Blog
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Adding to the Bible: Reflections on 1 John 5:7–8
The King James Version of 1 John 5:7–8 reads:
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
Nowhere else in the Bible do we find such an explicit confirmation of the Trinity: in this brief passage orthodox trinitarianism is laid out in no uncertain terms. Unfortunately, this theological gem isn’t actually part of the original text of the Bible. In the words of renowned New Testament scholar Bruce Metzger: “that these words are spurious and have no right to stand in the New Testament is certain.” (more…)
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Recent posts elsewhere
Over on Patheos, I reviewed John Andrew Morrow’s “The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World.” It’s an interesting book about the textual basis for a peaceful and inclusive form of Islam. My review generated a lengthy discussion in the comments section with someone who’s passionate in his anti-Islamic beliefs. This shouldn’t really come as a surprise, but I’m always dismayed by such stubborn and unrelenting vitriol toward any and all Muslims.
I also posted some thoughts encouraging us to Keep the X in Xmas in which I briefly delve into the manuscript tradition of abbreviating sacred names in the Bible. The Bible does it, so should we!
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Happy Thanksgiving
Wayne Thiebaud, Pies, Pies, Pies, 1961, Oil on canvas, 20 in. x 30 in.
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Meting out help for helpmeet
This badly misguided comment crossed my computer monitor yesterday: “GOD made women to be a helpmeet for Man, the Bible says. What is a Help Meet. It is a Proper assistant — A Second in command.”
Helpmeet isn’t a real word — or at least it shouldn’t be a real word. It’s essentially a mistake, an etymological misstep that distorts the original text from which it derives. The King James Version of Genesis 2.18 reads: “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” (more…)
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Putting Words in Paul’s Mouth: “Women: Shut Up!”
1 Corinthians 14.34−35 reads:
Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
Here Paul writes in unambiguous terms a dictum applicable not just to a single church, but to “the churches,” repeating his injunction twice: women should remain silent, they aren’t allowed to speak, and then, in case you’re still looking for a way around this rule, he reminds us that “it is disgraceful” for women to speak in church.
I can’t imagine how Paul could be any more clear. Reading the text at face value, there’s simply no room for interpreting away his command. But despite this clarity, few Christians actually follow Paul’s command. We try to explain it away as a cultural artifact, perhaps addressing a specific situation such as the problems caused by a group of unruly wives in Corinth. An across-the-board prohibition against women speaking in the church? Surely not! (more…)
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Purgatory at Patheos
I’ve been posting a bit more frequently over at the Unfundamentalist Christians Patheos Blog. Most of my posts there are also cross-posted here, but my latest piece on Purgatory: Why would Catholics and Protestants argue over this? is only on Patheos. So…head on over there and check it out! -
Biblicism Gone Wild
One of the hallmarks of evangelicalism is its emphasis on the Bible as the final authority regarding spiritual truths. Evangelicals hold the Bible in high regard, looking to it as God’s definitive revelation to humanity and the essential guide for Christian life. And while there is much to be commended about such an understanding, pushing this idea too far often results in distorted and dangerous theological positions. (more…)
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Lucifer, the devil and me
I was going to do a nice write-up for Halloween about Lucifer as a name for the devil, especially in relation to Isaiah 14.12. But the more I dug into the topic, the more shadowy the truth behind it all became. To put it simply, there are more lies and half-truths about Satan floating around than I care to deal with. So rather than trying to write something more comprehensive, I’m going to tell you where I’m at and move on to other things. (more…)
