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A Reminder
None of us will arrive at a perfect theology in this life, for we are all in a learning and growing process. Some
of the views of God we hold so tightly to now will be altered or abandoned. Other beliefs we have of God will simply
be strengthened and secured in our coming years of study. And we must also be honest and admit that there are things
we will never understand about the Lord.
In our study, we must distinguish between essential doctrines,
important doctrines, and opinions. Essentials of faith are issues that believers in Christ must
agree upon in order to be saved. This category would include the resurrection of Jesus Christ, salvation by grace
alone through faith alone in Christ alone, and the sinfulness of all people. Some issues in this category might not
be addressed at the time of one's salvation (ie. the Trinity), but ulimately must be accepted in order for that person
to be considered orthodox (holding a correct view of the essentials of faith).
Important doctrines,
while they don't necessarily infringe upon the truth of the gospel message, are seen as implicit affirmation or denial
of Scripture's teaching. Examples of this category includes the inspiration and authority of the Bible or the permanence
or loss of one's salvation.
Opinions are all other issues. Issues in this category include the style of
church music, what Bible translation to use, or a listing of the specific details of the end times.
All three
of these distinctions must be kept in their proper place, for two extreme positions are sometimes taken. The first is
to treat the essentials of faith as a matter of one's opinion. This is often the characteristic of liberal theologies.
The second is to elevate our opinions so high that they are seen as the essentials of Christianity. This is similar to
what the Pharisees did in Jesus' day. We would do well to listen to the advice of Augustine who once said, In
essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity.
The articles are rated by their literary ease: (+) easiest to (+++) more academic.
Genesis
1:20-30 ++Gentiles and Divine Covenants ('02)
1:24-31 +Observing the Creation of Man ('05)
1:1-31 +The Creation Narrative ('06)
2:15-17 ++Gentiles and Divine Covenants ('02)
2:1-25 +The Creation Narrative ('06)
3:1-6 +Observing the Fall of Man ('05)
3:16-19 ++Gentiles and Divine Covenants ('02
5:1-32 ++Literary analysis of the Flood ('06)
6:1-22 ++Literary analysis of the Flood ('06)
7:1-24 ++Literary analysis of the Flood ('06)
8:1-22 ++Literary analysis of the Flood ('06)
9:1-17 ++Gentiles and Divine Covenants ('02)
9:1-29 ++Literary analysis of the Flood ('06)
10:1-32 +The Sixteen Grandsons of Noah (H. Hunt with R. Grigg '01)
11:1-9 +Strangers, aliens, foreigners, and gentiles…oh my! ('03)
12:1-3 ++Divine Covenants…the basis for a plan of salvation… ('01)
12:10-20 ++Abraham’s Half-Truth: passing Sarah off as his sister ('06)
13:14-17 ++Divine Covenants…the basis for a plan of salvation… ('01)
15:1-21 ++Divine Covenants…the basis for a plan of salvation… ('01)
17:1-21 ++Divine Covenants…the basis for a plan of salvation… ('01)
20:1-18 ++Abraham’s Half-Truth: passing Sarah off as his sister ('06)
22:15-18 ++Divine Covenants…the basis for a plan of salvation… ('01)
26:6-11 ++Abraham’s Half-Truth: passing Sarah off as his sister ('06)
37:25-28 +The Selling of Joseph ('06)
Exodus
19-24 ++Divine Covenants…the Law… ('02)
26:1-37 +Architectural detail…a look at interior design… ('01)
Leviticus
13:1-46 +Cultural revelations…limitations of the Law… ('01)
17-26 ++Divine Covenants…the Law… ('02)
Numbers
Deuteronomy
1-28 ++Divine Covenants…the Law… ('02)
6:4 ++In the beginning…how can God be both three and one? ('03)
29:1-30 ++Divine Covenants…the Land… ('02)
30:1-10 ++Divine Covenants…the Land… ('02)
Joshua
24:1-33 ++Divine Covenants…the Law… ('02)
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
7:8-17 ++Divine Covenants…the King… ('02)
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
17:8-15 ++Divine Covenants…the King… ('02)
29:1-30 ++The offering…the example of King David (J. Peterson '02)
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
1:1-11 +Qualities of a Leader: Genuine Prayer ('07)
2:1-8 +Qualities of a Leader: Genuine Prayer ('07)
Esther
Job
1:1-22 +Suffering and the Response of a Godly Man (’08)
38:31 +Astronomical Insights (B. Setterfield '01)
Psalms
3:1-8 +Pattern your prayers after Psalms: a lament when surrounded by adversity… ('01)
Proverbs
1:1-7 +Proverbs…the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge… ('04)
22:6 +Training Our Youth ('04)
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs
Isaiah
59:21 ++Divine Covenants…the New Covenant ('02)
61:8-9 ++Divine Covenants…the New Covenant ('02)
Jeremiah
2:20-26 +Facets of Unfaithfulness ('04)
7:31-32 +Topheth: beating drums in the Valley of Ben-Hinnom ('04)
17:5-10 +The heart is desperately sick; who can understand it? ('04)
31:31-34 ++Divine Covenants…the New Covenant ('02)
32:40 ++Divine Covenants…the New Covenant ('02)
Lamentations
Ezekiel
34:25-31 ++Divine Covenants…the New Covenant ('02)
37:26-28 ++Divine Covenants…the New Covenant ('02)
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
1:3-2:10 +Chiasms: the Hebrew X-factor ('03)
2:1-10 +Declaring praise in the belly of a fish?! (K. Barker '01)
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
1:1-15 +How to Lose in Life (Part 1): False Priorities (R. Zuck '03)
2:1-9 +How to Lose in Life (Part 2): False Perspective (R. Zuck '03)
2:10-19 +How to Lose in Life (Part 3): False Assumption (R. Zuck '04)
2:20-23 +How to Lose in Life (Part 4): False Fear (R. Zuck '04)
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
1:1-18 +What's in a name? A look at genealogies… ('01)
4:25 +The Basic Geography of Jesus' Ministry (J. C. Laney '02)
5:18 +A closer look into Jewish scribal customs… ('01)
12:43-45 +A response to Pharisees: The Parable of the Unclean Spirit Who Returns (’08)
17:24-27 +Of economics and finance…taxing ransoms… ('01)
20:1-16 +What is Grace? ('01)
26:17 ++Keeping track of time…timing is everything… ('01)
Mark
1:40-45 +Cultural revelations…limitations of the Law… ('01)
14:12 ++Keeping track of time…timing is everything… ('01)
14:72 +Failure analysis: the paralysis of analysis vs. conviction through forgiveness… ('01)
Luke
3:23-38 +What's in a name? A look at genealogies… ('01)
7:36-48 +Defining moments…the difference between mercy and grace…(D. Mar '02)
11:24-26 +A response to Pharisees: The Parable of the Unclean Spirit Who Returns (’08)
16:17 +A closer look into Jewish scribal customs… ('01)
22:7 ++Keeping track of time…timing is everything… ('01)
23:39-43 +Salvation at the deathbed…who?…what?…when?…where?…why? ('01)
John
3:1-36 +Putting it all together…a method from homiletics… (C. Hammond '01)
8:2-11 +Confronting personal sin…to omit or admit? ('01)
13:1 ++Keeping track of time…timing is everything… ('01)
13:34-35 +++Love for one another…implications to the church… A series on Sanctification: part 6 (E. Radmacher ('02)
13:36-38 +Failure analysis: the paralysis of analysis vs. conviction through forgiveness… ('01)
14:6 ++In the beginning…how can God be both three and one? ('03)
14:12-14 +Incredible promises: the bestowing of power… ('01)
15:1 +The Vine and the Vinedresser (E. Radmacher '02)
15:2 +++Unfruitful branches? Lift up! Lift up! A series on Sanctification: part 1 (E. Radmacher '02)
15:3 ++Cleansing for service… A series on Sanctification: part 2 (E. Radmacher '02)
15:4-5 ++Intersection…divine sovereignty and human responsibility… A series on Sanctification: part 3 (E. Radmacher '02)
15:6 +++Choices for the Christian…and their consequences… A series on Sanctification: part 4 (E. Radmacher '02)
15:7 +++What does it mean to abide? A series on Sanctification: part 5 (E. Radmacher '02)
Acts
5:1-10 +Testing the Holy Spirit… The Mistake of Ananias and Sapphira ('07)
Romans
1:16 +The Gospel without sin?? (J. Peterson '05)
1:18-20 +Of sin, natural revelation, and the wrath of God (J. Peterson '05)
1:21-32 +Of sin, the depravity of man, and the wrath of God (J. Peterson '05)
5:12 ++What is the Doctrine of Imputed Sin? ('03)
7:1-13 +Do you keep all or part of the Mosaic Law? ('02)
7:14-25 +The battle within… ('01)
8:28-30 +Summons with Eternal Security: part 1 (R. Zuck '03)
8:31-36 +Summons with Eternal Security: part 2 (R. Zuck '03)
12:3-8 +Did you open your gifts? ('01)
1 Corinthians
5:1-13 +What does it mean to "hand one over to Satan"? ('07)
11:2 ++What is Headship? Examining the controversy of women and head coverings… (Part 2) ('05)
11:3 +++Which definition of Kephale is correct? Examining the controversy of women and head coverings… (Part 1) ('05)
12:1-11 +Did you open your gifts? ('01)
14:34-35 ++Examining the authenticity of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35… Part 1: a peek into the discipline of Lower Criticism ('05)
++Examining the authenticity of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35… Part 2: a study into histo-cultural context ('05)
++Examining the authenticity of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35… Part 3: a look at what prophesy means ('05)
++Examining the authenticity of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35… Part 4: a review of various interpretations ('05)
++Examining the authenticity of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35… Part 5: an interpretation within context and without contradiction ('05)
2 Corinthians
12:7-10 +What is Paul’s "thorn in the flesh"? ('08)
Galatians
2:6-14 +Peer pressure: the betrayal of personal values… ('01)
3:28 ++Justified Equally… but what does that mean? ('05)
Ephesians
4:7-16 +Did you open your gifts? ('01)
4:26 +What does it mean: "Be angry, and yet do not sin?" ('07)
Philippians
Colossians
2:13-15 +The Certificate of Debt and the charges of Fallen Angels ('05)
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
++Introduction: Who was the author of 1 and 2 Timothy? ('06)
1:18-20 +What does it mean to "hand one over to Satan"? ('07)
2:8-9 +What shall I wear to worship? (G. Kappas '01)
2:9-12 +Observing Paul’s thoughts leading up to 1 Timothy 2:12 ('06)
2:12 ++Taking a closer look at 1 Timothy 2:12 ('06)
2:12 ++Examining the theological basis for 1 Timothy 2:12 ('06)
2:11-15 +++The Great Debate (G. Kappas '01)
2 Timothy
++Introduction: Who was the author of 1 and 2 Timothy? ('06)
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
11:24-25 +Putting the most into life… (K. Barker '01)
James
1:2-5 +The joy of trials? (K. Payne '01)
1:2-6 +Trial by fire…the forging of spirit… (K. Payne '02)
3:3-12 +Literary devices and figures of speech…communicating with images… ('02)
1 Peter
3:15 +Make a ready defense with gentleness and reverence… A look at Systematic Theology (D. Mar '02)
2 Peter
1 John
3:4-10 ++Do Christians Sin? A response to pseudo Christianity ('07)
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation