Most major translations agree that man is to have dominion "over all the earth." Genesis 1:26 (NIV) Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the...
Mark Ward
Ἀγαπάω (Agapao) Is Commanded While Φιλέω (Phileo) Is Not, So the Former Is More Volitional Than the Latter
Have you ever heard someone argue that ἀγαπάω is commanded in the New Testament while φιλέω is not, so the former is more volitional than the latter? Immediately, anyone familiar with the work of linguist and biblical scholar James Barr should be suspicious. He warned...
Turn Neither to the Right Hand nor to the… Wait… Mom, Which One is My Left?
I saved this whole article in my BibleWorks notes. Here are the excerpts I highlighted for use as a future sermon illustration: Not long ago, a team of researchers watched a 1-year-old boy take justice into his own hands. The boy had just seen a puppet show in which...
A Smattering of Notes on Free Will
Augustine in 426 wrote On Grace and Free Will. Erasumus wrote a book in 1524 called On the Freedom of the Will. Luther, an Augustinian, replied in 1525 with his book, On the Bondage of the Will. Edwards wrote a book in 1754 called Freedom of the Will, yes, but the...
Biblical Theology, Practical Application, And Pendulum Swings
I found the following excerpt from Michael Lawrence’s new Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church (browse; buy) really helpful. I’ve been excited about the storyline view of Scripture, and I still believe it is primary. It is essential to know that the Bible is...
What Is the Chief End of Man?
What did the authors of the Westminster Catechism mean by "enjoy" in their first question? Did they mean what we mean by the word—"to take delight in"? Or did they in fact mean something different, "to give joy to"? Is man's chief end "to glorify God and give joy to...
Periodic Reminder
I’m the semi-official Logos Bible Software representative for BJU. Honestly, I’d rather your money go through the Campus Store, but there are some details which haven’t fallen into place there yet. Here is the discount link for BJU faculty, staff, and students:...
The Enlightenment Needs Religion like Fish Needs a Bicycle
Enlightenment rationalism has failed as a worldview. There’s just something missing. And some of the Enlightenment’s most redoubtable defenders are willing to admit it. Sort of. That’s the theme of Stanley Fish’s latest blog-column. He tells the sad story of Jürgen...
Lovest Thou Me More than These?
Are agapao and phileo really different in the New Testament? How about in John 21:15-17, Jesus' famous conversation with Peter? What does the evidence say? I just read a great little book which genuinely helped me understand my Bible better, Roy F. Butler's little...
Forward this Blog Post to 8 Friends and I will Prove that Your Worldview Is Right
Neil Postman has pointed out that when the flow of information in a society has become a flood, information filters become increasingly important. We need mechanisms to distinguish good information from bad, useful from worthless. Postman’s prescience amazes me,...