Category Archives: Challenging conventional doctrine

Re-examining the Trinity – Jesus

9 Comments

As longtime readers of this blog already know, a number of the issues I have addressed here come from my collisions with classic Evangelical statements of faith.  One common element of such statements is a clause on the Trinity.  Here’s a good example, cribbed from the website of a well-known Evangelical organization: We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, … Continue reading Re-examining the Trinity – Jesus »

Of God and Time

4 Comments

I will preface this post by saying that from a point of discipleship, what I’m about to say is meaningless.  It’s also a place where I have no problem if people disagree with me, as long as they are actually considering the foundation of their disagreement.  However, it’s a point I’ve encountered in the middle of a variety of discussions on predestination, free will, and … Continue reading Of God and Time »

2 Timothy 3:16-17 — Even Further Thoughts

5 Comments

OK, so we’ve established that I was wrong in placing 2 Tim. 3:14-17 in a single sentence. But no translation I have EVER read portrays verses 16 and 17 as anything other than a single sentence, and this is important. Let’s look: 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that … Continue reading 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — Even Further Thoughts »

Important article on Biblical Inspiration

4 Comments

I just came across an amazing article on Biblical inspiration that goes into much greater detail, and with much more scholarly foundation, than my series has so far. I haven’t had time to read the whole thing yet, but I will. I’ll probably highlight bits of it in future posts. The article is “Inerrancy, Inspiration, and Dictation” by Joel Stephen Williams, and it was published … Continue reading Important article on Biblical Inspiration »

2 Tim. 3:16 — Redux, Correction, and Further Thoughts

9 Comments

Those who have read my series on Biblical inspiration know that I took issue with the use of 2 Tim. 3:16 as a prooftext for the inerrancy of the entire Biblical canon. I stand by my objection, but I have to do a correction nonetheless. One of my suggestions in my prior post, was that perhaps 1 Tim 3:14-17 should be read as a single … Continue reading 2 Tim. 3:16 — Redux, Correction, and Further Thoughts »

Lessons in the gospel from Nairobi

Comment

I just came across two articles today that anyone who really cares about poverty, justice, and the gospel must read: http://www.humanitarianchronicle.com/2009/07/nairobi-my-introduction/http://www.humanitarianchronicle.com/2009/07/kibera-and-the-reality-of-the-gospel/ I love Nairobi. I used to go there a lot when I worked in Tanzania in the mid-80s. It seemed a somewhat safer place then, though even back then I suspected it was a bit of an illusion–there was such a disparity between wealth … Continue reading Lessons in the gospel from Nairobi »

Evangelism – what does it mean to share the gospel?

1 Comment

I’m going to write about this in more detail some day, but I just came across a post that addresses my concerns very well. In fact, Dave has highlighted one of my biggest issues with the usual methods of “presenting the gospel,” by going back to Acts and looking at what the apostles actually talked about when THEY presented the gospel. Not too surprisingly (to … Continue reading Evangelism – what does it mean to share the gospel? »

The fallout of credalism . . . a personal reflection

5 Comments

We’ve been having a lively debate on the authority of the ancient creeds and the church fathers who wrote them, on several blogs lately. Mason, Martin, Kurt, and I have been trading comments across all four, and we’ve all shown up on a few others as well. Though in general I prefer to keep the subject matter here away from excessive navel-gazing, I think a … Continue reading The fallout of credalism . . . a personal reflection »