There’s nothing new under the sun. That includes challenges to the doctrine of inerrancy. Fadish critical methods come and go, but challenges to the Bible’s truthfulness and authority are ever with us. That is why I am happy to be reading D. A. Carson’s new book, Collected Writings on Scripture. D. A. Carson has been one of the most stalwart defenders of Scripture in our generation, and this new book chronicles that legacy. It is comprised of essays from throughout his career, and these writings represent some of his best work on the doctrine of scripture. The book has ten chapters: five essays and five reviews. Here’s the description from…
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Theological Interpretation of Scripture
The latest issue of The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology addresses the topic “The Theological Interpretation of Scripture.” Jim Hamilton has posted the table of contents, and it’s an all-star line-up:
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Desktop Extinction
Roughly 80 percent of computers sold are laptops. But nearly 90 percent of U.S. homes still have a trusty desktop. So are desktops going the way of the Dodo? According to this report, they may be. “The desktop is where the family photos are kept, where music lives. It’s more comfortable for older buyers who prefer larger screens and full-size keyboards. Parents like being able to keep tabs on the online activities of young kids. And enthusiasts who edit video or play games get more power per dollar in a desktop… “The fact remains, laptops continue to gain while desktops continue to age, despite these occasional surges. Nearly half of…
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Who is the Bible for?
I’m calling on bible scholars to take a moment of prayerful self-examination as you consider this from P. E. Hughes: “The Bible is for everyone. It is not the preserve of the specialist. To allow it to become the book of the expert, on whose pronouncements the average person is dependent, is an abuse and inversion that can lead only to disastrous results. The effect is to take the Bible out of the hands of those for whom it is intended, that is, the totality of mankind.
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The Essential Edwards Collection
For a limited time, Westminster Books is selling all five volumes of The Essential Edwards Collection for a 50% discount from the cover price ($44.95). For one week, from Tuesday, July 27th through Monday, August 2nd, they will sell the books for $22.50, the equivalent of one free book relative to the current Amazon price. If you haven’t purchased the series yet, looks like now is the time to do it.
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Scripture Memory
John Piper answers the question, “How do you keep from forgetting Scripture after you’ve memorized it?” I found this to be practical and helpful, and I hope you will too. Watch his answer above, or read it here.
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How Old Is Earth?
Dr. Albert Mohler delivered what would have to be considered a barn-burner of a theological address at the 2010 Ligonier Conference. You can watch the video of the address here or read a transcript here. The title was “Why Does the Universe Look So Old?” and at the heart of his argument is this contention. The most straightforward reading of the creation narratives in Genesis presents a young earth view of creation. It is the view with the fewest complications. In his own words: “An understanding of creation in terms of 24-hour calendar days and a young earth entails far fewer complications, far fewer theological problems and actually is the…
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Leeman on Complementarianism
Jonathan Leeman has an excellent essay in the latest 9marks journal. In short, he argues that Complementarianism is crucial to discipleship. It’s worth reading the whole essay, but I want to highlight one section that I found particularly helpful. It will frame the way I engage the “borders” from now on. He writes:
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BP Has Capped the Spill
This is a sight for sore eyes. See the video of the oil not leaking above. Pray that it holds.
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Does it matter if the Bible contradicts itself?
The short answer is yes. A case in point appears in a recent article by retired Anglican minister Albert Radcliffe. Radcliffe argues that the Bible is a “library of conflicting viewpoints,” and cannot be the last word on the Church of England’s debates on the moral status of homosexuality and women pastors. He argues that even within the pages of the Bible we read about “rigorists” who prefer the letter of the law and about the “humanitarians” who don’t allow the Bible to be the last word. According to Radcliffe, someone like Ezra was in the former category, and Jesus was in the latter. As you might imagine, the upshot…