chronology of the strictly historical period he is occasionally inaccurate.”—The Encyclopædia Britannica, 9th edition, Volume 7, page 245.

Then there is Plutarch (c. 46-c. 120 C.E.). “Much has been said of Plutarch’s inaccuracy; and it cannot be denied that he is careless about numbers and occasionally contradicts his own statements.” (Plutarch’s Lives, Introduction, by translator and reviser A. H. Clough, page xviii) He wrote about Themistocles and his times, as well as about other distinguished Greeks and Romans.

As to Livy, a Roman historian who died in the year 17 C.E., it appears that most of his historical works have come down to us only in quotations and epitomes by later writers. Says W. Lucas Collins, M.A., one of his translators: “Unhappily, the lost portion, as containing the later and more authentic history of the Roman people, and more especially of the period with which the writer was contemporaneous, is what we should have most wished to see.” As was customary in his time, Livy introduced into his narration the then-existing traditions.

These first-century historians, we must remember, had to depend upon earlier sources for data relating to the period of the Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian monarchies. Some of those sources, we have already learned, were marred by carelessness and chronological inaccuracies. And besides, the process of copying from ancient records introduces additional uncertainty.

It follows, therefore, that the later “classical” historians can produce no stronger case against the Bible count of time than their predecessors of the fifth century B.C.E. Indeed, few of those “classical” writers, early or late, displayed any great concern about accuracy in keeping records of time. They afford modern readers a wealth of information on events, customs and philosophies of their times—valuable background information. For the most part, however, they seem to have paid minor attention to accurate dating.

REFERENCES

¹ The Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th edition, Volume 28, page 886.

² Ibid., 9th edition, Volume 24, page 721.

³ Ibid., 9th edition, Volume 6, page 599.

⁴ Ibid., 11th edition, Volume 26, page 894.

Questions From Readers

● Can a woman who has had a stillborn child reasonably expect the baby to be resurrected if she is faithful to God?—J. R., England.

Let us say at the outset that we sincerely sympathize with women who have had such an experience. We realize that it is a very sad event, and it once again underscores our need for God’s new order where “death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be any more.” (Rev. 21:4) Only then will such tragic results of human imperfection be eliminated.

When a woman conceives, an ovum being fertilized by a male sperm, life is passed on. According to God’s view, the living embryo or fetus in the womb is considered a soul, and, under normal circumstances, it will in time be a separate individual before God. According to the Mosaic law, if a man damaged a woman, causing her to lose the child developing in her womb, the punishment was “soul for soul.” (Ex. 21:22, 23) It is for this reason that, from a Biblical standpoint, willful abortion is murder.—Ex. 20:13; 1 Pet. 4:15.

In some cases, though, sickness or accident kills the developing embryo or fetus before it grows to full term and is born. While the immediate causes for such miscarriages and stillbirths are many, human imperfection is the root cause. And we have to look to God for the permanent end to imperfection.

What about the possibility of a resurrection in these cases? Resurrection implies a raising to life again. The examples in the Bible of persons raised to human life again indicate that the person comes back to life with the same degree of physical and mental growth possessed at death. (2 Ki. 4:17-36; Acts 20:9-12) Applying that to miscarriages and stillborn deliveries, is it reasonable that in the future Jehovah will insert back into the womb of a woman a partially developed embryo, or possibly a number of them? No, that does not seem so, nor is it likely that women who have had this sad experience actually expect that.

Furthermore, resurrection is for persons who have lived as individuals before Jehovah. Even a child who lives for only a short time after birth has existed as a separate person. But a miscarried fetus or stillborn child, though from a Biblical standpoint considered a “soul” while it was developing, never actually lived as a separate and distinct individual. So it would appear that such situations do not fall under the resurrection provision outlined in the Bible.—Acts 24:15.

We fully appreciate that this view might be most disappointing to some. But we can assure all that it is not offered out of callousness or dogmatism. Rather, we are simply replying frankly and honestly on the basis of what we find in God’s Word. We emphasize that we are not in position to pass judgment on particular cases. All sorts of “borderline” situations might be brought up, and about them we have to say: God is the judge, and, being aware of all the circumstances, he will have to decide.

We know that Jehovah is truly perfect in wisdom, mercy and justice. He is “a God of faithfulness, with whom there is no injustice; righteous and upright is he.” (Deut. 32:4) Christians should develop trust in him and his promise: “You will cause me to know the path of life. Rejoicing to satisfaction is with your face; there is pleasantness at your right hand forever.” (Ps. 16:11) So we urge all who have had the sad experiences discussed above to leave the matter in Jehovah’s hands, confident that he will do the right and just thing.—Job 34:10; Gen. 18:25.

Announcements

FIELD MINISTRY

Some nineteen hundred years ago Jesus Christ foresaw the greatest preaching work in all history. He foretold that his true followers would preach the good news of God’s kingdom “in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations.” (Matt. 24:14) In 200 lands around the earth, and in 165 languages, Jehovah’s witnesses are giving this witness about the established kingdom of God. What a prophet Jesus was to foresee such earth-wide preaching! Jesus’ prophecy is really an invitation to enter the work of giving a witness worthy of the Kingdom. Will you respond? To help interested persons do so, Jehovah’s witnesses during the month of April will be offering them a year’s subscription for the magazine that announces Jehovah’s kingdom, The Watchtower, with three booklets, for just $1.

IS THERE NO “CHRISTIAN MIND?”

There are more than nine hundred million professed Christians in the world today. Why, then, would one writer lament that “there is no longer a Christian mind”? Sparing neither laity nor clergy, he states: “The idea that because a man is learned, especially in subjects pertaining to religion, he is therefore secure from the seductions of worldliness is a fallacy.” Few persons would deny this, especially when they learn so little from the clergy that equips them to know or understand the mind of Christ. Are you protecting yourself from this “secular drift”? Review your mind. Secure it firmly in God’s Word. Follow Christ’s example and “read the Holy Bible daily.” Obtain the fine complete New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. It is in modern English, and only $1. Send today.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

April 20: Make Your Advancement Manifest by Responding to God’s Word. Page 201. Songs to Be Used: 70, 20.

April 27: Why Is Your Ministry Successful? Page 208. Songs to Be Used: 51, 95.