Category Archives: Hermeneutics

God’s Plan: Introduction

We last met John H. Walton in the Creation 2.0 series. He’s the expert on Ancient Near East cultures who argues so powerfully that Genesis 1 is written in terms of the construction of a temple for God — that … Continue reading

Posted in Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan, Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan, Uncategorized | 14 Comments

Alabama Graduation Success Rates … and Such Like

Among the comments lost in the site crash a few weeks ago were comments relating to the graduation rates of University of Alabama football players. The comments are lost, but I distinctly remember promising to post the latest results just … Continue reading

Posted in Misreading Scriptures with Western Eyes, Misreading Scriptures with Western Eyes, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Hermeneutics: Jesus and Moses, Continued

I made a point in a comment that, on reflection, should be expanded on and refined a bit. Consider Jesus’ explanation for why his disciples weren’t required to wash their hands before eating — (Mar 7:1-8 ESV) Now when the … Continue reading

Posted in Hermeneutics, Uncategorized | 23 Comments

Hermeneutics: Paul and Moses

Posted in Hermeneutics, Uncategorized | 24 Comments

Hermeneutics: Jesus and Moses

The greatest teacher of hermeneutics is Jesus. Jesus goes out of his way at times to put his disagreements with the Pharisees on display, and we can learn a lot about how to read the New Testament (and the Law … Continue reading

Posted in Hermeneutics, Uncategorized | 16 Comments

Hermeneutics: The Big Rocks

Jerry wrote, I remember reading in the papers several decades ago an objection to some suggestion on hermeneutics, “But if we adopt that as our hermeneutic we will not be able to support….” and a particular doctrine prevalent in the … Continue reading

Posted in Hermeneutics, Uncategorized | 32 Comments

Hermeneutics: On How Hard Hermeneutics Is

It’s an interesting fact that we insist that a church isn’t “scripturally organized” if it has no deacons, even though the scriptures do not tell us what the deacons are supposed to do — at least not very clearly. But … Continue reading

Posted in Hermeneutics, Uncategorized | 15 Comments

Hermeneutics: Widows, an application from an unfamiliar passage

Scholars, ancient and modern, conservative and progressive and moderate and liberal, struggle to understand what Paul says about widows in 1 Timothy 5. (1Ti 5:3-16 ESV) 3 Honor widows who are truly widows.  4 But if a widow has children … Continue reading

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Hermeneutics: Transculturality, Braided Hair, and Pigtails

[I’ve changed the title of the series, as the topic has shifted — but in a good direction. And it’s easier to type. I’m keeping the T shirt logo because I’m still an elder.] Alexander wrote, In 1Co 11:2-16 Paul … Continue reading

Posted in Hermeneutics, Uncategorized | 18 Comments

Reading the Gospels

Two articles by Matt Proctor in the Christian Standard on how to read the Gospels — with some incidental comments on inerrancy. Enjoy. Getting the Most from the Gospels (Part One) Getting the Most from the Gospels (Part Two)

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