‘Why the Beloved Disciple Is Not John the Son of Zebedee’

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I confess that I have, until now, accepted without question the ‘traditional’ attribution of the Fourth Gospel to John the son of Zebedee.

But I have been considering the view of Richard Bauckham, that the author and ‘Beloved Disciple’ of the Fourth Gospel is not John the Apostle, son of Zebedee.  He is, rather, another John (later called ‘John the Elder’) who was a Jerusalem-based disciple (but not one of the Twelve).

I summarise Bauckham’s argument in Jesus and the Eyewitnesses (2nd ed.).…

Eight myths about hell

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The topic of hell is difficult, yet necessary; painful, yet useful.

Sam Storms says that he cannot contemplate the horrors of hell without a deep agony of heart.  At the same time, he says, he feels a profound gratitude to the God who so lovingly and willingly reaches out and plucks the sinner from the jaws of hell.

With such thoughts in mind, Storms outlines eight common myths about hell:

Myth #1. There is widespread belief among non-Christians that Hell is a place where they will be united with their unbelieving friends and drink beer all the time in an endless party.…

Richard Baxter on profitably hearing God’s word preached

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From Chapter XIX of The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, “Directions for Profitable Hearing God’s Word Preached”

Titus 3: Directions for Holy Resolutions and Affections in Hearing

The understanding and memory are but the passage to the Heart, and the Practice is but the expression of the Heart: therefore how to work upon the Heart is the principal business.

Directions:

  1. Live under the most convincing lively serious Preacher that possibly you can.
  2. Remember that Ministers are the Messengers of Christ, and come to you on his business and in his name.
…

Persuade like Jesus

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This is based on an article by Jeffrey Arthur, professor of preaching and communication at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Arthur points out that Jesus, the Master-Teacher, utilised a variety of techniques in order to nudge his hearers towards an understanding of (and response to) the truth.

Among these were greater-to-lesser and lesser-to-greater arguments.

They are known as argumentum a fortiori, and employ a ‘how much more…’ approach to persuasion.

They take something which is accepted by the listener as obviously true and build a bridge from it to the point the teacher wishes to make.…

What is the church for?

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Jim Gordon writes:

‘I’ve spoken with a number of folk for whom the church is a problem, or an irrelevance, or a menace. When the church becomes obsessed with ethical arguments about sexuality, or fails to speak with any authoritative, joined up and consistent voice about the genocide in Gaza, or appears so timid and morale poor in the face of its own declining clout in a culture that’s moved on without a backward look, then it;s time for Christians to ask the question: ‘What on earth is the church for?’…

‘Like flowers in a garden’

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‘Christians are like the several flowers in a garden, that have upon each of them the dew of heaven, which being shaken by the wind, they let fall their dew at each other’s roots, whereby they are jointly nourished and become nourishers of one another.’

‘Behold the flowers are divers in Stature, in Quality, and Colour and Smell and Virtue, and some are better than some: Also where the gardener hath set them, there they stand, and quarrel not with one another.’…

Isaiah 55:10f – ‘My words will not return void’

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55:10  The rain and snow fall from the sky
and do not return,
but instead water the earth
and make it produce and yield crops,
and provide seed for the planter and food for those who must eat.
55:11 In the same way, the promise that I make
does not return to me, having accomplished nothing.
No, it is realized as I desire
and is fulfilled as I intend.”

In Urban Legends of the Old Testament: 40 Common Misconceptions, David A Croteau and Gary E.…

‘A more Christlike God’ – 4

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Chapter 4 – God of will or God of love?

Throughout Christian history, some have centred their theology on the idea of God’s absolute sovereignty.  God is almighty, he is in control.  Whatever he wishes comes to pass.  Everything is foreordained – including the fall of humanity, the election of some to eternal life, and the fate of those who defy him.

So, if God commands the slaughter of a people, to obey is good, to disobey is evil (see 1 Sam 15).…

Is Jesus the Good Samaritan?

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Lk 10:25 Now an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 10:26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you understand it?” 10:27 The expert answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” 10:28 Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”…

Is the Good Samaritan an allegory?

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Lk 10:25 Now an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 10:26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you understand it?” 10:27 The expert answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” 10:28 Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”…