I was listening recently to a recording of a public conversation between two Old Testament scholars, Dr. Peter Enns and Dr. Stephen Chapman, held at Duke and advertised as Is the Bible Ever Wrong? It is a fascinating conversation – well worth the time. At one point during the evening Dr. Chapman was reflecting on the difficulty of the Old Testament in the evangelical church and evangelical scholarship and asked if it is too strong to suggest that there is a... Read more
There is no reason here to get involved in all the discussions that linguists and translation theorists get into today. Here are some thoughts we need to consider when we talk about why there are a variety of translations. Again, I recommend: How to Choose A Translation for All Its Worth . (more…) Read more
In our series on the meaning of the word “gospel” we are now looking at how Paul uses this great term in his letters to the Christians in Corinth. Today we look at 1 Corinthians 4:14-17: 14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I... Read more
Larry Hurtado, Professor of New Testament at Edinburgh University in Scotland, will give the 8th Annual Kermit Zarley Lectures at North Park University this Wednesday and Thursday. Both lectures are open to the public and will begin at 3:30pm. The lectures are held at Isaacson Chapel at the Seminary. Hurtado’s life work has been in the origins of early Christian understandings of Jesus. In particular, his Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity is a breath-taking and judicious... Read more
Here’s a letter I’m using with permission and Wednesday I’ll give my reflections. Have you seen this? Have you seen it the other way, too, with a person getting in trouble for being too conservative? Scot, Let me first say that your thoughts and writings has encouraged me as a believer and pastor. I am a pastor of a church plant. We began just over four years ago. I would love your thoughts on something. This election I voted... Read more
I got a request from an e-mailer to blog on translations. This is the first one of such posts. There are a number of good translations available, and there are advocates for each one, and they use a variety of reasons for why they are advocates for one over another. I think there is a quick and generally useful question to ask, and the answer to that question can determine which translation to use. But before that, a good book,... Read more
We are doing a series on the meaning of “gospel” — with a view to defining the term gospel in a way that is faithful to the early Christian faith. Today we begin looking at how the term “gospel” and “gospeling” (or “evangelizing”) are used in Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. Our first text is 1 Corinthians 1:13-17: 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into [fn2] the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful that I... Read more
It appears I will have to open up the offer to my class: whenever the Bears win next, and it may not happen, I will buy donuts for the class. Read more
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Please pray for Westmont College, a school and community suffering from the fires. Read more
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