The Priority of John

The Priority of John

Author: John A. T. Robinson

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2011-03-01

Total Pages: 461

ISBN-13: 1610971027

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It has been the fate of many books on John to be left unfinished, for its interpretation naturally forms the crowning of a lifetime. I have myself been intending to write a book on the Fourth Gospel since the 'fifties, before I broke off (reluctantly) to be Bishop of Woolwich, though I am grateful now that I did not produce it prematurely at that time. It means however that I shall be compelled to refer to and often recapitulate material directly or indirectly related to the Johannine literature, which I have written over the years (some of it indeed while I was bishop). Many scholars in fact, if not most now, think that the author of the Gospel himself never lived to finish it and have seen the work as the product of numerous hands and redactors. As will become clear, I prefer to believe that the ancient testimony of the church is correct that John wrote it 'while still in the body' and that its roughnesses, self-corrections and failures of connection, real or imagined, are the result of its not having been smoothly or finally edited. If so I am in good company. At any rate who could wish for a better last testimony from his friends than that 'his witness is true' (John 21.24)? In other words, he got it right--historically and theologically. --from the Introduction At the time of his death in December 1983, John Robinson had completed the text of the book on which his 1984 Bampton lectures were to be based, so that it is possible to see the full details of his extremely controversial argument that the Gospel of John was the first Gospel to be written. Dr. Robinson himself once described the dawning of his conviction that this was the case as a 'Damascus Road experience', and his presentation of the evidence is made with all the customary vigor with which he would argue for something in which he deeply believed. The objections which need to be overcome to stand on its head what has long been one of the fundamental assumptions of New Testament scholarship are substantial, but here once again Dr. Robinson shows that so much of what is taken as established fact in that area is no more than preference and presumption. Certainly he will provoke rethinking on a whole series of topics, from the chronology of Jesus' ministry to the nature of his teaching. As The Listener said of the equally controversial Redating the New Testament: The greatest pleasure Dr. Robinson gives is purely intellectual. His book is a prodigious virtuoso exercise in inductive reasoning and an object lesson in the nature of historical argument and historical knowledge. This sequel equals, if not excels, its predecessor in those respects and is a fitting tribute to a brilliant New Testament scholar. The manuscript was prepared for publication by Dr. Chip Coakley, Dr Robinson's pupil, now Lecturer in Religious Studies in the University of Lancaster.


To Be a Christian (Pack Of 25)

To Be a Christian (Pack Of 25)

Author: J. I. Packer

Publisher: Good News Publishers

Published: 2020-04-30

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 9781682164044

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To Be a Christian By J.I. Packer and Lane Dennis What does it mean to be a Christian? What is essential for Christian faith and life? How can we know Jesus Christ and experience the full love of God through him? How can you become a child of God, anchored in the full reality of unquenchable joy, beginning in this life and ever increasing in the life to come? It is possible to know about these things, however, without actually knowing them personally in one's life. In order not to miss what God is offering you, it is imperative that you receive Jesus Christ as your own Savior and Lord--if you have not already done so--and commit yourself to him to be his life-long disciple. There is no more important thing in life that you could ever do--both for the sake of this life and immeasurably more for the life to come. And when you have received Jesus Christ as your own Savior and Lord, to know that you have done it, so that you can go on from there, knowing the fullness of joy as a child of God both now and forever. To be a Christian is a lifelong personal commitment to Jesus Christ, but it begins with becoming a Christian in a deliberate conscious way, much like being a spouse begins with taking marriage vows. Being a Christian is a process of advance from that point. As you continue with Christ, with his Father as your heavenly Father, his Holy Spirit as your helper and guide, and his Church as your new family, you will constantly be led deeper into your born-again calling of worship, service, and Christ-like relationships. You need to know from the beginning that God creates human beings for the purpose of knowing him, loving him, and enjoying a deep friendship with him. But no one naturally fulfills this purpose. We are all out of step with God. In the words of the Bible, we are sinners, guilty before God and separated from him (Romans 3:23). Life in Christ is, first and foremost, God's taking living action to remedy our dire situation (Romans 5:8). The key facts of this divine remedy--which the Bible calls the Gospel (meaning "good news")--are these: 1. God the Father sent his eternal Son into this world to reconcile us sinners to himself, and to preserve and prepare us for his glory in the life to come. 2. Born of the Virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit, God's son (whose human name is "Jesus") lived a perfect life, died a criminal's death as a sacrifice for your sins, and rose again from the grave to rule as Christ (meaning "the Anointed One"), reigning on his Father's behalf in the Kingdom of God. 3. Reigning now in heaven, Jesus continues to draw sinners to himself through the communication of the Gospel here on earth. 4. By the Holy Spirit, God enables us to turn wholeheartedly from our sinful and self-centered ways (repentance) and to entrust ourselves to him, to live in union and communion with God (faith). Our natural condition could not be more desperate and urgent. In spiritual terms, our sin and self-centeredness is the way of death, and fellowship with Christ is the way of life now and forever. As the Apostle Peter said when her proclaimed the Gospel on Pentecost morning: "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself (Acts 2:38-39). God the Father calls us to himself through his Son. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 4:16). As we come to the Father, through Jesus Christ his Son, we experience and know and grow in the unconditional and transforming love of God. God the Son calls us to believe in him. We may understand a great deal about Jesus, but that is not the same as personally believing in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We can attend church services and do many good things without knowing the risen Jesus. Knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord means personally believing in him, surrendering our lives to him, and living as his joyful followers. God the Holy Spirit enlightens our minds and hearts to believe in Jesus, giving us spiritual birth and life as we believe and trust in him. Our loving Father will "give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him" (Luke 11:13). As we place our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us and wonderfully provides us with the power and gifts for life and ministry as Jesus' disciples. To live faithfully as Christians, we must rely upon the equipping and enabling power of the Holy Spirit. In a way beyond our grasp, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are revealed as equally one God and three Persons. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are near to us at all times and will hear us whenever we pray with sincerity, truly meaning what we say. God calls us to enter into continual repentance and faith in Christ. And the way to enter into life in Christ--today and forever--is to pray a prayer like this (preferably in the presence of a mature Christian): Lord Jesus Christ, I confess my faults, shortcomings, sins, and rebellious acts, and ask you to forgive me. I embrace you, Lord Jesus, as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for your atoning death on the cross in obedience to your Father's will, to wash away my sins. I enthrone you, Lord Jesus, to be in charge of every part of my life, and I ask you to indwell and empower me with your Holy Spirit, so that I may live as your faithful follower from now on, in this life and forever with you in heaven. In Jesus name I pray these words with all my heart and soul, amen. If you have prayed the prayer above "to be a Christian," we would encourage you to visit the GoodNews.org website, where you can read the Bible free and find many helpful materials for your new life as a Christian. Excerpted from To Be A Christian: An Anglican Catechism. Used by permission of the Anglican Church in North America.


Who Faked the "World’s Oldest Bible"?

Who Faked the

Author: David W. Daniels

Publisher: Chick Publications

Published: 2021-07-09

Total Pages: 261

ISBN-13: 0758914008

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If the devil has cooked up a plot against your Bible, would you want to know it? Conspiracy theories are destroyed by solid evidence. Author David W. Daniels came to the point where he could no longer ignore the mounting evidence. He was schooled in Bible college and seminary to believe that the King James was hopelessly obsolete. But the mounting confusion around the new Bible translations left him wondering. He already knew how to use modern search techniques to quickly discover relevant evidence. He soon learned that the Bible version issue was more than a baseless conspiracy. Many new facts had become available shedding light on the history of Bible versions. He learned that the scholars who decided over 100 years ago to “fix” the King James may not have had the best intentions. His discovery of Satan’s plan to damage God’s words is chronicled in a series of books. In 2017, his book, "Is the 'World’s Oldest Bible' a Fake?" presented heavy evidence against Codex Sinaiticus, the manuscript that scholars claim is the world’s oldest Bible. This book attempts to answer the next question: Who Faked the “World’s Oldest Bible”? It reads like a mystery novel, but over 100 illustrations and more than 300 footnotes gives it the force of a graduate research paper. The murky narrative of the discovery and evaluation of the Sinaiticus becomes much clearer with this new book. Daniels leaves it up to the reader to decide how this might affect his or her eternal destiny.


How to Be Free from the Fear of Death

How to Be Free from the Fear of Death

Author: Ray Comfort

Publisher: BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC

Published: 2021-11-02

Total Pages: 159

ISBN-13: 1424562821

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Some people admit to their fear of death while others lie awake at night silently suffering over thoughts of their mortality. In How to Be Free from the Fear of Death, Ray Comfort addresses the subject head-on. Overcome your fear as you · understand why we suffer, age, and die, · recognize God’s power over death, · develop habits to maintain your peace, and · share your newfound joy with others. Rest peacefully knowing that death is not the end but a wonderful beginning.


One Minute After You Die

One Minute After You Die

Author: Erwin W. Lutzer

Publisher: Moody Publishers

Published: 2007-05-01

Total Pages: 158

ISBN-13: 0802479561

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One minute after you die, you will either be elated or terrified-and it will be too late to reroute your travel plans. When you slip behind the parted curtain, your life will not be over. Rather, it will be just beginning-in a place of unimaginable bliss or indescribable gloom. One Minute After You Die opens a window on eternity with a simple and moving explanation of what the Bible teaches about death. Bestselling author Erwin Lutzer urges readers to study what the Bible says on this critical subject, bringing a biblical and pastoral perspective to such issues as: Channeling, reincarnation, and near-death experiences, What heaven will be like The justice of eternal punishment The death of a child Trusting in God's providence Preparing for your own final moment


I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (25-Pack)

I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (25-Pack)

Author: Billy Graham

Publisher: Good News Publishers

Published: 2024-09-17

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781682164358

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Evangelist and author Billy Graham proclaims that "the way to God is through personal faith in Jesus Christ." This redesigned tract explains the undeserved gift of salvation.


Hope for Hard Times

Hope for Hard Times

Author: Scott Hahn

Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor (IN)

Published: 2009-01-01

Total Pages: 63

ISBN-13: 9781592767106

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Are you managing your life or is your life managing you? Get back on track with the perfect dose of inspiration, fresh perspective and faithful direction in Our Sunday Visitor's brand new 30-Minute Read series. The 30-Minute Read series touches on a variety of useful topics such as: --Stress-Proof Your Marriage --Why Me? When Bad Things Happen -- Hope For Hard Times Find a sliver of time at lunch, in the parking lot or just before bed and get started today!


Wow! the Good News Tract 20-Pack

Wow! the Good News Tract 20-Pack

Author: Dandi Daley Mackall

Publisher:

Published: 2018-06-05

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 9781496433480

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The gospel is often called "the Good News," and that's because it's the best news ever! Wow! tells the Good News using four words: Wow! Uh-Oh. Yes! and Ahh. Incorporating words that kids use every day, the gospel will take on a more personal meaning as kids learn the good news of God's love for them. Now this message is even easier to share with Wow! The Good News Tract. These pamphlets are perfect for sharing with a classroom, neighbors, or at a church outreach. Additional online resources for parents and teachers include finger puppets, Bible verse memory cards, teacher helps, and more.