In his recent “political life of Jesus,” I Judge No One , David Lloyd Dusenbury makes the arresting claim that Jesus was what we’d call a political realist. Though he didn’t mount a Zealot rebellion, though he urged his followers to pay Caesar’s taxes, Jesus wasn’t apolitical. His keen observations on the ways of the… Jesus As Political Cynic — First Things RSS Feed – Web … Continue reading Jesus As Political Cynic
I think it’s fair to say that the last decade has witnessed a bit of a resurgence of academic interest in early Christianity. By “early Christianity,” I don’t mean the Christianity represented by the major figures in the fourth and fifth centuries when the church had risen to power—e.g., Athanasius, Constantine, Augustine. Rather, I am… Were Later Versions of Christianity Radically Different than Earlier Ones? Reflecting … Continue reading Were Later Versions of Christianity Radically Different than Earlier Ones?
A prominent Christian magazine recently warned against “deconstruction”—and it sounded pretty bad. “Fire,” “demolition,” and “ashes”—these were the disquieting words associated with “deconstruction.” In fact, deconstruction was linked to so-called exvangelicals and seemed to be simply a trendy new synonym for “apostasy.” Deconstruction, however, is not just de(con)struction. And it isn’t to be avoided at… Deconstructing Deconstruction — ThinkBetter Media Continue reading Deconstructing Deconstruction
However, the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements with intense heat will be dissolved, and the earth and its works will [not] be found. (2Pet. 3.10 my translation.) The primary translation decision of 2Pet. 3.10 involved how to interpret the last clause: the earth and its works will be … Continue reading No Reminders or Artifacts of Present Earth
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles (stoichea) of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! (Gal.4.9-10 ESV). Many people have told me that all the religions of the world have the … Continue reading The Stoichea: “Constituent Parts”
A World God Could Admire: Recovering His Pleasure in Creation — Desiring God Continue reading Recovering His Pleasure in Creation
It is probably worth mentioning that Paul’s command in Col. 4.16 to have his letter read in neighboring churches was somewhat different than a pure personal correspondence between individuals. The Colossian and Laodicean churches were located on a major trade route (an extension of the Silk Road), and were wealthy (see Rev. 3.17). I think it unusual for them to have circulated the original document … Continue reading How Did the N.T. Books Get Their Titles?
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Ex. 3.14 ESV). Yeshua (Yeah shooa) is probably how people pronounced Jesus’ name in the first century. It was a common name, and the same as “Joshua” whom Moses named (see Num. 13.16). The name means “Jah saves.” The name “Yahveh,” … Continue reading Yeshua in the Bush
The bible is, of course, for everyone, especially for progressives it seems. Progressives and the Bible in the Gilded Age — Ad Fontes Continue reading The Bible is for Progressives
Medicating the Masses | Adrian Gaty | First Things Continue reading Conformity-or Else
Who Was St. Patrick? | Kevin DeYoung Continue reading The Evangelist-St. Patrick
In the O.T. the ‘to be’ verb is the same as the Name God revealed Himself to Abram (Gen. 12.1). The idea seems to be “the self-existing One”, or, “the always existing One,” or, the extended idea that Yahweh is the author of life. In the Book of John, Jesus referred to Himself as “ego eimi:” (“I Am”). He explicitly used the expression to connect … Continue reading The Divine Name is the Existential Verb: “I Am”
Don’t give up when darkness assails. There have been so many times when I didn’t think God could rescue but prayed anyway in hope of a miracle, and God delivered. Trust Him, seek Him, He will show you how great He is if you seek Him with all your heart. The Shadow We Cannot Shake: What to Do When Darkness Remains — Desiring God Continue reading Seek Deliverance Though Yet Ungiven
Losing Christ in Christianity — Desiring God Continue reading The Golden Ruler
What Will Man Be Like for Countless Future Ages? | Desiring God Continue reading Experiential Knowledge
Wise advice from ‘Pastor John.’ Are Christians Obligated to Vote? — Desiring God Continue reading “We the People”
Sit at the Feet of Loss: What Endings Teach the Living | Desiring God Continue reading Wisdom Can Be Counterintuitive
God is a Unity. This is why Jesus could say: “I and the Father are one” (Jn. 10.30). Continue reading Jewish Trinitarians?
Here is a good illustration of Mt. 13.44. The realization of true worth of God’s calling is a treasure that compels forsaking everything else. I Sing My Way Through Pain: Three Lessons in Resilient Joy — Desiring God Continue reading The Treasure Hidden in a Field
Our last couple of posts have dealt with Pharaoh Tirhakah, the Cushite (Ethiopian) king of Egypt’s 25th dynasty, and mentioned by name in 2 Kings 19:9, in correction with Judah’s good King Hezekiah, and the Assyrian King Sennacherib. We noted, “In some translations (i.e., NKJV) Tirhakah is said to be king of Ethiopia. “Ethiopia” here refers to […] “I Am Nubian” — Leon’s Message Board Continue reading Ancient Cush
The Life of God in the Soul of Man: A Reader’s Guide to a Christian Classic — Desiring God Continue reading “If There be So Much Sweetness in a Drop, There Must be Infinitely More in the Fountain”
Here is a post by Craig Carter I believe is helpful. It’s not that I completely ‘buy in’ to all that the Credo guys are saying, because I do have differences with them. I am preparing a post that, I hope, will show addition instead of an either/or formulation that is demanded by some. Nevertheless, this article is agreeable. Methodological Naturalism and Divine Inspiration – … Continue reading Methodological Naturalism and Divine Inspiration
I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me (ESV). It seems some Evangelicals have found a verse to use as a key: John 17.23. They believe that if Christians work for unity (in all cases, I observe only external tactics to achieve … Continue reading Internal or External Unity: John 17.23
Jesus was clear as to who builds His Church: Himself. What is “radically wrong” with the church is no different than what is wrong with all believers throughout history, including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. After Abram tried his own devices, God told him to walk with Him and be perfect (implying that he was not perfect previously; see Gen.17.1). This is the process of sanctification … Continue reading You Can’t Fix the Church
Stephen Wellum continues his labors of bringing precision to the understanding of the Biblical Covenants. He doesn’t claim that his formulation is the “end of the discussion,” but rather interacts with scripture to note variances in the two competing synthetic theological systems. I think he identifies crucial problems in both inorganic systems and brings scriptural alternatives. Dispensational or Covenantal? | Desiring God Continue reading Dispensational or Covenantal?
In our present post we further consider Tirhakah, the Cushite (Ethiopian) Pharaoh mentioned in 2 Kings 19:9: “Now Sennacherib received a report that Tirhakah, the Cushite king of Egypt, was marching out to fight against him. It is fascinating (and illuminating) when there are other historical records, inscriptions, and artifacts which coincide with biblical persons […] Pharaoh Tirhakah, cont’d — Leon’s Message Board Continue reading Pharaoh Tirhakah-2Kings 19.9
Have You Renounced Satan? The Lost Second Vow of Baptism — Desiring God Continue reading Historical Baptism
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