What does the Bible say about itself?
(January 11, 2013)This is the third in a series of posts on Understanding the Bible in the 21st century. It is important we begin not with what people say about the Bible, but what it says about itself.
Tag: Bible interpretation
Interpreting the Bible
(January 5, 2013)I have argued (Everyone disbelieves some parts of the Bible) that, while most christians say we follow the Bible as our standard of what to believe and do, in fact all of us make exceptions for certain parts. So how do we decide how to interpret the tricky parts of the Bible?
Everyone disbelieves some parts of the Bible
(January 1, 2013)Christians have probably argued more about the Bible, and how to interpret it, than almost anything else. Many churches say they believe the “Bible alone”, echoing the Reformation doctrine of sola scriptura. Yet I believe there is always a gap between the claim and the actual belief. I am a christian who believes the Bible […]
Peace and non-violence
(December 17, 2012)Completing my examination of things we can all learn from the Anabaptists, with the core conviction on peace and non-violence.
Spirituality, justice and money
(December 12, 2012)Another core Anabaptist conviction to challenge us all.
'Church' in the New Testament
(November 20, 2012)We are all familiar with several contemporary meanings of the word “church” – a building, a Sunday event, a group of people or a denomination. But what did it mean in the New Testament? The Greek word “ekklesia” is often translated “church”, but what did it mean?
NT Wright on reading the New Testament
(November 17, 2012). I liked this NT Wright quote, posted on the Enough Light blog.
Community & discipleship
(October 27, 2012)Another emphasis and core conviction of the Anabaptists that I believe we can all learn from ….
Forecast: mud and fog ahead
(October 17, 2012)I’ve been a Bob Dylan fan since 1963, when he was often described as a “protest singer”. But after only a few albums of “protest music”, he turned his back on it all, and wrote a song with the refrain: “Ah but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.” Sometimes I […]
Change – coming ready or not!?
(September 24, 2012)Christians disagree, and sometimes argue, about many things. Current hot topics include: homosexuality, divorce, hell, evolution and Genesis, the place of women in the church, Biblical inerrancy, war, climate change, and the importance of ‘good works’ like social justice and social welfare. Some christians get very worried about the failure of many of their fellow […]