exegesis
That You May Fight the Good Fight: An Exegetical Study of 1 Timothy 1:18
Exception: A Study of Jesus' Teaching on Divorce
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biblical studies
Analysis of 1 Thessalonias 2:3-9
Observations on Genesis 1-2
Observations on Romans 1:16-17
Observations on 1 Corinthians 11
Observations on Colossians 3:1-17
Observations on 1 Timothy 2
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church history
A Brief History and Analysis of the Early Waldensian Movement
The Execrable Sum of Villainies: John Wesley's Anti-Slavery Rhetoric
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ethics
The Challenge of Contradiction: The Necessity of God's Self-Revelation in Christian Ethics
All You Need is Love: Pauline Ethics and the Debate on Homosexuality and Gay Adoption
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hermeneutics
An Overview of the New Testament Writers' Hermeneutical Method
A Dialog with the Debate on Women in Ministry. This paper summarizes the two main positions in the issue (see more on this below) and interacts with one prominent work from an egalitarian scholar (again, see below for clarification), namely Catherine Clark Kroeger. The paper is predominantly an interaction with her overall hermeneutical approach to 2 Timothy 2:8-15.
The following are a series of short essays on hermeneutical issues/problems:
Historical Precedent in Acts and Spirit Baptism
Characteristics of Apocalyptic in Mark 13
New Testament Interpretations of Old Testament Eschatological Texts
Concerning the next two hermeneutics essays.... Many will find them controversial, perhaps even offensive. They deal with the issue of women in ministry -- a subject that continues to cause roiling debate within the church. I wish for those who visit my site to understand a few things:
- There are two positions in the church on such matters. On one side, the egalitarians assert that God has established no hierarchical order in the home or the church that would prefer one gender in leadership over the other. Alternatively, complementarians assert that men and women are completely equal in that they are both image bearers of God, but that God has assigned differing, yet complementary roles to men and women. According to complementarians, scripture indicates that the role of leadership has been given to men.
- The Bible can never be interpreted to countenance the notion that either sex is somehow superior to the other. I think it does, however, assert that men and women are equal but different, and that each gender has its own strengths, weaknesses, and aptitudes according to divine design. Admittedly, egalitarianism is far more compatible with modern American culture. Nevertheless, I find myself unpersuaded by egalitarianism only because I think the biblical case for complementarianism is stronger -- not because I like to take a contrarian view of things. It would be far easier for me to just adopt an egalitarian stance and be done with it.
- I am continually studying and re-evaluating what the Bible has to say on these matters. That Christians from many different faith traditions are so divided on the issue seems to indicate that it's not an open-shut case. So while I lean toward the complementarian view of things, I remain open to the possibility that my own understanding of Scripture's pronouncements on this matter could be out of phase.
- One of the reasons I am willing to consider my own error in this position is because I have met many women whose faith, integrity, and zeal for God have humbled me. Apart from what I presently view as the constraints of Scripture, it sometimes seems presumptuous and wasteful to resist their leadership. So I admit that I struggle with this issue.
- Now, for those of you who are appalled at me as you read this, I would like to point out one thing. The Bible speaks of man as the head of woman, and draws a parallel to the headship of the Heavenly Father over Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3). It should be noted that Jesus' person was in no way demeaned or diminished by the fact that the Father was His "head." He is still fully God, and was fully effective in His work and mission. Contra egalitarians and some cultural elements, I think this indicates that male headship does not eventuate in the objective subversion of a woman's dignity, happiness, or humanity.
Now -- having said all that, I offer the following two essays:
The Inspired Point of 1 Timothy 2:8-15
Issues Concerning Women in Ministry
You're welcome to disagree and then tell me why. Just make sure you've got a biblical case to make -- and please be nice about it....
Typology in Hebrews 8:10-10:25
Characteristics of Wisdom Literature
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missiology
My Personal Theology of Mission
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pastoral ministry
A Brief Pastoral Theology
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preaching
Easter Sermon from the Gospel of Luke. This message touches on how Luke's gospel deals with the problem of evil in a manner that is distinct from the other synoptics. It's a hopeful message for hurting people.
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theology
The (Distinct) People(s) of God: A Theological Study of Dispensationalism
I should mention that I am indebted to Keith Mathison's Dispensationalism: Rightly Dividing the People of God? for the structure of my investigation into dispensationalism's central tenets. The same can be said of my use in this paper of the Latin phrase sine qua non. Although Mathison hardly invented the phrase, his use of it in relationship to the irreducible core of dispensationalism is what prompted me to do likewise. back to list of topics
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