Land and Bible

A few weeks ago I was interviewed by Sean Finnegan on his Restitutio podcast . I'm looking forward to meeting Sean and among others, Dale Tuggy, Lord willing, at the theological conference in Atlanta next week. Dale was formerly a philosophy professor at a New York university. On his recent "Trinities" podcast, Dale discusses the "Biblical Words for God and His Son". Here is the YouTube version , which includes slides. Good stuff!

After listening to my lecture on the "Son of God in the Bible" (see previous post) a facebook friend asked me: " With charity and love for you, may I ask you to express your convictions for why your argument for the non-deity of "the Son of God" (with the definite article), should be respectfully received when for twenty-three-plus years you have publicl y espoused His deity? Here's my answer, slightly edited: In short, indeed, it is the study of Scripture that has brought me to understand that “For us there is one God, the Father … and one Lord, Jesus the Messiah…”(I  Cor. 8:6). “For there is one God , and there is one mediator between God and men, a  man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). Verses like these are all over the Bible. In the talk on the Son of God, you can see that I am approaching the topic from a biblical perspective. What does the Bible say? People can speculate that Son of God has some other, to quote trinitarians, “ontological” meaning, but ...

"Son of God" is a name, title, and position defined in the Bible. The title in the Bible always refers to created beings, particularly humans. Unfortunately, "Son of God" has been re-defined in Greek philosophical terms beginning about the middle of the 2nd century AD, that is, 100s of years after Jesus lived on earth. Biblically, the name does not imply deity. In the Bible, there are a number of humans called the Son (or Sons) of God. In the Old Testament, this is especially the case for the nation of Israel and of a descendant of King David whom the LORD God appoints as Messiah King. The title finds it's the fullest meaning in the uniquely begotten Son of God, Jesus the Messiah. I've posted a video lecture called the "Son of God in the Bible ." It's time we return to the biblical understanding of such an important concept and person as "Son of God", and not rely on a definition created by philosophically-Greek-thinking Gentiles in ...

This is a more personal note that gives a bit of an introduction as to why I planned to resign from my position after 23 years at The Master's University - Israel Bible Extension. Many people have asked me and my wife "What's up?". Let me first say that I am grateful to The Master's University for their interest and investment in the Israel program all these years. I know that God has worked in many peoples' lives through the program. It is sad (but I see God's sovereignty even here) that my intended resignation turned into a nasty termination. I would have preferred a parting of "thanks much and God bless" from both sides but alas, it was not to be. I pray for the ministry of The Master's University and the IBEX program. May the Lord God of Israel bless you! I can assure friends and former students that I have not "rejected our Lord". My faith in God the Father and in His Son the Lord Jesus the Messiah is as strong, yea verily, s...

The story is told that the Prussian German King Frederick the Great asked his physician and advisor,  "Can you name me a single proof of the existence of God?" The physician replied, "Your majesty, the Jews.” All nations and all kingdoms of men will come to an end. There is only one exception: Israel. Israel also as a nation and people would have come to an end (Isa. 1:9, Psa. 124, Deu. 9:4). They wanted to “become like all nations” and would have, except for God’s promise.  God promised that Israel’s persistence as a people and nation would be a witness to all the world that He, Yahweh, is God (Isa. 66:22, Eze. 36:22-23). Israel became like the Canaanites and deserved destruction. But because of God’s plan and promise, because of God’s power – not because of Israel’s goodness or greatness - Israel persists. There was restoration.  No other nation has the promise of God for perpetual survival or, more specifically, for restoration like Israel. If or when America, Russia,...

Most English translations of 2 Corinthians 5:21 state that for our sake God made Jesus who “knew no sin to be sin .”  A better understanding and translation of this verse is that “for our sake He made him who knew no sin to be a sin offering .” In Hebrew, the word חטאת hatat can be both “sin” and “sin offering”. There are many examples of both uses. The two meanings can be seen in a comparison of, for example, Lev. 4:14 and Psa. 32:5 (sin), to Lev. 4:24 and Ezek. 40:39 (sin offering).  The same word is used for both “sin” and “sin offering” because the “sin offering” becomes the symbol or representation of sin.  The sin offering becomes the substitutionary means by which the guilt and punishment of the sin is removed.  But the animal which was given as a “sin offering” was innocent.  The animal didn’t become sin, but became the innocent “sin offering” replacement for the guilty sinner. Jesus didn’t “become sin” on our behalf, but he became the “sin offe...

Galatians 1:1-10 Deliverance from the Present Evil Age The death of Jesus was a rescue operation.  Jesus the Messiah gave himself for our sins to deliver us from this present evil age.  Indeed we've seen and experienced the goodness of God in this age, but we also know that evil has penetrated this world.  There is deception, unrighteousness, murder, slaughter, pain, and death.  The good news is that there is a way out, provided for by the will of God our Father. Paul became a faithfull messenger of this good news.  49 minutes, English and Hebrew