Categories
Observations

The Bible as Scripture

I take the claim, the Bible as Scripture to refer to a theological stance whereby we recognize that we are the people of God to whom these texts are addressed. This leads us to the realization that the fundamental transformation that must take place is not the transformation of an ancient message into a contemporary […]

Categories
Bible Translation Church: UK Church: World

The Bible In Today’s Society

This is the sermon that I preached at Christ Church Flackwell Heath on Sunday October 31. There are  a couple of videos in the middle of the sermon which probably won’t work very well on the MP3. There is also a segment where I ask people to come forward and share their expriences of hearing […]

Categories
Reviews

Remaking a Broken World

Anyone who sets out to write an overview of the Bible has to find some sort of theme to tie to the work together, otherwise the whole thing will just spiral out of control.  Remaking a Broken World by Christopher Ash revolves around the themes of gathering and scattering. The thesis of this chapter, indeed […]

Categories
Reviews

Collins Bible Companion

Collins Bible Companion The only book you need beside the Bible Martin Manser (Editor) ISBN 9780007339808 (0007339801) HarperCollins, 2009 (720pp) £25 Category: Bibles and Bible Guides Reviewed by: Eddie Arthur If you are looking for an introductory guide to the Bible, you could do far worse than get hold of the Collins Bible Companion. In a little over […]

Categories
Do Not Use

The Bible Version Generator Updated

A couple of years ago, I produced a post called the English Bible Version Generator, which helped you produce names for new versions of the Bible in English. Inspired by (and stealing a little script from – with permission) the wonderful Thomas Hardy plot generator I have revamped the Bible Version Generator as a sidebar […]

Categories
Observations

The Wedding at Cana

Let’s just think about what happened for a moment. Jesus was at a wedding. This wasn’t a genteel, refined high-society event; it was a rowdy, boisterous fun-filled celebration. People were enjoying themselves so much that they finished off all of the booze long before the party was over. As for Jesus, he was at the […]

Categories
Observations

Understanding Revelation

In the many years since I read Fee and Stuart’s How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, I still haven’t come across a better popular guide to reading the Bible. If you haven’t read it, you should. One of the co-authors, Gordon Fee, has just published a new commentary on Revelation. You can […]

Categories
Politics

Reading the Bible Carefully

It is time that we read our Bibles more and read them more carefully. Perhaps we could try and get some serious help in thinking about the circumstances of those to whom the Biblical messages were addressed, the people of the Bible. They were people who lived in a country which was always liable to […]

Categories
Mission

Postgrad MA in Bible and Mission

The good folks at Redcliffe College have just announced a new course: With the increasing complexity of the Church’s mission in the world, clear and deep biblical reflection is essential. Not only should God’s people have a firm grasp of how mission fits into the Scriptures, we should also be confident and competent in using […]

Categories
Church: UK

The Gospel is Not All About Me

The Bible paints an amazing picture of God at work through history reconciling creation to himself. The breadth of His work is absolutely incredible. I was recently at a Christian event during which the worship leader read one of my favourite passages from Colossians 1. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn […]