One of the more important issues in regard to personalia in the NT, is who exactly was this Erastos mentioned in Rom. 16.23 and what was his job. He appears to be a convert to the new faith, presumably via Paul, and he lives in Corinth or one of its seaports, where Paul is currently residing. He is probably the same person mentioned in the famous inscription ‘Erastus pro aedilite S.V. stravit’ found in front of the stadium in Corinth… Read more

There is a difference between a sermon, on the one hand, and a lecture or essay on the other. A sermon is not simply a public address on a religious subject; it is not simply an exposition of a passage of Scripture. It is these things, yet if really is a sermon and not a lecture, it is something else too. It is a means by which God himself speaks to us. This is not an event the preacher can… Read more

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Here is an excellent recent post by my friend Larry Hurtado which deserves a further hearing. He is not enamored of the ‘history revisionists’ and neither am I when it comes to early Christian history. by larryhurtado A recent article mounts a “full-on” challenge to the widely-accepted report of a Neronian pogrom against Christians in Rome in 64 AD, after the fire that destroyed a goodly part of Rome: Brent D. Shaw, “The Myth of the Neronian Persecution,” Journal of… Read more

We are now in the season of Christmas for the Orthodox Church, and so it will be appropriate to have some reflections on the events surrounding Jesus’ birth, somewhere around 4 B.C. or a bit before. Here is a helpful column by my friend Philip Jenkins for your perusal…. The Year Jesus Was Born December 11, 2015 by Philip Jenkins 5 Comments Scholars differ on the exact birthdate of Jesus of Nazareth, though a fair consensus holds that it was… Read more

By now, most folk will know that Howard Marshall has gone to be with the Lord a month ago. The following is a lecture by I.H. Marshall given at Acadia University where I taught last summer on hermeneutics or the art of Biblical Interpretation. Howard was a good friend of mine,and like myself, an Evangelical Methodist. At one point he asked me if I would consider applying for the post he was retiring from at Aberdeen. I told him my… Read more

Here’s a very nice deal for six of the seven of our archaeological thrillers, courtesy of LOGOS (contact Bethany.Olsen@faithlife.com). The Collected Fiction of Ben and Ann Witherington (6 vols.) The Collected Fiction of Ben and Ann Witherington (6 vols.) Regular price: $99.99 Pre-Pub: $39.99 “Join Ben Witherington as he combines real-life scholarship and breathtaking adventure. Immerse yourself in the world of Archaeologist Art West as he embarks on adventures that lead to fantastic biblical discoveries. Ben Witherington applies his expertise… Read more

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Might as well start the new year with a bang, a WWII bang. It now appears likely that C.S. Lewis was enlisted by MI6 to help the British win the loyalty of the people of Iceland. The discovery was made by a professor at Union College. Here is the link to the article…. https://pjmedia.com/faith/2015/12/11/eyes-only-famed-christian-author-c-s-lewis-worked-for-mi6 See what you think. And Felix Novus Annus…. BW3 Read more

[I originally wrote this prayer for 2009, but in almost every regard it seems just as relevant now, so I reprint it below with a few additions] —- A NEW YEAR’S PRAYER FOR OUR NATION— Lord God, maker of all that is good, and true and beautiful, all that is right, and righteous, and holy, all that is giving and forgiving and merciful, we entreat you on this day to have mercy on our nation America. We confess to you… Read more