Some have described Christ as a sort of “fruitful eunuch.” Others have pointed out that he in fact has a bride. While these would be mutually exclusive in a literal sense, does the Bible require us to choose between them when taken as metaphors?
Category: NT
Why are there so many ‘Binitarian’ Formulations in the New Testament?
Why are so many references to God in the NT binitarian (Father and Son) rather than trinitarian (Father, Son and Spirit)? I’m thinking of Paul’s greetings, Stephen’s vision, Jesus’ speeches about unity with the Father, etc. Admittedly the Spirit grows more prominent after Pentecost, but I’ve wondered about this a lot. I’ve seen anti-trinitarians use this argument, but though I can explain it away, I’m not sure I can positively account for it. Thoughts?
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Should the Lord’s Supper Have a Sombre Tone?
I am wondering about your take on whether the Lord’s supper should be a somber event of introspection or a joyous meal of celebration. My understanding is that throughout church history it has been observed more as a somber event, but through the works of people like Leithart and Jordan I have come to see it as mainly a celebration of God’s kindness and favor.
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Is The Widow With The Two Mites A Positive Example Of Sacrificial Giving?
The story of the widow and her two mites (Luke 21:1-4) is often used to commend sacrificial giving. However, the immediate context contains Jesus condemning the Scribes for “devouring widows’ houses” and promising to destroy the temple. Is the story primarily about sacrificial giving? Or, is this story about a corrupt religious system that was devouring widows rather than caring and providing for them? The Macedonians in 2 Corinthians 8 gave out of their poverty, but it was in response to the gospel and doesn’t seem to have been their pennies.
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How Can Peter Describe False Teachers as Having Been ‘Bought’ By Christ?
Why does Peter say that the Lord “bought” false teachers in 2 Peter 2:1? How can Christ be said to have “purchased” or “bought” those who are unsaved?
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Does New Creation Undermine Natural Law?
What implications does the promise of new creation have for Christian ethics? Specifically does new creation undermine natural law ethics since we are now to orientate our lives, not towards what is revealed in nature, but towards the new creation established by God in Christ. What implications does this have for issues in which Christians often appeal to natural law arguments – marriage, sexuality, gender issues etc…?
Are We Living in the Last Days?
How should we understand the description of bad behavior in the “Last Days” in 2 Timothy 3? For one, isn’t the list of sinfulness characteristic of a great many ages and time periods? And in fact, its frequently used as a contemporary warning by preachers: “look at how much things are like this now. Truly these are the Last Days!” Can we find hope in this text?
How Should We Understand the People Who Fall Away in Hebrews 6?
How do we properly understand what Hebrews 6 refers to as those who “fall away” and the impossibility of their redemption?
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Why Doesn’t Paul Say More About Evangelism?
Given that Paul is the most prominent evangelist / church planter in the Bible, why are exhortations to evangelize seemingly so rare in his work? In many parts of the evangelical church we seem to foreground the need for evangelism and background discussion of ethics, should we reverse this?
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Why Does Figural Preaching Matter?
I would like to ask a two-part question: (a) could you give a defense from the Scripture for figural preaching and typological reading; (b) how would you respond to the criticism of typological exegesis as a way seeking hidden meanings and connection that probably no one else has noticed, thus focused a lot on novelty?
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