I ask for a forum

I herewith request BaptistBoard, Would you be prepared to personally invite Professor Samuele Bacchiocchi to be confronted with questions from the posters on this Board, i.a. myself?

I ask, because the Professor is isolating and protecting himself from and against all opposition or ideas in conflict with his own, with an impenetrable barrier -- of superiority?

 

Thank you, Pastor Bob, I shall do so.

For anyone interested in the things BobRyan mentioned about Prof. Bacchiocchi, they can of course go the website given. One may read of his quite recent newsletters, 'End-time-Issues' some defence of his own of himself. Foe anyone wgo might want to hear onther's views about the same things, go to a co.za/ URL, that calls itself 'theotokos' - It is a RC medical doctor from Cape Town. He also has a 'blog'. It's long since I corresponded with him, so next time I'll give you the names of his websites in full.

But those are not the things I am interested in. Let him be a summa cum lauda from wherever. I want him to answer my questions to him re A.T. Robertson, Walter Bauer, and Blass and Debrunner which I vergebens has tried to just make contact with him in order for him to explain to me (and many others who have in the meantime become interested). Yes, he did receive my questions; in person and through correspondence.

But I think I see the effects of those questions beginning to come into action these days, because Prof Bacchiocchi is not the only person I have given those questions to. As a result I most likely will never see him again. I must therefore try some other ways to clear up these specific questions with him.

I a few weeks ago sent him another letter that should interest him greatly -- no response ... as yet!

 

Here's the first one. Remember he received these questions more or less in the same format on his very first visit to South Africa, in the Methodist Church in central Johannesburg, in writing from me into his own hands. I may still have copies of it. I cannot remember the year. After that again at a 'Sabbath' symposium in the Synod hall of the Gereformeerde Kerk in Potchefstroom. Also with many letters by e-mail. Etc. Here is an example of one such attempt. I did initially receive replies from him, which I would rather not supply for personal reasons. But as time went on, he simply ignored me.

I herewith submit some questions on a pivotal point of exegesis I hope you will favourably consider to put to Professor Samuele Bacchicchi when he visits you.
They are understandable and matter of fact questions which Professor Bacchiocchi might recognise not too strange to answer.

As far as his time allows, Professor Bacchiocchi is well acquainted with my views and criticisms. I therefor have limited my questions to just this one point, the meaning of the Greek word <opse> in Matthew 28:1. Professor Bacchiocchi wrote a book, <The Times of the Crucifixion and Resurrection> in which he treats on the subject.

I present the questions as though I ask them in person, so as not to perhaps embarrass you. (Emphasis - with capital letters - is mine.)

Preliminary Question: Professor Bacchiocchi, Do you realise that the meaning you attach to this word <opse> in Matthew 28:1 is in disagreement with men like Tyndale, Webster, Lightfoot, Young and Knoch - and Dionysius of centuries before them?

Professor Bacchiocchi, I today have four questions for you on your interpretation of the phrase in Mt.28:1, <In the end of the Sabbath>.

First Question: Professor Bacchiocchi, How can you claim <NUMEROUS evidences> (<The Time of the Crucifixion and Resurrection>, p. 49, 84 et al.) that Matthew uses the sunrise day-reckoning and not the sunset day-reckoning in chapter 28:1 while you fail to present a SINGLE example of Matthew's use of the sunrise reckoning - except 28:1 itself?

My Second Question is:

 

David Lamb:
"I followed the link. Seems a strange request that GE is making - asking the Baptist Board to start a new forum specifically so that he (who, as far as I know, is not a baptist) and others can confront a Seventh Day Adventist professor with questions."

GE
Is this laughable, from your tummy? It is strange yes. I have been stopped at every other corner. Nevertheless, This is Babtist Board, that offers "OTHER CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS" opportunity specifically so that he whoever is not a baptist or SDA - and any others - can confront a Seventh Day Adventist professor with questions. Baptist Board need not "start a new forum" - how inobservant of you. The only conclusion to arrive at is how inobservant you would read the possible debate I hoped for.

So laugh on. It is the one who laughs last who laughs the lekkerste.

 

I have been studying the Word of God all my life. I thank my SDA father for that, although I never was a SDA myself since I got my brains (as we say in Afrikaans) and must have disappointed my father greatlyto my deepest regret. Some may regard such points and reasons for not having accepted to be SDA as nit picking. Do as you like. But the central thing I very early in my life learned, was that faith, salvation and the Scriptures are one. Please don't try and convince me you are serious about salvation or honest in your faith while casual about the Scriptures. I'm an old horse, and my father also taught me this principle. I'm not bluffed, and I never have been --- because I take the Scriptures seriously. And that's why I never was SDA. My 'thing' with Prof Bacchiocchi is about Scripture. Now you have the courage to be confronted wih the very issues I confronted him with, or, if you don't have the regard for the Scriptures or the courage or the honesty to divide bone and marrow and be divided to bone and marrow, smart remarks of disdain, will justify no indifferent attitude. You take up the whole armour of God and fight the good fight at every front; you leave not unguarded one gate into the mind or breach in the wall of truth. This is for warriors of Jesus Christ; not for holidayers on the Queen Mary.

 

sag38, I put the very questions I put to Prof Bacchiocchi to you. See if you are able to answer one. It's as easy as nit picking. We'll see. Or as I like to say, see if you can beat the flies off the dead horse.

 

I have e-mailed Prof Samuele Bacchiocchi,
Dear Professor Bacchiocchi,

I herewith wish to invite you to answer on www.BaptistBoard.com (through the forum 'Other Christian Denominations) to questions I would wish to ask you concerning A.T. Robertson and other scholars on the meaning and use of the word 'opse' in Mt28:1.

Yours faithfully
Gerhard Ebersoehn

 

Prof. Bacchiocchi has replied:

Dear Gerhard:


My time is at a premium in this moment. I have examined OPSE in my books, and they re welcome to read my research.

He then goes on to advertise, and sells his book with mentioning, i.a.,

"My Passion for Biblical and Historical Accuracy

The second factor is my passion for biblical and historical accuracy. An example is the five years I spent at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, ........

The conclusions of my investigation were well-accepted by the examining commission made up of five distinguished Jesuit scholars. An indication is the gold medal of Pope Paul VI awarded to me for earning the summa cum laude distinction in my school work and dissertation From Sabbath to Sunday. This experience has greatly encouraged me to re-examine the biblical validity and historical accuracy of other popular beliefs, such as those examined in this book. .......
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[SIZE=+1]....... They want to find out for themselves if what they have been taught is based on biblical teachings or on church traditions. ......"[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=+1]Etcetera, as always.[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=+1]Maybe I could make him come out into the open if I insulted him, and called him a coward and hypocrite. I am prepared to carry the consequences.


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I personally had to watch my books physically taken off the shelves of four universities I know of, three SDA 2 of in USA and 1 in SA, and one Dutch Reformed in SA.