Bible Study Lessons
Some biblical texts have caused much dismay within the Christian community. For a small group of texts this concern can be seen throughout Christian history. One verse that fits this description is 1 Peter 3:19. I will quote it in its context: 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you … Read more
The Resurrection of Jesus by Dale Allison smashes historical arguments made by both defenders and critics of the Christian faith. Using the hammer of historical criticism, Allison shows how much we can know about the central miracle of Christianity. In other words, the key question is this: How far can historical investigation take us in … Read more
In the history of Christianity, few things have been as contentious as the Lord’s Supper, also known as the Eucharist or Communion. This post will delve into the biblical data behind the Lord’s Supper. The Passover On the night Jesus was betrayed, he started a practice that would continue until the end of time. The … Read more
C. H. Dodd (1884-1973) was an influential New Testament scholar. In his book The Interpretation of the Fourth Gospel, he makes a simple observation: The Gospel of John introduces its characters whereas Mark expects his readers to know who he is talking about. For example, “And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness” (Mark … Read more
The previous chapter offered an historical overview of Christian universalism. This chapter will focus on the biblical data. Separation If you’re ready to refute Christian universalism with a litany of verses, let me quickly concede that two outcomes, involving a separation between the righteous and the wicked, appear to be clearly expressed in certain passages. … Read more