Tag: Bible

Christian Higher Education: Faith, Teaching, and Learning in the Evangelical Tradition. David S. Dockery and Christopher W. Morgan, eds. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018. 576 pp. $50.00. paper.

Review by Logan Anderson, Ph.D. Student, Theological Studies, Liberty Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, VA.

Dockery and Morgan have edited an excellent foundational work for new or prospective higher education teachers. It is sufficiently broad as to be applicable in any discipline within higher education and specific enough that it gives very pointed help to a Christian educator in the evangelical tradition. Christian Higher Education is a “multiauthored, symphonic, and theologically shaped vision for the distinctive work of Christian higher education” (13). One important thing to note regarding this book is that the editors acknowledge differences of opinion and methodology between the authors. They specifically left many of these differences as they hoped it would give a glimpse into academic and student life from a variety of angles within the evangelical tradition (13). Each author brings a unique perspective to the discussion and the editors sought to preserve that in many instances. Despite the fact the chapters are written by different authors and address different topics, this review will primarily address the major sections of the book rather than individual chapters for the sake of brevity since this book is twenty-seven chapters long.

Continue reading “Christian Higher Education: Faith, Teaching, and Learning in the Evangelical Tradition. David S. Dockery and Christopher W. Morgan, eds. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018. 576 pp. $50.00. paper.”

John Wesley on Christian Perfection

One can learn a lot regarding faith and practice by studying some of the great theologians of the past. This is even, maybe especially, true regarding those that one tends to disagree with. John Wesley’s view of Christian perfection is certainly one such case of this. Most contemporary Christians who engage with it find John Wesley’s view of Christian perfection to be wrong, and perhaps rightly so, but does that mean it is not worth looking into? This paper seeks to discuss Christian perfection according to John Wesley, engage with it theologically, and demonstrate that, though there is a ton of value in it, Wesley’s view is slightly extreme.

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Interpretive Commentary on Zechariah 12-14

Historical Setting and Date

            The historical setting of Zechariah is the reign of King Darius, specifically the eighth month of the second year of his reign. It then moves through to the fourth year of King Darius’s reign which is the last date seen in the book itself. Thus, the first eight chapters of the book can be dated accurately to 520-518 B.C. based on the prophecies found within the chapters.[1] However, chapters nine through fourteen have prophecies that are not dated and there is more ambiguity as to what time frame these prophecies are referencing. Scholars have different views as to when these prophecies should be dated, but they typically date them after the first eight chapters.[2]

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Interpretive Commentary on 2 Chronicles 26-29

Historical Setting and Date

The name “Chronicles” came from St. Jerome in the 4th century A.D.[1] However, the Hebrew name of Chronicles is דברי הימים divre hayamim meaning “words of the days.” Originally, 1 and 2 Chronicles were one book. They were later split into two by the translators of the Septuagint.[2] Thus, it is important to look at both of them together as one book. The author sets the book, for the most part, in the time of the kings, though it starts with a whopping nine chapters of genealogies beginning with Adam and going down through to Saul who is briefly addressed in chapter nine of 1 Chronicles. Though the setting is the kings of Israel, the book was not written during the era of the kings. Instead, it was written to the exiles who had returned from Babylon after the events of Chronicles took place.[3] The likely date of writing is between 400 and 500 B.C.[4]

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The Validity of Ancient and Modern Translations of the Bible

You do not have to look far to see differences in translation between one Bible and another. Why are there differences, and does the fact that there are differences mean that translations aren’t valid? These, and similar questions, are very important questions to have answers for. After all, if our translations aren’t accurate, how can we possibly know the truth? Most people don’t have the time to learn one foreign language much less three.

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What is Truth?

The age-old question: What is Truth? In today’s world, truth is relative to each person. Each person has their own “truth.” The problem that we run into is that truth isn’t truth unless it is true at every point in time, and to everyone. My personal truth, unless it meets those requirements, is only an opinion. Additionally, there is more to truth than just facts. Truth is reality, and facts point to (or should point to) reality, but they are not reality in and of themselves. Facts can be misinterpreted. Facts can also be falsified. It happens all the time. Continue reading “What is Truth?”