“Courtesy forbids direct speech. There is a great deal to be said for courtesy, but like any virtue isolated from other virtues, it can become distorted. In particular, courtesy can become an extraordinary subtle form of manipulation favoring those in power.”
- Stanley Hauerwaus, Hannah’s Child: A Theologian’s Memoir, p. 181
Some have recently inquired about the issue of tithing, and while there are numerous resources of greater length, this 24 page paper from conservative, Evangelical, NT scholars, Andreas Köstenberger and David Croteau, is the briefest yet most through treatment of the topic. I thought I would post it here for your consideration. Before digging into the exegetical details, I thought it would be helpful to briefly summarize his main conclusions in the following paragraph for quick reference.
Throughout this Good Friday we are looking at the various theories of the atonement or explanations of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. This is the second post today, and in this one we turn to the theory of Ransom.
Throughout Church history Christians have meditated upon Jesus’ cross, and inevitably asked the question, “What did Jesus accomplish on the cross?” The bible uses a number of metaphors to describe the work of Jesus on the cross, and throughout its history the Church emphasized particular metaphors over others, depending upon the different historical and cultural contexts of the Church. The Church’s contextual contemplation of Jesus’ suffering led to different explanations as to what Jesus accomplished by his death on the cross. These different answers became the various theories of the atonement we know, study and often ignore today, and the most prominent theory advanced by the early Church was the theory of Ransom. Read the rest of this entry »
Throughout Church history Christians have meditated upon Jesus’ work on the cross, and inevitably the question arose, “What precisely was accomplished by Jesus on the cross?” The bible uses a number of metaphors to describe the work of Jesus on the cross, and throughout its history the Church emphasized particular metaphors over others, depending upon the different historical and cultural contexts of the Church. Their contextual contemplation of Jesus’ suffering led to different explanations as to what Jesus’ work on the cross accomplished. These different answers became the various theories of the atonement we know and study today, and the earliest theory advanced by the Church was the theory of Recapitulation. Read the rest of this entry »
The Elephant’s Debt addresses the misrepresentations and rumors surrounding Joe Stowell and his connection to the website. Click here for further details.
Saturday, 16 February 2013We present to you another week of our most interesting blog reading. As always the views of these posts are not necessarily the views of BSI, but they are sure going to get you either thinking, talking or mad, possibly all three. Remember, keep calm and enjoy some links and joe.
*A homily given on Ash Wednesday at Midtown Christian Community, Feb. 17, 2010
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
A third member of The Void requests to have his statement put up on The Elephant’s Debt. Read the rest of this entry »
Saturday, 9 February 2013We present to you another week of our most interesting blog reading. As always the views of these posts are not necessarily the views of BSI, but they are sure going to get you either thinking, talking or mad, possibly all three. Remember, keep calm and enjoy some links and joe.
Yesterday afternoon, another member of The Void contacted The Elephant’s Debt and requested to have his statement put up on the site. Read the rest of this entry »
