Category Archives: Biblical Studies

In support of Christian Brady and John William McKenzie Brady – Mack, the best boy ever

Posted on 03/01/2013 by

John William McKenzie Brady – Mack, the best boy ever

Posted in Biblical Studies

‘Genesis Through Ancient Eyes’ by John Walton, professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College in Illinois, U.S.A.

Posted on 18/10/2012 by

Genesis Through Ancient Eyes, Part 1 Genesis Through Ancient Eyes, Part 2 Genesis Through Ancient Eyes, Part 3 Genesis Through Ancient Eyes, Part 4

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Quote of the day: James F. McGrath explains Proverbs 10:17 to fundamentalists

Posted on 12/09/2012 by

‘Fundamentalism seems to me to be more about pride than anything else.  It is a well known fact that people who adhere to inerrancy draw very different conclusions about what Scripture means.  In spite of that, more often than not among … Continue reading →

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These short video lectures by James F. McGrath are well worth your time

Posted on 01/09/2012 by

Lecture on Genesis 1 Lecture on Genesis 2-3 Lecture on Authorship and Sources of the Pentateuch Lecture on the Book of Jonah

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Quote of the day: Thucydides on recording history; something to think about when you read the New Testament

Posted on 26/08/2012 by

‘In this history I have made use of set speeches some of which were delivered just before and others during the war.  I have found it difficult to remember the precise words used in the speeches which I listened to … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, History, Quote of the Day | Tagged

Quote of the day: Greg Carey on the cure for fundamentalism — reading the Bible

Posted on 21/08/2012 by

‘Biblical scholarship is an academic discipline, taught and studied at universities, colleges and divinity schools all around the world.  So it should be no surprise that biblical scholars run in all shapes, sizes, colors and denominations.  What would surprise many … Continue reading →

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Quote of the day: Craig S. Keener on women’s ordination and ministry in the Christian Church

Posted on 20/08/2012 by

‘Most of those who oppose women’s ordination do not follow biblical instructions to greet one another with holy kisses or wear head coverings in church.  Most recognize that these were cultural expressions of principles (such as friendly greetings) that may … Continue reading →

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Pic of the day: The Song of Solomon for biblical literalists

Posted on 18/07/2012 by

From here.

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Jesus existed, writes Craig S. Keener

Posted on 09/07/2012 by

Well worth a few minutes of your time: Jesus Existed writes Craig S. Keener Excerpt: Contrary to some circles on the Internet, very few scholars doubt that Jesus existed, preached and led a movement.  Scholars’ confidence has nothing to do with … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, History | Tagged

Roger Olson reviews Kenton Sparks’ ‘Sacred Word, Broken Word: Biblical Authority and the Dark Side of Scripture’

Posted on 03/07/2012 by

Well worth reading (and then getting the book itself!):  Review of Sacred Word, Broken Word: Biblical Authority and the Dark Side of Scripture by Kenton L. Sparks (Eerdmans, 2012) Olson concludes: I strongly recommend Sparks’ book to everyone, but especially to those who … Continue reading →

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C. S. Lewis responds to Bart Ehrman on the problem of evil and suffering

Posted on 30/06/2012 by

‘My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust.  But how had I got this idea of just and unjust?  A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Biblical Studies, C. S. Lewis, Inklings, Philosophy | Tagged ,

Update on St. John the Baptist’s bones

Posted on 15/06/2012 by

Scientific tests have now been carried out: Mysterious bones may belong to John the Baptist: New radiocarbon dating of collagen in one of bones puts age at early first century ‘Found’, bones of John the Baptist: Tests on a knucklebone … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Biblical Studies, History | Tagged , ,

Quote of the day: David Williams warns against playing ‘Chicken Little’ when the Gospel is not at stake

Posted on 10/06/2012 by

‘Ask yourself: If it turned out that Jesus is risen but Darwin was right about human origins after all, would you give up your faith?  If it turned out that Jesus was risen but Protestantism was wrong and Catholicism or Orthodoxy … Continue reading →

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A good rule when encountering (what appear to be) errors or contradictions in the Bible

Posted on 05/06/2012 by

‘It is best . . . in all such cases to leave the discrepancy unsolved rather than to solve it by unnatural and forced constructions.  A difficulty may admit of explanation, although we may not be able to explain it, and … Continue reading →

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The tale of Jephthah

Posted on 03/06/2012 by
Posted in Biblical Studies, Visual Arts | Tagged , ,

R. Joseph Hoffmann on the Jesus Mythicists Richard Carrier, Earl Doherty, Neil Godfrey and Tom Verenna

Posted on 31/05/2012 by

‘Richard Carrier & Co., Earl Doherty, Neil Godfrey and Tom Verenna for example, have no qualifications at all to be doing research in biblical studies . . . So I have to ask: what makes these guys so confident, if not … Continue reading →

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Quote of the day: James McGrath on who really has a “high view of Scripture”

Posted on 02/05/2012 by

‘Anyone who thinks that taking a supposedly “high view of Scripture” makes matters simpler and serious theological problems vanish must not have given much serious thought to the matter.  And that is perhaps the heart of the problem: those who … Continue reading →

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R. Joseph Hoffman on the Jesus Mythicism of the New Atheists

Posted on 24/04/2012 by

Thank God for sensible atheists such as R. Joseph Hoffman.  Here he eviserates the currently fashionable Jesus Mythicism of the New Atheists: Mythtic Pizza and Cold-cocked Scholars It is almost cruelty to begin picking on the methodological wowsers implied in the reasoning … Continue reading →

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Did the Exodus really happen? The Exodus is not a literal historical account, but it doesn’t matter

Posted on 11/04/2012 by

Worth your reading time: Did the Exodus Really Happen?  Knowing the Exodus is not a literal historical account does not ultimately change our connection to each other or to God, writes Rabbi  David Wolpe

Posted in Archaeology, Biblical Studies, History | Tagged , ,

Quote of the day: William Barclay on ‘problem texts’ in the Bible

Posted on 06/02/2012 by

‘We may sometimes feel that there are certain parts of the Bible with which we are out of sympathy; if we study these parts they will often be the very parts which end up giving us the richest harvest.’ ~ … Continue reading →

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Suspending scepticism: History and the Virgin Birth by N. T. Wright

Posted on 06/01/2012 by

Suspending scepticism: History and the Virgin Birth by N. T. Wright Because I am convinced that the creator God raised Jesus bodily from the dead, and because I am convinced that Jesus was and is the embodiment of this God, Israel’s God, … Continue reading →

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N. T. Wright disagrees with Pope Benedict (and the secular minimalist Maurice Casey); interesting thoughts ensue

Posted on 29/12/2011 by

What Benedict Doesn’t Get About Jesus by N. T. Wright

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More biblical dilettantism to come from Hollywood: Steven Spielberg sets his sights on Moses’s life story

Posted on 17/11/2011 by

Steven Spielberg sets his sights on Moses’s life story The directing giant is in talks to bring the life story of Jewish figure Moses to the big screen in Gods And Kings. The director and producer, 64, is hoping to … Continue reading →

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Fringe view: the crazy world of Jesus mythicism

Posted on 09/11/2011 by

The Fringe World of Jesus Mythicism by James McGrath One of the poignant ironies about mythicism is its popularity among those who style themselves as freethinkers.  Such individuals usually have no trouble criticizing apologists for young Earth creationism or other … Continue reading →

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Philip Jenkins on the Canaanite genocide: the Old Testament’s ‘texts of terror’

Posted on 30/10/2011 by

‘It would be easy to cite these gruesome Biblical stories as a foundation for a New Atheist rant, and that’s absolutely not my intent.  Paradoxically, what I have been trying to do in recent years, especially in my book Laying … Continue reading →

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