Blog Search Results

It's no longer about land!

As I've been thinking more about the Israel situation, and reading and hearing the responses and debates on my last article, and the issue in general, it seems to me that people can't help but get stuck in the mindset of a geo-political debate. Yes, there's a place called "Israel" in the middle-east, and yes there's a war going on which is terrible for all involved — but from a New Testament Christian perspective, that shouldn't be our focus when it comes to thinking about the true Israel! This is what it's about!   If you want to "support Israel" because you believe they are in the right or have 'just cause', then fine – just don't cal...

Coffee with Jesus: John 1

...a lot of debate around the translation of the first verse amongst certain heretical groups who try to diminish or alter the view of Jesus’ divinity or pre-existence etc. but I think the familiarity with the beginning three verses has caused us to miss that the next sixteen verses all point very strongly to the true nature of Jesus, who he is, and that he is also God. John 1:10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him. Verse three identifies the “Word” with creator status as “without him nothing was made”. John expands on this more, and then in verse 10 he states that this Word figure was coming in...

The Coming of Jesus: Revelation Fulfilled?

...riting is debated. Some argue for pre-70 AD authorship under Nero or just after him, while others argue for a late 90s date in the reign of Domitian. Church tradition and other early texts do seem wholly in favour of the later date, from what I can see, though there is definitely internal evidence within the text of Revelation which would appear to be speaking of events before the Jewish War. But as always, these things are open for interpretation – even the quotes which appear to favour a late date, since the language is often obscure and no one explicitly stamps a date on when John first saw or wrote this book, just allusions to certain times. The early cha...

Man-Made Tradition vs Apostolic Tradition

...Quite often in discussions which are about or involve some aspects of early church history or practices earlier Christians did, someone will inevitably throw out the "show stopper" that is "it's all just man made tradition" therefore not valid and the discussion is over. It’s as though saying it's "man made", without considering anything other than that they can't find an isolated chapter and verse in the bible which states something explicitly, means they've "won" the debate! Nothing more to see here folks, someone told us it's man made so we can all go home now. Either that, or the mere mention of the word “tradition” and suddenly you’re accused of be...

Lent: Day 14 - Justin Martyr: First Apology, Chaps. 24-35

...scholarly debate in brief in the intro text to the book itself here: earlychristianwritings.com/actspilate.html. Come back tomorrow where Justin continues with the theme of prophecy to further show proofs for Christ being the true manifest Word of God....

What does the word "Catholic" mean?

...tter. The debate is still unsettled on this matter. (The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity, pp.175-177) [3] The Donatists refused to accept the sacraments and spiritual authority of the priests and bishops who had fallen away from the faith during the Diocletian persecution (A.D. 303–305). [4] Even though there was a long period of time when the Eastern and Western churches had a resentful relationship, the date of 1054 is commonly taken as the beginning of the schism, as it is when Pope Leo IX and Michael Cerularius had major disagreements resulting in their mutual excommunication. The Crusades, eventual capture of Constantinople in 1204, and th...