Is the NIV a good translation?
The NIV is a very good translation. It is, however, a "dynamic equivalent" translation. That is, they translate "thought for thought" rather than "word for word." That makes it more "readable" than…
The Apostle Formerly Known as Saul
I keep coming across a “sticky” misconception that God (specifically, Jesus) changed the name of an important figure we now typically refer to as “Saint Paul.” In a recent sermon, I heard: “Just like…
Slain In The Spirit
Well, the fact that your pastor won't discuss the merits of the teaching ought to tell you something significant. Not that Benny Hinn or his theological compatriots are wrong about everything, but…
Literal Interpretation
Preliminary Issues First, I'm afraid I will have to mix my answers with theology in order that my responses to specific examples will make sense. You clearly approach the Bible from a particular set…
Hebrew Superlative
The short answer is no. There are many ways to form a superlative in Hebrew, and in the Bible threefold repetition is not one of them. The long and technical answer is: In Hebrew the superlative may…
Preaching vs. Teaching
The distinction between preaching and teaching is not one that Scripture draws for us explicitly. It is also fair to say that they way modern denominations use these terms is not always consistent…
Covenants, Vows, Promises and a False Gospel?
I'm sorry to hear about your situation. It sounds like you are wrestling several issues. I'll try to address two of them specifically. The Gospel The first issue is the question of what the gospel…
Ambiguous Scripture
On Interpretation There are several reasons that Scripture is misinterpreted, and not all of them have to do with how it was written. In some senses, God purposed for some Scripture to be…
Bible Versions
There are several factors to consider when discussing the accuracy of translations. First, some different translations are based on different manuscripts (old copies of Greek and Hebrew texts).…
Does the Doctrine of the Trinity Matter?
The matter is highly complex and abstract. In fact, it took the church until A.D. 451 (at the Council of Chalecedon) to finalize its formal statements most of these things issues. Even today the…
Calvinist Hermeneutics
I suppose the answer depends on how you define "literal" and "figurative." I would say "literal," with the explanation that Calvinists often define the "literal" meaning as the "originally intended"…
Is Strong's Concordance a good Bible dictionary?
Yes, Strong's concordance is an excellent dictionary of sorts. It is good to know the meaning of words when studying anything. However, we also must remember that the Bible is more than just words…
Narrative Theology
"Narrative theology" is a fairly broad term, encompassing a variety of specific approaches to theology, interpretation and application. Most generally, it is that approach to theology that finds…
Bible Rife with Contradiction
There are many things in the Bible that at first glance look contradictory, but there are, in my opinion, reasonable explanations for all of them. Much of recognizing the harmony rather than the…
Supra or Infra?
On Infralapsarianism and Supralapsarianism There is no single Reformed stance on infra- and supralapsarianism, although it is probably true that infralapsarianism has been the dominant view. Both of…
Hosea 11 Interpretation
Hosea 11:2 is part of God's complaint about his wayward people. In this particular verse, he is expressing his love for Israel and his dedication to them, especially as demonstrated in his patience…
Meaning and Application
The meaning/application argument is developed pretty fully in Doctrine of the Knowledge of God. Here's a summary: To "apply" the Bible, in general terms, is to use the Bible to answer our questions…
Systematic Theology Divisions?
The answer to this question is very dependent upon one's background. Commonly we see: (1) the Doctrine of the Word of God, (2) the Doctrine of God, (3) the Doctrine of Man, (4) the Doctrine of the…
Prophecy and Interpretation 101
Lecture referenced: Why Do We Baptize Our Children? Hebrews 8 indicates that Jesus is the mediator of the "new" or "renewed" covenant of which Jeremiah spoke (the Greek word kainos may be translated…
Translation or Perversion?
Well, since we don't have the original Scriptures, which were written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, any Bible we compile entails some guesswork. But beyond this, the problem you raise does not deal…
Why Study Theology?
Any interpretation of the Bible, any understanding of it at all, is theology. We can't even approach the Bible to read it without carrying with us certain theological assumptions (at the very least…
What is Theology?
Actually, there isn't really one "right" definition. The word "theology" may be properly used in a number of ways. The most common idea represented by the word "theology" is "the study of God" or…