Examing the Application of Various Hermeneutics

Example Number 1: Acts 4:32-37 – Communal Living: The Normative Principle
One danger to Bible interpreters is a failure to recognize the difference between a prescriptive passage of Scripture and a descriptive passage of Scripture. A prescriptive passage teaches a doctrine directly that is to be applied to the Christian Church universally. These direct teaching [...]

Tracing Significant Topics in Romans

Topic 1: The Gospel of the Righteousness of God
William Lasley shows the thematic development of the righteousness of God throughout Romans; “God’s righteousness is revealed (chapters 1-8), vindicated (9-11), and applied (12-16)” (Lasley, 2002, 149).
In the gospel, the righteousness of God is a revelation. It is revealed as the power of God unto salvation. [...]

Regeneration

A Summary of the Doctrine Including an Identification of its Primary Agent[1]
The Bible depicts regeneration as a spiritual new birth. It is literally God’s creating of a new creation. The actual word “regeneration” is found twice in the Bible. It is used once in an eschatological context (Matt. 19:28) and once in a soteriological context [...]

Obadiah: Exegesis & The Eschatological Day of the Lord

Message overview
Little can be said about Obadiah. God was not pleased to reveal to us this man’s origins, decedents, or details which we can identify him through. There are 12 Obadiahs in the Old Testament; none of which can be traced to this prophet.
His message was unique. Obadiah wrote the shortest book in all [...]

Justification – Defining Actual and Declaritive Justification

Introduction
The Doctrine of Justification can be subdivided into two aspects: actual justification and declarative justification. The doctrine, to be understood rightly, must emphasize both of these aspects. Though distinct in their nature and function, the two aspects are interrelated and dependant upon one another for the ultimate act of justification to be complete.
Actual Justification
Actual [...]

Foundational Principles – Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

* This essay contains my comments and explainations of the concepts provided by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart in the book How to Read the Bible for All its Worth: Third Edition. 
Section 1: Concepts Provided by Fee and Stuart
Question #1: Exegesis
(a) Why should a reader begin with the “then and there” meaning of the Bible before looking at [...]

Analyzing Repentance

*I’ll preface this essay with somewhat of an apology. Repentance is a topic which should produce conviction of sin. You will most likely not be convicted of sin while reading this paper. This aim of this paper is to define repentance rather than to cause repentance. Though we need to understand repentance, I feel the subject [...]

A Brief Examination of Soteriological Doctrines

Defining Major Doctrines within Soteriology
Regeneration (paliggenesias) is literally translated as ‘new birth’. This is the best basic definition. Regeneration is an instantaneous quickening of the Holy Spirit, which imparts to us the divine nature and spiritual life, bringing us forth as a new creation in Christ, and rendering us alive to God. God is always [...]

The Sacrifice of Atonement

Description of the Apparent Conflict Between God’s Love and His Justice
The things which conflict in God’s Being as He relates to man are indeed mysterious. The gospel however, through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, helps us with this lofty subject.
Justice demands punishment for lawlessness. Love is exhibited in grace and forgiveness.  The tension is [...]

The Nature of the Kingdom of God

Introduction
            The kingdom of God is a large subject. There is really good teaching on it, and there is really confusing teaching on it. Hopefully this paper will help to clear up some of the confusion which rests around this subject.
In this paper I’ve set forth a small amount of what Scripture has [...]