Coins from Era of Biblical Joseph Found in Egypt
September 29, 2009 at 2:44 pm | Posted in Historical Theology | Leave a Comment
This is actually a really big deal. Not only does it prove the validity of scripture, but it also gives historical and archaeological data that will be extremely valuable for future research.
“Joseph’s name appears twice on this coin, written in hieroglyphs: once the original name, Joseph, and once his Egyptian name, Saba Sabani, which was given to him by Pharaoh when he became treasurer. There is also an image of Joseph, who was part of the Egyptian administration at the time.
You can read about it HERE.
More on Substitution.
September 29, 2009 at 10:33 am | Posted in Penal Substitution | Leave a CommentThe concept of substitution may be said, then, to lie at the heart of both sin and salvation. For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be. Man claims prerogatives that belong to God alone; God accepts penalties that belong to man alone (John Stott, The Cross of Christ, 159).
Theology Terms Tuesday – Knowability
September 29, 2009 at 10:31 am | Posted in Theistic Philosophy, Theological Terms | Leave a CommentTags: absolutes, knowability
The knowability of God is a topic in Christian theology that deals with the degree to which God can be known by mankind. Some religions contend that he cannot be known, sometimes arguing that God is so unique from humanity that it is absurd to think that finite humans can relate or know him in any significant way. Christians, however, contend that although we cannot fully know everything about God, since he has chosen to reveal himself to his creatures in a variety of ways we can know him personally, meaningfully, and significantly, in a limited but ever-increasing way throughout eternity.
Scripture does reveal that God can never fully be known. The Psalmist tells us that “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable,” (Psalm 145:3). Paul adds to this idea, observing that “the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God,” and later notes that, “no one comprehends the things of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). David further emphasizes this when he says that, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it” (Psalm 139:6; cf. 17). This idea is ultimately summed from the very mouth of God,
- For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Although God cannot be known completely, we can know true things about him. For example, we know that God is love (1 John 4:8), God is light (1 John 1:5), God is spirit (John 4:24), and that God is just or righteous (Romans 3:26). These aspects of God have been revealed to us in Scripture. However, more than mere facts can be known about God.
- “Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.’” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
Scripture tells us that we can know more than facts about God – we can actually know him as a personal being! Even more, what this passage tells us is that our source of joy should come from knowing God and not from our riches, wisdom, or might. Another significant passage comes from the Gospel of John, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent,” (John 17:3). John later writes in his epistle, “I write to you, children, because you know the Father,” (1 John 2:13). God can be known, and in knowing God we should take great joy, for by knowing God, we can pray to him, hear him, and commune in his presence.
The Basics of Logic.
September 25, 2009 at 9:54 am | Posted in Logic, Theistic Philosophy | Leave a CommentTags: Logic, Rules of Logic
Some notes from Peter Kreeft’s Socratic Logic (pp. 28-33):
There are three kinds of thoughts, or three acts of the mind:
- Simple apprehension [understanding a simple term--e.g., "man"]
- Judging [relating two concepts by predicating one term of the other--e.g., "man is mortal"]
- Reasoning [relating two or more judgments with a conclusion--e.g., "man is mortal; I'm a man; therefore I'm mortal"]
These three acts of the mind result in three mental products:
- Concepts (the products of conceiving)
- Judgments (the products of judging)
- Arguments (the products of reasoning, or arguing)
Expressed logically these are:
- Terms
- Propositions
- Arguments (most commonly, syllogisms)
These logical entities answer the three most fundamental questions:
- A term answers what something is.
- A proposition answers whether something is.
- An argument answers why it is.
These logical entities also reveal three aspects of reality:
- Terms reveal essences (what something is).
- Propositions reveal existence (whether something is).
- Arguments reveal causes (why something is).
These logical entities can be judged logically good or logically bad:
- Terms are either clear or unclear (=ambiguous).
- Propositions are either true or false.
- Arguments are either valid or invalid.
To make a convincing argument you have to fulfill all three of the following conditions:
- Your terms are clear.
- Your premises are true.
- Your logic is valid.
If you want to critique someone’s argument, you have to show an error in just one of the following:
- They are using a term ambiguously.
- They are using a false premise.
- They are committing a logical fallacy (i.e., the argument is invalid; the conclusion does not follow from the premises).
What is The Trinity Part III
September 24, 2009 at 5:32 am | Posted in Theological Terms, Trinity | Leave a Comment
In Trinitarianism, God is said to be three persons in one essence, nature, or being. These last three terms are often seen as synonymous, but it can be helpful to understand what each means independently. Theological explanations of the Trinity, especially as developed in the early church, included the use of certain Greek terms which are included below for reference.
Essence
The word “essence” may be defined as the intrinsic or indispensable properties that serve to characterize or identify something. Essence describes what it is to be God. The three persons of the Godhead share the same essence, and God’s essence is immaterial. With this understanding, the doctrine of the Trinity continues to assert monotheism, an essential and easily found belief within Scripture.
Nature
The word “nature” may be defined as the essential characteristics and qualities of a person or thing. Sometimes “nature” is synonymous with “essence.” Ontologically, each of the three members of the Trinity possess the same essential nature.
Being
The word “being” may be defined as the state or quality of having existence. The triune God of Scripture eternally exists and has eternal being. Again, along with a monotheistic understanding, there is one and only one being, that is, God.
Person
The word “person” may be defined as the composite of characteristics that make up an individual personality. Scripture presents separate individualities of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as distinguished from the “essence” of the Godhead that unites them.
William Lane Craig MP3′s for FREE.
September 24, 2009 at 5:09 am | Posted in Apologetics, Theistic Philosophy | Leave a CommentPhilosopher William Lane Craig answers some common tough questions in a very clear and concise manner in this series of video Question & Answers. The MP3s are also available for your convenience.
• The Relationship Between Faith and Reason - Video / MP3
• The Best Argument for Belief in God - Video / MP3
• Can We Be Good Without God? - Video / MP3
• Is God a Logical Necessity - Video / MP3
• Can We Trust the Bible Written 2000 Years Ago - Video / MP3
• Why Is Richard Dawkins So Popular? - Video / MP3
• Who Designed the Designer? A Response to Dawkins - Video / MP3
• The Flying Spaghetti Monster & Evidence for God - Video / MP3
• Can We Trust Religious Experiences? - Video / MP3
• Can There Be Meaning Without God? - Video / MP3
• How Can Christianity Be the Only One True Religion? - Video / MP3
An Argument from the Existence of Necessary Truths.
September 24, 2009 at 5:06 am | Posted in Apologetics, Theistic Philosophy | Leave a Comment
This continues the series of weekly posts dealing with some basic theistic arguments. The purpose here is to introduce the reader to the idea behind each argument. Strengths and weaknesses will be presented after each summary. These are only summaries and springboards for further study in the theistic arguments. See Reason for the Hope Within for more.
An Argument from the Existence of Necessary Truths
Humans are capable of apprehending necessary truths, propositions like “2+2=4″ and “No proposition can be both true and false at the same time.” These truths would be true, however, even if no human existed, indeed, even if no physical thing existed at all. But no proposition could exist without a mind to entertain it, so there must be a mind (God) that necessarily exists.
Greatest Strength: The truths of logic and mathematics seem to be true in a way that is independent of both what humans think and even practical facts about the makeup of the universe.
Greatest Weakness: Confidence in the existence of mind-independent objective truth (let alone necessary truth) is currently declining.1
1 William C. Davis, Reason for the Hope Within (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdman’s Publishing Co., 1999), p. 33.
Metaphysics: Constructing a World View – Review.
September 24, 2009 at 5:04 am | Posted in Apologetics, Books | Leave a Comment
Metaphysics: Constructing a World View by William Hasker is a relatively short book (124 pages), but contains a great deal of information. Surprisingly enough, although the topic of metaphysics may sound daunting, the subject matter is presented very simply. The reader will come away with a good overview of metaphysics and the common metaphysical issues.
Basically, metaphysics asks the questions of What is there? What is real? What is ultimate? What is man’s place in what is real? It is, essentially, how one views the world, reality, and man’s place in the world. The subtitle is appropriate, as an exploration of metaphysical questions really does begin to construct one’s worldview.
Hasker divides the book into five sections: 1) an introduction to metaphysics, 2) Freedom and necessity, 3) Minds and bodies, 4) The world, and 5) God and the world. The introduction lays the foundation for the rest of the book by unpacking the philosophical questions that metaphysics asks. The author shows how metaphysical theories are judged – on the basis of their factual adequacy, logical consistency and explanatory power. He also addresses some preliminary epistemological questions up front.
Section two on freedom and necessity explores the issues of human free will, determinism, and the role God plays in these theories. Arguments and objections on each side are presented. This is a good introduction to these issues for the philosophy student and the layman. Section three on minds and bodies explores the mystery of the interaction between mind and body. Is man more than his body? Is there a soul? What is the mind of man? Dualism, materialism, and emergentism are described, with additional treatment of the subject of immortality and resurrection.
The last two sections deal with the world and God’s relationship with the world, respectively. The views of realism and idealism are compared. In addition, scientific realism is explored and its consequences examined. A few pages are devoted to the origin of the world. Hasker then deals with God and metaphysics and surveys the competing worldviews of naturalism (the world without God), pantheism (God as identical with the world), panentheism (God as including the world), and theism (God as creator of the world). These are short summaries that give the reasons behind adopting each view, along with some criticisms. Hasker’s epilog concludesMetaphysics by presenting a “Christian metaphysic,” in which he asks whether or not there is a specifically Christian way of doing metaphysics and suggests his own modest answers.
To conclude, Metaphysics: Constructing a World View is a very readable and helpful book that is perhaps most beneficial as part of the larger “Contours of Christian Philosophy” book series, which includes treatments of philosophy of religion, epistemology, ethics, and philosophy of science. For those studying worldviews, this is a great additional tool.
Was Adam Real?
September 24, 2009 at 5:03 am | Posted in Historical Theology | Leave a Comment
A short video by OT professor Tremper Longman III is causing quite a stir on the blogosphere (and rightly so) for his uncertainty as to whether Adam was a real historical figure or not. You can watch the video below, and after you watch it, head over to Dr. James Anderson’s (professor at RTS-Charlotte) blog where he gives 12 reasons why we must embrace Adam as a historical individual
All I have to say is yikes.
A Sample of The Gospel Driven Life.
September 24, 2009 at 5:01 am | Posted in Books, Gospel | Leave a Comment
Two Random Facts for Thursday. 1st Website ever & NBA Logo.
September 24, 2009 at 4:59 am | Posted in random | Leave a CommentIt’s RIGHT HERE. You can read the history on it.
Jerry West is the silhouetted player in the NBA logo.
Enjoy.
My Only Post For This Week – Baby Brianna. Watch.
September 15, 2009 at 2:57 pm | Posted in Depravity | 3 CommentsTags: Baby Brianna, Brianna's Story, Child Abuse
James 1:17 tells us that pure and undefiled religion is to take care of widows and orphans. The implications of this may not just be the literal orphans, those left abandoned by their parents, but those who had mothers who weren’t mothers, fathers who weren’t fathers. Child abuse is more common than you think. Here are some stats from the National Child Abuse Website:
-Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4.
-It is estimated that between 60-85% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates.
-A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds.
-Ninety percent of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members.
Watch this from a local Abq. News station: PLEASE NOTE, it’s graphic.
What can you do? Well, you can CLICK HERE. And be the church, be involved in your community, be involved in the lives of those around you. Share the gospel and love on those around you.
Fab Friday From CBD – A LOT of Good Stuff This Week.
September 10, 2009 at 11:26 pm | Posted in Books, Theology | Leave a Comment
Christian Apologetics Past and Present: A Primary Source Reader
September 10, 2009 at 2:33 am | Posted in Apologetics, Books, Reading | Leave a Comment
Here’s a new book out that looks great: Christian Apologetics Past and Present: A Primary Source Reader, edited by William Edgar and Scott Oliphint (Crossway, 2009).
This, the first of two volumes, goes up to 1500 and is in two parts: (1) The Early Church: The Struggle for Vindication; (2) The Middle Ages: The Church Becomes Established.
At WTS Books you can get some sample pages, which contain the table of contents and the introduction.
It’s a 500-page hardcover. Each major historical section contains a preface, a time, and a map, then an introduction to each apologist and their primary material. Each source text is then followed by questions for reflection/discussion. I’m not aware of anything quite like this on apologetics.
Here are the blurbs:
“The texts here assembled are ‘classics’–not in the sense that they answer all legitimate questions about Christianity, but that, when they were written, they made their readers think hard about the faith, and that they continue to do so today. This is a most worthy collection.”
- Mark A. Noll, Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame“For years I have wanted a book of primary sources in apologetics to use in my classes. Now we have an excellent one in this volume. Editors Edgar and Oliphint have made good choices in the selections used. A number of them are fascinating pieces rarely considered today, but timely, such as Raymond Lull’s critique of Islam.”
- John Frame, Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando“In an age of historical amnesia such as ours is, nothing could be more helpful than to know how the church, in its long march through time, has addressed the opponents of Christian faith. This collection is superbly done and will bring much needed wisdom to our own times.”
- David F. Wells, Distinguished Research Professor, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary“Understanding apologetics as explicating, affirming, and vindicating Christianity in the face of uncertainty and skepticism, Edgar and Oliphint have skillfully selected the best pre-Reformation sources to introduce us to this ongoing task. Their volume, the first of two, fills a gap in scholarly resources and highlights the strength, wisdom, and solidity of defenders of the faith in earlier times.”
- J. I. Packer, Board of Governors Professor of Theology, Regent College“This reader on the classical traditions of Christian apologetics is, to my knowledge, unmatched in basic compendia. It will equip and encourage thoughtful Christians to develop equally compelling defenses of the faith in our post-Enlightenment, post- Romantic, post-Postmodern era where global interdependencies plunge many into new varieties of suspicion, contempt, and hostility that demand reasonable and faith-filled encounter, dialogue, and debate.”
- Max L. Stackhouse, De Vries Professor of Theology and Public Life Emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary“Bill Edgar, one of evangelicalism’s most valued scholars and apologists, has given us in this work with Scott Oliphint a classic destined to be used for generations. I highly recommend it to all who are called to defend the faith.”
- Chuck Colson, Founder, Prison Fellowship
Draw a Map.
September 10, 2009 at 2:22 am | Posted in YouTube, random | Leave a Comment
You can try, but will probably never be as good as this guy.
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