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Exegesis – Then and Now
One kind reader of this blog recently asked me to discuss the style of exegesis used by the Apostles. I must admit I’m a bit puzzled by the request. The only recorded teachings of the Apostles are found in Scripture itself. Occassionally, in Scripture, the Apostles provide some exegesis of (other) Scripture. Example: Hebrews 4:1-101Let…
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Tomb Controversy Concluded
This research has laid to rest the last remaining thread upon which the tomb hung. The tomb is doomed:http://www.uhl.ac/MariameAndMartha/ The point of the article is to show that the inscription on the ossuary is not “Mariamne”, as asserted in the blasphemous tomb movie, but “Mariame kai Mara” (Mary and Martha). This kills the Tomb story…
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Dialogue with EC on John 14:6 and Ephesians 1:4
ExaminingCalvinism Answered regarding John 14:6 and Ephesians 1:4 An Internet poster by the handle, ExaminingCalvinism wrote: In terms of the giving, consider John 14:6 which teaches that no one comes to the Father, but by Jesus. John 14:6 should be viewed in light of John 14:2, which shows us that John 14:2-6 is speaking about…
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Colosians 1:20-21
A Brief Exegetical Defense of another oft-abused passage: Colossians 1:20-21 One Anti-Calvinist poster recently commented: “God does not appraoch [sic] a man today and say, ‘I’m against you. You are a sinner and I am forced to punish you.’” This poster was right in one regard. God is not “forced” to do anything. Nevertheless, Paul…
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Tomb Blasphemy Addendum
Reviewing some clips from the blasphemous movie, I notice that: the film additionally cites, as support, the apocryphal and heretical “Gospel of Mary [Magdalene].” It is important to recognize that this writing does not identify Mary as Mary Magdalene, and does not associate the Mary in question with Philip, as in the “Acts of Philip.”…
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Hebrews 2:9
From the Eisegetical Violence Shelter An Exegetical Defense of Hebrews 2:9 One of the most popularly abused texts by the Anti-Calvinists is Hebrews 2:9. Let’s begin by reviewing the text in question: Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory…
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Life of John Calvin
One kind reader recently requested that I provide a biography of John Calvin. This is something that I’d rather leave to other people. Here are some links to excellent brief biographies of Calvin. Some interesting contextualization of Calvin here:http://www.lgmarshall.org/Daubigne/daubigne_refhistory12_15.html Here’s a fairly good, quick, biography:http://www.apuritansmind.com/Reformation/McMahonLifeOfCalvin.htm And here is a slightly more lengthy one:http://www.gtc.ac.nz/publications/John%20Calvin.pdf However, the…
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Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans
The same Internet poster, Agomemnon, cited a second passage that is sometimes attributed Ignatius, from a “Letter to the Smyrnaeans.” Agomemnon quoted Ignatius as saying:“Take note of those who hold heterodox opinions on the grace of Jesus Christ which has come to us, and see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God.…
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Ignatius writes to the Romans, Relying on John 6
An Internet poster using the handle “Agomemnon” recently posted a list of apparently cut-n-paste quotations from the Early Church Fathers that Agomemnon alleged supported the Roman Catholic doctrines of transubstantiation and the “real absence.” The first, and thus, presumptively, the strongest earliest support that Agomemnon provided was a quotation dreived from Ignatius’ letter to the…
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We please God because He works it!
We Please God Because He Works It The following was an exchange between two Internet posters (“DuckyGlenn” and “FreeGrace”): DuckGlenn wrote: GRACE, You see that you used the word “reward”- Salvation is not a reward for having faith, it is a gracious gift. If God gives it because of something we do, it is no…