Equal, but different

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Egalitarians often complain: ‘When you complementarians claim that women and men are “equal but different”, you really mean “unequal and different”.’

This is a charge that must be taken seriously.

But what says Scripture?

In Gen 2:18, ‘the woman is called the man’s helper; not the other way around. From a fair reading of Genesis 2, it doesn’t seem that male-female roles are reversible.’ (Kostenberger, AJ & ME, God’s Design for Man and Woman.

In their commentary on Genesis 2:18, Bruce Waltke and Cathi Fredricks, while affirming the essential equality of the man and the woman, suggest that role of the latter as ‘helper’ to the former does imply a certain structure of relationship.  …

Apostolic messages: their content elements

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In his book Tell the World (Evangelical Press, 1981), Eric Wright summarises the content elements used for the Christian message in the book of Acts.  It raises the question of which aspects of Scriptural teaching we emphasise (or even mention) today.

About GodAbout manAbout Christ
God of covenant and Israel (10)Ignorance. (3)Connection with John the Baptist. (2)
God's decree (purpose, plan, ordination, pre-destination, etc.) (8)Sinfulness. (5)Related to OT promises. (9)
Holy and glorious character.
…

Discussion starters, Lk 7:18-35

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1. What kinds of doubts do you sometimes have about Jesus and who he is?

2. What can you say about how some of those doubts have been resolved?

3. If you could ask Jesus a question right now, what would it be?…

Pauline descriptions of hell

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Douglas Moo observes that in most English versions, the word ‘hell’ is not found in Paul’s writings.  That is because he never used either of the two words usually translated ‘hell’ – gehenna and hades.

So what language does the apostle use concerning the fate of the wicked?  They are, in order of frequency:-

  1. “Death,” “die” (usually apothn’skō, thanatos; Rom. 1:32; 5:12, 14, 15, 17, 21; 6:16, 21, 23; 7:5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 24; 8:2, 6, 13; 1 Cor.
…

Did he really say that?

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Shared recently on Facebook was an image of Pope Francis and the following quote, attributed to him:-

It is not necessary to believe in God to be a good person. In a way, the traditional notion of God is outdated. One can be spiritual but not religious. It is not necessary to go to church and give money — for many, nature can be a church. Some of the best people in history do not believe in God, while some of the worst deeds were done in His name.
…

Apostolic terms for the Christian message

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In his book Tell the World (Evangelical Press, 1981), Eric Wright summarises the terminology used for the Christian message in the book of Acts.  To my mind, this terminology contrasts markedly with that of our own day, where (I suggest) the Christian message is most popularly referred to as ‘sharing the love of God’.

TermFrequency
Jesus, or Jesus the Christ, or the whole message of his life, or the name of Jesus Christ, etc.16
The Word of God, or the Word of the Lord13
The gospel, the good news9
The way, way of the Lord, way of salvation9
The hope of Israel, the things announced beforehand, the good news of the promise, etc.
…

Discussion starters, Jn 6:28-58; 8:12-20

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“I am…”

(a) Why do you think Jesus said “I am the bread of life”, rather than “the caviar,” or “the cake” or the “confectionary” (assuming those things were available in those days!)?

(b) Jesus talks about ‘eating his flesh’ and ‘drinking his blood’.  To those hearing this for the first time, it must have sounded shocking.  But in what sense do his followers do precisely that (for example, when they take Holy Communion)?

(c) A leading thought in John 8:12-20 is that of ‘testimony’. …

How the apostles communicated the gospel

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In his book Tell the World (Evangelical Press, 1981), Eric Wright sets out the main terminology used in the Book of Acts for apostolic communication (which was, as recorded in that book, mainly evangelistic communication). The following table reproduces the substance of Wright’s work. The summary definitions are based on Vine’s Expository Dictionary.

English (NASV)GreekFrequency (approx.)MeaningAs in...
To witnessVarious forms of martureo6To aver what one has seen or heard or knowsActs 1:18; 3:15
To testifyAlso various forms of martureo7As above, often with the suggestion of solemn protestationActs 2:40; 8:25
To declareapophthengomai
anangello
apangello		5To speak forth
To announce
To declare		Acts 2:14; 26:25
Acts 20:20,27
Acts 26:20
To speaklaleo17To speakActs 4:1; 6:10; 14:1,3
To teachdidasko9To give instructionActs 2:42; 5:28, 42; 28:31
To proclaimkatangello

kerusso
euangelizo		11To declare, announce
To herald
To preach good tidings		Acts 4:2; 13:5; 16:17; 26:23
Acts 8:5; 9:20
Acts 8:12
To preacheuangelizo

kerusso		17To preach good tidings

To announce as a herald		Acts 5:42; 8:12, 25, 35, 40; 10:36
Acts 10:42; 20:25; 28:31
To provesumbibazo1To join together; to proveActs 9:22
To reasondialegomai7To ponder, dispute, reasonActs 17:2, 17; 18:4,19; 19:8f; 24:25
To explaindianoigo
ektithemi		5To open up
To expound		Acts 17:3
Acts 11:4; 18:26; 28:23
To persuadepeitho6To persuade, win overActs 17:4; 19:8; 26:28; 28:23f.
…

Dances with the Trinity?

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Important to Richard Rohr – important enough to use it as the title of a book – is the idea of the Holy Trinity as a dance.

Rohr explains:-

‘At the heart of Christian revelation, God is not seen as a distant, static monarch but— as we will explore together— a divine circle dance, as the early Fathers of the church dared to call it (in Greek perichoresis, the origin of our word choreography). God is the Holy One presenced in the dynamic and loving action of Three.’

…

Jesus in the Old Testament

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This is an unpopular thought in some academic circles; but it is the clear teaching of our Lord himself.  As Goldsworthy says: ‘We do not start at Genesis 1 and work our way forward until we discover where it is all leading.  Rather we first come to Christ, and he directs us to study the Old Testament in the light of the gospel.’ (According to Plan, p55)

On the road to Emmaus, Jesus preaches on the theme of ‘The Things Concerning Himself’, taking as his text Moses, all the prophets, and all the Scriptures (Luke 24:27).  …