.) and live holy lives (2 Tim. 3:12, et al.), living as lights to this dark world (Matt. 5:14-16, et al.). Our lives are the only 'Bible' some people will ever read, and yet we willfully and deliberately live as unbelievers and hypocrites, and then attempt to make excuses for the sin we continue to harbour in our lives. May Yahweh have mercy on our souls!

We ass-u-me there are all these "sermons" in the Bible, but in reality there are none. We call Jesus' instructions on what it looks like to live as His followers and to serve as members of Yahweh's Kingdom the "Sermon on the Mount," and we refer to Peter's speech in Acts 2 and Paul's speaking until midnight in Acts 20 as "sermons," because we are imposing our experience and understanding back upon the text. There were no "sermons" back then. The "sermon" has no roots in Scripture! It was borrowed from pagan culture, nursed, and adopted into the Christian faith. If you would like to debate this irrefutable historical fact, let's have at it! If you would like to learn more, pick up To Preach or Not to Preach by David C. Norrington.

While Augustine was the first person to title Matthew 5-7 as "The Lord's Sermon on the Mount," it was not generally referred to as "The Sermon on the Mount" until the sixteenth century. (Hmm... Notice how all the corrupt teaching the "Church" embraces was first taught by Augustine, quite often in contradiction to that which was taught, practiced, and believed for the first 300 years? Ponder that point promptly.) Not only were there no "sermons" back then, but a "sermon" was not the central focus of the assembling of the saints as it is today. They came together around a feast, in which they partook of the Lord's Supper.

The early New Covenant congregations (A.D. 30-300) did not listen to a 30-60 minute "sermon" based on a couple verses ripped out of their immediate context, with every word scrutinized for its potential meaning (and then choose the one that best fits with their beliefs and agenda), and a preacher spewing his opinion of what the section was teaching. It is important for us to remember that the early Christians shared the same languages, the same customs, and the same culture as that of the apostles. Being of the eastern mindset, they understood precisely what was spoken and written to them. Most of our preachers, having the mark of their particular seminary stamped upon them, engage in proof text methodology, eisegesis, and Scripture twisting when they attempt to convey the Word of Yahweh to the members of their particular organized religious institutions.

The "sermon" detracts from the actual purpose for which Yahweh designed the congregational assembly, and it has nothing to do with genuine spiritual growth. The New Covenant letters demonstrate that the ministry of Yahweh's Word came from the entire congregation in their regular gatherings (1 Cor. 14:26, 31; Rom. 12:4ff; Eph. 4:11ff; Heb. 10:25). From Romans 12:6-8, 15:14, 1 Corinthians 14:26, and Colossians 3:16, we see that it included teaching, exhortation, prophecy, singing, and admonishment. These gatherings were also conversational (1 Cor. 14:29) and marked by respectful interruptions (1 Cor. 14:30). They were not chaotic, as we might imagine such to be today, but were done in order. To be done in order does not mean to follow a pre-set structure that you never veer from. Exhortations from local elders (not the way we understand "elders" today) were normally impromptu, not planned out in advance.

When the saints of Yahweh assembled together, what did they do? Well, if we bother to pay attention to Scripture, it tells us in the plainest words possible. They read!

"Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!"" Exodus 24:7

"when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place which He will choose, you shall read this law in front of all Israel in their hearing." Deuteronomy 31:11

"Then afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law." Joshua 8:34

"Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it." 2 King 22:8

"Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king." 2 Kings 22:10

"And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel. Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law." Nehemiah 8:1-3

"He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance." Nehemiah 8:18

"While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God." Nehemiah 9:3

"On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and there was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God," Nehemiah 13:1

"So you go and read from the scroll which you have written at my dictation the words of the LORD to the people in the LORD'S house on a fast day. And also you shall read them to all the people of Judah who come from their cities." Jeremiah 36:6

"Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading from the book the words of the LORD in the LORD'S house." Jeremiah 36:8

"Then Baruch read from the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the New Gate of the LORD'S house, to all the people." Jeremiah 36:10

"Micaiah declared to them all the words that he had heard when Baruch read from the book to the people." Jeremiah 36:13

"They said to him, "Sit down, please, and read it to us." So Baruch read it to them." Jeremiah 36:15

"Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it to the king as well as to all the officials who stood beside the king." Jeremiah 36:21

"When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe's knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier." Jeremiah 36:23

"Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, "As soon as you come to Babylon, then see that you read all these words aloud," Jeremiah 51:61

"And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read." Luke 4:16

"After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying, "Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it."" Acts 13:15

"For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him." Acts 13:27

"For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath." Acts 15:21

"Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching." 1 Timothy 4:13

"But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;" 2 Corinthians 3:14-15

"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near." Revelation 1:3

If you are having a hard time with all the texts from the Old Covenant, then I suggest you pay close attention to 1 Timothy 4:13. To "exhort" is to encourage or advise. What is meant by "teaching"? Modern preachers would claim this means to dissect the Word of Yahweh into all its parts and "exposit" it. Considering "sound doctrine" (or "healthy teaching") to Paul had to do with your behaviour, your conduct (see Titus 2:1-10), and not what you believe, quite obviously "teaching" had to do with how to live rightly while sojourning in this world. Remember, we are called to be salt and light to the world around us. This is not our home, we are only passing through. Anyone who lives for this world is a fool!

In the Jewish synagogues, any member who wished could stand up and read to the people. Today, it requires a "specialist." When the early Christians assembled together, they would read an entire book or letter of the New Covenant. This exposes not only the short attention span of many members today, but also their lack of commitment to the Lord Jesus. Do you know how long it would take (on average) to read each of the books/letters of the New Covenant?

Matthew: 2.5 hours
Mark: 1.5 hours
Luke: 2.5 hours
John: 2 hours
Acts: 2.25 hours
Romans: 1 hour
1 Corinthians: 1 hour
2 Corinthians: 40 minutes
Galatians: 20 minutes
Ephesians: 20 minutes
Philippians: 14 minutes
Colossians: 13 minutes
1 Thessalonians: 12 minutes
2 Thessalonians: 7 minutes
1 Timothy: 16 minutes
2 Timothy: 11 minutes
Titus: 7 minutes
Philemon: 3 minutes
Hebrews: 45 minutes
James: 16 minutes
1 Peter: 16 minutes
2 Peter: 10 minutes
1 John: 16 minutes
2 John: 2 minutes
3 John: 2 minutes
Jude: 4 minutes
Revelation: 1.25 hours

The Israelites and the early Christians were more committed to the Word of Yahweh and the commandments of Jesus than most modern professing believers. Many today want out after 45 minutes to 2 hours, having done their religious "duty" for the week. They are eager to go engage in their worldly activities, affairs, and events. The early Congregation could spend the entire day with each other and they were joyful about it. They had young children, too, so that is an extremely poor excuse used by parents today. We tend to offer up a great many excuses as to why our lives are so shallow in comparison with the early Christians, or even Christians 500 years ago. Some of these Christians had 10 children and wrote volumes of Christian works, and we attempt to offer excuses as to why we don't or can't do the same as them with only two children! Even 100 years ago, they did not have the same distractions that we have today. Be self-controlled and deal with your distractions and you will find you have the same time Christians 100 years ago and more had.

If we pay close attention to the early Christians, we can witness a vacuum being created in the later half of the third century when mutual ministry faded from the Body of Christ. Members put more and more onus on their "leaders" and took less and less responsibility themselves. In such cases, abuse is bound to happen as certain types of people grab for that kind of power and influence. To fill this void, the clergy began to emerge and open meetings began to die out. The gatherings became more and more liturgical, devolving into a "service." During the fourth century, the Congregation had become fully institutionalized. As former pagan orators and philosophers converted to Christianity, rather than leave their philosophies behind, they began infiltrating the Christian community as these people became their leaders. Augustine is embraced by both Roman Catholics and Reformed Protestants alike, despite the vast plethora of false and heretical teachings he either developed or put his name to.

By the way, the concept of a "paid teaching specialist" was borne out of Greece, not Judaism. As noted Jewish rabbi Hillel said, "He who makes a worldly crown of the Torah shall waste away." It was the custom of Jewish rabbis to take up a trade so as to not charge a fee for their teaching. We see this evidence in the life of Paul. The early Christians considered it heresy to be paid to deliver the Gospel. Yet what do 99% of "churches" today do? They pay the preacher! Both Martin Luther and John Calvin vehemently railed against the idea that the Pope was the Vicar of Christ, yet both argued that the preacher is the "mouth of God." Funny how they set themselves up as their own popes over their own State religions. But I digress.

The "sermon" makes the preacher the virtuoso performer of the regular assembly, hampering or precluding the participation of other members, which stalemates spiritual growth and encourages passivity by preventing the Body from functioning as intended. If you doubt this, simply look at the scores of Christians who have been sermonized for decades are are still babes in Christ. We are transformed by encounters with the living Lord Jesus, not by information about Him. How can the preacher learn from other members of the Body when they are muted? How can the members learn if they cannot ask questions during the preacher's oration? If we pay attention to the New Covenant Scriptures, their goal is to get each one of us to function in order to mature (Eph. 4:11-16). The "sermon" lacks any practical value and does not equip the saints (regardless how much the preacher drones on about "equipping the saints for the work of the ministry," which is just empty rhetoric), but rather de-skills them. New Covenant-styled preaching/teaching equips the Congregation so it can function without the presence of a clergyman.

Being that today's "sermon" is highly impractical, how can a preacher speak as if he is an expert on something he has never personally experienced? Hearers should be put into a direct, practical experience of what has been preached. Sadly, this is rarely the case. Doctrine has to be practical: "doctrine that is according to godliness" (1 Tim. 6:3). Paul said, "let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Tim. 2:19). Those who do not act according to this righteousness he says, "from such withdraw yourself" (1 Tim. 6:5). God cares more about our fruit than He does our particular theological dogma! As mentioned earlier, "sound doctrine" (or "healthy teaching") to Paul had to do with your behaviour, your conduct (see Titus 2:1-10). A practical "sermon" would convey as much, but more often than not they are designed to convince us to believe a certain belief the preacher holds dear, despite being unbiblical and lacking Christ.

If we rightly understood the Scriptures and the early Congregation, perhaps we would live better lives today, holy and not hypocritical. Our lives are the only 'Bible' some people will ever read, so we should live accordingly. We tend to willfully and deliberately live like the heathen and then offer up excuses as to why the power of Yahweh is not present within our lives.

"My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your
faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."
—Paul of Tarsus in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

1 Corinthians 14:1-4 is NOT "the Gospel"!

David J. Stewart has no clue what the biblical Gospel is. He frequently refers to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, but this is not "the Gospel." "But," you will argue, "Paul says, 'I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you.'" Yes, he does, but you misread this passage. Nowhere does Paul identify that which he says in verses 3 and 4 as "the Gospel." You make this leap in logic by trying to connect these verses to his use of "Gospel" in verse 1. If he were indeed saying this is the Gospel, who do we trust and believe to rightly identify what the Gospel is? Paul or Jesus? Who is the Author and Founder of Christianity? Paul or Jesus? What Paul identifies here as "of first importance" are the essentials of the faith, that which all believers in Jesus the Messiah must hold in unity. Jesus declared to us what "the Gospel" is in Mark 1:14-15. Believe the Lord Jesus over that which originates with Martin Luther!

"Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.""

"The time is fulfilled" refers to the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy, initiated by Jesus' baptismal anointing. "The kingdom of God is at hand" refers to Daniel 2:44 in fulfillment thereof. The "Good News" is that Yahweh's anointed King of the whole Earth has come, and the long-awaited Kingdom is in our midst.

Rabbinism, Zionism, and Dispensationalism ignore, deny, and reject the teachings of the Holy Scriptures in favour of Jewish myths. The interpretations of the Pharisees in Jesus' day were constantly refuted and corrected by the Lord Jesus. These three groups are looking for a physical kingdom where ethnic physical Israel rules over all other nations, but God's Word teaches no such thing!

After everything Jesus had said and taught, the apostles still did not get it. "So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). They were with Him for three and a half years and did not listen to a single thing He had to say concerning the Kingdom. "Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst."" (Luke 17:20-21). "Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."" (John 18:36). I think come Pentecost the apostles finally understood about the Kingdom because there appears to be a change in their understanding. Otherwise, how would they preach about the Kingdom of God if they did not fully understand what Jesus had been conveying, even in His parables?

Yes, the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus were prophesied long ago in the Old Covenant. However, these were not identified by the Lord Jesus as "the Gospel." They had to happen, and they did, and they are part of the Gospel, but they are not what Jesus identified for us as "the Gospel." We would do well to pay attention to the words of Jesus and accept them as true than to elevate Martin Luther's redefinition of "the Gospel" using the atonement. In Jesus' parables about the Kingdom, He says the King sent His own Son and the children of the Kingdom (who would be cast out for their rejection) killed Him. The atonement is meaningless without that which it conveys.

What people like David J. Stewart call "the Gospel" is actually the atonement. While the atonement is true and is part of the Gospel, it alone is not the Gospel. The atonement grants us entrance into this Kingdom through faith (trust) in Jesus and His work on the cross, as well as by repentance and obedience. The Bible only has to say something once for it to be true. So how to so-called self-identified "Christians" who say repentance and obedience "are works" and have "no part with salvation" deal with the fact that we are repeatedly told to "Repent" and "Obey"? At the end of the Instruction on the Mount, Jesus addresses obedience and disobedience to His teachings. Repeatedly throughout the entire New Covenant, it is said "If you love [Jesus] you will [obey His] commandments/teachings."

If you call yourself a Christian, STOP listening to what preachers tell you and START reading the Scriptures for yourself and believing what they say. If a preacher tells you something that is blatantly in contradiction to the Word of Yahweh, then you need to reject it and conform to the Scriptures. If you blindly trust what these preachers tell you, like the Pharisees of old, they will prevent you from entering the Kingdom and make you twice the children of Hell that they are! Preachers, theologians, and "scholars" are the modern day Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes. Beware their leaven!

How to Tell Time CORRECTLY!

If you want to discover just how easy it is to brainwash people and convince them of something that is 100% WRONG, look no further than telling time on digital media.

Despite modern delusion, 12:00 Noon was, is, and will always be 12:00AM, and 12:00 Midnight was, is, and will always be 12:00PM. Unfortunately, modern digital media reversed these and 99% of people have been none the wiser to it. They apparently forgot how they were taught to tell time in school. People today think Noon is 12:00PM; that you start counting with 12 and then go to 1 and 2 and 3... How retarded is that? Who counts this way?!?!?

One second after midnight was always the start of the new day (even with the 24-hour clock). For Noon, old clocks either displayed 12:00AM until the first minute after, changing to 12:01PM, or they displayed AM until 1:00, changing to PM.

Each number from 1 through 12 is the top of the hour. What this means is that when the clock turns 10:00, the 10th hour has arrived. 10:01 belongs to the 11th hour. If your brain is not able to comprehend this, think about your birthday. From the day you are born until you turn 1 is your 1st year. The first day after you turn 1 is part of your 2nd year, which culminates when you turn 2. Everything after you turn 1 is not part of your first year. Understand now?

It is the same in understanding centuries. The 1900s are referred to as the 20th century. Why? Because from 1901 until 2000 is the 20th century. From year 1 until year 100 was the first century. Are you beginning to understand?

Modern digital media royally screws this up. They have each 12-hour period start counting with 12:00, moving to 1, then 2, then 3... Who counts this way?!?!? They attempt to begin with the top of the hour rather than to end with it. When stores say they're open until 12:00PM (mistakenly thinking this means Noon), they are actually saying they are open until Midnight!

Think of the 24-hour clock. From Midnight on is 00:## until the top of the hour, when it changes to 01:00. This tells you how many hours have passed since the start of the day. Modern digital media wants us to believe that 12:00 Noon begins the 13th hour culminating with 1:00 (or 13:00 on the 24-hour clock). It is called AFTER-Noon for a reason. Noon is the culmination of the 12-hour count from the beginning of the day. Ergo, as it has always been, Noon is 12:00AM!!! 12:01 belongs to the first hour of the afternoon, which culminates with 1:00PM. Midnight is the top of the hour for the 12th hour of the afternoon, which means that as it has always been, Midnight is 12:00PM!!!

12:00 Noon has always been 12:00AM. The top of the first afternoon hour culminates with 1:00PM. We start counting with 1, not with 12!!!

Even Paul Brians' 'Common Errors in English Usage' acknowledges this modern error in the ability to tell time correctly:

"AM/PM
"AM" stands for the Latin phrase Ante Meridiem—which means "before noon"—and "PM" stands for Post Meridiem: "after noon." Although digital clocks routinely label noon "12:00 PM" you should avoid this expression not only because it is incorrect, but because many people will imagine you are talking about midnight instead. The same goes for "12:00 AM." you can say or write "twelve noon," "noon sharp," or "exactly at noon" when you want to designate a precise time.
It is now rare to see periods placed after these abbreviations: "A.M.," but in formal writing it is still preferable to capitalize them, though the lower-case "am" and "pm" are now so popular they are not likely to get you into trouble.
Occasionally computer programs encourage you to write "AM" and "PM" without a space before them, but others will misread your data if you omit the space. The nonstandard habit of omitting the space is spreading rapidly, and should be avoided in formal writing."

The Christian Era

"The Christians Era should properly begin with the year Christ was born; and in devising it, the intention was to have it begin with that year. By the "Christian Era" is meant that system upon which calendars are constructed, and by which historical events are now dated in practically all the civilized world. But the originator of the system made a miscalculation as to the year (in the calendar then in use) in which Christ was born, as the result of which the year A.D. 1 was fixed four years too late. In other words, the Lord Jesus was four years old in the year A.D. 1. [This explains the grave error and colossal blunder of Christians who mistakenly claim that Jesus was crucified in A.D. 33, despite all the evidence. So today's correct year based on this is not 2024 but 2020!]

"The mistake came about in this way: The Christian Era (i.e. the scheme of dates beginning A.D. 1) was not devised utnil A.D. 532. Its inventor, or contriver, was a monk named Dionysius Exiguus. At that time the system of dates in common use began from the era of the emperor Diocletian, A.D. 284. Exiguus was not willing to connect his system of dates with the name of that infamous tyrant and persecutor. So he conceived the idea of connecting his system with, and dating all its events from, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. His reason for wishing to do this was, as he wrote to Bishop Petronius, "to the end that the commencement of our hope might be better known to us, and that the cause of man's restoration, namely, our Redeemer's passion, might appear with clearer evidence."

"For the carrying out of this excellent plan, it was necessary to fix the date of the Incarnation in the terms of the chronological systems then in vogue. The Romans dated the beginning of their history from the supposed date of the founding of the city (ab urbe condita or A.U.C. as usually abbreviated). Dionysius Exiguus calculated that the year of our Lord's birth was A.U.C. 753. He made his equivalence of dates from Luke 3:1, "now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar" etc., at which time Christ was 30 years of age according to Luke 3:23. But it was ascertained later that a mistake of four years had been made; for it clearly appears by Matthew 2 that Christ was born before the death of Herod, who died in 749 A.U.C. Tiberius succeeded Augustus, Aug. 19, A.U.C. 767. Hence his 15th year would be A.U.C. 779; and from those facts Dionysius was right in his calculation. But it was discovered in later years that Tiberius began to reign as colleague with Augustus four years before the latter died. Hence the 15th year mentioned by Luke was four years earlier than was supposed by Dionysius, and consequently the birth of Christ was that many years earlier than the date selected by Exiguus, which date has been followed ever since. This must be allowed for in any computation of dates which involves events happening before Christ.

"We have now found, according to our reckoning, that Christ was born An. Hom. 4041. Therefore, His crucifixion, when He was in His 34th year, would be 4041+34=4075. This is equivalent to 30 A.D.; and to get the true measure of years of any event in our era from the Incarnation it is necessary to add four years to its accepted date. [That would put us at ~6069 A.H. (Anno Hominis, year of man or year of humanity).]

"To get the corresponding date in terms of B.C. for any event of Old Testament history, it is only necessary to deduct the years An. Hom. from 4046. For the birth of Christ being 4041 An. Hom. and the Christian era four years later, then B.C. 1 would be equivalent to 4045 which is 4046-1."

—Philip Mauro, The Wonder of Bible Chronology