Theologian

The book that I have been reading, One Bible Only , has brought some interesting points regarding verbal preservation. That is, every word of Scripture being preserved.

I wanted to throw some of those issues onto my blog and see what kind of comments might pop up.

They posit that the OT text was not verbally preserved by pointing to the following…

1 Sam 13:1 - Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel
(at least one of the numbers has been lost)

2 Sam 8:4 - David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.
(contrasts to its parallel…)
1 Chr 18:4 - David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.

2 Ki 8:26 - Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the granddaughter of Omri, king of Israel.
(contrasts to its parallel…)
2 Chr 22:2 - Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the granddaughter of Omri.

2 Ki 24:8 - Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
(contrasts to its parallel…)
2 Chr 36:9 - Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD.

They also bring up some interesting points regarding NT quotes of the OT not being word for word in many places.

Thoughts??

Once again i am on the fence regarding Bible versions.

I do really love the ESV and the KJV. I have looked into textual criticism and read different sides of the issue (reasoned eclectic, byzantine priority, pro textus receptus) . Once again i am going to read a couple of books that i just ordered that come from basically opposing views…

One Book Stands Alone, which is a pro-kjv book

One Bible Only?:…, which is a pro-eclectic book from what i understand.

If anyone has familiarity with these books please let me know what you think.

Also, if anyone has any good online references please let me know…i would love to read them.

Systematic Theology: A Compendium and Commonplace-book Designed for the Use of Theological Students 

Strong was a Reformed Baptist. He had an interesting view on eschatology where he believed in Christ’s coming as premillennial spiritually, but post-millennial physically.

Here good article on the deliverance model of spiritual warfare and its problems…

Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare

Here are some headings from the article to give you an idea of the content…

THE DISTINCTIVES OF THE DELIVERANCE MODEL
THE BELIEVER’S AUTHORITY
CHRISTIANS AND DEMON POSSESSION
BINDING AND COMMANDING SATAN

THE DANGERS OF THE DELIVERANCE MODEL
A DIMINISHED VIEW OF CONVERSION
A MINIMIZING OF SIN AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
A MISDIRECTING OF THE BELIEVER’S FOCUS
A DENIAL OF THE SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE

(I would probably add that there is also an implicit denial of the sufficiency of Christ’s work on the cross)

Here is another good article regarding spritual warfare…

Spiritual Warfare

Some headings from the article…

1.  Coming to faith in Jesus Christ is to be understood as entering into every spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ
2.  The church is engaged in a spiritual war, and its enemy is Satan and a host of unseen angelic and celestial enemies whose power vastly exceeds our own.
3.  Paul’s focus in our text is not on every aspect of Satan’s opposition to God and man, but on his war with the saints.
4.  In the spiritual war Satan employs a variety of strategies to oppose and to defeat the Christian.
5.  At the present, Satan’s opposition against the church is not a frontal attack, but a subversive attack through intrigue, deception, and trickery.
6.  There is a coming, “evil day,” when the spiritual war will intensify, and when the dangers for believers will increase.
7.  The Christian’s weapons have been divinely provided, in Christ.
8.  Paul’s instruction to put on the full armor of God is a command.
9.  Our protection against Satan’s attacks is assured only if and when we take up the full armor of God.
10.  Our duty is not to attack Satan, or to defeat him, but rather to withstand his attacks.
11.  Satan’s defeat and our defense is spoken of in terms of the gospel.
12.  The nature of our weapons tells us a great deal about the nature of the war we are in, and of the methods which Satan will employ in his efforts to destroy us.

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Schism looms over Episcopal Church

Oregon teacher fired after making Bible references

Speaking in Tongues: Alternative Voices in Faith

Muslim students beat Christian teacher to death for desecrating Koran

I am really digging Google Books. So i’ve decided to post books that i find interesting from time to time.

This one is…

The Critical Handbook of the Greek New Testament

Athens street preacher arrested following scuffle with police

The Solar Powered Bible 

Christian teens flock to BattleCry 

Apply Exegetical Sermon Techniques to Your Bible Study 

Ligonier Free National Conference Webcast 

Green Baggins links to a bad blunder by MacArthur regarding Amillennialism 

David McCrory is starting a series on the Convenanters 

I’ve decided to share one of the reasons that I haven’t been posting as much lately, even though it’s not really ready yet.

Creating an online seminary called Wittenberg Reformed Theological Seminary. You can click the link to see our preliminary website.

There is still much that needs to be done, but by God’s grace this will become a great training ground for Reformed ministers.