Eccl. 4.9-12 tells us that two are better than one when it comes to labor, partnerships, and other practicalities. Older books and primary sources have a way of teaching us better than mediated works, which often fail. Secondary sources can, of course, greatly instruct by their analysis of things which we would not have noticed first hand. However, for the most part, I agree with … Continue reading Two Heads are Better than One-Reading Primary Sources

Lean Not upon Your Own Understanding J. I. Packer and Our Search for the Stationmaster Continue reading Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

Devils in the Mind | Algis Valiunas | First Things Continue reading Aldous Huxley’s Devils of Loudun and the Providence of God

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit (1Cor. 2.14 NIV). This verse is complementary to the previous one where the NIV footnote has a reading that makes more sense: interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. James Murphy … Continue reading Finding the Bible’s Meaning

#ICYMI- An Interview with James R. Edwards- Author of ‘Between the Swastika and the Sickle: The Life, Execution, and Disappearance of Ernst Lohmeyer’ | Zwinglius Redivivus Continue reading Ernst Lohmeyer Biography

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it (Heb. 2.1 ESV). Sure, I like to listen to some of the better contemporary music by Christian artists, but most offerings are along the lines of only one theme. A few songs of praise aren’t too bad, but, overall, really insightful, melodious songs are scarce. More often … Continue reading The Psalms Versus Present Commercial Christian Music

Doing Missions When Nationalism Is the Local Religion Continue reading Doing Missions When Nationalism Is the Local Religion

A Doctor Shares the Secret to Dying Well Continue reading A Doctor Shares the Secret to Dying Well

It is fair to say that a large portion of the body of Christ, the church, is in heaven: But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits … Continue reading The Democracy of the Dead-Church History

The Separation of Church and State I opposed the Moral Majority at its conception in the late 1970’s and oppose any of its successors today. What I am saying is that the church and the state should be separate: So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s (Mt. 22.21 NIV). The issue of paying taxes to Pagan Overlords in … Continue reading The Moral Majority Redux-The Bait and The Trap

(Courtesy of The Gospel Coalition) If we can forgive Lanier’s alliteration (surprised he didn’t use “praise”), he traces the rich use of how God interprets and fulfills scripture. The Father, Jesus, and the Spirit have eternal relations as shown in the Psalms. Jesus was “Lord” (Ps 110.1) before His incarnation. His ascension, I believe, recorded in Acts 1 was to His priestly throne (see Zech. … Continue reading How Psalms Anticipate Christ-By Greg Lanier

In early June I toured this site and walked the Canaanite tunnel and then returned northward through the drainage channel to the Davidson Archaeological Park. I did not walk Hezekiah’s Tunnel as I didn’t want to get my gear soaked. Another historical site at The City of David Archeological Site was the Ancient Cardo which is not ready for public viewing due to safety reasons … Continue reading Ingenious Sluice Gate Found in Hezekiah’s Tunnel

In Er (He), a collection of notes from 1920, Franz Kafka makes the following remark: Die Erbsünde, das alte Unrecht, das der Mensch begangen hat, besteht in dem Vorwurf, den der Mensch macht und von dem er nicht abläßt, daß ihm ein Unrecht geschehen ist, daß an ihm die Erbsünde begangen wurde. The original sin,… “The Old Wrong”: Victimhood as the Refusal of Self-Knowledge — Ad … Continue reading Victimhood as the Refusal of Self-Knowledge

My wife and I got married in the autumn after we graduated from college. We were both virgins. Our first son was born ten months later, and for the next fifteen years we had a child every two years or so. They were more spaced out at the end, and by the time the dust… Our Sexy Life — First Things RSS Feed – Web Exclusives … Continue reading Our Sexy Life

Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit (NIV) This statement of Jesus comes on the heels of the Parable of the Tenants of the Vineyard. The parable is recorded in Mt. 21.33-45, Mk. 12.1-12, and Lk. 20.9-19. Mark and Luke use the term others instead of people … Continue reading Contra Replacement Theology: Who are the “People” in Mt. 21.43?

Throughout History, some very smart people have had erroneous ideas about the text of scripture. Just because a person is a hero or learned in one area of expertise, it doesn’t mean that their expertise transfers to other fields such as textual criticism or theology. Even among textual critics and theologians there is a polarity of opinion, sometimes, resulting in opposite opinions by equally competent … Continue reading The Jefferson Bible

Summary: Severe drought in Iraq revealed an ancient city from the Mitanni Empire. Will it shed light on the biblical period of the Judges? Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia [Mitanni]. – Judges 3:8 (ESV) Severe Drought Exposes City… Submerged Ruins of 3,400-Year-Old Mitanni City Revealed by Drought — Patterns … Continue reading Submerged Ruins of 3,400-Year-Old Mitanni City Revealed by Drought

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment (2Pet. 2.4 ESV)   The Separation of Two Peoples Simon Peter, in warning his readers of false teachers, writes about some who were judged for their wickedness, all to encourage the letter’s recipients to stay true to the … Continue reading The Angelic Fall

This rock-hewn altar was carved out of limestone and was approximately 8 feet on each side and 5 feet high. It is located about a mile from Shiloh, and the four corners point to the four directions on a compass (Exodus 27:1-2). The remains clearly demonstrate that animals were sacrificed on this high place. Photo:… High Places, Altars and the Bamah — Biblical Archaeology Society Continue reading High Places, Altars and the Bamah

A Jewish tour guide described Israel’s God as the “Transparent God.” This is probably a better word than “invisible.” The idea of transparency indicates more of a presence than “invisible,” at least to me. Anyway, here is a rich scriptural description that encompasses O.T. figures such as the Divine King, The High Priest, and Israel’s prophets who said “Thus says The Lord.” Jesus in His … Continue reading Christ’s Threefold Ministry from Heaven’s Throne

This is a previously published post substantially revised and retitled. Also, since these brief thoughts have been brewing in my theological history for many years, I place them at the top of my site. Angel Definition Angels can be thought of as God’s assistants: Who makes his angels spirits, His ministers a fire (Ps. 104.4 Sept.). The popular conception of angels, chubby infants with wings, … Continue reading In Search of Meaning: The Doctrine of Angelic Replacement

Having just returned from visiting Israel’s sites and museums, I have never felt safer while in a country. Soldiers and plain-clothed individuals carrying submachine guns were abundant almost everywhere. Perhaps the solution to societal safety in America could be soldiers with guns among the public as well as open carry by more individuals. Also, when I worked as a carpenter no one was ever bullied. … Continue reading Evangelicals, guns, and church and state in the Early Republic

Tom Hanks Gets Empathy Wrong | Carl R. Trueman | First Things Continue reading Tom Hanks Gets Empathy Wrong

The bible promises (Jer. 31.31-34) that a time will come when individual believers will be taught of God. This is implicit in Jeremiah since no longer will they need human teachers. Jesus referred to this promise in John 6.45. Some try to find the quote in the Psalms but Jesus clearly says “in the Prophets.” I believe it was Raymond Brown who contended in our … Continue reading James Tour’s Devotional Practices

Continue reading Growing Old

The latest issue of Novum Testamentum is out (64.3), and among the new articles is one by me: “The Construction and Contents of the Beatty-Michigan Pauline Epistles Codex (𝔓⁴⁶).” A bifolium of the Beatty-Michigan codex of Paul’s letters; image source: Chester Beatty Digital Collections Here is the abstract: The surviving portion of the papyrus codex […] A New Article on the Contents of P46 — Variant … Continue reading A New Article on the Contents of P46

Greetings from the Rainbow Reich | R. R. Reno | First Things Continue reading Greetings from the Rainbow Reich

Putin’s Post-Stalinist Project | Roberto de Mattei | First Things Continue reading Putin’s Post-Stalinist Project

A church member meticulously studies the Scriptures, but he refuses to obey in certain areas. His faith is primarily an intellectual pursuit. Another tends to follow her heart instead of God’s commands. Her feelings seem to override the Bible’s authority. Another brother faithfully serves the church, but he has no interest in doctrine, as if learning truth is an add-on to genuine Christianity. Don’t Disciple … Continue reading Don’t Disciple People into Fragmented Faith

To Find Encouragement, Cultivate a Right View of God’s Promises Continue reading To Find Encouragement, Cultivate a Right View of God’s Promises