Written language can be difficult to understand. Take a look at the title of this article. I would imagine a few of you know exactly what those words mean. If not, forgive me if I leave you in suspense for a bit. Have you ever stumbled upon someone with a different interpretation of a Bible… Read More »
The Importance Of A Word (Part II)
Last week we introduced you to the idea of “textual criticism.” The phrase refers to the scientific reconstruction of works of literature primarily from the ancient world. None of the original writings of Homer, Tacitus, or Plato exist. In fact, the earliest, known copy of Plato’s Dialogues is 1,200-years removed from time of its writing. … Read More »
The Importance Of A Word (Part I)
On December 7th, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The event inspired President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to call it, “a date which will live in infamy!” What if he had chosen, “badness,” “perpetuity,” or simply “history.” His speech would not be regarded as one of the most important presidential addresses ever given. The phrase elicits… Read More »
CENI: Communication or Interpretation
Every six months or so, it seems there is an attack on “CENI.” Opponents decry this “intellectual relic from an earlier time.” We are told we need a “new hermeneutic” or a “Jesus-centered approach” to face the issues of the 21st century. Just this month, the Christian magazine Pressing On published a special edition entitled,… Read More »
Does My Seven-Year-Old Need Baptism?
“before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.”-Isaiah 7:12 The importance of this question is matched only by my inability to give it a satisfactory answer. At age seven, I would confidently say, “No.” At eight or nine, most young… Read More »
It Either Is, Or It Ain’t!
From the beginning, Satan has grounded his attack on human souls in an attempt to shake our faith in what God has said. The first recorded words of our accuser were, “Did God actually say?”-Genesis 3:1. What the devil knows is, if he can destroy our trust in God’s revealed will, we have nowhere to… Read More »
Can I Read And Understand The Bible?
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”-John 8:31-32 Tonight’s lesson centers around a proper understanding of the word of God. We will examine two case studies involving serious errors in logic and interpretation of the Bible. If tonight’s… Read More »
Evangelism In The Morning; Doctrine At Night
This is the first Lord’s day of February. Welcome to a double-header of preaching series. For several years, I felt compelled, at the beginning of the year, to focus a lesson series on the specific needs of the body of Christ at North Second Street. Over the past two years our focus has been on… Read More »
Bible Study With A Purpose
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”-Hosea 4:6 We have all been in “that kind” of Bible class. No one has a book. There… Read More »
The LORD My God
Occasionally I make comments about the use of LORD, Lord, and God in the Old Testament. Allow me a moment to clarify. Bible translators make choices when bringing Hebrew (in this case) and Greek words into our English Bibles. This is of special note when discussing the word YHWH, the personal name of the God… Read More »