Monthly Archives: April 2016

Behold Your Gods, O Israel — The Golden Calves of Aaron and Jeroboam

Originally posted on Is That in the Bible?:
No scene in the Old Testament characterizes the Israelites’ frequent apostasy more vividly than the Golden Calf incident in Exodus. Like so many other biblical stories, however, this tale reveals a complicated…

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Book Write-Up: Evolution and Holiness

Matthew Nelson Hill.  Evolution and Holiness: Sociobiology, Altruism and the Quest for Wesleyan Perfection.  Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2016.  See here to buy the book. Matthew Nelson Hill is an elder in the Free Methodist Church, and he teaches philosophy … Continue reading

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Two More Ideas on the Identity of Zechariah in Matthew 23:35

In Matthew 23:35, Jesus is lambasting the scribes and Pharisees, and he says: “That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, … Continue reading

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Forget Me Not (Twitter And The Fear of Death)

Originally posted on Reformedish:
Have you ever been worried you’ll be forgotten by a friend? Say they go on a long trip, or you move, and that nagging fear comes along: if I’m out of sight, will I be out…

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Adams-critical realism and my Mormon missionary problem

Originally posted on theoutwardquest:
Samuel V. Adams in The Reality of God and Historical Method: Apocalyptic Theology in Conversation with N. T. Wright says that Wright’s method is based on the philosophical position called critical realism. Now I have seen…

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Book Write-Up: Ancient Israelite Literature in Its Cultural Context

John H. Walton.  Ancient Israelite Literature in Its Cultural Context: A Survey of Parallels Between Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Texts.  Grand Rapids: Regency Reference Library (Zondervan Publishing House), 1989.  See here to buy the book. In Ancient Israelite Literature … Continue reading

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Book Write-Up: In the Field of Grace, by Tessa Afshar

Tessa Afshar.  In the Field of Grace.  Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2014.  See here to buy the book. In the Field of Grace is a novel that is based on the biblical Book of Ruth.  Here are some of my thoughts … Continue reading

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The various perspectives on Paul

Originally posted on theoutwardquest:
Several weeks ago I received a copy of The Reality of God and Historical Method by Samuel V. Adams courtesy of fellow blogger James Bradford Pate.  James blogs at James’ Ramblings. The book is a critique…

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Visiting a Southern Baptist Church

I visited another church this morning.  I was awake at 8:30 a.m., and I figured I might as well visit the 9:15 a.m. service of a nearby church, which is Southern Baptist.  I just wanted to do something new this … Continue reading

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Book Write-Up: 40 Questions About the Historical Jesus

C. Marvin Pate.  40 Questions About the Historical Jesus.  Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2015.  See here to buy the book. Evangelical scholar C. Marvin Pate is the author of 40 Questions About the Historical Jesus.  In this book, Pate addresses … Continue reading

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