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Benedict XVI, Parables, Perspicuity, and Freedom
The Vatican Information Service provided the following partial account of Joseph Ratzinger’s (aka Benedict XVI’s) remarks from 10 July 2011: “Yet this Gospel narrative also highlights the ‘method’ of Jesus’ preaching; in other words, His use of parables”, the Holy Father added. “His disciples ask Him: ‘why do you speak to them in parables?’ Jesus…
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Mountain Cast Into Sea
One of the more challenging sayings of Jesus relates to prayers that a mountain be cast into the sea. The expression of a mountain being cast into the sea is sometimes presented by teachers as though God were saying that if someone prayed in faith, God would toss any old mountain into the sea, much…
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Proverbs 1:17-19
Proverbs 1:17-19Pro 1:17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. Pro 1:18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. Pro 1:19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners…
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As Wise as Sheep
Sheep are not wise. It is no great compliment to be called a sheep. Nevertheless, in Chapter 10 of John’s Gospel, Christ proclaimed the parable of the Shepherd and the sheepfold, in which he compared us to sheep, and Himself to the Shepherd. John 9:35-10:29 35Jesus heard that they had cast him [the man who…
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Parable of the Bag of Donuts
As I was walking through the grocery store, I encountered a man about to buy a big bag of fresh baked donuts. But I noticed in his other hand a book: “Dealing with Diabetes,” and then I noticed he had a medical necklace that had come over his collar, which indicated him as having a…
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Response to a General Challenge on Calvinism
One rather aggressive non-Calvinist (even to the point of being an anti-Calvinist) recently (maybe two years ago, by now) sent a challenge (shown below). The challenge generally focuses on an exegesis of the parable of the sower. This is a classic repost. The challenge and response originally occupied twenty-one posts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5,…