Word of God

Pragmatism Rules?

/ Christopher Terry / 1 Comment

Pragmatism has become the god of this age.  If it works, do it.  Regardless of right and wrong, we live in an age dominated with the belief that the end justifies the means.  There is an entire section in Christian bookstores dedicated to church growth.  Rarely, do any of these books deal with prayer and preaching straight biblical truth.  These books deal with discovering what unregenerate people want and then giving it to them so they will come to your church building.  If they find preaching boring…shorten the sermon.  If they find hell offensive…leave it out.  If they want to be inspired …leave out the parts about sin.  We have studied and learned what lost people want and as a result we cater to the lusts of their flesh.  But, they come to churches around the country listening to watered-down preaching and an un-offensive gospel.  If only the apostle Paul knew as much as we do (1 Cor. 1:17).  He said the gospel he preached was offensive to unbelievers and that GOd Himself had to enable lost people to believe it (1 Cor. 1:18-25, 30-31).

I have been sucked into the lie of being more concerned about not offending people than being concerned with not offending God.  I have feared man more than I have feared God.  This is not right.  I have repented of this and asked God to help me to fear Him more than man.  I have asked Him to help me to preach all of His Word and to do it without apology.  Prayer, biblical preaching, and biblical worship are not in style currently.  The truth is that throughout time Satan has attacked these things and believers have been seeking the respect and approval of this world.  Scripture says that we are citizens of heaven.  Christ said that the world would hate us because we belong to Him.  The apostle John said that if you love this world you don’t love God (1 John 2:15-17).  James said that friendship with this world makes one an enemy of God (Jas. 4:4-5).  Scripture says that the world is under the authority and influence of Satan (1 John 5:19; Eph. 2:1-3; 6:10-12).

We have believed the lie that we can convince spiritually dead people who are enemies of God and offended by the gospel to believe in Jesus Christ by speaking our wisdom to them and by entertaining them.  God has chosen the method of believers verbally preaching the gospel to unbelievers and He alone is the one who enables them to believe an offensive gospel message.  We gather as a church to pray, worship, and to sit under the preaching of the Word of God.  As God’s Word is preached to us without apology, it will convict us, anger us, and break us.  It will be uncomfortable at times as God speaks truth into our lives.  God’s Word is essential for evangelizing lost people and for discipling saved people to Christ-likeness.  There is no substitute.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Church Issues

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment

One of the main issues confronting the church is whether we will submit to the authority of the Word of God.  As people with sin indwelling us, we have sinful desires at times.  We want things and expect things which are not biblical.  Does that mean we are to disregard the Word of God and do as we please?  What does one call such an action?  Scripture calls it sinful rebellion.  In the U.S. we have experienced such affluence and prosperity that we are accustomed to getting what we want, when we want it.  This has led to Christians in local churches saying, “Well, we know what the Bible says but…that is not what people want and expect.”

Anytime the phrase, “We know what the Bible says” is followed by the word “but” we are treading on dangerous ground.  I am going to share something which is really not very profound – it really does not matter what people want and expect.  It really only matters what God wants and expects.  This should change our thinking about how to do church and what to communicate in it.

Enhanced by Zemanta

HCSB recommendation post is open for all

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment

When I first pondered the idea of creating a post which would call for recommendations/thoughts from those who are familiar with the HCSB, I originally envisioned it as calling for scholars and pastors to weigh in on the translation.  After some wise counsel, I have deemed it better to include graduate students and bloggers in the conversation.  So, I hope that many will share their thoughts about this fine translation of the Scriptures.  Leave your comments on the post below, “Who will recommend the HCSB?”

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

NET Bible First Edition review

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment

I received a review copy the NET Bible First Edition in black a few weeks ago. The cover itself is a very nice bonded leather with hubs on the binding (a classic look). The one thing that I do wish is that they had gone with a genuine leather cover or something that would be a bit sturdier. The contents of the Bible are so large that I doubt the cover can withstand continued use without cracking or tearing (though the true test will be time of use). The pages are smyth-sewn which is a huge positive. This ensures greater durability of the binding and also for the bible to lay flat when open. The pages themselves are thin, probably a little thinner than normal Bible paper (not nearly as nice as the Lockman NASB’s – large print ultrathin reference Bible and wide margin single column reference Bible). The overall the Bible itself is well-made.

The translation itself is very good. It is toward the formal equivalence end of the spectrum. There are places where the NET has clarified ambiguities that are found in the original text. This has made a more idiomatic translation than the NASB and the ESV. Yet, there are places where this causes the NET to be more accurate such as, John 1:18 and John 3:16. One of the features of the NET that is unique are the chapter and verse markings. The NET includes the chapter number along with each verse marking, ex: John 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4 and so on. This is not a problem for me, though it did take some time to become acquainted with it. The satellite maps that are found in the back of the Bible are full color and topographical. These are by far some of the nicest looking maps that I have ever seen in any study resource. They truly open your eyes to the features of the areas in question. The maps are a bonus.

Now, time to discuss the study notes. These by far are worth their weight in gold. There are three different types of notes: study notes, technical commentary, and technical notes. The study notes are what you would find in other scholarly study Bibles. The technical notes are alternative translation options or a more literal translation option. The technical commentary notes are filled with a vast treasury of notes on the original languages. The notes are much like technical notes you would find in a Greek or Hebrew grammar. Yet, the blessing is that the notes are found beneath the text in question. In a grammar you have to search the index to find if there might possibly be help in regard to a text you are studying. The Bible came with a Bible.org Bible Library resource C.D. I have not even had a chance to examine this added resource. It seems like the NET Bible is like the gift that keeps on giving!

I truly like the translation itself. I believe that it is very accurate and yet readable. The scholars are from Dallas Theological Seminary. Therefore they are conservative evangelicals. It has been stated that the NET will be revised every five years beginning in 2010. This helps you to realize that the translators are striving for the best translation of the Word of God possible. The only drawback for me as a pastor is that people will have to buy a new copy every five years (though I don’t want to sound cranky, I am not, and I personally don’t mind doing so).

I read somewhere that someone was hoping that the NET would replace the NIV as an idiomatic translation. I don’t know if that will happen but I do believe that it is that good. I would highly recommend the NET Bible as a preaching and teaching resource. I would say that it is non-negotiable to own it as a study resource. At the very least, download the electronic version on Bible.org.

The Bible also comes with a resource c.d. with study materials.  I have not yet had an opportunity to check out this bonus resource.

The Bible is significant in size. But that is to be expected when you have over 60,000 study notes contained in it.

This Bible is smyth sewn and therefore opens fairly flat.  The pages are what you would normally find in other Bibles.  They are not the thickness of the ESV wide margin or the NASB large print ultrathin.

This is what you will find in some texts where there is a lot to be explained textually.  It is a black letter text which is a positive.

Here is an example of what the satellite maps look like.  They are a bonus.

Like the Bible itself, the ribbon marker is larger than most other Bibles feature.

The sewn binding and the weight of the Bible cause it to open fairly flat.  I do wonder how well the premium bonded leather will hold up under frequent use.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

NET Bible First Edition review

/ Christopher Terry / 2 Comments

I received a review copy the NET Bible First Edition in black a few weeks ago. The cover itself is a very nice bonded leather with hubs on the binding (a classic look). The one thing that I do wish is that they had gone with a genuine leather cover or something that would be a bit sturdier. The contents of the Bible are so large that I doubt the cover can withstand continued use without cracking or tearing (though the true test will be time of use). The pages are smyth-sewn which is a huge positive. This ensures greater durability of the binding and also for the bible to lay flat when open. The pages themselves are thin, probably a little thinner than normal Bible paper (not nearly as nice as the Lockman NASB’s – large print ultrathin reference Bible and wide margin single column reference Bible). The overall the Bible itself is well-made.

The translation itself is very good. It is toward the formal equivalence end of the spectrum. There are places where the NET has clarified ambiguities that are found in the original text. This has made a more idiomatic translation than the NASB and the ESV. Yet, there are places where this causes the NET to be more accurate such as, John 1:18 and John 3:16. One of the features of the NET that is unique are the chapter and verse markings. The NET includes the chapter number along with each verse marking, ex: John 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4 and so on. This is not a problem for me, though it did take some time to become acquainted with it. The satellite maps that are found in the back of the Bible are full color and topographical. These are by far some of the nicest looking maps that I have ever seen in any study resource. They truly open your eyes to the features of the areas in question. The maps are a bonus.

Now, time to discuss the study notes. These by far are worth their weight in gold. There are three different types of notes: study notes, technical commentary, and technical notes. The study notes are what you would find in other scholarly study Bibles. The technical notes are alternative translation options or a more literal translation option. The technical commentary notes are filled with a vast treasury of notes on the original languages. The notes are much like technical notes you would find in a Greek or Hebrew grammar. Yet, the blessing is that the notes are found beneath the text in question. In a grammar you have to search the index to find if there might possibly be help in regard to a text you are studying. The Bible came with a Bible.org Bible Library resource C.D. I have not even had a chance to examine this added resource. It seems like the NET Bible is like the gift that keeps on giving!

I truly like the translation itself. I believe that it is very accurate and yet readable. The scholars are from Dallas Theological Seminary. Therefore they are conservative evangelicals. It has been stated that the NET will be revised every five years beginning in 2010. This helps you to realize that the translators are striving for the best translation of the Word of God possible. The only drawback for me as a pastor is that people will have to buy a new copy every five years (though I don’t want to sound cranky, I am not, and I personally don’t mind doing so).

I read somewhere that someone was hoping that the NET would replace the NIV as an idiomatic translation. I don’t know if that will happen but I do believe that it is that good. I would highly recommend the NET Bible as a preaching and teaching resource. I would say that it is non-negotiable to own it as a study resource. At the very least, download the electronic version on Bible.org.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

The Role of the Holy Spirit in biblical interpretation

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment

What do you think the role of the Holy Spirit is in interpretation?

The Holy Spirit has revealed God’s wisdom which was previously unknown. In particular the Spirit has revealed the glorious things that God has provided for believers through Christ (1 Cor. 2:10, 12). This wisdom, which was previously hidden, is now recorded in the N.T. Scriptures. These things were “spoken” (now recorded) with the Spirit’s guidance (2:13). As a result of Scripture coming from the Holy Spirit unsaved people do not accept it (2:14).

Here are the things that Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit does for the believer in the process of biblical interpretation:

  1. The Spirit enables believers to accept the teaching of God’s Word (1 Cor. 2:12, 15-16).

The indwelling Holy Spirit desires the Word of God and gives believers the ability to accept the teaching of Scripture into his life. This reception of Scripture is only made possible through the supernatural influence of the indwelling Spirit. An unregenerate person rejects Scripture because he does not have the desire to accept it apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit (2:14). The believer accepts God’s Word as authoritative in his life as a result of the Spirit’s presence in his life.

One thing bears mentioning. Paul states that he is able to share this spiritual wisdom with the spiritually mature (2:6; 3:1). Therefore, as a believer matures spiritually the influence of the Spirit becomes greater in his life. This would result in the believer more readily accepting God’s Word in his life. Spiritual immaturity causes believer to be slow to accept God’s Word.

  1. The Spirit enables believers to recognize Scripture as truth (1 Jn. 2:20, 27).

John tells the recipients of his letter that they as believers have an “anointing” from God (2:20a). Believers have received the indwelling Holy Spirit. John’s audience had already been taught biblical truth, to which they were to adhere (2:20b-24). John states that false teachers were attempting to lead them astray from the biblical teaching that they had received and believed (2:22-23, 26). John tells them to adhere to the biblical teaching that they had already received and believed (2:24). He also tells them that the Holy Spirit (the “anointing” from God) will enable them to recognize the difference between the truth of Scripture and the lie of false teaching (2:27). The Holy Spirit will enable believers to recognize Scripture as true.

One thing that bears mentioning. The believers had already been discipled to an extent. They had received, not just the gospel but, further biblical teaching. This further biblical teaching was to help them progress in spiritual maturity. Application for today would be that believers need to increase in their knowledge of Scripture so that the Spirit will be able to help them to more clearly recognize truth, error, and the difference between the two.

  1. The Spirit enables believers to apply the teaching of Scripture to their lives (1 Cor. 2:12-16).

This aspect of the Holy Spirit’s involvement results first from careful exegesis of the biblical text. As a believer carefully exegetes a biblical text and discovers the author’s intent, the Holy Spirit then works supernaturally to enable the believer to respond to the biblical teaching. The Spirit acts upon the believer to enable him to apply the teaching of the biblical text to his life, if appropriate. This role of the Spirit in biblical interpretation grows out of the Spirit’s role in accepting Scripture.

Before a believer can apply the teaching of Scripture to his life he must first accept the teaching of Scripture as God’s Word. Before a believer can apply the teaching of Scripture to his life he must practice careful exegesis to discover the author’s intent.

The role of the Holy Spirit in the process of biblical interpretation was challenging. In working through the biblical text it was difficult not to affix the traditional view of illumination to the biblical text in view. The result of that would have been eisegesis, instead of exegesis. In the study I found the following three aspects to the role of the Holy Spirit in biblical interpretation:

      1. The Spirit enables believers to accept the teaching of Scripture as God’s Word.

      2. The Spirit enables believers to recognize the teaching of Scripture as truth.

      3. The Spirit enables believers to apply the teaching of Scripture to their lives (when appropriate).

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]