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Biblical "Contradictions" – Saul, David, and the Javelin
Skeptics love to find inconsistencies among the accounts in the synoptic gospels. If two accounts look similar, but have different details, it is alleged that they are inconsistent and that this is proof that they are contradictory – at least one of them being in error. In this post, I’ll examine a particular situation that…
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Biblical "Contradictions" – Saul-Prophet Parable Origin
Skeptics love to identify similar passages in the synoptic gospels and point out the differences in them. They then try to allege that these differences amount to contradictions. The problem for the skeptics is that these alleged contradictions are often easily harmonized. However, in this case, I want to focus on a specific example of…
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Biblical "Contradictions" – The Three Crownings of Saul
In the gospels, skeptics try to allege that the differences in the accounts are contradictions. The problem for them is that the differences in the accounts are easily (often trivially) resolved. The only reason that one might even think that they are contradictions are that they are presented in different books of the Bible. That’s…
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Men Only Gain Judgment By Opposing God's Will
One of my fellow pseudonymous bloggers, “diglot,” has posted a response to one of my co-blogger’s articles. The response is titled: “Matt. 23:37 and the Calvinism/Arminian Debate,” and addresses Jamin Hubner’s article on the Team Apologian blog, “Matthew 23:37: Misquoted by Arminians (and Calvinists?)“ Diglot’s response to the article is to say, in effect, that…
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Sale on Turretin's Institutes
Reformation Heritage Books has a sale on Turretin’s Institutes (link). I’m not sure how long the sale lasts, but $70 for the set (new) is one of the better deals I’ve seen. If you don’t already own a copy, this might be a good chance to pick one up. To God be the Glory!
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"The God of Calvinism" – Chapter 1
Louis Ruggiero’s book, “The God of Calvinism,” begins with a chapter on the Trinity. The stated purpose is “to establish common ground between Calvinists and non-Calvinists as a solid foundation and common frame of reference for further reasoned discussion.” (p. 3) Much of the chapter is not particularly controversial. Perhaps the only remarkable point to…
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I Can't Do it Perfectly, So I Won't Even Try!
One of the obstacles to becoming free from Rome’s power is a refusal to think critically about Rome’s claims. This refusal to think critically can be dressed up in pious clothes. What it amounts to is the adoption of a sola ecclesia position in which the person hands over their judgment to their church, or…
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Jerome's Hebrew Questions on the Book of Genesis
There is a translation of Jerome’s Hebrew Questions on Genesis done by C.T.R. Hayward and published by Clarendon Press at Oxford. The text of the “Questions” is not very long, and probably not valuable on the whole to most readers. There are not a lot of profound exegetical thoughts, for example. On the other hand,…
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Did Augustine Call Mary the "Mother of God"?
A dear reader notified me that a Roman apologist (or perhaps just a friend in the Roman church) had provided the following to them as allegedly representing Augustine’s views: “Mary was that only one who merited to be called the Mother and Spouse of God”. (Sermon 208) You’ll notice that the person has provided a…
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Ergun Caner in Others' Books
It is interesting to note how Ergun Caner is described in books other than those books that he himself authored. In March 2006, I (John) had the unique privilege of interviewing two of today’s top Islamic-Christian scholars, Dr. Ergun Mehmet Caner, and his brother, Dr. Emir Fethi Caner. Ergun serves as president of Liberty Theological…