1 Timothy 2:8-15 has a been a battleground in the recent history of interpretation as scholars have been offering varying interpretations of a passage that at first blush cuts against modern egalitarian sensibilities. Verse 12 has proven to be particularly problematic for modern interpreters who support the ordination of women as pastors. A literal translation of verse 1 Timothy 2:12 reads: “I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over/domineer a man.†At the heart of the exegetical dispute is the problem of translating the phrase “to teach or to exercise authority over.†Dr. Ben Witherington, who will soon be adding to his impressive list of…
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Unspeakable Abortion Tragedy
I read an unspeakably tragic story today in the BBC News (click here to read it). It’s about a 16 year old girl who tried to abort her twins early in her pregnancy. Later in the pregnancy, she found out that one of them survived the procedure. Now, the surviving twin is four years old, and the mother is suing the hospital because “she suffers an impediment in her ability to obtain employment in consequence of her care for the child.†Consider these lines from the mother and weep: “I still don’t know if, or what, I am going to tell Jayde when the time comes. Maybe when she is…
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Follow-up on Ben Witherington’s post on the ESV
Yesterday I wrote in response to Ben Witherington’s critique of the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible. Today, Dr. Witherington apologizes for the remarks that he made there (HT: Justin Taylor). He explains that he didn’t have the whole story when he originally wrote, but now he does. You can read the entire apology in the “comments” section of the original post which is titled “The Problem with the ESV.” I understand where he’s coming from. I had to revise my post after reading the critiques of those who visited my site. I had overgeneralized on one point, and I’m glad that someone pointed it out to me. Oh,…
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New Testament Scholar, Ben Witherington, Takes a Whack at the ESV
Ben Witherington’s apocryphal account of the origin of the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible has been roundly refuted on the ESV Bible Blog (HT: Justin Taylor). Among other things, Witherington alleges that the ESV translation too often manifests conservative biases rather than accurate translation. His comments imply that he detects complementarian biases being manifested in the ESV’s translation of texts like Romans 16:7, 1 Timothy 2:12, and Ephesians 5:21-22. Witherington writes, “The ESV doesn’t do justice to any of these texts, and at the expense of women.â€
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Scot McKnight on the Emerging Church Movement
One of the most dangerous things that a theologian can do these days is attempt to describe and/or define the Emerging Church Movement. It’s a perilous task not because one is literally risking life and limb, but because those within the movement have taken great pains to resist being pigeon-holed into any rigid system of belief. Not only that, the movement is in many ways so disparate that characterization has appeared to many to be a well-nigh impossible task.
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God’s Grace and Cancer
Those of you who read my blog know how much I love and admire John Piper. I esteem him as highly as I do because the Lord has used him so mightily in my own life to raise my esteem for God. John Piper was diagnosed with cancer last December, and by the grace of God is turning the entire trial into a platform for bearing witness to the supremacy of Christ. I love him for that. I love God for that. On the eve of his surgery to have the cancer removed from his prostate, he penned a little exhortation titled, “Don’t Waste Your Cancer.†As usual, the words…
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John Piper on the Danish Cartoon Controversy
John Piper’s essay on the Danish Cartoon controversy is a must-read. It clearly and respectfully delineates the differences between Christianity and Islam and calls for people to see the supremacy of Christ crucified. “Being Mocked: The Essence of Christ’s Work, Not Muhammad’s” – by John Piper Go read it. You’ll be glad you did.
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Bono’s Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast
Can a rock star preach? Apparently those who head up the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. think Bono can. Last week, he spoke at the annual event with President Bush sitting close by (for a transcript click here). I would argue, however, that although there was much to commend in Bono’s remarks, there was also much to be concerned about. We can all appreciate and affirm Bono’s desire to see the Christian church get more involved in addressing poverty and disease in Africa. We welcome the challenge that he gave to Americans to be more generous in their giving to charities that help bring relief to those who are…
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Coretta Scott King’s Funeral and No-Class Politics
At Coretta Scott King’s funeral today, some of the speakers used their eulogies as an opportunity to take cheap shots at President Bush. Indeed, it was no-class politics of the worst kind. The most notable disparagements came from former President Jimmy Carter and Reverend Joseph Lowery. Reverend Joseph Lowery protested President Bush’s Iraq war policy with a poem: “We know now there were no weapons of mass destruction over there/But Coretta knew and we knew that there are weapons of misdirection right down here/Millions without health insurance. Poverty abounds. For war billions more but no more for the poor†(source). President Carter drew attention to the recent wire-tapping controversy by…
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Pray for John Piper’s Surgery
Be sure to pray for John Piper’s upcoming surgery to treat his cancer. It will be on February 14. You can read about his illness and about the procedure he’s undergoing here. In praying for God’s will in this difficult time, Dr. Piper has a good word from John Newton that he’s taken to heart: “Everything is needful that He sends; nothing can be needful that He withholds.” Thanks.