Issue
Interpreting Scripture
Vol. 19, No. 4 • Jul/Aug 2010
The Bible has long been considered by Christians to be the inspired revelation of God’s loving plan of redemptive history. It is also thought by many to be a source of moral wisdom for disciples of Jesus to live faithfully. Nevertheless, there have been and probably always will be critics of the Christian faith who […]
All Articles (13)
Navigating Old Waters through the Fog of the New Atheism
The Bible has long been considered by Christians to be the inspired revelation of God’s loving plan of redemptive history. It is also thought by many to be a source of moral wisdom for disciples of Jesus to live faithfully. Nevertheless, there have been and probably always will be critics of the Christian faith who […]
Interpreting Scripture by Scripture
As Paul reminded Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is [therefore] useful for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16)–all Scripture, not just our “life verses.” At the same time, the Westminster Confession properly reminds us that not everything in Scripture is equally plain or equally important. We have to […]
Ten Theses on the Theological Interpretation of Scripture
Introduction: The Ugly Divorce between Theology and Biblical Studies According to David Bebbington’s well-known definition, “biblicism” is one of the four marks of evangelicalism, along with substitutionary atonement, conversion, and activism. For years, one of the chief questions fueling my work has been: What does it mean to be biblical? During this time, I witnessed […]
Bible, Inc.
Scoot over “Big Tobacco,” “Big Pharmacy,” and “Big Oil” and make room for “Big Bible.” While your business may be languishing during the present economic recession–cha-ching!–Bible publishing continues to flourish. A 2003 survey conducted by Zondervan found that the average American household contains 3.9 Bibles, (1) sustaining a juggernaut industry with more than 20 million […]
The Bible and African Christianity
There are now more Anglicans in Nigeria than in England. This is a reflection of the stunning growth of Christianity, not only in Nigeria but in many parts of Africa. On any given Sunday in Zambia, for example, 80 percent will now be in a church of some sort. In 1900, it is estimated, there […]
Why We Don’t Stone Adulterers
The Bible is a mysterious book to many people, not least because of the peculiar (and harsh) laws and punishments one finds in the Old Testament. I can recall a discussion of religion and ethics on Larry King Live a number of years ago, when the evangelical guest was asked why he could be so […]
Ethics and Culture
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Reacting to Viral Dechurching & Exvangelical Stories
“Here’s what I love about Jesus. Jesus actually knows that the church is broken and imperfect and falls short. But the difference between us and Jesus is we see that and we use that as a justification to abandon the church. Jesus sees the church, as broken as she is, and on the way as […]
Nine of the Most Notorious Heretics
The word heresy is closely associated with the idea of schism, breaking off from the church, and theologians have made a distinction between formal and material heresy. Formal heresy is a stubborn denial of vital Christian doctrine—those who have heard the truth and then rejected it. Material heresy is what happens when a person embraces a false doctrine out of ignorance.
Why Poor Stewardship of the Body Can Be an Act of Unfaithfulness
The beautiful thing about this [sixth commandment] requirement is that it highlights that God cares about you. He cares about your body. He knows you’re made of dust. He knows that we need a good night of rest. We don’t have to feel guilty for getting it. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead shows […]
Imputed Righteousness and Self-Made Identity: The Crisis of Justification in Our Church Culture
This presentation analyzes the crisis of justification in today’s church, tracing its biblical foundations, reformational clarity, and modern challenges.
