When Is the First Time We See a New Testament Book Used as Scripture?
For many modern scholars, the key time is the end of the second century.
I think there is evidence that NT books were regarded as Scripture much earlier. And some of this evidence is routinely overlooked. A good example is the widely neglected text tucked away in 1 Tim 5:18: “For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,’ and ‘The laborer deserves... Continue Reading
A Tale of Two Religions: Liberal Theology Without Illusions
Jones reduces the death and resurrection of Christ to an emotive experience, recasting the empty tomb not as Jesus’ triumph over sin and death but a symbolic expression of unquenchable love.
From the outset, Jones just dismisses the Bible’s consistent truth claim of the bodily, physical resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and its centrality to the gospel. The empty tomb in Mark’s gospel clearly suggests that the dead man who once resided in the tomb is now alive—furthermore, the other three gospels and the entire testimony of the... Continue Reading
The Problem of Pain
Right now counts forever.
Whatever else evil is, it is not illusory. We experience the pangs of its impact, not only in an individual sense, but in a cosmic sense. The whole creation groans, we are told by Scripture, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. The judgment of God upon the human race was a judgment... Continue Reading
Paul and Timothy: A Prime Example for Discipleship
The age difference made for a natural father/son discipleship relationship.
There seems to be enough from Scripture to say that Timothy at least knew who Paul was by the time they met in Acts 16. Paul had previously made disciples in Lystra towards the end of his first missionary journey in AD 47–49 (Acts 14:7–23; cf. 13:1–14:28), which probably included Timothy’s grandmother Lois and mother... Continue Reading
No private matter – Pt.2
For Paul a public contest between Christians meant both parties were already defeated regardless of rights or wrongs.
There is undoubtedly a place for healthy discussion, for a forum in which issues of major and minor, congregational and personal, concern can be worked through. But to wade into the marketplace with vitriol and vindictiveness against a brother or sister is never the gospel way, and is always a loss for the cause of... Continue Reading
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
He is the God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or could even think.
After Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to inspect the temple, only to find it not in working order, He left to spend the night in Bethany. On His return to the temple the next day, Jesus paused by a fig tree. Looking for figs, He found none. Mark makes clear the reason why. It was... Continue Reading
Power of Problems vs Power of God
4 spiritual lessons we glean from David’s insight so that we can learn to trust god in our trials.
David moves his attention from the power of his problems to the power of his Savior. He doesn’t minimize the problems, he doesn’t ignore the difficulty; he merely puts them in perspective, next to a towering vision of God. God’s protection is a shield: God can and does provide physical protection for his children. In... Continue Reading
The Trinity and Easter
This triune God ensures we will not finally fail, for the Son’s resurrection and ours are one reality.
The resurrection is a window through which we glimpse eternal triune life. Initially, this is perhaps more clearly seen when attending to the Father and the Son. Yet, according to Romans 8:11, while the Father raises the Son, just as He eternally generates Him, He does so through the Holy Spirit. The resurrection by the Spirit confirms Jesus’... Continue Reading
How Can I Explain the Gospel?
Jesus had each one of us in mind when he went to the cross.
Our pastor went on to say, “In the analogy, Jesus has a piece of paper too. He has his name at the top and underneath are all the sins that he committed. His paper, of course, would be blank because he lived a sinless life. At the cross, Jesus exchanged his paper with ours. He... Continue Reading
Beware of the False Prophets Who Come to You in Sheep’s Clothing
In order for us to know what is sound doctrine and what isn’t, we must first know what is holy.
In our day, the false prophets are all around us. They may preach about “Jesus,” but they don’t preach Jesus, which is the whole Gospel of the Holiness of God and His Law and the truth of our utter lostness in light of that. Then the preacher of righteousness tells of the coming of Jesus... Continue Reading