My New Lay-Level Class on the Origins and Authority of the Bible
Note: This post is regularly updated with new handouts and MP3 recordings.
Have you ever had a time in your life when you really (I mean really) doubted the truth of the Bible? Maybe you wondered whether everything you ever believed was a lie. Anyone who’s gone through such an experience, and come out on the other side, knows how much their spiritual health is tied to their trust in Scripture.
In short, understanding the origins and authority of the Bible is a practical issue. It’s a spiritual issue. While I am convinced that most evangelicals believe the truth of the Bible, I think far fewer can articulate why… Continue reading...
Should We Read the Bible Critically or Confessionally? Two New Resources
In the world of biblical scholarship, it has long been clear that there are two very different ways of approaching the biblical text. And these different approaches determine whether scholars find historical (or theological) value in the words of Scripture.
On the one side is the higher-critical approach. Generally speaking, this approach is marked by skepticism towards the claims of the biblical text. The stories contained in the Bible are not taken at face value. While they may contain a “historical core,” they have been embellished and expanded, and perhaps even fabricated. The Bible is a disparate collection of texts that have been cobbled together for various reasons, and not … 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...