Meaning of History
Why Bother to Learn History?
By Bro. Alex Pak
Prayer Center of
Martyr Suk Bak Nam
I. Why Study History
A. Our Knowledge is a Residue of Past
- Present is very brief, when a word has been said it is history.
- People live mainly in past, but God is eternal.
B. Understand present as it emerged from the past
-National boundaries, attitude of people
- Historian is a backward looking prophet.
- Task is never finished.
C. On the basis of the past, we an anticipate future and capacity forlogical judgment
-However, can’t foretell future with accuracy
- History is like river, continuously cutting into what has been already been cut.
- Should contribute to capacity for balanced judgment, courage to look reality in the face
- Help to avoid mistakes
- Without history, repeats mistakes; could still happen, but less likely
- Takes historical process seriously
- May help you to see what is necessary and what is peripheral in church
- Statement perceived changes going on; Did it with history! (W. Churchill)
II. Importance of Studying Church History
A. For being promised guidance of the Holy Spirit:
-It is given to the Church
-Very Important to keep obedience to the Holy Spirit.
B. For Shaping and formation of enriching Christian and reforming self-consciousness or self-identity
C. For communion and fellowship of the Saints.
III. What is History?
A. Etymologically:
1. historia `η `ιστορία (Greek: feminine noun)
-The result of critical observation and investigation
-The narrative of past event
2. Historie (German) : R. Bultmann understanding as
-The actual event
-Objective, actual occurrences
3. Geschichte (German) : R. Bultmann understanding as
-Significant event
-Impact based
-Record of an event
4. Historiography (English)
-Both events of the past and the narrative written forms (historia+Gechichte)
-The investigation of narrative that explains events
-Aristotle said, “History is a life.”
-Latin called, “Natural history".
-Modern period, “Museum of the natural history.”
-August Neander: Religious Piety and Commitment's narratives
-Karl August von Hase: Narrative of Religious peculiarity
-Adolf von Harnack: Dogma of church
IV. 5 Facts of definition of history
A. It deals with a man/woman.
-Human activates, cultural mandates, voluntary of human actions to be confirmed.
-The process development which people play.
B. It is related to environment which people play.
- stages which drama takes place
c. It is eventful.
-to deal with events;
-concrete, specific, discreet, and unpredictable
-however, not to deal with all events
-that is why the historian has to make a decision on how to interpreter events
D. It deals with the past
-change
-movement
-development in the past
-not only what but also how and why
-historical knowledge what was the influence?
E. It is science
-Historical Knowledge is the truth -Historical knowledge and truth are based on evidence and can be critically shifted past.
V. Meaning of History
A. Faith and History and its meaning
-Two ways in faith and history
-History is not its own interpreter,
-History is not self-interpretive; (History itself can not reveal its own meaning)
-History depends on historian
-Historian provides the meaning and significance of history and historical events. i.e. such as Darwinism, Marxism, and Christianity are faith that provides the insight.
B. Historian always interprets history, already in his selection of his/her materials.
-World view come into play.
-Hegel tried to do history claiming to a total objectivity, such as thesis, antithesis, and synthesis)
-Today it is not possible.
C. There are many concepts of History, such as cyclical, Darwinism, Marxism, Positivists, Idealists. Etc.
D. The cyclical concept of History (Greek)
-History repeats itself.
-Non-Christian and non-faith view
-Hindu, Buddhism and temporary world
-History is governed by something controlled by fate, change, and determination, inevitable wheel of time.
-It is based on empirical observation.
-No one can do anything about it.
-Unity of the human race.
E. Hebrew conception of identity of Yahweh
-Not tribal
-The master of the universe, the God of all nations
-Eschatological movement toward history
-Depends upon Christian point of view
-Rejection against cyclical concept by linear concept
F. What must be arrive Christian Concept?
-It must be by Special Revelation (Word Revelation)
-Scripture indicates that there is beginning in history.
-Oscar Cullman (N. T. Scholar) in “Christ and Time”.
-Emphasis on “salvation history.”
VI. Five Point of Christian Concept of History
1. Beginning to history with creation
-God is the Creator (Point of departure)
-Doctrine of Revelation
-Common origin of human race
2. The Fall
-Result: Apathetic
Before After
Obedience Disobedience
The Kingdom The kingdom of evil stateof Church
3. Christ is the center of history
-Jesus Christ is the center of history, that is Christ event such as incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension and the Second Coming.
-In some way, the will of God may be related to His life, and His teaching.
-Specifically death and resurrection occurred only one event for human race; redemptive history.
4. There is a goal to history
-The goal is the realization of the Kingdom of God.
-There is direction, and history is moving somewhere; linear process
-History has meaning and significance because there is goal to history.
-That is realization of Kingdom of God
5. Goal in history
-It is in history and in the Christ event.
-The Kingdom was present in Christ.
-Manifestation of Kingdom of God in history
6. Goal to History
-It is at the end of history.
-It is the eschatological understanding the future.
-It is the realization of new creation.
-It is to that goal, history is moving to goal.
-The goal is tremendously important.
-Eschatology is important in the Christian life in anticipation.
7. God is Sovereign
-He guides, govern and control the history
-We call this government “divine providence.”
By Bro. Alex Pak
Prayer Center of
Martyr Suk Bak Nam
I. Why Study History
A. Our Knowledge is a Residue of Past
- Present is very brief, when a word has been said it is history.
- People live mainly in past, but God is eternal.
B. Understand present as it emerged from the past
-National boundaries, attitude of people
- Historian is a backward looking prophet.
- Task is never finished.
C. On the basis of the past, we an anticipate future and capacity forlogical judgment
-However, can’t foretell future with accuracy
- History is like river, continuously cutting into what has been already been cut.
- Should contribute to capacity for balanced judgment, courage to look reality in the face
- Help to avoid mistakes
- Without history, repeats mistakes; could still happen, but less likely
- Takes historical process seriously
- May help you to see what is necessary and what is peripheral in church
- Statement perceived changes going on; Did it with history! (W. Churchill)
II. Importance of Studying Church History
A. For being promised guidance of the Holy Spirit:
-It is given to the Church
-Very Important to keep obedience to the Holy Spirit.
B. For Shaping and formation of enriching Christian and reforming self-consciousness or self-identity
C. For communion and fellowship of the Saints.
III. What is History?
A. Etymologically:
1. historia `η `ιστορία (Greek: feminine noun)
-The result of critical observation and investigation
-The narrative of past event
2. Historie (German) : R. Bultmann understanding as
-The actual event
-Objective, actual occurrences
3. Geschichte (German) : R. Bultmann understanding as
-Significant event
-Impact based
-Record of an event
4. Historiography (English)
-Both events of the past and the narrative written forms (historia+Gechichte)
-The investigation of narrative that explains events
-Aristotle said, “History is a life.”
-Latin called, “Natural history".
-Modern period, “Museum of the natural history.”
-August Neander: Religious Piety and Commitment's narratives
-Karl August von Hase: Narrative of Religious peculiarity
-Adolf von Harnack: Dogma of church
IV. 5 Facts of definition of history
A. It deals with a man/woman.
-Human activates, cultural mandates, voluntary of human actions to be confirmed.
-The process development which people play.
B. It is related to environment which people play.
- stages which drama takes place
c. It is eventful.
-to deal with events;
-concrete, specific, discreet, and unpredictable
-however, not to deal with all events
-that is why the historian has to make a decision on how to interpreter events
D. It deals with the past
-change
-movement
-development in the past
-not only what but also how and why
-historical knowledge what was the influence?
E. It is science
-Historical Knowledge is the truth -Historical knowledge and truth are based on evidence and can be critically shifted past.
V. Meaning of History
A. Faith and History and its meaning
-Two ways in faith and history
-History is not its own interpreter,
-History is not self-interpretive; (History itself can not reveal its own meaning)
-History depends on historian
-Historian provides the meaning and significance of history and historical events. i.e. such as Darwinism, Marxism, and Christianity are faith that provides the insight.
B. Historian always interprets history, already in his selection of his/her materials.
-World view come into play.
-Hegel tried to do history claiming to a total objectivity, such as thesis, antithesis, and synthesis)
-Today it is not possible.
C. There are many concepts of History, such as cyclical, Darwinism, Marxism, Positivists, Idealists. Etc.
D. The cyclical concept of History (Greek)
-History repeats itself.
-Non-Christian and non-faith view
-Hindu, Buddhism and temporary world
-History is governed by something controlled by fate, change, and determination, inevitable wheel of time.
-It is based on empirical observation.
-No one can do anything about it.
-Unity of the human race.
E. Hebrew conception of identity of Yahweh
-Not tribal
-The master of the universe, the God of all nations
-Eschatological movement toward history
-Depends upon Christian point of view
-Rejection against cyclical concept by linear concept
F. What must be arrive Christian Concept?
-It must be by Special Revelation (Word Revelation)
-Scripture indicates that there is beginning in history.
-Oscar Cullman (N. T. Scholar) in “Christ and Time”.
-Emphasis on “salvation history.”
VI. Five Point of Christian Concept of History
1. Beginning to history with creation
-God is the Creator (Point of departure)
-Doctrine of Revelation
-Common origin of human race
2. The Fall
-Result: Apathetic
Before After
Obedience Disobedience
The Kingdom The kingdom of evil stateof Church
3. Christ is the center of history
-Jesus Christ is the center of history, that is Christ event such as incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension and the Second Coming.
-In some way, the will of God may be related to His life, and His teaching.
-Specifically death and resurrection occurred only one event for human race; redemptive history.
4. There is a goal to history
-The goal is the realization of the Kingdom of God.
-There is direction, and history is moving somewhere; linear process
-History has meaning and significance because there is goal to history.
-That is realization of Kingdom of God
5. Goal in history
-It is in history and in the Christ event.
-The Kingdom was present in Christ.
-Manifestation of Kingdom of God in history
6. Goal to History
-It is at the end of history.
-It is the eschatological understanding the future.
-It is the realization of new creation.
-It is to that goal, history is moving to goal.
-The goal is tremendously important.
-Eschatology is important in the Christian life in anticipation.
7. God is Sovereign
-He guides, govern and control the history
-We call this government “divine providence.”