The American Mining Rights Association claims that in 1849 California had over 300,000 people exploring for mine.1 Actually James Wilson Marshall found gold in January 1848 while building a saw mill northeast of present day Sacramento along the American River. The San Francisco newspapers reported it, but with little interest. Few believed Marshall’s claim.
Sam Brannan, a local store keeper in Sutter’s Creek, ran around San Francisco waving a bottle filled with gold dust shouting, “Gold! Gold! Gold!” Proof now existed. The result? San Francisco’s harbor filled with abandoned ships as the crews fled for gold. The two newspapers of San Francisco closed due to a lack of staff. Even cities along the coast lost huge numbers of population for the gold fields.
In August of 1848 the New York Times printed a story about the gold finds and huge numbers from the east migrated to the area. Some crossed the mountains to California. One staging point witnessed 30,000 waiting to cross the mountains. Others sailed to Panama, caught another ship to the north along the Pacific coast to San Francisco. The population of San Francisco in 1847 consisted of 47 buildings including shacks, frame houses, and adobes. By December 1849 the town estimated the population to be near 100,000.2
Tweetable:
I can only wish that God’s people craved to dig the riches of the Gospels as much as men do the gold of the earth. (Click to Tweet)
Our study of the Old Testament, I opted to present the tools to help study the various genres towards the end of the blog. Beginning with the New Testament, I will list the tools first.
The rationale for such a change began with the idea that if we hoped to mine gold, we need to know the tools needed and gather them as well as learn to use them. Then, we would need to examine the history of mining, especially in the areas where we hope to mine. Then we would outline how we plan to begin digging. Thus, for the gospels, we will examine the tools, the history of our sight and outline the method.
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
TOOLS TO MINE THE GOLD OF THE GOSPELS –
The gold miner must know what tools he/she will need to extract the gold from the soil in which it is embedded. Gold found in the desert often lays where dried rivers flowed. Sometimes nuggets lay on the surface and prove easy to find. The would-be miner might use a metal detector, a shovel, picks, straining materials, and digging trowels. Deeper gold may require an excavator and bulldozers. Different sluicing methods are available depending on the soil conditions as well. Likewise, the miner for the gold of the Gospels needs to acquire proper tools.
MINING TOOLS
NOTE:
The reader will do well to review each before purchasing one or more of the suggestions. These will often cover the entire New Testament rather than just the Gospels, but the gospel section is worth the price of the books for the background information. If you click on the highlighted links, you will be taken to the Amazon page for the reference and you can read the printed reviews as well as contributors when appropriate. Some may be found in ebook format as well as kindle.
HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS and A LIFE of CHRIST
(click on the titles and you will be taken to an Amazon description of the works included below):
Robert, Thomas L and Stanley N. Gundry. A Harmony of the Gospels: NASB. New York: HarperCollins, 1978. ISBN: 0-06-063524-X
Harrison, Everett E. A Short Life of Christ: Highlights in the Life of Christ. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 0-8028-1824-2.
THE USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Without question, this area generates much discussion and debate. The suggestions below are just that – suggestions. There are numerous essays and articles that one can search out as well. The list is alphabetical and not necessarily any specific ranking.
NOTE:
The reader will do well to review each before purchasing one or more of the suggestions. These will often cover the entire New Testament rather than just the Gospels, but the gospel section is worth the price of the books for the background information. If you click on the highlighted links, you will be taken to the Amazon page for the reference and you can read the printed reviews as well as contributors when appropriate. Some may be found in ebook format as well as kindle.
Carson, D. A. and G. K. Beale, eds. Commentary on the Use of the Old Testament in the New. Grand Rapids: Baker. 2007. ISBN: 978-1-4412-1052-4
Carson, D. A. and H. G. M. Williamson. Eds. It is Written: Scripture Citing Scripture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. Cambridge: Cambridge Press: 1988. ISBN: 978-0-521-32347-5
France, R. T. Jesus and the Old Testament. London. Tyndale Press. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1971. ISBN: 1-57383-006-2 .
Longnecker, R. N. Biblical Exegesis in the Apostolic Period. 2d ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. 1999. ISBN: 1-57383-074-7
GOSPEL BACKGROUNDS: CUSTOMS AND TIMES OF JESUS
Bruce. F. F. New Testament History. Garden City. NY: Doubleday, 1972. ISBN: 0-385-02533-5
Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003. ISBN: 0-8028-2221-5 paper
Witherington, Ben, III. New Testament History: A Narrative Account. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001. ISBN: 978-1-4412-0537-7
STEPS TO MINE THE GOLD OF THE GOSPELS
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CHOOSE THE PASSAGE TO EXPLORE FOR GOLD
When surveying for gold, the location must be selected. The soil must be tested as to whether to dig or not to dig. This is where a metal detector may come in handy. Likewise, this is the place where the Harmony and the Life of Christ comes into use.
The gold miner will explore the surrounding literary context(s) of the passage. Click here to review this step.
2. UNCOVER THE BACKGROUND MATERIAL TO EXPLORE FOR GOLD
The gold miner will remove all the rocks and boulders that may block his exploration for gold under such obstacles. The miner then grids out his claim to carefully survey the surface materials.
The miner will start with each individual square of his grid to systematically explore the entire site for his previous gold. Having already checked out the literary context, the Gospel miner must know how the passage understudy relates logically, chronologically, historically and theologically. Other tools can be suggested such as Bible Atlas, Bible Dictionaries, Bible Encyclopedias, New Testament Histories, New Testament Theologies and Dictionary of Theologies.
Below are suggested grids to survey:
The Historical grid – Summarize the ‘big’ picture. What is happening world-wide that might touch the passage under study?
The Cultural grid – what is happening in the culture during this passage? Are specific Jewish cultural aspects mentioned? Are there Gentile cultural aspects mentioned? Are there other aspects of culture touched upon?
The Religious grid – who is to be worshiped/ Why are they to be worshiped? In what manner is the person/god to be worshiped?
The Economic grid – what is the economic climate like in the passage? Who are contrasted or compared, if any? Are there rich and poor? Are there entitled over the weaker?
The Social grid – what is going on socially? How are people related to each other in work, housing, religion, etc.?
Maybe you can add other grids you check? Help me build a list of grids and what each grid should include. Include your suggestions in the comments box.