I am writing today to update you on what the Lord has been doing this past year and my plans for next year. This past March 13th, I posted a blog titled “Breadth and Depth,” named so after the departed Jerry Bridges. In that blog post I announced that I would begin classes at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, working towards a Master of Theological Studies. I began graduate studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, March 21st of this year. Last week I completed my fourth class in that educational pursuit.

The first four classes of the program are called Bible Survey classes. We were required to read every book of the Bible, do a great deal of reading about each book in the Bible, discuss what we read with the other students, and write several papers. Some of my papers (not all) have been posted to this blog. The subject matter that you see on this blog will likely change over the next year, because this spring I will be taking Church History courses, a Hermeneutics co…

In an on-line search for the noun apologetics, a definition is given; “Reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine.”1 A Christian website gives this definition of apologetics, “Apologetics is the branch of Christianity that deals with the defense and establishment of the Christian faith.”2 Now to the verse often sighted for Christian apologetics, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” (1 Peter 3:15)
Some have taken this to mean debating atheist on a stage in front of an audience about the existence of God. I am not writing to discredit that enterprise, but rather to give a philosophy of apologetics based on what has been written in 1 Peter. The on-line definition from google as well as the definition from the website quoted would indicate debate, but I do not think that this is …

The book of James begins with this passage; “James, a bond- servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.” (Jas 1:1) Who wrote the book? Though there has been much discussion about authorship the only real viable answer is James the brother of Jesus. This view also has much support from ancient tradition.1
Who is the audience? The first verse says, “To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad.” (Jas 1:1b) Is he literally writing to the twelve tribes of Israel or is it metaphor for the chosen people of God? At face value this could mean that the letter was written to Jewish believers who were dispersed outside of Palestine, but the apostle Paul contends that the true Israel of God is spiritual and not ethnic. Therefore, in that since it could be written to all believers who are facing the hardships of being citizens of the kingdom of God who are presently dwelling in the kingdom of man.
Because of its placement in the New Test…