Simply put, this Bible class examines the Scriptures to see the newly-formed Christian church engage in creed-like statements of faith. There are both professions of who Jesus is and His work on our behalf. We the profession of faith used with baptism, the pledging of men into the Pastoral Office, and the rejection of heresy. […]
This Bible class presented an overview of the historic and ecumenical creeds of the Christian church. The Apostles’ Creed is the oldest of the creeds. Although it is first quoted at the end of the fourth century (390 and then 404), it has its roots in the old Roman Creed of the second century. The […]
This Bible class is the beginning of a 9-month course on the Book of Concord, the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. A creed is a summary statement of the religious belief of a certain group of people. We begin this course by responding to five common reasons which groups give for being non-creedal (or […]
In the beginning there was a distinction between the Creator and His Creation. Yet at a point in time “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14). The divine second person of the Trinity took up a human nature and manifested Himself to our human senses. This God-Man appointed Apostles to be His […]
“Of all the religious beliefs in the world, past or present, none have more thoroughly based themselves on history than Judaism and Christianity. the divine-human encounter in the biblical faith always involves claims about real people, living in real places, who acted in real events in the past, many of which are also cited in […]
Dust off your Book of Concord and start reading. Sunday, September 1, we will begin a new 9-month Bible study on the Book of Concord. You keep saying that you are going to read through it. Well, here is your chance. I have provided a reading guide, so your new Adam can whack that recalcitrant […]
With this class, we continue looking at the “Four Points Raised in John Warwick Montgomery’s article, ‘Christian Apologetics in the Light of the Lutheran Confessions.’” Today’s class looks at points three and four. 3. After the fall, man has a bound will in spiritual matters (Ephesians 2:1, “dead in trespasses and sins.”) Nevertheless, man still […]
In previous classes we have defined Apologetics as the scientific validation of the truth and absoluteness of the Christian religion against unbelief on the basis of human reason and science. We previously looked at 1 Peter 3:15 and Jude 1:3, but these came up short as proof texts to support apologetics. It would seem that […]
Another passage used to support the task of apologetics is Jude 1:3, “…Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly (ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι) for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” In context, the […]
Those who encourage apologetics almost always cite First Peter 3:15, “… always be ready to give a defense{ἀπολογίαν} to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you….” The Greek word, apologia {ἀπολογία}, simply means to give a defense against objections. In context, there is nothing to suggest anything other than a […]