Ask the Pastor: Racial origins, dating the New Testament, the sign of the cross
by the Rev. Walter Snyder
Religion Columnist
     Q: My daughter asked me, "If we are all descendants of Adam and Eve, how
did the different races develop?" Not a biggie, but I can't answer it. Any
thoughts?
     A: The races likely originated from several factors. The Flood brought
catastrophic changes in climate and overall environment. The "fountains of
the deep" opening up likely brought many mutation-causing substances to the
surface, while the loss of the cloud canopy implied in Genesis 2:6 may have
allowed harmful radiation to pass to the earth's surface and create further
changes.
     The post-Babel scattering of people across the earth followed by the
division of the land masses at the time of Peleg (Gen. 10:25) kept certain
genetic factors together while favoring the development of traits suitable
for different environments. Finally, we cannot overlook the possibility of
the "hands-on" involvement of God, who might have directly and intentionally
furthered the separation begun at Babel and continued in Peleg's day by
making us different from each other and thus, because of our sinful minds,
making us feared by each other.
     Q: When was the King James Bible completed as opposed to the New
Jerusalem (Catholic) Bible? I'd always thought that the Old and New
Testaments were complete by 96 AD. Later I was told it wasn't done until
around 350--400 AD. Is this correct?
     A: The King James and the New Jerusalem Bibles both have the same New
Testament books, so if we are talking about the original documents, then they
are the same age. However, translators often pick and choose among available
manuscripts in deciding which to translate. Normally, this is not a major
problem, since the differences among these hand-copied manuscripts are,
by-and-large, minor. If we are talking translation, then the KJV is from the
1600s and the NJB from the 1900s.
     Now for the real question: Was the New Testament written by the people
that the books claim to be written by? If so, then the early 100s is the
latest that Apostolic authorship could take place. Those who doubt that
Scripture is the Word of God or see it as a human reaction to divine action
consider the Scriptures as evolving inventions of the early Church and argue
for later dating.
     Some deny predictive prophecy and question texts where Jesus warns of
the coming destruction of Jerusalem. They won't admit that Jesus could
prophesy the destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of Judea before they
happened (circa AD 70). Tied to almost all the various reasons for rejecting
early authorship of the texts is a doubt that God verbally inspired
individual authors to create the texts according to his Word.
     However, many of the earliest Christian writers were already quoting
 from different parts of Scripture before AD 200. By the late 200s, we have
 evidence of everything now included in the canon. The other numbers are
merely tossed out by people who won't let God be God, Jesus be Savior, or the
Bible be God's Spirit-inspired Word. Thus, I opt for an early completion
date.
     Q: My friend and I were having a discussion about the practice of
crossing yourself in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. He said
that the only Christians to do this are Catholics. I thought other Christian
religions also practiced this. Can you let us know?
     A: Anglican-Episcopalians, the Eastern Orthodox, and Lutherans are among
the others aside from Roman Catholics who make the sign of the cross and
speak God's Triune Name. Martin Luther is specific in his instructions in the
Small Catechism that the one praying should "make the sign of the Holy Cross"
and say, "In the Name of the Father and of the (+) Son and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen."
     The cross is not only a sign of Jesus' crucifixion, but also of its
application for us, especially in our baptisms. The cross is a reminder that
"we are buried with Christ by Baptism into his death" while the Name of God
is that into which we were baptized, by whom we were adopted, and without
whom we have neither life nor hope.
     To Ask the Pastor, please write Ask the Pastor, PO Box 12, Emma, MO, 65327 or send email to askthepastor@aol.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
     Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."