It’s Here! My New @Ligonier DVD Series on the Origins of the NT Canon
One of the most common questions I am asked is whether I have introductory, lay-level material on the origins of the NT canon that people can use in their churches. For small group Bible studies or Sunday School classes, most people simply won’t read Canon Revisited or any of my other books.
So, I am pleased to say that Ligonier is about to release a new DVD series where I give six introductory lectures on the origins and authority of the NT canon. My hope is that this will meet a need for churches looking to do something on canon but not knowing where to turn.
You can order the … Continue reading...
Can We Believe God’s Word is True Because our Parents Told Us?
How do you know the Bible is the Word of God?
Virtually every Christian has heard that question at one time or another. And when we do, our hearts beat faster and we feel a flutter in our stomachs. We want to offer an insightful, sophisticated, and compelling answer. Just something that will keep us from looking foolish.
So, we search our brains for that apologetics talk we heard years ago and the numerous historical data points that were mentioned. But, since we don’t remember the details, we mumble something about the Bible having good “historical evidence” for its truth (hoping no one asks for the details).
But, lurking in … Continue reading...
@RTSCharlotte Vision Banquet with @SandraMcCracken
Last night, RTS Charlotte put on its bi-annual vision banquet at the Carmel Country Club here in Charlotte. It was a beautiful venue overlooking a fantastic golf course.
Our musical guest was Sandra McCracken, one of the most gifted Christian artists today. Blending an amazing voice with acoustic guitar and piano, Sandra played a number of her well-known songs, including We Will Feast in the House of Zion. She was such a delight to listen to.
The opening prayer for the evening was offered by Will Huss, newly appointed national Coordinator for Reformed University Fellowship (RUF). RTS Charlotte has had a long and fruitful relationship with RUF, … Continue reading...
What about the ‘Lost’ Books of the Bible?
In modern studies of the NT canon, there is a lot of discussion (maybe even obsession!) with so-called ‘lost’ books of the Bible. So, we have recent book titles like Lost Scriptures, Forgotten Scriptures, and The Lost Bible.
In fact, scholar Philip Jenkins even wrote a whole book documenting (and critiquing) the academic community’s fascination with this theme: Hidden Gospels: How the Search for Jesus Lost Its Way.
So what do we with these other books of the New Testament? A few quick thoughts.
First, most of these books weren’t really ‘lost.’ The early church fathers were very much aware of these other books. Indeed, they … Continue reading...
Did the Church Create the Bible?
The perennial question in the debate over sola Scriptura is whether the church is over the Bible or the Bible is over the church.
The latter position is (generally speaking) a Protestant one—the Scriptures, and the Scriptures alone, are the only infallible rule and therefore the supreme authority over the church.
The former position (generally speaking) is a Roman Catholic one—the church decided the canon and also, through the pope, decides how these books are to be interpreted. In this way, the authority of the Bible rests on the (prior and more foundational) authority of the church.
Of course, Catholics would not word it quite this way. The Roman church … Continue reading...