Ancient Cultures:Ancient Cultures:

Ancient Chinese Writing & the Bible

Ancient Chinese Writing & the Bible

• One of the oldest books of the Bible (Genesis) was written approximately 1400 B.C. or before.

• Ancient Chinese Characters were developed between 2000 – 1000 B.C.

• Tonight, we will have a short presentation of some connections between ancient Biblical knowledge and about a dozen Chinese characters.

• No one knows for sure who developed the original Chinese characters.

• We think Chinese characters were developed by at least 6 different methods. One of those methods is called ‘pictographic’ which means that the drawing visually represents an idea.

• Let’s look at some fun examples and then some Biblical examples.

愛愛LOVELOVE

爫 冖 心 夂

愛Claw

Cover

Heart

Go; footprint

安 安

PEACEPEACE

安 宀 女

Woman

Roof

好好GOODGOOD

好 女 子

Woman

Son

礻 神神申

Command; reveal; “god” radical; (shown as an altar)

Express, explain; 說文解字 says this part means “God.” (shown as a person bowing)

How is God portrayed at the beginning of the Bible? In the first chapter of Genesis, God is the person who spoke / commanded the universe into existence. Genesis 1:3,6,9,14,20,24,26

GODGOD

( 金文 – bronze script)

造造 土口

丿

辶

Motion

Ground

Mouth

WalkingTO CREATETO CREATE

What did the first creation of humans involve?

Genesis 2:7 (NIV) – “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

耶和華神用地上的塵土造人、將生氣吹在他鼻孔裡、他就成了有靈的活人、名叫亞當。

造造

土口園園 囗

亻 / 人

Enclosure

Ground

Mouth1 人 = person; however, there are 2 人 = 2 persons, 1 from side – seal character

GARDENGARDEN

Seal Character ( 說文解字來的篆軆字 ) What was the first garden in the Bible like? The first

garden in the Bible had 2 people. Why is one sideways or at the side?

Genesis 2:21-23 (NIV) – “21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called “woman,” for she was taken out of man.’ ”21 耶和華　神使他沉睡、他就睡了．於是取下他的一條肋骨、又把肉合起來。 22 耶和華　神就用那人身上所取的肋骨、造成一個女人、領他到那人跟前。 23 那人說、這是我骨中的骨、肉中的肉、可以稱他為女人、因為他是從男人身上取出來的。

園

林示禁禁 Forest (trees)

Command, “god” radical

What was the first prohibition / or command to forbid something?

PROHIBITPROHIBIT

Genesis 2:16-17 (NIV) – “16 And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.’ ”

16 耶和華　神吩咐他說、園中各樣樹上的果子、你可以隨意喫． 17 只是分別善惡樹上的果子、你不可喫、因為你喫的日子必定死。

禁禁

束束RESTRAINRESTRAIN

口

木

When is the first time that the idea of “restrain” is mentioned in the Bible?

Mouth

Tree

Genesis 2:17 (NIV) – “ ‘but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.’ ”

17 只是分別善惡樹上的果子、你不可喫、因為你喫的日子必定死。

束束

林田儿厶

广丿魔魔 Forest (trees)

Field / garden

Legs, man

Secret

Movement

Wide

When is the first time the “Devil” (or a “tempter”) is mentioned in the Bible?

TEMPTER,DEVILTEMPTER,DEVIL 鬼

Devil

The Devil tempted the first woman in secret in a huge garden concerning trees. There was motion involved (such as a serpent). Gen. 3:1,6-7

Genesis 3:1 (NIV) – “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?’ ”

1 耶和華　神所造的、惟有蛇比田野一切的活物更狡猾。蛇對女人說、　神豈是真說、不許你們喫園中所有樹上的果子麼。

魔

林 女 婪婪 Forest (trees)

Woman

When is the first time “greed” or strong desire is mentioned in the Bible?

GREEDGREED

Genesis 3:6 (NIV) – “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”

6 於是女人見那棵樹的果子好作食物、也悅人的眼目、且是可喜愛的、能使人有智慧、就摘下果子來喫了．又給他丈夫、他丈夫也喫了。

婪婪

裸 裸 倮倮躶 躶

NAKEDNAKED

衤 / 衣 果

亻 / 人 身

裸

倮躶

Clothes

Body

Person

Fruit+

When is the first time “naked” is mentioned in the Bible?

Answer: After they ate the fruit from the tree. Genesis 3:7 (NIV) “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.”

7 他們二人的眼睛就明亮了、纔知道自己是赤身露體、便拿無花果樹的葉子、為自己編作裙子。

裸 躶 倮Clothes + fruit

Body + fruit Person + fruit

Seal characters: cover over 2 people (one from side!) + fruit

女田 儿厶

丿媿 媿 woman

Legs, man

Secret

Field / garden

Motion

+ASHAMEDASHAMED

鬼Devil

When was the first time the idea of ‘ashamed’ was mentioned in the Bible? First, with a man (Genesis 3:12); and the second time with a woman referring to the “serpent” (Devil) (Genesis 3:13):

Genesis 3:13 (NIV) “Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’”

13 耶和華　神對女人說、你作的是甚麼事呢。女人說、那蛇引誘我、我就喫了。

媿媿

林 楚楚 疋

Forest (trees)

FootSUFFERINGSUFFERING

When was the first time suffering was mentioned in the Bible? After the Serpent (Devil) tempted the woman with the fruit from the tree, God gave a punishment to the Serpent:

Genesis 3:15 (BBE) – “And there will be war between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed: by him will your head be crushed and by you his foot will be wounded.”

15 我又要叫你和女人彼此為仇、你的後裔和女人的後裔、也彼此為仇．女人的後裔要傷你的頭、你要傷他的腳跟。

楚楚

苦苦SORROW, HARDSHIPSORROW, HARDSHIP

艹 /艸 古

Grass, weedsAncient = 10 generations ( 十 + 口 )

Does the Bible mention “sorrow” related to grass or weeds?

Genesis 3:17-19 (NIV) 17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." 17 又對亞當說、你既聽從妻子的話、喫了我所吩咐你不可喫的那樹上的果子、地必為你的緣故受咒詛．你必終身勞苦、纔能從地裡得喫的。 18 地必給你長出荊棘和蒺藜來、你也要喫田間的菜蔬。 19你必汗流滿面纔得糊口、直到你歸了土、因為你是從土而出的．你本是塵土、仍要歸於塵土。

苦苦

When is the first time that “death” is mentioned in the Bible?

喪 喪

DEATHDEATH

口

兦

土

MouthDirtLose, death

乚人

Secret, mysterious

Person( 金文 )

What do you see?

Genesis 2:17 (NIV) – “ ‘but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.’ ”

17 又對亞當說、你既聽從妻子的話、喫了我所吩咐你不可喫的那樹上的果子、地必為你的緣故受咒詛．你必終身勞苦、纔能從地裡得喫的。

喪 喪

牛羊秀戈

犧 犧 Lamb

cow

Elegant, refined (unblemished)

DaggerSACRIFICESACRIFICE

When was the first time that a sacrifice was made in the Bible? It was in response to the disobedience of the man and woman. The skins (from the animals that were killed) covered the 2 people.Genesis 3:21 (NIV) – “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” 21 耶和華　神為亞當和他妻子用皮子作衣服、給他們穿。

The ancient Chinese also had an important sacrifice. They offered a perfect, white bull every year to 皇天上帝 (Supreme God above all) from about 2200 B.C. (Emperor Shun 舜 ) until 1911 A.D.

Temple of Heaven (Beijing)World Heritage Site; Architectural

Wonder & Religious Heritage

Temple of Heaven (Beijing)World Heritage Site; Architectural

Wonder & Religious Heritage

The Supreme God Above All ( 皇天上帝 )

The Supreme God Above All ( 皇天上帝 )

• No idols or images• This is the most ancient Chinese worship (before Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucian philosophy)• Ceremonies demand all spirits and the emperor worship 上帝 (God above all).

The Supreme God Above All ( 皇天上帝 )

The Supreme God Above All ( 皇天上帝 )

During the ceremonies, the emperor of China proclaimed that he (the emperor) was a subject / servant of 帝 , he worships 帝 , he is indebted to 帝 , that he is an unworthy servant of帝 (the sovereign creator), that 神 is sovereign.

In the yearly ceremony at the Temple of Heaven (which continued until 1911), the Emperor proclaimed that God ( 上帝 / 帝 / 神 / 天 ) was:

Compassionate, Creator, Eternal, Faithful, Full of wrath, Good, having Grace, Holy, Absolutely unchanging, Infinite, Just, Love, Merciful, All-powerful, Omnipresent (present everywhere), All-wise, Perfect, Righteous, Sovereign, Wise

These are the same characteristics of God mentioned in the Bible. How did the ancient Chinese (from 2000 BC) know these character traits of God which are the same as the Bible? The Ancient Chinese somehow knew the Ancient Bible records.

祥祥BLESSED( 說文解字 )

BLESSED( 說文解字 )

礻

Command; reveal; “god” radical; represents an altar

羊 Lamb

So why would a person be blessed when there is an altar / sacrifice of a lamb?

義義 我 Me

RIGHTEOUSRIGHTEOUS

羊 Lamb

Because we can be made righteous when a sacrifice is made. This is the blessing of forgiveness. That comes when a lamb is over me.

But how can a lamb over me refer to righteousness? The Bible says that the sacrificial death of an animal can cover sin temporarily but only the death of the perfect man wipes out our sin and forgives us, setting us free forever.

The Bible says this about Jesus (as the perfect God-man) was our sacrifice: Isaiah 53:5-7 (NIV) “5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”5 那知他為我們的過犯受害、為我們的罪孽壓傷．因他受的刑罰我們得平安．因他受的鞭傷我們得醫治。 6 我們都如羊走迷、各人偏行己路．耶和華使我們眾人的罪孽都歸在他身上。 7 他被欺壓、在受苦的時候卻不開口．〔或作他受欺壓卻自卑不開口〕他像羊羔被牽到宰殺之地、又像羊在剪毛的人手下無聲、他也是這樣不開口 ．

義義

But was Jesus the real ‘Lamb’?John 1:29 (NIV) – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” 29 次日、約翰看見耶穌來到他那裡、就說、看哪、　神的羔羊、除去〔或作背負〕世人罪孽的。Jesus is the only one Who can forgive all your sins and set you free and make you righteous.

羊羊

Jesus is the Way ( 道路 ), the Truth ( 真理 ), and the Life ( 生命 ). (John 14:6)

If you want to have a personal relationship with Jesus that changes your life, you need to come to Him by faith ( 信 ).

信信 亻 person

言 wordsFAITHFAITH

Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) - 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.9 你若口裡認耶穌為主、心裡信　神叫他從死裡復活、就必得救．10 因為人心裡相信、就可以稱義．口裡承認、就可以得救。

信信

Lord Jesus, thank you for being the perfect Lamb sacrificed for my sins. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins, making me right with you, and providing me with eternal, abundant life. I receive you as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life and help me to be the person You want me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

羊羊

愛愛LOVELOVE

WONDERFULWONDERFUL

Resources:

Kang, C.H. and Ethel R. Nelson, The Discovery of Genesis, St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1979.

Lau, J. (Chinese etymology and definitions website), found at http://yellowbridge.com/language/chinese-dictionary.php, 2003-2010.

Nelson, Ethel R., Richard E. Broadberry, and Ginger Tong Chock, God’s Promise to the Chinese, Dunlap, TN: Read Books Publisher, 1997. (Originally published as Mysteries Confucius Couldn’t Solve (1986) and revised as Genesis and the Mystery Confucius Couldn’t Solve (revised 1994). (Also available in Chinese)

Nelson, Ethel R., Richard Broadberry, and Samuel Wang. The Beginning of Chinese Characters¸ Dunlap, TN: Read Books Publishers, 2001.

Petzholt, Raymond Paul. Who is Shang Ti? ( 上帝是誰 ?) Arcadia, CA. N.P. Shangti-research.org, 2001.

Richard Sears’ Chinese Etymology Website at http://www.internationalscientific.org/CharacterASP/EtymologyHome.aspx, 2003, 2008. (includes graphics of seal, bronze, and oracle bone characters)

Thong ,Chan Kei & Charlene Fu, Faith of Our Fathers: God in Ancient China, (先贤之信 ) Shanghai, China: China Publishing Group Orient Publishing Center, 2006.

Tong, Davy & Dr. Raymond Paul Petzholt. The True Spiritual Roots for All Chinese. （飲水思源中國人的信仰根源） Arcadia, CA.: Shangti-research.org, 2005.

Shuowen Jiezi / Shuowen Dictionary, ©Copyleft 小童 2004.8.8修訂供 found at http://shuowen.chinese99.com/ .

神愛好安造園禁 束魔 婪裸 裸倮 媿楚苦喪犧祥義信羊

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