Chapter seven of the new book by Peter Enns, The Evolution of Adam: What the Bible Does and Doesn’t Say about Human Origins moves on to look explicitly at the way Paul uses Adam in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15, with emphasis on Romans 5. There is no question but that these are key [...]
Is Science Merely Wisdom of this World? (RJS)
Mar 1, 2012 @ 5:35 By 22 Comments
Oftentimes when discussing issues of science and faith, or other issues that challenge the conventional thinking of the Christian faith, someone will up and quote or paraphrase Paul from his letters to the Corinthians. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it [...]
Paul’s (First Century) Use of Scripture (RJS)
Feb 28, 2012 @ 5:11 By 25 Comments
The apostle Paul was a first century Jew. This should not be a controversial statement. Paul was a first century Jew educated in the Hebrew Scriptures. Paul used the Scriptures in the manner common to his day, age, and culture. Paul was transformed by his experience of the crucified and risen Lord. After this experience [...]
Is the gospel inherently social?
Feb 23, 2012 @ 0:09 By 6 Comments
The question many Bible readers have asked and are still asking, and an observation many make at the visceral level, is this: Is there a driving concern for social justice in Paul’s letters? Daniel Kirk, in Jesus Have I Loved, But Paul?, brings in slavery and how slave owners often justified slavery and subjugation in [...]
Is the Adam of Genesis Not Paul’s Adam? (RJS)
Feb 21, 2012 @ 5:10 By 56 Comments
Part Two (Ch 5-7) of the new book by Peter Enns, The Evolution of Adam: What the Bible Does and Doesn’t Say about Human Origins, turns to Paul’s Adam in the context of Paul’s theology, Paul’s Christology, and Paul’s view of scripture. Chapter 5 introduces the topics, Chapter 6 looks at Paul as an ancient [...]
Christian Judgment
Feb 16, 2012 @ 0:03 By 11 Comments
Was Jesus inclusive and Paul exclusive? Does Jesus’ practice of welcoming sinners to table stand in bold contrast to Paul’s practice? Daniel Kirk contends in his book, Jesus Have I Loved, But Paul?, that the theme of judgment, even exclusion, won’t go away even if we wish it away. He sketches Jesus before he gets [...]
The Story and Daily Life
Feb 14, 2012 @ 0:08 By 15 Comments
All this talk about Story, all this talk about reading the Bible’s narrative, all this talk … well, what difference does it make? More precisely, what difference does it make for the Christian life? I ape Paul’s words: “much, in every way.” But that only means we have to explain how it makes a difference. [...]
New Creation Gospel
Feb 8, 2012 @ 5:03 By 39 Comments
I have said this before, but I want to repeat it: the soterian gospel resolves one problem — our broken relationship with God. The soterian gospel focuses on one event — the cross as the place where Christ takes our place, shoulders our sins, removes our guilt, and forgives our sin. The soterian gospel pleads [...]
A Balanced Perspective of Images for Ministry
Feb 8, 2012 @ 0:01 By 26 Comments
John Piper’s address about a masculine ministry and masculine Christianity was bold but nowhere in the New Testament are ministers (used here generically) called to be “manly” or to be “masculine.” He equated in those comments “masculine” and “male,” and they are not the same. In fact, being “masculine” is not a term on the [...]
Learning to Love Paul
Feb 2, 2012 @ 0:06 By 15 Comments
J.R. Daniel Kirk‘s new book, Jesus Have I Loved, But Paul? A Narrative Approach to the Problem of Pauline Christianity (BakerAcademic, 2011) may very well be a touchstone for the next generation of Christians who can’t accept the traditional Paul (on historical grounds) and yet who want to explore what Paul looks like if we [...]
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