Will Ross Joins the Faculty of @RTSCharlotte as Assistant Professor of Old Testament
I am asked all the time about which faculty positions are hardest to fill. Although the answer is debatable, I think that finding solid Old Testament professors is a significant challenge.
There are a variety of reasons for this. One is that there are just fewer of them. In the Reformed world especially, we have many more folks in systematics, historical theology, and church history. But fewer in biblical studies (especially OT).
Beyond sheer numbers, there may be an even bigger reason that solid OT guys are rare. Arguably, the OT is filled with proportionally more historical and theological challenges. Such challenges include the days of Genesis, the question of … Continue reading...
“Let Them Not Share in the Affairs of Life”: How Ancient Christians Were Viewed as Dangerous to Society
Celsus “just can’t stand Christians.”
So, writes James O’Donnell (Pagans, 101) as he describes the vicious opposition to Christians in the earliest centuries, particularly from the second-century critic Celsus.
A few weeks ago, I began a short, three-part blog series about what people in the ancient world thought of Christians. In the prior post, we explored how Celsus viewed Christians as ignorant, uneducated simpletons.
In other words, one of the main problems with Christians was intellectual in nature.
But Celsus is by no means finished. In this post, we will see that he thinks that Christians also have a behavioral problem. Their actions are rude, anti-social, and … Continue reading...
Is It a Waste of Time for Seminary Students (and Pastors) to Learn the Biblical Languages?
It’s that time of year again.
A few weeks ago, a new crop of seminary students began the grueling month-long experience of Summer Greek. And, like all seminary students before them, they will begin to ask the question of why studying these ancient languages even matters. After all, a few years after graduation all will be forgotten. In the midst of a busy pastoral life, who could possibly maintain proficiency in the languages?
As a result of these questions, some students decide (very early on) that the biblical languages are just something to be endured. They are like a hazing ritual at a college fraternity. No one likes it, but … Continue reading...
Is the Truth of the Bible Essential to the Christian Message? Engaging (Again) with Andy Stanley
There’s been a good bit of buzz lately about Andy Stanley’s recent interview with Jonathan Merritt. Stanley had already created a stir back in April when he said that Christians should “unhitch” themselves from the Old Testament, and this interview seems to be heading down the same tracks.
Needless to say, this recent interview has continued to fuel concerns about Stanley’s view of the Old Testament. Over the weekend, Al Mohler offered a response where he points out that the early church did not cut off the Old Testament, as can be seen in the disputes with the second-century heretic, Marcion.
But, I think the problem may be … Continue reading...
Why I Don’t Prefer the Phrase “Criteria of Canonicity”
If a person asks how we know which books belong in the NT canon (and which do not), they will often hear that the answer lies with the “criteria of canonicity.”
All we have to do, we are told, is simply look for books that meet these “criteria” and then we can know which books are in or out. What are these criteria? Typically things like apostolicity, orthodoxy, usage, age, etc.
Now, let me say there are a number of helpful things here. In particular, I agree that apostolicity is a key aspect of canon. However, I don’t prefer the concept of “criteria of canonicity” for a number of reasons:… Continue reading...