The Bible is a ready resource for guidance on topics and questions that often provoke and perplex believers. And yet few know where to look for the answers they need. Until now. Written in question-and-answer format for easy reading, these quick reference guides provide brief summaries of important biblical doctrines so Christians can confidently and honestly discuss their beliefs with family, friends, and neighbors.
Given the popular-level conversations on phenomena like the Gospel of Thomas and Bart Ehrman's Misquoting Jesus, as well as the current gap in evangelical scholarship on the origins of the New Testament, Michael Kruger's Canon Revisited meets a significant need for an up-to-date work on canon by addressing recent developments in the field. He presents an academically rigorous yet accessible study of the New Testament canon that looks deeper than the traditional surveys of councils and creeds, mining the text itself for direction in understanding what the original authors and audiences believed the canon to be. Canon Revisited provides an evangelical introduction to the New Testament canon that can be used in seminary and college classrooms, and read by pastors and educated lay leaders alike. In contrast to the prior volumes on canon, this volume distinguishes itself by placing a substantial focus on the theology of canon as the context within which the historical evidence is evaluated and assessed. Rather than simply discussing the history of canon—rehashing the Patristic data yet again—Kruger develops a strong theological framework for affirming and authenticating the canon as authoritative. In effect, this work successfully unites both the theology and the historical development of the canon, ultimately serving as a practical defense for the authority of the New Testament books.
As Jesus was celebrating His final Passover meal, He made some bold statements. First, He took the bread and said, This is my body. Then He took the cup, saying, This is my blood. Next, He commanded the disciples to eat and drink in remembrance of Him. What did Jesus mean? Do the bread and wine literally become His body and blood? What happens when Christians take the Lord's Supper? In The Lord's Supper: Answers to Common Questions, Dr. Keith A. Mathison walks through these questions and several others to help us better understand this sacrament. Far from being an empty ritual, the Lord's Supper is a means of grace, a source of spiritual nourishment, and true communion with Christ and His church.
For many years now, the topic of the New Testament canon has been the main focus of my research and writing. It is an exciting field of study that probes into questions that have long fascinated both scholars and laymen alike, namely when and how these 27 books came to be regarded as a new scriptural deposit. But, the story of the New Testament canon is bigger than just the "when" and the "how". It is also, and perhaps most fundamentally, about the "why". Why did Christians have a canon at all? Does the canon exist because of some later decision or action of the second- or third-century church? Or did it arise more naturally from within the early Christian faith itself? Was the canon an extrinsic phenomenon, or an intrinsic one? These are the questions this book is designed to address. And these are not micro questions, but macro ones. They address foundational and paradigmatic issues about the way we view the canon. They force us to consider the larger framework through which we conduct our research - whether we realized we had such a framework or not. Of course, we are not the first to ask such questions about why we have a canon. Indeed, for many scholars this question has already been settled. The dominant view today, as we shall see below, is that the New Testament is an extrinsic phenomenon; a later ecclesiastical development imposed on books originally written for another purpose. This is the framework through which much of modern scholarship operates. And it is the goal of this volume to ask whether it is a compelling one. To be sure, it is no easy task challenging the status quo in any academic field. But, we should not be afraid to ask tough questions. Likewise, the consensus position should not be afraid for them to be asked.
Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? takes you to the heart of one of the most dividing questions in the Church today: how are the Holy Spirit’s miracles at work among God's people now? Is he still actively giving the gifts of tongues, prophecy, and healing that fill the book of Acts? Is he driving out demons when Christians command them to flee? Or are these events confined to the time of the early church and the apostles? This volume of the Counterpoints series provides an impartial format for comparing the four main positions on present-day miracles (including the history and distinctions between the three positions that affirm miraculous gifts) with voice also given to a large sector of open-but-cautious evangelicals: Cessationist: there are no miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit today. Pentecostal: gifts are intended for today, with certain nuances focused on baptism and speaking in tongues. Charismatic: gifts are intended for today and should be actively practiced. Third Wave: gifts are intended for today, with greater emphasis on baptism and less on tongues. This thought-provoking book will help Christians on every side of the miraculous gifts debate to better understand their own position and the positions of others. The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.
"Jesus commands the disciples in Matthew 28 to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Baptism is an important part of life in the Christian church, but it is also mysterious and the cause of much disagreement. In Baptism: Answers to Common Questions, Guy M. Richard tackles the key questions that people have about baptism, unfolding all that the Bible has to say about what it means, how and to whom it is to be administered, and how God blesses His people through this sacrament"--
The Bible is a ready resource for guidance on topics and questions that often provoke and perplex believers. And yet few know where to look for the answers they need. Until now. Written in question-and-answer format for easy reading, this quick reference guide provides brief summaries of important biblical doctrines so Christians can confidently and honestly discuss their beliefs with family, friends, and neighbors.
The Bible is a ready resource for guidance on topics and questions that often perplex believer and curious nonbeliever alike. But where do you begin to look for the answers? In fact, how do we know for sure that we can even trust the Bible to provide the answers being sought? Answers to Questions About the Bible provides answers to the origins and authority of the Bible, along with answers to such questions as: • Who wrote the Bible, and when? • How reliable is the Bible when it comes to history, science, ethics, or other topics? • How do we know that the Bible we have today is the original Word of God? • Why were some books included in the Bible and others left out? Written in question-and-answer format for easy access, these quick reference guides provide succinct summaries of authoritative information so readers can be confident of what they read and be prepared to discuss these topics with family, friends, or neighbors accurately.
