In What Year Was Jesus Born?

 Most people would assume that Jesus was born in the year 1 A.D., but that is probably not correct.  Most scholars and historians (including conservative ones) place the year of the birth of Jesus around 5 B.C.  Of course B.C. stands for before Christ, so how could Christ be born before Christ?  

It seems that when the calendar was set up it was miscalculated by about five years.  Herod the Great reigned from 37 B.C.-4 B.C. and Jesus was born during his reign.  Since Herod died in 4 B.C., Jesus had to be born in 4 B.C. or earlier.  So Jesus was probably born around 5 B.C. 

What Are The Keys To Defending The Christian Faith?

 The defense of the faith is known as apologetics.  So what are the keys to doing Christian apologetics?  

(1) Learn the Bible

(2) Learn how to think

If you know the Bible and you know how to think, you can be a good Christian apologist. 

The Way, The Truth, And The Life

 (John 14:6)"Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." (ESV) 

With the I am statement, Jesus is claiming to be God, referring back to Exodus 3:14.  God the Father, God the Son,  and God the Holy Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal.  Through his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, Jesus is the way to the Father.  He is the only way to heaven, all other ways lead to hell.  

Since Jesus is God he is the source of truth.  Truth is rooted in the character and law of God.  Everything Jesus says is true, including the statement in this verse.  Jesus is the life, he gives eternal life to all who believe in him.  

Salvation is found in Christ alone.  Apart from Christ you do not have the way, you do not have the truth, and you do not have life.  By rejecting Jesus you are left with death, falsehood, and no way to heaven. 

Psalm 8:5 (A Bible Translation Comparison)

 (ESV)"Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor."  

(LSB)"Yet You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You crown him with glory and majesty!" 

(CSB)"You made him little less than God and crowned him with glory and honor."  

The main difference in these translations is how they translate the Hebrew word elohim.  The term elohim can mean God, gods, or heavenly beings/angels.  The ESV and LSB are in basic agreement with heavenly beings and angels,  while the CSB translates it as God.  Psalm 8:5 is quoted by the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 2:7.  

(Hebrews 2:7)"You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor," (ESV) 

All the translations have angels in Hebrews 2:7 where Psalm 8:5 is quoted as a messianic prophecy about Jesus.  The author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 8:5 from the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) which has angels.  

(ESV) English Standard Version

(LSB) Legacy Standard Bible

(CSB) Christian Standard Bible

Understanding Islamic Terminology

 Here are some of the key terms of Islam along with some basic definitions.  

Islam-submission to Allah

Muslim-one who submits to Allah

Qur'an-"the recitation", Scripture of Islam

Allah-Arabic name for God

Muhammad-chief prophet of Islam

Hadith-teaching of Muhammad

Surah-chapter of the Qur'an

Sunni-largest group in Islam

Shiite-second largest sect of Islam

Ayatollah-spiritual leader (Shiite) 

Caliph-main leaders of Islam

Imam-leader

Mosque-place of worship

Mecca-birthplace of Muhammad, holiest city

Jihad-holy war

Fatwa-religious decree

Allahu Akbar-God is great

Shirk-unforgivable sin, deny oneness of Allah

Tawhid-refers to oneness of Allah

Sharia-Islamic law

Shahada-confession of Muslims, There is only one God worthy of worship and Muhammad is his prophet

The Origin Of The Soul

 There are two main views held by Christians in regards to the origin of the soul.  They are creationism and traducianism.  Both of these views are held by fine Bible teachers.  

Creationism- This view holds that God creates the human soul directly, out of nothing, and joins it to the body sometime between conception and birth (most would say at conception).  In this view God is the primary cause and he does not use the secondary cause of human procreation in creating the soul.  Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin held this view.  

Traducianism- This view holds that the soul as well as the body is transmitted from parents to children through the procreation process.  God is the primary cause of the creation of the soul but he uses the secondary cause of human procreation to bring it about.  This view was held by Martin Luther and Jonathan Edwards.  

In support of creationism Psalm 127:3 says, "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward." Psalm 139:13 says, "you knitted me together in my mother's womb." And Isaiah 42:5 says, God gives breath and spirit to people.  

I favor traducianism myself.  Genesis 5:3 says Adam fathered a son in his own likeness and image.  This probably includes the soul.  Genesis 2:1-3 says God finished and rested from his creation work.  This would seem to indicate that he would not create the human soul out of nothing.  Finally there is the transmission of sin from Adam to all other humans (Romans 5:12-21).  Traducianism explains this better than creationism.  In creationism God would seem to directly create a human soul that is sinful.  In traducianism the soul and body which are both sinful, are transmitted through human procreation.  God often uses secondary causes to accomplish his purpose. 

Does Genesis 1:26 Refer To The Trinity?

 (Genesis 1:26)"Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.  And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (ESV) 

Some Christians see the words "us" and "our" in the first part of Genesis 1:26 as referring to God as Trinitarian.  Other Christians reject this interpretation, believing it does not refer to the Trinity.  

Some interpreters hold that "us" and "our" refer to the angelic court.  But angels were not involved in the creation of man, God alone is the Creator.  Also man is not made in the image of angels.  Man is made in the image and likeness of God.  Others view the plurality in the verse as referring to majesty or intensity.  

The phrase, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness is probably a hint of the Trinity.  The doctrine of the Trinity, one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is fully revealed in the New Testament. 

What Is A Biblicist?

 Recently Christian leaders such as John MacArthur and James White have described themselves as Biblicists.  A Biblicist believes the Bible is the literal Word of God and lives strictly by it's teaching.  Biblicism holds that the Bible is inerrant, infallible, and sufficient.  

Biblicism is not me and my Bible and whatever interpretation I come up with.  Creeds and confessions must not be rejected.  They are secondary authorities while the Bible is the primary authority.  Creeds and confessions derive their authority from Scripture.  

Biblicists hold to Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone).  The Bible alone is the ultimate and final authority.  The Pope, modern day prophets, human reason, and my feelings are not authorities.  Biblicists have a very high view of the Bible, believing it alone is the Word of God.  

"The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not on the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God its author (Who is Truth itself).  Therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God." (1689 London Baptist Confession)  

(2 Timothy 3:16-17)"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (ESV)

Is The Holy Spirit God?

 (Matthew 28:19)"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (ESV)

This verse is strong evidence for the Trinity.  There is one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  It is hard to see why you would baptize disciples in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit if all three are not God.  

(Matthew 12:31)"Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven." (ESV) 

Blasphemy is speaking wrongly or carelessly about God.  Blasphemy can only be committed against God.  Therefore the Holy Spirit is God. 

(Acts 5:3)"But Peter said, Ananias why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?" (ESV) 

In Acts 5:4 Peter then tells Ananias, You have not lied to man but to God." If you have lied to the Holy Spirit you have lied to God.  Therefore the Holy Spirit is God. 

Blessed Are The Meek? (Matthew 5:5) (Short Commentary Series)

(Matthew 5:5)"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (ESV)  

The word blessed refers to a state of well being with God.  The meek are those who are not self promoting and who do not assert themselves above others or even above God.  Of course this is the exact opposite of what the world teaches us.  But the wisdom of the world is found to be foolishness.  

The meek trust in God who controls all things.  The ultimate example of meekness is Jesus himself (Matthew 11:29, Matthew 21:5, 2 Corinthians 10:1).  The background for this verse is Psalm 37:11.  

(Psalm 37:11)"But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace." (ESV) 

Matthew 5:5 (A Bible Translation Comparison)

 (ESV)"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."  

(LSB)"Blessed are the lowly, for they shall inherit the earth."  

(NIV)"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."  

(CSB)"Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth."  

(NASB95)"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth."  

All these Bible translations are very similar on their rendering of Matthew 5:5.  The ESV has the most traditional translation.  

Each version maintains the word "blessed" at the beginning.  The ESV and NIV have "meek." The LSB has "lowly", the CSB has "humble", and the NASB95 has "gentle." The ESV, LSB, and NASB95 have the traditional word "shall." The NIV and CSB translate it as "will." 

ESV (English Standard Version)

LSB (Legacy Standard Bible)

NIV (New International Version)

CSB (Christian Standard Bible)

NASB95 (New American Standard Bible 1995)

How Do You Answer An Unbeliever Who Rejects The Bible?

 How do you answer an unbeliever who rejects the Bible?  The book of Proverbs provides us with a wise answer.  

(Proverbs 26:4-5)"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.  Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes." (ESV) 

The unbeliever is called a fool because of his rejection of God, not because he is deficient as a person.  These verses provide a two step process in answering the unbeliever.  

In the first step we are told not to answer a fool according to his folly.  It is often said that Christians cannot use the Bible when doing apologetics (defending the faith).  This approach is actually answering a fool according to his folly.  

The unbeliever is not operating on neutral ground because there is no neutral ground.  He is assuming or presupposing a foundation of unbelief.  One must have a starting point of belief or unbelief.  The Christian must operate on the foundation of belief upholding the authority of God and his Word.  The Bible is the ultimate and final authority, it is not dependent on any other authority for it's validation.  Scripture is self attesting, there is no greater authority to which it can appeal.  

In the second step we are told to answer a fool according to his folly.  For the sake of argument we are to assume the worldview of the unbeliever and do an internal critique.  All worldviews based on unbelief will ultimately end in contradiction, nonsense, and absurdity.  

Only the Christian worldview provides the necessary preconditions for intelligibility.  It is what must be in place in order for anything else to even be.  Apart from the Biblical worldview nothing even makes sense. 

Love Is Love (Biblical Thinker Responds)

Love is love is a favorite phrase of the LGBTQ community meant to normalize and legitimize homosexuality.  They seek to persuade people that homosexual relationships are the same as heterosexual relationships.  The worldview behind love is love assumes human autonomy (self rule).  In other words love is whatever you decide it is.  But humans are not the ultimate and final authority.  God is the ultimate and final authority who defines love, as well as right and wrong.  

(Genesis 1:1)"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (ESV) 

God is the Creator and everything else is creation.  Therefore God is the ultimate and final authority.  We must maintain the Creator/creature distinction.  If we do not our thought and our life will end up being wrong. 

God considers homosexuality to be an abomination (Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13), unnatural (Romans 1:26-27), and says those who practice homosexuality will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).  

God hates homosexuality, it is contrary to nature and a violation of his creative design. Those who practice homosexuality are on the road to hell, not heaven.  

(1 Corinthians 13:6)"it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth." (ESV) 

The Word of God says that love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Those living and promoting the homosexual lifestyle do the exact opposite.  They rejoice at wrongdoing and reject the truth.  

(Romans 12:9)"Let love be genuine.  Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." (ESV) 

Homosexuality is rebellion against God, therefore it is evil.  We should abhor homosexuality while loving the people involved in it.  The homosexual lifestyle is not rooted in love, it is sin against God.  Love is never opposed to God, instead it honors and obeys him.  

(John 3:16)"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (ESV) 

Homosexuals need to repent of their sin and turn to Christ for salvation.  This is the message of true love.    

Mars Hill Examiner Now Biblical Worldview Review

My blog title has now changed from Mars Hill Examiner to Biblical Worldview Review.  

biblicalworldviewreview.blogspot.com 

Books You Should Read About The Origin, Reliability, And Authority Of The Bible

 Scripture Alone by James White

Scribes And Scripture by John Meade & Peter Gurry 

Canon Revisited by Michael Kruger

The Heresy Of Orthodoxy by Andreas Kostenberger & Michael Kruger 

The Origin Of The Bible edited by Philip Comfort

Will You Have A Mansion In Heaven?

(John 14:2)"In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were no so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you." (KJV) 

(John 14:2)"In my Father's house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" (ESV) 

The King James Version has "many mansions" while the ESV has "many rooms." Most modern translations have either rooms or dwelling places.  Does saying in a house are many mansions even make sense in modern English?  

In 1611 when the King James Version was originally done, the word mansions could actually mean something like rooms.  So rooms or dwelling places is actually the best translation.  It is worth noting that the Geneva Bible which preceded the King James Version, had dwelling places.  

My Father's house refers to heaven and there will be plenty of room for God's people there. When Jesus says that he goes to prepare a place for you, he probably does not mean it in a literal sense.  The Lord likely means that through his death and resurrection, he prepares a place for us in heaven.    

Who Is Jesus?

 Matthew 16:13-20 deals with the very question of who Jesus is.  The Lord asks his disciples who people say he is and they reply that people consider him to be a prophet (16:13-14).  Jesus then poses the question to his disciples.  

"He said to them, But who do you say that I am?  Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  (Matthew 16:15-16) (ESV) 

In response to Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Lord tells Peter he is blessed and that this has been revealed to him by God the Father (16:17).  

Jesus confirms the confession made by Peter as correct because he is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  Christ means Messiah or Anointed One.  Jesus is the only, unique Son of God.  He is co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father.  

Jesus is more than a good teacher, moral example, or inspirational figure.  He is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  This confession is the rock on which the church is built (16:18).   

Does The Gospel Of John Predict The Coming Of The Prophet Muhammad?

 Some Muslims believe that in John 14 the reference to Helper, Advocate, or Counselor is a reference to Muhammad.  Of course Christians hold that the Helper is the Holy Spirit.  Muslims believe the text in John has been changed and that it should have "exalted one" instead of Helper.  So they believe the exalted one refers to Muhammad.  There is no evidence that the text in John 14 has been changed, but this is what many Muslims believe.  

(John 14:16-17)"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." (ESV) 

Jesus did not ask the Father to send Muhammad to be with the disciples forever.  In fact the Helper is even referred to as the Spirit of truth.  The world did see and know Muhammad unlike the Holy Spirit.  The disciples in the first century did not know Muhammad and he did not dwell with them because he was not born yet.  One also wonders how Muhammad could be inside the disciples.  

(John 14:26)"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (ESV) 

This verse directly refers to the Helper as the Holy Spirit.  The Father did not send Muhammad in the name of Jesus to teach the disciples all things or to bring to their remembrance all he said to them.  

Muslims who say the Helper in John 14 refers to Muhammad are practicing terrible and absurd interpretation, reading into the text things that are not there.  Jesus did not predict the coming of a prophet who would supersede him.  There is no greater prophet than Jesus.  Of course Jesus is more than a prophet, he is the Christ, the Son of God. 

John 3:16 (A Bible Translation Comparison)

 (NKJV)"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." 

(ESV)"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." 

(LSB)"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." 

(CSB)"For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." 

The NKJV follows the KJV in this verse except for updated language.  The ESV and LSB stay close to the form and wording of the KJV.  The CSB departs somewhat from the traditional KJV rendering.  

In the first clause of the verse the NKJV, ESV, and LSB all have the traditional rendering, "For God so loved the world."  The CSB moves away from the traditional translation with, "For God loved the world in this way."  

Another difference in the translations centers around the Greek word "monogenes." The NKJV and the LSB render the phrase, "only begotten Son." The ESV has "only Son," while the CSB has "one and only Son."  

NKJV (New King James Version)

ESV (English Standard Version)

LSB (Legacy Standard Bible)

CSB (Christian Standard Bible)

The Books That Shaped Me

 Of course the Bible is far above all other books because it is the Word of God.  For several years I used the NIV (1984 Edition) and then later switched to the ESV, which is now the main translation that I use.  Here are some of the most significant and influential books on my thought.  

Institutes Of The Christian Religion by John Calvin

Here I Stand by Roland Bainton

The Bondage Of The Will by Martin Luther

The Gospel According To Jesus by John MacArthur

No Place For Truth by David Wells

What Is Reformed Theology? by R.C. Sproul

Christian Apologetics by Cornelius Van Til

The God Who Is There by Francis Schaeffer

The King James Only Controversy by James White

Desiring God by John Piper

Putting Amazing Back Into Grace by Michael Horton

Always Ready by Greg Bahnsen

Apologetics by John Frame

Jesus Under Fire edited by Michael Wilkins & J.P. Moreland

What Ultimately Determines A Person's Salvation?

 Most modern evangelicals believe salvation is based on a decision made by a person and this decision is the final cause of salvation.  They hold that the free will of man determines the final result of salvation.  What if I told you the Bible disagrees with this view?  

(John 1:12-13)"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (ESV) 

From this passage we see plainly that salvation is not determined by blood, the will of the flesh, or the will of man.  Believers are instead born of God.  This is talking about regeneration or being born again.  Being born of God precedes receiving and believing in Christ.  If this were not the case it would make no sense for John to have said it is not of the will of man.  We see that God is the cause of someone's salvation.  

(Romans 9:16)"So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." (ESV) 

We see plainly from this verse that salvation is not determined by the free will or efforts of man.  It depends on God's will and mercy.  It is not based on the choice or actions of humans.  We see that salvation is ultimately determined by God.  

(Romans 9:18)"So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills." (ESV) 

God elects some people to salvation and he passes over other people according to his will. No one deserves salvation, it is received by the elect because of God's mercy and grace. 

God is sovereign over all things including salvation.  A person's salvation is ultimately determined by God and not man.  A person will respond with faith and repentance only after he is regenerated or born again.  Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9) and repentance is granted by God (Acts 11:18).  Salvation is the work of God alone.  It is not God and man working together.  To God alone belongs the glory.