N T Wright: The Cross and the Kingdom

This article looks really good, but I haven't had time to read it yet.
I find Wright's comment to the effect that the creeds do not really tell the same story as the gospels interesting. He says he agrees with the creeds, but points out they omit Jesus life between his birth and death.

Sandy Grant on Biblical Authority

In the context of a discussion of Paul's words about women speaking and teaching in church, Sandy Grant, rector of Wollongong Anglican Church said this:

My other contribution is to wonder whether in the current vigour from some evangelicals to defend the possibility of women preaching in the mixed congregation (albeit under male eldership) – and hence you can see this comment is far, far broader than Mike – whether there ought to be equal or perhaps even greater vigour to be affirming the final authority of Scripture as God's Word in determining this matter.

This matters to me even more. It's why I changed my mind, reluctantly, to the conservative position. Because I was convinced that was what the Bible was teaching, and that even though I did not like it much, because of my upbringing, I ought to believe what Jesus believed: that the Scriptures (including those he 'commissioned', if I can refer to what comes in the NT that way) are the Word of God and cannot be broken. Therefore I ought to believe what they are saying.

I realise those who hold a position like Mike's also believe it because they think it is consistent with what the Bible says. And I respect that. (And that's when we do need to go to exegesis and comparing Scripture with Scripture and so on.)

But I'd like to see evangelicals - whether soft or harder on the complementarian position - pull up our friends who cheer our position (whatever it is) for reasons that make it clear that Scripture is not their final authority.

Let's urge them to grapple with this question: if you were convinced from the Bible that this [position X] is what it is teaching, would you change your mind and practice to be consistent with it, that is, with what God declares in his Word?

I like it. 

Thanks for Rod Decker

I've appreciated Rod Decker's scholarship and wisdom for many years. His New Testament Resources website has been a great treasury of helpful material by him and others.

It is sad to read of his debilitating illness and death, but there is joy in knowing he is with Christ. Forever.

A conservative young woman's response to women preaching

A 24 year old woman's perspective on women's ordination is an interesting letter cited by David Robertson [The Wee Flea]

 

 

Jerry Shepherd on Evangelical attitudes to heresy

Thoughtful comments on a widely publicised misleading article about heresy.
Well worth reading and re-reading.

Mark Jones on the Atonement

I'm glad Tony Reinke posted an interview with Mark Jones on Christ's atonement according to the Reformed  and the Remonstrants.

Mark Jones is a careful theologian. I've read his terrific Christian's Pocket Guide to Jesus Christ and one day want to read his book on Antinomianism.

Paul Helm on Packer's Fundamentalism and the Word of God

Paul Helm gave a speech at a celebration of 50 years since the publication of J I Packer's Fundamentalism and the Word of God.

 

If he keeps this page link I might be able to find his article again.

He really did say it!

There are so many false attributions. Many famous people never said the most quoted pithy statement attributed to them. [They were so busy, they left the quotable quotes to others.]

But Sze Zeng has tracked down the famous comment by Jacob Arminius about Calvin's commentaries. He really did say:

But after the reading of Scripture, which I vehemently inculcate more than anything else, which the entire academy can testify and of which my colleagues are conscious, I encourage the reading of the commentaries of Calvin, which I extol with the greatest praise.... For I say that he is incomparable in the interpretation of Scripture, and his comments are better than anything which the Fathers give us.

And here's a picture:

 Congratulations to Sze Zeng for his detective work!