1. I can think of three arguments for recognizing that such a thing as Scripture exists (and, without going into a lot of detail here, by Scripture I mean a text that is not only true but has a special kind of inspired truth). First and foremost, Jesus recognized it. Second, we need Scripture as … [Read more…]
I (and others) frequently note that one argument supporting the veracity of the Bible is that it contains much that is unflattering to the people who supposedly made it up. The Jews in the Old Testament are complaining and ungrateful backsliders, the apostles in the New Testament are uncomprehending and cowardly, to give just two … [Read more…]
The Lord’s Prayer begins, “Our Father, who art in Heaven: Thy name be hallowed, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,” and ends, “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.” How do Thy name/hallowed, Thy kingdom/come, and Thy will/be done fit together? Next, how do kingdom, power, and glory … [Read more…]
The Gospels read like unembellished eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life (per C.S. Lewis and Richard Bauckham, among others), and I’ve devoted other posts to the historicity of, and Luke’s reason for writing, Acts (see here and here). But what about the various New Testament epistles? [Footnote: The remaining New Testament book, Revelation, is also an … [Read more…]
Here’s Macbeth’s famous “tomorrow” soliloquy (5.5.19-28): Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets … [Read more…]
The just-completed sermon series in our church here was on Exodus, chapters 16-20, and I thought it worthwhile to collect a few thoughts prompted by it. So below I have one thought on each chapter — plus an opening and closing thought, not tied to any particular chapter. *** Opening thought: Our pastor noted in … [Read more…]
Genesis 41 tells us about the greatest job interview of all time: 14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard … [Read more…]
Rather late in life I’ve undertaken to teach myself koine Greek, with the principal purpose of enabling myself to read the New Testament in its original language. I don’t plan to quit, and a good thing, too, as I suspect the project will continue until I shuffle off this mortal coil. The idea was that … [Read more…]
It occurred to me the other day how similar to one another are Martha (of the Martha and Mary narrative, Luke 10:38-42) and the non-prodigal son (of the prodigal son parable, Luke 15:11-32). Neither is a bad person, but both get a bit of a mild rebuke and for, it seems to me, rather similar … [Read more…]
It’s interesting to think about the extent to which the Old Testament and New Testament are interwoven and complement one another, and it is important because consistency is necessary for veracity, and because their continuity may tell us something about God’s plans. *** The OT narrative that most dramatically parallels/complements the NT is of course … [Read more…]