Freedom From What?
It’s a great day to think about freedom. In Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, the concept of freedom is emphasized (free and freedom are mentioned seven times). In 5:1, Paul explains, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not...
Do We Value God’s Communication?
God has communicated to us in three ways. First, in creation itself – in nature: David describes the function of the heavens, for example, as declaring His glory (Ps 19:1-6). Paul adds that, “since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power...
The Book of Revelation is Not Apocalyptic Literature
It may seem odd to suggest that the book entitled Apocalupsis does not belong to the genre of literature commonly referred to as apocalyptic, nonetheless that is my suggestion here. The term employed in the title of the book denotes a revelation or disclosure.[1]...
“The most effective leadership, management, and efficiency models share traits common with each other, and traits that are ultimately traceable to the pages of the Bible. While these models are often not intentionally rooted in Biblical concepts by those that promote the models, the models illustrate how applying Biblical principles can set a trajectory of success in enterprise and in life. Led By a Lion is designed to introduce some of these leadership, management, and efficiency models, but goes a step further in identifying the Biblical genesis of many of the core traits that fuel the success of these models.”
A Biblical Perspective on the Use of Music: Knowing and Feeling in the Psalms
The Psalms are a helpful Biblical pattern for contemporary worship in song. Colossians 3:16 instructs us to instruct and admonish one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in our hearts to God. And there is no better example in...
Considering Some Biblical Goals for Teaching
"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,...
Isaiah Overview
A downloadable synthetic overview of the Book of Isaiah.
“This approach has the advantage of seeking to view all knowledge through the lens of Scripture, and to subject all knowledge to the authority of Scripture. It encourages science and research within the field of psychology. It offers a Biblical balance of description and prescription. Of course, if the Bible is unreliable, then the refractive power of Scripture is distortive rather than corrective, but the epistemological premise of this approach is that God’s word is authoritative and sufficient for our understanding, for our equipping, and for our practice. There are many extra-biblical resources that we can employ, but in seeking out how and when to do that, we mustn’t lose sight of the one reliable constant that God has provided for us – the Bible.” –Chapter 9
A Biblical Perspective on the Use of Music
What makes music good? Or bad? Is there indeed such a thing as good or bad music? Are there certain styles of music that are off limits for Christians? How about for use in the church? These questions underscore the odd reality that music – and especially music in the...
A Necessary Ingredient of Biblical Literacy
Knowing God’s word is a central responsibility and privilege for Christians. It is by His word that we get to know Him, and it is His word that equips us (2 Tim 3:16-17; Eph 4:12). His word protects us (Eph 6;11-17), guides us (Ps 119:11, 105), sustains us (Mt 4:4),...
Two Deficiencies of Reformed Epistemology: A Brief Commendation and Critique of Cornelius Van Til’s Epistemology
Here is why I argue that reformed epistemology isn't sufficient on its own, and that dispensational epistemology must be distinct from it: Cornelius Van Til is brilliant on what I would call the first three pillars of Biblical epistemology (#1: Biblical God exists,...
“The Green Tree is an exceptional work…provides a vital tool for every Bible interpreter…Just as the root system is the foundation of a tree and directly impacts the health of a tree, hermeneutic method is at the root of one’s worldview. This illustration demonstrates that the hermeneutic method that an interpreter of the Bible employs will significantly affect the outcome. The tree will either be healthy, or it will not be healthy…The authors provide a unique examination of Revelation, Genesis, and Job that demonstrates that the LGH hermeneutic is derived from within Scripture, something that other hermeneutical methods fail to demonstrate. This is perhaps the most crucial principle demonstrated in The Green Tree, and it effectively demonstrates that the LGH hermeneutic is also the Biblical hermeneutic.” – Andrew Friend (Amazon Review)
Which Comes First, Metaphysics or Epistemology?
Epistemology is the study of knowledge and seeks to answer the question of how we can have knowledge and certainty. Metaphysics is the study of reality and responds to questions regarding whether there is anything beyond the physical or natural. While I have often...
Is the Messiah Given to the Gentiles as a Covenant?
Question: In Isaiah 42:6, doesn’t the phrase “I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations” (NASB) indicate that the Messiah was given to the Gentiles as a covenant, and thus the New Covenant is also extended to the Gentiles and the church...
Why I Am Not a Calvinist…Or an Arminian, Part 2
The Remonstrance of 1610, by followers of Jacobus Arminius, counters five points of doctrine that were understood to be Calvinistic teachings. The Remonstrance first denies the five Calvinistic tenets, and then positively asserts five articles of doctrine that present...
Why I Am Not a Calvinist…Or an Arminian, Part 1
I am often asked whether I am a Calvinist or an Arminian. Honestly, it is not a simple question because these are not simply defined theological categories that can be chosen as one would choose from a menu at a restaurant. I certainly understand the importance of the...
Epistemological Foundations for a Biblical Theology
or, Bob’s Crazy Day With The Dandelions Presented to the Chafer Theological Seminary Conference, March 12, 2014. (video link) Epistemology is the study of knowledge. It attempts to answer questions regarding the origin of human knowledge, and considers especially how...
Stepping Down As Tyndale’s President: Time To Pass The Baton
The following is the letter I presented to the Tyndale family on March 2nd, announcing my decision to step down as Tyndale's president. --- March 2, 2014 Dear Tyndale Family, Within the past year, my family and I have thoughtfully and prayerfully arrived at a very...
Why I Concurrently Oppose and Support Same-Sex Marriage
Why I Oppose Same-Sex Marriage For those seeking to operate from a Biblical perspective, we must understand that there are at least three relevant (to this discussion) ethical contexts in the Bible, and that the Bible keeps those contexts completely distinct. There...
Q & A On Cessationism: Does Paul use Hyperbole in 1 Corinthians 13:1, Or Not?
As I was writing this article, in another room Lovely Bride quizzed Youngest Daughter on her spelling words (including the word “duck”). Meanwhile Oldest Daughter studied at her desk and was just about to get up from her desk and walk to the room where the following...
Three Invaluable Time Management Principles
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey (2012), the average working person between the ages of 25-54 spends 2.5 hours per workday in leisure and sports (is Facebook a sport?). That’s 12.5 hours per week, about 50 hours per month, and...
Q and A on Cessationism: Definition of Tongues and Paul’s Usage of φωνή
Question: In previous articles you referenced the definition of tongues in Acts 2, but what about 1 Corinthians 14? And why does Paul use the word φωνή rather than γλῶσσα ? Answer: In employing the literal grammatical-historical hermeneutic we acknowledge the progress...