If any members have any knowledge of Eastern Aramaic then that would be most helpful!
I believe that many of the miracles described in the gospels are based upon reality, and I would like to discuss the description of Jesus delaying his departure until after his disciples had left in a boat and were making slow progress in to a head wind. Three gospels mention this event, thus:-
MATTHEW
14:25} And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
MARK {6:48} ......................... he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
JOHN {6:18} ................. they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
And G-Matthew explains more:-
Matthew:- And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. {14:29} And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. {14:30} But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
I often wondered about this account, not believing in miracles unless they have a natural foundation. Many years ago I saw a picture of an ancient circa 2000 BC stone carving which shows Egyptians swimming and with bowmen standing beside the water and drawing arrows. At first I thought this must be a picture of men escaping from killers, but the article suggested that the swimmers were in fact racing against each other and the bowmen had the duty of protecting the racers from Crocodiles and Hippos. Much of the documentation has been lost by me over the years, but here is the picture:
wadi.jpg
This ancient carving is the earliest depiction of people swimming 'freestyle' or overhand, probably the fastest swimming stroke of all, and I have read that if Egyptians didn't learn to be powerful swimmers then they didn't live too long around the wades, shallows, rivulets of the NIle.
The gospels tell that Jesus spent his youth in Egypt, not seeming to surface in Temple situations until youth, and I've often wondered whether he might have been a powerful swimmer.
This article might not open now, I saved it to file many years ago, but you might find other IT media about swimming in ancient Egypt?
http://swimsallyswim.blogspot.co.uk/...ent-egypt.html
Swimming was the favorite sport of the ancient Egyptians, who made use of the River Nile to practice it. The Nile was not the only place for swimming contests. Noblemen's palaces had swimming pools in which princes learned the sport.
The calm waters of the Nile encouraged youths to hold swimming competitions in which they could show their skills.
More on this in my next post......................tomorrow.
I believe that many of the miracles described in the gospels are based upon reality, and I would like to discuss the description of Jesus delaying his departure until after his disciples had left in a boat and were making slow progress in to a head wind. Three gospels mention this event, thus:-
MATTHEW
14:25} And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
MARK {6:48} ......................... he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
JOHN {6:18} ................. they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
And G-Matthew explains more:-
Matthew:- And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. {14:29} And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. {14:30} But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
I often wondered about this account, not believing in miracles unless they have a natural foundation. Many years ago I saw a picture of an ancient circa 2000 BC stone carving which shows Egyptians swimming and with bowmen standing beside the water and drawing arrows. At first I thought this must be a picture of men escaping from killers, but the article suggested that the swimmers were in fact racing against each other and the bowmen had the duty of protecting the racers from Crocodiles and Hippos. Much of the documentation has been lost by me over the years, but here is the picture:
wadi.jpg
This ancient carving is the earliest depiction of people swimming 'freestyle' or overhand, probably the fastest swimming stroke of all, and I have read that if Egyptians didn't learn to be powerful swimmers then they didn't live too long around the wades, shallows, rivulets of the NIle.
The gospels tell that Jesus spent his youth in Egypt, not seeming to surface in Temple situations until youth, and I've often wondered whether he might have been a powerful swimmer.
This article might not open now, I saved it to file many years ago, but you might find other IT media about swimming in ancient Egypt?
http://swimsallyswim.blogspot.co.uk/...ent-egypt.html
Swimming was the favorite sport of the ancient Egyptians, who made use of the River Nile to practice it. The Nile was not the only place for swimming contests. Noblemen's palaces had swimming pools in which princes learned the sport.
The calm waters of the Nile encouraged youths to hold swimming competitions in which they could show their skills.
More on this in my next post......................tomorrow.
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