Upcoming Speakers and Topics:
August 08 ~ Lee Greer
Planet Under Stress: Faith Communities and the Ecological Crisis
September 12~ T. Joe Willey
Science Falsely So-called: Can Modern Science Establish the health Writings
of E.G.W.?
October 10 ~ Lourdes Morales
The Christian Self: Memory, Justice, and Forgiveness
November 14 ~ Arthur Patrick
The Life and Times of Ellen Harmon White: Fact and Faith in the First Scholarly
Introduction to the Adventist Prophet
December ~ Recess
News Worth Reporting:
The La Mesa, CA, post office has moved into a brand new building just
a few blocks away. Fortunately, SDAF was able to rent a P.O. Box having the
same number, 3148, though larger and more expensive. This same-box-number seemed
essential when considering the preprinted envelopes and stationery on hand AND
the roster of SDAF newsletter recipients and members in the US and abroad.
Retreats: Though a retreat was not scheduled this current SDAF year,
the Forum board has designated a committee to explore dates and presenters and
topics for possible scheduling in 2010. Be watching upcoming newsletter announcements
for details.
Chapter News:
CDs continue to be the more popular medium for hearing SDAF recorded presentations.
Single sessions are $6.50 for current SDAF members; $9.50 to others within the
United State.
SDAF Board will meet on April 16 to consider such items as the membership
fee for 2009/2010; the recommended contribution for CD and/or audiocassette
subscriptions and individual orders; the anticipated roster of speakers/topics
for the Forum year ahead; and miscellaneous matter essential for maintaining
an active and effective Forum chapter in San Diego. If you have any item to
suggest for discussion, please send via email or snail-mail (see masthead)
Questions\Comments:
Questions about meetings, available audio cassette and CD recordings, membership, or becoming a recipient of the monthly newsletter (free of charge).
Contact Dr. Jim Kaatz, President, at his email address ak-jk@cox.net,
at his home 619.561.2360, or by snail-mail at:
San Diego Adventist Forum
P. O. Box 3148
La Mesa, CA 91944-3148.
Date: July 11th, 2009
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Tierrasanta SDA Church
Facilitator(s): Clinton Baldwin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in Religion,
Northern Caribbean University, Jamaica
Topic: The Impact of Oral Tradition and
Scribal Activity on the Development of Biblical Text
About the Speaker(s)
Clinton Baldwin graduated from Andrews University in 2007 with a Ph.D. in
Religion with special emphasis in New Testament Textual Criticism. His dissertation,
entitled The So-Called Mixed Text: An Examination of the Non-Alexandrian and
Non-Byzantine Text Type in the Catholic Epistles, dealt with the classification
and analysis of New Testament Greek manuscripts. His latest book:, “Methods
of Biblical Interpretation: The New Perspective on Prophecy,” will be published
this summer (2009) and his other book, “New Testament Textual Criticism: The
Journey of the New Testament in Becoming a Book,” will be published toward
the end of the year. Clinton currently serves as an Assistant Professor in
Religion at Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica. His wife, Andrea (M.B.A.,
Ph. D , Curriculum and Instruction), works with the same institution as the
Acting Dean of the College of Business and Hospitality Management. They have
one son, Mendel. Both Andrea and Mendel will be present at the SDAF meeting,
July 11.
About the Topic
At what point in your spiritual journey did you deign to question biblical
passages as to their origin and/or their accuracy? Did posing such questions
disturb your sense of spiritual commitment, your dedication to being a true
Christian?
Should such questioning be encouraged among SDAs? Should questioning techniques
be taught in SDA academies and colleges? If so, how mature ought the students
be before being exposed to such?
The SDAF speaker for July 11 labels such as textual criticism -- “New Testament
Textual Criticism is predicated on the fact that no autographs of the New
Testament are extant and no two copies of the ap-proximately 5,746 extant
copies agree 100% of the times. These copies of copies of copies are estimated
to contain between 300,000 to 400,000 variant readings -- more variants than
there are words in the New Testament. While most of these errors are insignificant,
contrary to some voices, a small percentage does affect important doctrines.
However, before we consider some of these variants, we should also recognize
that prior to the diversity caused by scribal activity, another element, that
is, Oral Tradition caused an initial level of diversity in scripture.
This presentation will briefly address the phenomenon of oral tradition on
the creation of scripture and then examine some manuscript variants of importance
for Christian practice. It will be noted that oral communication contributed
to the fact that what is recorded in scripture is not only objective reality
but also interpreted reality or reality that was historically conditioned.
In addition the diversity caused by scribal activity affected scripture in
such a way that the scripture as we now have it is an evolved phenomenon and
not the product of a static pen at a point in history. Nevertheless, contrary
to what some may be tempted to think, these realities do not destroy faith
but are a foundation for faith. Unsettling as these points may seem to some,
they must be acknowledged and dealt with. There is no viable alternative.
“
Questions to Ponder
1. In light of the fact that we do not have any autographs of scripture, how
should we understand Timothy’s assertion that all scripture is given by inspiration
of God (2 Tim 3: 16 )?
2. If scripture as we now have it evolved, how do we determine the particular
evolved stage that is relevant to us today?
3. The evidence seems very compelling that we cannot be conclusive as to Jesus’
teaching on divorce and remarriage due to the multiplicity of textual variants
involved. In light of these possibilities, what are the options and implications?
4. In light of question #3 above, is the SDA position on divorce and remarriage
one that we have synthesized from scripture or one that we have read objectively
from scripture?
5. How does the reality of variant readings impact on the versions of scripture
from which we read today?
6. What should be the attitude of the lay person (to scriptures) who may not
be able to read the original languages in which the Bible was written?