Answering Christianity’s Most Difficult Question—Why God Allows Us to Suffer: The Definitive Solution to the Problem of Pain and the Problem of Evil
Answering Christianity’s Most Difficult Question—Why God Allows Us to Suffer: The Definitive Solution to the Problem of Pain and the Problem of Evil. By Kevin Tewes. Chapel Hill, NC: Triune Publishing Group, 2015.124 pp. Paper, $5.95. The issue of why God allows suffering is an important one. I read this book, hoping to get some […]
Doubt, Faith, and Certainty
Doubt, Faith, and Certainty. By Anthony C. Thiselton. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2017. 160pp. Paper, $20.00. Thiselton is a professor at the University of Nottingham in England and is a well-known NT scholar. The title of this book caught my eye. I was interested in how Thiselton defined faith and whether he felt a believer […]
The Gospel of John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture
The Gospel of John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. By Francis Martin and William M. Wright IV. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2015. 366 pp. Paper, $24.99. The average Free Grace believer may see no reason for acquiring this book. However, knowing how Catholic priests are likely to explain John’s Gospel can be quite helpful. […]
The Church: Chosen to Reign (Ephesians 1:4-5)
Kenneth W. Yates Editor I. INTRODUCTION Paul uses two verbs in Eph 1:4-5 which deal directly with the issue of election. In the NKJV, the verbs are “to choose” and “to predestine.” The Apostle writes: …just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without […]
The Practical Syllogism and Assurance
Robert N. Wilkin Associate Editor I. INTRODUCTION The English branch of the Reformation developed a view of assurance that relied significantly on what became known as the practical syllogism. Since the Puritans considered regeneration to be unknowable by purely objective means, they sought for indirect ways to determine whether one was regenerate.1 Most Puritans believed […]
The Stone/Rock/Tomb Motif in Matthew
Bob Swift In Memoriam1 I. INTRODUCTION In Matthew’s Gospel, the words “stone” (lithos) and “rock” (petra) occur ten times (Matt 3:9; 4:3, 6; 7:9; 21:42, 44; 24:2; 27:60, 66; 28:2) and five times (Matt 7:24, 25; 16:18; 27:51, 60),2 respectively. The related word “tomb” (taphos or mnēmeion) occurs thirteen times (taphos in Matt 23:27, 29; […]
The Sovereignty of God: Contemporary Evangelical Attestation Versus Biblical Attestation
Jeremy D. Edmondson I. INTRODUCTION God is sovereign, a truth clearly stated in Scripture: “Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants” (Ps 119:90-91, ESV). But as with any statement, terms must be defined. What […]
Free at Last! Freedom in Jesus’ Footsteps (John 8:30-32)
John H. Niemelä1 President Message of Life Ministries I. INTRODUCTION As Jesus taught, some retorted in John 8:33 with their own question: They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free?’”2 (NKJV) Knowing who asked this question is vital. Did […]
A Cloudy View of Salvation: David W. Cloud on Repentance
Shawn Lazar Associate Editor I. INTRODUCTION David W. Cloud is a Fundamental Baptist missionary, writer, and publisher. His Way of Life Literature is well-known in Fundamentalist circles and defends many conservative positions with which readers of JOTGES would agree. Cloud has even explicitly written against Lordship Salvation. But how consistent is he in rejecting it? […]
The Historical Reliability of the New Testament
The Historical Reliability of the New Testament. By Craig Blomberg. Nashville, TN: B & H Academic, Lexham Press, 2016. 783 pp. Paper, $39.99. Since my view of inerrancy is stricter than that of Blomberg, I began reading this book wondering if he would regularly question the historicity of the NT (i.e., would he say that […]