Most textual variants simply do not make a difference to doctrine, however, there is one which I believe does have something significant about it.
Continue reading “Revelation 21.24 – Textual Variant That Makes a Difference”
Mar 01 2010
Is Christianity African?
There is a persistent myth among both Christians and Muslims and others that Christianity is a Western religion that is foreign to Africa. And yes, it is true that Western versions of Christianity, such as Roman Catholicism and all forms of Protestantism are all imports from the 15th century onwards (Roman Catholics) and the 18th century onwards (Protestants – Moravians of all people!). And unfortunately it is also true that these imported versions of Christianity were often the vanguard of attempts by European powers to claim, subjugate, exploit and even colonize vast swaths of the African continent. But it is wrong to suggest that, therefore, Christianity is a Western religion (as opposed to Islam or more local traditional religions)….
Read the rest here:
Feb 26 2010
The Gospels as Sources for Historical Information about Jesus
Craig Keener has written a very nice article on the use of the Gospels – imagine that – to discover the Historical Jesus:
Scholars reconstruct the historical Jesus in various ways. Often they do so based on which sources about Jesus they privilege and how much they accept as reliable in these sources. Some scholars accept very little in the Gospels as reliable, hence sometimes offer reconstructions from the silence that remains – arguments from silence. Because of their minimal trust in the Gospels, others feel free to play some elements of the gospel tradition off against others – though usually these elements are not intrinsically contradictory.
Feb 25 2010
Free Resource: Simo Parpola on Assyrian Monotheism
Charles Halton has some good news for those of who like such things:
One of Simo Parpola’s more controversial proposals–that the Neo-Assyrians had a form of monotheism–is available for free on scribd, “Monotheism in Ancient Assyria.” This essay first appeared in One God or Many? Concepts of Divinity in the Ancient World: Essays on the concept of monotheism/polytheism in ancient Assyria, Egypt, Greece, and Israel, ed. Barbara Nevling Porter. Transactions of the Casco Bay Assyriological Institute, Vol. 1, 2000, pp. 165-209. Enjoy!
Awilum.com » Free Resource: Simo Parpola on Assyrian Monotheism.
Why is monotheism important? I believe that a certain set of dogmas and moral codes go along with the social move towards a monotheistic view of God.
Feb 17 2010
Reverencing the Text of the Bible
Thanks to Daniel for this insight. After a marvelous post, he concludes:
I would suggest that retrojecting modern concepts of canonicity and inerrancy into our investigations of the translation of the Septuagint is a bit presentistic. Those concepts have their roots in that time period, but in its infancy I think the idea of reverencing the text of the Bible was quite distinct.
He has a point, one which I believe we see repeated in the KJVO movement. Read the rest here:
Feb 16 2010
Mithras Liturgy – A New Spin on Matthew 6.7
“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. (Mat 6:7 New Living Translation)
I found this as a footnote in a current book that I am reading. Thought it might be interesting to share.
Continue reading “Mithras Liturgy – A New Spin on Matthew 6.7″
Feb 15 2010
Quote of the Day: McGrath on Mythicism’s Failure
Feb 15 2010
Monotheism and the Origin of Religion
I cam across this quote:
Stephen Langdon, also of Oxford, concluded:
“I may fail to carry conviction in concluding that both Sumerian and Semitic religions [which he considered to be the oldest historical civilizations—AB], monotheism preceded polytheism…. The evidence and reasons for this conclusion, so contrary to accepted and current views, have been set down with care and with the perception of adverse criticism. It is, I trust, the conclusion of knowledge and not of audacious preconception” (as quoted in Custance, p. 113, emp. added).
You can read the rest of the article here:
Feb 13 2010
Context in Scripture? Try Joseph Kelly
What? You say that buying the massive missive, Context in Scripture, may be out of your spending priorities? Well, Joseph Kelly, is taking you through it for free.
Next Page »
