Lecture 1 - What is History

Definition of history by Webster's Dictionary 

1. A learning or knowing by inquiry; the knowledge of facts and events, so obtained; hence, a formal statement of such information; a narrative; a description; a written record; as, the history of a patient’s case; the history of a legislative bill.

2. A systematic, written account of events, particularly of those affecting a nation, institution, science, or art, and usually connected with a philosophical explanation of their causes; a true story, as distinguished from a romance; — distinguished also from annals, which relate simply the facts and events of each year, in strict chronological order; from biography, which is the record of an individual’s life; and from memoir, which is history composed from personal experience, observation, and memory.

History is the influence of significant people and events upon the world.

History is subjective to one's own personal perception and worldview

History is according to Reverend S.W. Foljambe in 1876:

"the autobiography of Him 'who worketh all things after the counsel of His will' (Ephesians 1:11) and who is graciously timing all events after the counsel of His Christ, and the kingdom of God on earth. It is His-Story."

The Providential View of History

For Israel and the Christians, history not viewed as the simple sequence of events evaluated in terms of cause and effect, but it was God in action

It was not coincidence or human endeavor that brought Israel out of Egypt after 400 years and led them to the land promised to Abraham.  History is revelation and requires response

The fact that God had acted in history on their behalf served as the clarion call for the Israelites to accept the Lord’s benevolent rule

It was insisted (Deuteronomy 4) that the Israelites learn the lesson of history, and repeated in NT (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13)

Acts 17:24-26

1 Timothy 6:15-16

Proverbs 16:9-10

Job 12:23

God's Story:

Creation -> Fall -> Redemption -> New Creation / Restoration

If history truly is God's story and He is moving history towards His goal, then history without theology is meaningless

Providence is God preserving / maintaining His creation toward His intended purposes

1.     God’s governing activity is universal

2.     God’s providence does not extend merely to his own people

3.     God is good in his government

4.     God personally concerned about those who are his

5.     Our activity and God’s activity are not mutually exclusive – His providence includes human actions

6.     God is sovereign in his government

7.     Be careful about you identify as God’s providence

a.     “German Christians” in 1934 endorsed Adolf Hitler as God’s working in history

God showing us the signs and wonders of His sovereignty, which He made record of so we may gain knowledge of Him

The providential view of history was believed by the founders of the United States

Declaration of Independence:

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

William Bradford, Governor of the Pilgrims:

"But these things did not dismay them...for their desires were set on the ways of God, and to enjoy His ordinances; but they rested on His Providence and knew whom they had believed."

George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1789:

"It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor."

Other views of history (their opinions based on their biased opinions)

1. Voltaire alleged history to be "myths agreed upon over time". He had a twisted perception of truth.  He did not have the "born again" attitude that allows one to see the opportunity and success in every event or situation

2. Karl Marx – class struggle – a materialistic view – the forces of the material reality are impelling history to its end. Through a series of steps, the economic order is being changed. Each stage of the process is characterized by a conflict between antithetical groups or movements (“class struggle”). The prevailing means of production is changing from feudalism to capitalism to a final socialistic stage where there will be no private ownership. In the classless society, the class struggle will move history towards the end of evil.  This trust in an impersonal force, many people under communism found it neither personally satisfying nor societally effective

3. The Cyclical View of History - repeating historical cycles with no ultimate purpose or goal, an endless repetition of living and dying.  Leads to pessimism and determinism

4. The Existentialist "Who Cares" Mentality - Today is what counts.  History is meaningless (no interest) and the future is unpredictable (no hope), so they live for today (eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die). 

The Christian doctrine of the divine plan, which affirms that an all wise, all powerful, good God has from all eternity planned what is to occur and that history is carrying out His intention.  There is a definite goal toward which history is progressing.  Histoy, then, is not moved merely by change happening, impersonal atoms, or blind fate.  The force behind it is, rather, a loving God with whom we can have a personal relationship. We may look forward with assurance, then, toward the attainment of the telos (the end / purpose) of the universe.  And we may align our lives with the assured outcome of history.