I Might Owe My Students an Apology About Josephus

‘I’ve taught about Josephus’s life and works for more than 20 years—first in secular settings like Macquarie University and the University of Sydney, and now at Wheaton College. But Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the One Called Christ by T. C. Schmidt, associate professor of religious studies at Fairfield University, has forced me to rewrite my lectures—and it might just have changed my mind. It seems that a controversial passage about Jesus’s resurrection might be original after all.’

‘Creatans are always liars’ – really? (video)

John Piper walks us through this one. What did Paul means when he said, ‘this testimony is true’?

Why Were There Such Strict Dietary Laws in the Old Testament? (Leviticus 11)

This is a good answer to a good question.

What does it profit a nation if it gains (a very very tiny part of) the World and loses its soul?

I think this one makes a simple and straightforward point worth hearing.

Can Unbelievers Perform Good Deeds? A Biblical Perspective

‘If Scripture says that no one does good, are the good deeds of unbelievers really good at all? It is a question that surfaces regularly—sometimes in theological debate, sometimes in pastoral conversations, and often quietly in the conscience of many thoughtful Christians. After all, the Bible seems uncompromising. Psalm 53:3 declares “there is none who does good, not even one.” Paul echoes the same words in Romans 3, drawing a universal conclusion about the human condition. So how are we to understand acts of kindness, bravery, generosity, and self-sacrifice performed by those who do not confess Christ? Are they merely illusions of goodness? Or does Scripture allow us to speak more carefully, and more truthfully, than that?’

A Theology of Wine

I must admit, I was drawn in exclusively through the title. But I think it paid off. See what you think.

From the archive: What are the key questions for whether to stay or leave the CofE? A summary

‘Following on from my Evangelicals Now articleon why I believe (as a dissenter) Evangelicals should quit the Church of England, I asked someone who is not confessionally Anglican to write why he thought it legitimate for Evangelicals to stay within the CofE. You can read that here. After that, a former Church of England minister who left the CofE explained why he thinks others should also leave. You can read that here. Then, a serving Anglican minister told us why he thinks remaining is important and why he thinks others should stay.You can read that article here. In response, an academic theologian shared why he believes faithful Anglicans should leave the Church of England.You can read that here.Finally, today, I want to summarise the key points of contention and where any future conversations ought to focus if we are to address the points that are actually being made by either side. In this summary article, I will begin by addressing the arguments that are not being made by either side. We will then turn to the arguments that are being made by either side. I will then draw some conclusions.’