A journey in space and time, both distant and near, between the shores of Babylon and the banks of the Jordan River to the loops of the Seine.
Beneath our eyes lay two monumental architectures. Firstly, that of the Louvre, the modern-day guardian of treasures and memories, one of the world’s greatest museums. Secondly, standing majestic, the Bible, the book of books.
Between the two, there are thousands of passages guiding the visitor or the reader through time and buried places. Illuminated by the material evidence, the text of the Bible takes on colour, as if the sculptor or engraver’s contours followed the lines of a scribe or copyist’s calamus. Discovering both of these aspects is fascinating, but one that often appears to be strewn with difficulties.
What should you read?
What should you see?
What is the best approach to take?
How can you find your bearings in
this huge labyrinth of objects and ideas?
‘Visit the Louvre with the Bible’ therefore offers to assist the visitor, the novice or the enlightened,
by proposing an itinerary marked out with close to two hundred pauses for reflection, from the most classical to the lesser known.
This chiefly cultural site presents the research efforts of a Christian for whom the Bible is authoritative. A Christian who considers it not as “the word of man, but, as it truly is, the word of God.” - 1 Thessalonians 2:13
Jesus Christ himself said: “Your word is truth”. Therefore, the Bible is integrally true.
On the strength of this naïve but profound conviction, and following the example of my illustrious colleague, the doctor Luke, who “having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order”, your tour of the Louvre will open up a new perspective.
The concern is however to avoid imposing religious beliefs or opinions but rather to present the facts which bear witness to the truth of the Book. A11
For this journey is more than just a guided tour. It will allow you to span periods and centuries and encounter countries and peoples.
With time, it became clear that a general subject heading could be found,
Hence we proposed the sub-title, ‘From Ancient Babylon to Original Christianity’.
With regard to these peoples of the past, everywhere the most surprising coincidences are found in rituals, popular feasts and traditions as well as in relationships with gods.
These common aspects may find their biblical explanation in the dispersal of humankind from Babylon.
This is most certainly a new and original biblical journey that can help each and every one of us to question our trust in the Bible, and perhaps allow us to distinguish the extent to which historical reality surpasses legend owing to the omnipresent influence of this ancient civilisation.
Or one that simply shares the pleasure of discovering the Louvre with the Bible in hand.
