Posts for Jan, 2006.

1/31/2006 8:26:00 PM

Thoughts from the Shower

Toward a proper self-identification

Posted Tuesday, January 31, 2006 by Sam Yeiter
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I work out every morning at a gym next to my work.  My tennis nemesis from the summer, good friend, Rish, has become my racquet ball nemesis and lifting partner.  Often our stories at work begin, “Rish and I were talking in the shower this morning….”  Ah, the showers.  Well, the other morning (in the showers) I looked over and noticed a tattoo-laden gentleman.  None caught my attention except one on his shoulder blade.  It was a five-digit number.  I have no idea of its meaning to him, but it reminded me of a prisoners number, branded onto him.  I began to think of one of my favorite protagonists, Jean Valjean, as represented in the musical, Les Misérables.

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1/30/2006 6:42:00 PM

The Fate of Infants and Unborn Children Who Die - Part 3

Passages which seem to apply (but are difficult to put into either previous group)

Posted Monday, January 30, 2006 by Sam Yeiter
Comments: 2
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               In this brief post we will deal with only three passages.  They do not seem to lean decidedly in either direction, with regard to the redemption of the unborn.  They do, however, introduce concepts that will become important in later discussions.  I have attempted to be thorough in my inclusion of relevant texts, but if you feel that I am omitting any key passages, please let me know (with or without your interpretive comment is fine). Read more of The Fate of Infants and Unborn Children Who Die - Part 3


1/26/2006 8:48:00 PM

Sam Yeiter - Healer

Considering our role as under-physicians...

Posted Thursday, January 26, 2006 by Sam Yeiter
Comments: 5
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A while back I performed my first healing service.  Some of you know me (and for those that don’t, I’m a hard-line, cut-of-the-old-cloth Baptist who believes the sign gifts – tongues, prophecy, healing, etc – are a thing of the ancient past)…ok, now that everyone knows me, back to the healing...are you surprised?  Never thought you’d see the day, did you?

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1/25/2006 4:10:00 PM

New Bibleworks

Posted Wednesday, January 25, 2006 by Charlie Trimm
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There is a new Bibleworks version out! Hurray! I've been waiting for this for years! Now I just have to decide if I am going to wait until my birthday in June and convince my family to buy it for me or just buy it now. Choices... Read more of New Bibleworks


1/24/2006 11:59:00 AM

Theology on Rocky Ground

Posted Tuesday, January 24, 2006 by Brian Beers
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In many churches today you can find a pastoral infatuation with “application.” They are disenchanted with “doctrine.” The goal is to preach the Scriptures in a way that is relevant to the congregation. The overly-academic sermon is considered boorish, and people must be able to take something home with them

The “doctrine” of such churches is that doctrine is not relevant to folks living Godly lives. Their effort then is to take Scripture and refine it into high quality fertilizer. People are emerging from these churches incapable of benefiting from Scripture. We need to remember the connections between doctrine and daily life. The fact that most people don’t remember the connection does not mean that it has vanished.

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1/22/2006 7:27:00 PM

The Fate of Infants and Unborn Children Who Die - Part 2

(Apparently) Inclusive Passages

Posted Sunday, January 22, 2006 by Sam Yeiter
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This installment deals with passages that seem to favor the idea of all (or at least most) infants going to heaven should they pass away. Read more of The Fate of Infants and Unborn Children Who Die - Part 2


1/21/2006 10:10:00 AM

Pride and Me and the Devil make three...

Or, intertextuality in the New Testament???

Posted Saturday, January 21, 2006 by Josh Michael
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"God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." 

This is a NT quotation of Proverbs 3:34 that is familiar to many of us.  Recently, as I doing some work in James, I noticed a curious relationship that had not previously caught my notice.  James quotes the OT verse in 4:6 in connection with humility and follows that up with the admonition to "resist the devil."  Over in 1 Peter 5, Peter too quotes the verse and [cue dramtic music] subsequently refers to resisting the devil.  What is going on?

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1/19/2006 6:12:00 PM

The Fate of Infants and Unborn Children Who Die - Part 1

(Apparently) Restrictive Passages

Posted Thursday, January 19, 2006 by Sam Yeiter
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This paper was originally researched and written in December of 2000.  This was about 5 months after the birth of our first (and only surviving) daughter.  Later, in 2002, and again in 2003, my wife had bizarre miscarriages which endangered her life and obviously took the lives of our two other children. 

I begin this way for two reasons.  The first is that this is a painful issue for many, myself included, and I am hoping that all who might leave comments or questions will realize the grace and sensitivity the topic merits.  The second reason is that I want to be honest about my theology.  I have always attempted to disconnect my experience from the construction of my theology.  I know that this is partially impossible, but I believe we must let the text guide us, not our feelings or experiences (though they might help us ask the right questions of the text).  

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1/17/2006 11:00:00 PM

In 1967

A Cause of the Decline of the Church

Posted Tuesday, January 17, 2006 by Brian Beers
Categories: Popular Culture   Comments: None
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The decline of morality in the US over the past 30+ years is clichéd. It has been bemoaned from pulpits and used as a popular vehicle for Christian guilt-trips. I have felt the guilt. I have taken the trip, but I had never heard the cause of this moral decline identified as I did in Michael Medved’s recent book, Right Turns. Read more of In 1967


1/12/2006 10:26:00 AM

Do We Have the Words of Jesus? Part 4

The Final Words

Posted Thursday, January 12, 2006 by Charlie Trimm
Categories: Bible   Comments: 2
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Here is the final installment of the paper, where I discuss how quoting and meaning interact and where I actually reach a conclusion. I think the conclusion is the weakest part of the paper, so I would be interested in any comments ya'll might have.

Read more of Do We Have the Words of Jesus? Part 4


1/10/2006 11:33:00 PM

Augustine and the Prophet Hannah

Ancient Christian Commentary: 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2006 by Brian Beers
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In his writing on Hannah’s Song in 1 Samuel 2 Augustine confirmed the value of this series. Contemporary commentaries are filled with catalogues of controversies. Ancient writers came to the Scriptures one on one and shared  their wonder and excitement. Over the years controversies have grown over their insights and now they are all but forgotten.

In the final verse of her song, Hannah says, “The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed.” (1 Samuel 2:10). These words were spoken some 40 years before Israel was inflicted with her first king. I want to contrast Augustine’s reaction to this verse with the reacton of Robert Bergen, the author of New American Commentary’s Volume 7 on 1-2 Samuel.
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1/10/2006 9:31:00 AM

Do We Have the Words of Jesus? Part 3

Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2006 by Charlie Trimm
Categories: Bible   Comments: 2
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This section considers how inspiration, the quest for certainty, and the use of the OT in the NT affect the debate. Read more of Do We Have the Words of Jesus? Part 3


1/8/2006 12:08:00 PM

Do We Have the Words of Jesus? Part 2

Posted Sunday, January 08, 2006 by Charlie Trimm
Categories: Bible   Comments: None
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The second part in the debate, discussing translation and other ancient histories. Read more of Do We Have the Words of Jesus? Part 2


1/4/2006 7:22:00 PM

Do We Have the Words of Jesus? Part 1

Or Just a Paraphrase?

Posted Wednesday, January 04, 2006 by Charlie Trimm
Categories: Bible   Comments: None
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Do we really have the exact words of Jesus? Or, is what is recorded for us in the Gospels not the exact words but simply the idea or meaning of what Jesus said? These questions have raised a great deal of controversy over the years. In technical terms, this is the ipsissima verba (from Latin, meaning "same words") and ipsissima vox (meaning "same voice") debate. While virtually all liberal critics line up at the doorstep of ipsissima vox, evangelical scholars are divided. Some defend ipsissima verba (Green; Thomas "Impact" and "Historical;" Montgomery), while most have chosen to go with ipsissima vox (Blomberg 117-127; Bock; Feinberg 300-301; Osborne; Stein 221). Recently ipsissima vox has divided into two, with a broad view (ipsissima vox with extensive paraphrasing and change of emphasis) represented by Wallace and a narrow view ("ipsissima verba with translation and a very small amount of paraphrase) presented by Wilkin in reaction to Wallace.

            Before this issue can be discussed, some presuppositions must examined. The paper will examine the major presuppositions that are brought to the text of the Gospels when the words of Jesus are compared.

Read more of Do We Have the Words of Jesus? Part 1


1/4/2006 6:17:00 AM

Pardon me, your ASP is showing

Posted Wednesday, January 04, 2006 by Brian Beers
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Oops.

Over the past few days there have been some troubles getting to some of the pages here at Theoblogian. I believe that I have resolved them to the satisfaction of all parties involved.

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1/3/2006 12:55:00 PM

Gonzalez and Richards Chapter Sixteen

Assumptions and implications are not the same thing

Posted Tuesday, January 03, 2006 by Gerald Vreeland
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Chapter 16 of the book is entitled: “The Skeptical Rejoinder.”  It deals with 14 major objections and so I’ll get right on with the sub-title: “Yes, But What About. . .?”  Read more of Gonzalez and Richards Chapter Sixteen