RiverWay ClassInstructor: Dr. Ernie Zarra

“When Does Life Begin”?

Homework for Week #9

Topic: “ When Does Life Begin”Any scientific, philosophical,

theological, biblical evidence?What are your personal views on

abortion and embryonic stem cell research? Any biblical principles you look to for guidance?

Homework, Continued

Do you think life-saving measures should be taken at all times, for all humans? Any limitations? Who gets to choose?

What are the differences to God, in terms of quality of life and quantity of years?

Paul C. Vitz (1977)

“Recall that the young Mary was pregnant under circumstances that today routinely terminate in abortion. In the important theological context of Christmas, the killing of an unborn child is a symbolic killing of the Christ-child.”

(Vitz, Psychology as Religion, p. 89)

When Does Life Begin?

Psalm 139:13-16God “knows a person before he or she is

born”Gleason Archer writes: “Humans have an

identity in God’s mind that is established from everlasting before conception as an embryo.”

[Archer (1982), Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, p. 246]

Graham Scroggie (1951)

In Psalm 139:13-16, “one can see nothing but enthusiastic praise . . . Which is well-deserved.”

(Scroggie, Know Your Bible: The Psalms, p. 41)

Scroggie Again . . .

The Psalmist portrays both scientist and theologian as he sees the “material and spiritual facts” about human life. (pp. 51-52)

Psalm 139:13

“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.” (KJV)

“For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb.” (NASB)

Psalm 139:13

Some key points in the textMan’s total existence belongs to God Inward parts refers to the inner organsMankind is not accidentSpurgeon writes: “God doth not only inspect, and

visit, but it is his own; he is as much at home there as a landlord on his own estate, or proprietor in his own home.”

[Spurgeon (1913), The Treasury of David p. 262]

“Inward Parts” . . .

This term can also refer to one’s emotions, personality, and “soul.”

The KJV uses the word “reins” to refer to the “inward parts” (NASB)

Archer again . . .

“Psalm 139 indicates very definitely that God’s personal regard for the embryo begins from the time of its inception. . . . It is reassuring to know that even though many . . . embryos and fetuses are deliberately aborted every year throughout the world, God cares about the unborn and takes personal knowledge of them just as truly before they are born as after their delivery. He has their genetic codes all worked out and has a definite plan for their lives.”

(Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, p. 246)

Psalm 139:14

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are thy works; and my soul knoweth right well.” (KJV)

“I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well.” (NASB)

Psalm 139:14

Psalmist reflects on God the Creator Spurgeon writes: “We too seldom

remember our creation, and all the skill and kindness bestowed upon our frame . . . Who can gaze upon a model of our anatomy without wonder and awe?”

(Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, p. 262)

A. F. Kirkpatrick Adds

“The word which means literally woven or embroidered with threads of different colors, is applied by a natural metaphor to the complex and intricate formation of the body.”

[Kirkpatrick (1903), Cambridge Bible, p. 789)]

Job 10:8-13

“Thy hands fashioned and made me altogether, and wouldst Thou destroy me? Remember now, that Thou hast made me as clay; and wouldst Thou turn me into dust again? . . . And didst Thou . . . Not clothe me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews?” (NASB)

Ecclesiastes 11:5

“Just as you do not know that path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.” (NASB)

Psalm 139:16 (KJV)

“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

Psalm 139:16 (NASB)

“Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.”

J. I. Packer

“Living becomes an awesome business when you realize that you spend every moment of your life in the sight and company of an omniscient, omnipotent Creator.”

[Packer, (1973), Knowing God, p. 76]

“Substance” . . .

“In verse 16, the word substance is not the same as the substance (frame, NASB) in verse 15. Some regard the reference to be to the undeveloped members in the embryo, as so many threads rolled and twisted together, and fashioned day-by-day.” (Continued)

“Substance” (Continued)

“The word used is GOLEM, a wrapped and unformed mass, and it is its only occurrence; but GALAM is used in 2 Kings 2:8, as ‘wrapped together.’ . . . Both of these views may be united in the thought that in God’s . . . Mind, a day is preordained for the stages of the embryonic mass towards the final perfecting and birth.”

Scroggie, Know Your Bible, pp. 54-55)

Embryonic Stem Cells

Around-One-Week-Old Fetus

Around One-Week-Old Fetus: A Closer Look

A Little Perspective . . .

Value of the Fetus

Exodus 21:22-15 Kline writes: “It is of particular importance for the

Biblical view of the nature of the fetus that the life-for-life formula is applied to the destruction of a fetus with no qualification as to how young the fetus might be. The fetus, at any stage of development, is in the eyes of this this law a living being, for life (nephes) is attributed to it.”

[Meredith Kline (1977), Lex Talionis and the Human Fetus, JETS, p. 170] Latin: law of retaliation or revenge: the legal principle that

prescribes retaliating in kind for crimes committed

The Conception of Jesus

Luke 1:24ff (Elizabeth and Mary)Jesus was divine at the moment of

conception.Life begins at conception

Francis Schaeffer . . . “People are special and human life is sacred,

whether or not we admit it. Every life is precious and worthwhile in itself—not only to us human beings but also to God. Every person is worth fighting for, regardless of whether he is young or old, sick or well, child or adult, born or unborn . . .”

[Schaeffer (1979), Whatever Happened to the Human Race?, p. 195.]

The Didache

The writings accumulated by apostolic fathers of the first two centuries of the church (AD 50-200)

Literally means: “The Teaching”

Current Political and Legal Landscape Abortion-on-Demand is legal in the United

States in all 50 states. Funding restrictions on foreign aid for

abortions have been removed. Executive Order by President Obama:

Monday, March 9, 2009, authorizing embryonic stem cell harvesting and destruction of embryos for science.

My Blog

“Do no murder a child by abortion, nor kill it at birth.”

[Jack Sparks (1978), The Apostolic Fathers, p. 309]

Homework for Week #10

How does Christianity differ from other religions?

Bring in some facts about what one or two other religions believe, teach, or practice.

Why do you think other religions exist? What is a religion, and what attracts

people to it?