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What Is Biblical Literacy?
We complain about it, write about it, claim it’s important or even critical, design programs to create it, but what is it? I don’t mean that none of us know what we mean when we say “biblically literate” or “biblically illiterate,” but do we all mean the same thing? I don’t think we do, and…
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Fences: Mending or Rending
The following is a sermon I presented at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Pensacola on September 11,2005 and originally posted here on September 13, 2005. I’m reposting it because when I went to look for it, I found that the original post had somehow been truncated, and also because there is a one word at a…
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Experiencing the (Baptism of the) Holy Spirit
This is a topic where I tend to make just about everyone uncomfortable. Long time readers may recall a previous discussion of speaking in tongues, and my own experience of it. Those who expect me to be intellectually oriented and rational are uncomfortable with mystical experiences, and many who are comfortable with the mystical experiences…
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Quick Follow-up on Hebrews 2:6-8
I commented earlier on the difficult choices involved in translating an Old Testament reference that does not match the Old Testament passage in your own translation. Here’s an example from the NIV1984. First, Psalm 8:4-6 – what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You…
Through Sacrifice, Not Domination
Author Chris Surber shared some good material in his column for the Suffolk News-Herald today. It’s unfortunate that Chris can’t be at our Hangout this Tuesday. I’m going to be his replacement, and I don’t think I have quite these words: If the King of Kings came into this world to die on a cross…
Change to Election Response Hangout – Playing Substitute
Due to a schedule conflict for Chris Surber, I will be substituting in the discussion on the aftermath of the election. Host will still be Elgin Hushbeck, Jr. and Joel Watts will still be a guest. I’m not sure I have that much to say about the election, but it was a bit late to…
Link: Using SBL NT on Bible Gateway and NA28 on Nestle-Aland.com from Android
I give the fix for using both of these on my tech blog. I like to be able to access them from anywhere.
A Gender Neutral Example – Hebrews 2:6-8
A couple of days ago I discussed gender-neutral language in a post dealing with both inerrancy and Bible translation issues. Today, as I was doing some reading about Hebrews, I encountered a vigorous comment against such language in a passage in Hebrews. The passage in question is Hebrews 2:6-8, and it quotes from Psalm 8:4-6….
CHWRIS or CHARITI in Hebrews 2:9
I chose to do some reading from Hebrews this morning, but instead of using my NA27 or my UBSIV text, I went to Bible Gateway and read from the SBL text. There I encountered (again) the reading chwris rather than chariti. (I checked out NA28 online and I see it still reads chariti. I tend…
Some Thoughts on the Christ of Faith after Reading Hebrews
As most of my readers know, I’ve been working on revising my study guide to Hebrews. At least I keep mentioning it. I’m only about two years overdue on the project. When one deadline or another must be missed I tend to miss mine and work on other people’s stuff. So today I was reading…
Discussion on Grief During the Holidays
Last night Bob LaRochelle hosted a discussion with my wife (and author) Jody Neufeld and author Ron Higdon. This was a Google Hangout on Air and the video is now available. This is unedited with no titles as yet. I think there were many valuable points made in the discussion.
What About the Election?
I’m both unsurprised and unconcerned. Why do I say that when I urged people to vote? I believe in participation. I believe in doing our best with the political system we have available to us. I don’t believe in getting worried about it. In addition, by following good polling data, and avoiding partisan inflation of…
Keeping Up Greek for Exegesis
Dave Black posted today about keeping up Greek and its importance for exegesis. I’ve extracted that post to the JesusParadigm.com site so as to have a specific link. Everything he said could apply to Hebrew as well. I turned to his passage, though I was confident I would be able to read it. I’ve read…
Craig Blomberg, Reviewed by Louis Markos, Commented by Mike Licona
… or On the Meaning of Words, Particularly Inerrancy There’s a post on First Things titled Ehrman Errant. Now criticizing Ehrman is apparently great sport, and Blomberg has replied to some of the types of criticisms Ehrman presents in a book, which Louis Markos reviews. The reason I mention Mike Licona, a colleague of Markos,…
Grief and the Holidays
There are three critical things I’ve learned about grief: 1) It gets worse at certain times. 2) It’s different for everyone. 3) To help, you have to listen and observe, and act on what you learn. I’m not the expert on grief. My wife knows a great deal more. In September we passed the 10th…
Please Vote in the Midterm Elections
This is written to my American readers. Please go out and vote int he midterm elections tomorrow. I say this irrespective of your political views. There are a number of groups who are more likely to vote in presidential elections and then ignore the “less important” midterm and local elections. But that is not the…
Separating Church from State
I believe in the separation from church and state. I’m not talking about the principle derived from the First Amendment to the U. S. Constitution, though I do accept that as well, but rather about a Christian principle. I believe that the more we depend on the power of Caesar to accomplish our goals, the…
Barriers to Hearing the Word
It turns out that I was off the track a bit in saying what we would discuss in Sunday School this morning. I think it’s one of the problems of teaching from a book I wrote. Everything is familiar and I can’t remember precisely what we’ve discussed and haven’t. I should perhaps take better notes,…
Replacing Israel and Using Titles
At church today our pastor (Dr. Wesley Wachob) made a couple of points I’d like to repeat here. They may sound disconnected, but they both derived from the scripture lesson, Matthew 23:1-12. The common theme was “remember” as he tied us as a congregation into the history of the people of God. This was tied into…
Recording: The Community through Time
Continuing on my comments on my Sunday School class discussion, I will be talking about tradition in the sense that it is part of scripture. Simply claiming that something is inspired by God doesn’t not make it authoritative scripture for the church as a whole. I may hear from God something that is just for…
Hearing the Word: Testing the Claim
I’ve had a rather intense week and haven’t done any blogging, so as I use the extra hour I got as we switched to standard time, I’m going to talk about Sunday School. Last week we discussed considerations of hearing. I’m going to include an extract below, with the subheading “Testing the Claim” from that…
Conversation on Social Justice
Tonight I’ll be hosting two Energion authors with strongly opposed viewpoints on the question: Is Social Justice a good thing? The questionf and answer app for Google Hangouts on Air will be enabled, so bring your questions. You can also tweet questions to @energion. Arguing against “social justice” as a useful concept will be Elgin…
Headed to Reimagine Brownsville
I’ll again be giving out books at a table at this important event. You can find out more about Reimagine at their web site. I’ll try to post some pictures through the day, but those who know me, know that taking pictures and remembering to post them is not one of my gifts!
Major on the Clear Stuff
I get disturbed when I see people around me disturbed by the latest Bible mystery, or obscure interpretation of prophecy. These things sell books, and bring in offerings, but I don’t think they produce better followers of Jesus. I don’t have a problem with discussing difficult or controversial passages, but the church has been living…
Link: Elgin Hushbeck on Hebrews
I’m posting this in the middle of the action, but Energion author Elgin Hushbeck, Jr. is blogging (and teaching) through Hebrews verse by verse. He’s in chapter 10, so follow it back to the beginning first if interested.
Unconscious Traditions Fight Change
I’ve said quite a few times that I think that the job description we have for a pastor in most churches is ungodly. It’s also inhuman. The pastor can’t do all of that, so many times they fail. Those who succeed do so through extraordinary talents, gifts, and dependence on the grace of God. But…
My Wife Writes about Suicide
My wife Jody has written a post on suicide which I think is worth passing on.