Here’s another good post by Larry Hurtado Christological Non-Starters: Part 1, “Adoption as Divine Son” by larryhurtado Having spent now some forty years exploring and attempting to understand how earliest Christians understood and reverenced Jesus, it is sometimes almost amusing to see proposals presented confidently that actually have scant basis in the earliest evidence. In this and a couple of ensuing postings I’ll mention a few (and, no doubt, make proponents a bit angry, but “them’s the breaks”). One claim... Read more

Mark Frontczak is a Christian cartoonist that lives in Bellingham Washington, and I consider him a friend and a good brother. His humor is Biblically focused, and often has a good message, as well as producing smiles and laughter. The book shown above is available on Amazon, and I think it is a good resource to use for various church purposes, including to illustrate sermons. I commend his work…… BW3 Read more

Here an excellent review I largely agree with of Paula Fredricksen’s recent book. https://marginalia.lareviewofbooks.org/when-jesus-was-jewish/ Read more

Long ago, B.C. (by which I mean before cellphone), I was raised not to use scatalogical language by my Christian parents. Furthermore, I was raised not to use crude language about excrement etc. either. Unfortunately, this language has not only resurfaced in a big way, but many youth today think that by using this language they are ‘cool’ or being ‘adult’ or worse still ‘being creative’. Frankly, there is nothing less creative than using four letter words in a song,... Read more

On A+E/the History Channel, running four straight weeks with two back to back episodes each week about the people who encounter him and those who knew him well. Check it out (disclaimer— there are a variety of views on the shows, I can only vouch for my own). BW3 Read more

As I have said repeatedly, no relationship that does not turn a man and a woman into a husband and a wife with the potential to become a father and mother together through the sharing of a one flesh union meets the criteria for being a Christian marriage, and Tom Wright is making the same point in a different way. BW3 Read more

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THE STATE OF DISUNION Unsettled, uncertain, and insecure The dis-ease we feel is certain and sure, We paint a picture of chaos bright red That vividly verifies we’re bleeding… or dead. Ill will breeds illness Sick thinking, sick lives When hatred is hallowed Our culture can’t thrive. Like hunted animals We stagger and fall But the wound’s self-inflicted It damages us all. Rage against racism Rage against rules Rage against sexism And the governing of fools. But anger is no... Read more

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Christological Non-Starters, Part 2: “Angel Christology” by larryhurtado In a previous posting, I discussed the claim that the earliest christological belief was Jesus’ divine adoption, and found it unsupported by the evidence (here). In this posting I consider another “christological non-starter,” the claim that earliest Jesus-followers saw the pre-existent or risen Jesus as an angel. The issue involves some complexity, however, and requires some careful distinctions in concepts. Nevertheless, in short, it seems clear that Jewish speculations about “principal angels”... Read more