When John W. Cooper’s Body, Soul, and Life Everlasting: Biblical Anthropology and the Monism-Dualism Debate came out I was not only intrigued but sold on his views of what it means to be an integrated human, body and soul. Much later J. P. Moreland’s The Soul: How We Know It’sRead More
This video is a good conversation starter. That is, if folks could agree to discuss this subject. Sadly, most won’t talk about it, concluding something like “You can’t know what happens after death,” which really translates to “I refuse to think about it.” The fact that death is an impendingRead More
It’s always a privilege to study God’s Word and a joy to present my findings to others. I was asked if I would fill in the pulpit ministry at a local church while the pastor was out of the country visiting Turkey. With some hesitation I accepted, since I doRead More
Not sure about you but I’m still on a post-Easter kick and can’t get over the fact that Easter is not just one day each year. Easter is everyday! To that end I offer this apologetic tidbit based upon a straightforward reading of the biblical texts. Divine power did notRead More
Behind every New Testament command (often issued as an imperative) is the assumption that God’s Spirit is present in us to empower our will to act. It is by the Holy Spirit’s strength that we fulfill God’s righteous requirements for holy living (Rom 8:3-4; 13-14). In fact, without the Spirit’sRead More
Continuing my read through A New Heaven and a New Earth: Reclaiming Biblical Eschatology by J. Richard Middleton and I cannot recommend it highly enough. In chapters 7, 8 he offers important, practical insights on the resurrection of Christ in relation to the scope of redemption. In “The New Testament’s Vision of Cosmic Renewal” (chapter 7)Read More
N.T. Wright’s newest title Surprised by Scripture is sweeping in its scope. Addressing a variety of topics from science and religion to economics or women in ministry, this is a good introduction to some thoughtful ways of looking at issues facing the contemporary church. As a trained apologist, I especiallyRead More
The raising of Lazarus from the dead in John’s Gospel is the grand finale of miracles in Jesus’ public ministry. Other miracles of Jesus are no less significant. Yet, raising Lazarus is Jesus’ most spectacular display of power before his crucifixion and it foreshadows the glory of his own resurrection. InRead More
In honor of the Christian Orthodox Easter holiday, I offer the following observations. The resurrected body of Jesus was not entirely identical to his human body. 1 Cor. 15:42-44 lists four essential differences between an earthly body and a resurrected body: Human Body Resurrected Body mortal immortal dishonorable glorious weak powerfulRead More
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same asRead More
Death does not have the final word. The resurrection of Christ assures all believers that we will some day be raised and that something better does indeed lie beyond our existence here on earth (Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 15:54-57; Philip. 3:21). Not only the guarantee of our future resurrection, butRead More