Many theologians describe the dual divine-human authorship of the Bible through the analogy of incarnation. So it goes, the Bible is a theo-anthropic book, it is divine and human, and Christ’s incarnation provides us with an analogy as to how the Bible is simultaneously divine and human.  Gregory of Nyssa used the word anakrasis (mingling or mixing) to describe the relationship between the divine Logos and the words of Scripture, a term also used by the Cappodocian Fathers to describe the... Read more

Over at ABC Religion & Ethics, I have a piece on Franklin Graham is Coming to Australia: Here’s Why I Won’t be Attending. I’m a Billy Graham fan and I support the work of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Organization, but Franklin Graham has tethered himself to Trump in a way that is just not tenable. I’m not a hysterical anti-Trumpian, but I can’t stomach a syncretistic blend of Trumpism and Christianity. I argue, among other things: My opposition to Franklin Graham... Read more

In a recent Guardian article, Christina Rees offers her own diagnosis and prescription for how to revitalize the Church of England. As an Anglican priest and a British expat living down-under, I can relate to the issues that Rees raises because we face many of the exact same issues in Australia. I think Rees also points out a problem with an ecclesial system centred on the local parish. The reality is that the village church or suburban church was a... Read more

The dynamic theory of biblical inspiration sees a concursive operation of divine and human elements involved in the process of writing Scripture. The Spirit of God directed the writer’s thoughts and concepts, while allowing their respective personality, style, and disposition to come into play with the choice of words and expressions. Here inspiration is largely conceptual.[1] Bloesch states: “The writers [of Scripture] are assisted and led by the Spirit of God rather than being pens of the Spirit, who alone... Read more

Over at The Split Frame of Reference podcast, I get interviewed by the amazing husband and wife team of Allison and Nick Quient on Jesus, Coffee, and Gender. Lots of fun, Jesus and women, how my views have been shaped by my own complicated biography and by reading Scripture, and then a long, long psychotic rant on why I loathe, despise, and hate coffee. Do these kids a favour: subscribe to their podcast, write a comment, and give them a rating... Read more

It is common in evangelical theology to argue that the Holy Spirit’s influence extends to the very choice of words used, but falls short of dictation. On this theory, each word used is exactly the one that God intended. Inspiration is not a matter of guidance or assistance, but something given, imparted, conveyed to biblical authors as “sacred penmen,” and extending to the selection of words.[1] As such: “Each writer was guided so that his choice of words was also... Read more

Stephen J. Chester Reading Paul with the Reformers: Reconciling Old and New Perspectives Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2017. Available at Amazon.com This book by Stephen Chester is a terrific effort at showing the relative differences and parity between the Reformers (esp. Luther, Melanchthon, and Calvin) and modern scholarshipship typified by the New Perspective on Paul (NPP) and apocalyptic Paul interpreters. It was a worthy winner of the Christianity Today book of the year award in biblical studies. Chester takes issues... Read more