H46 - Theology and Apologetics

In this session, we begin a two-week study of God's Omniscience and ask several questions: - Does God really know everything? - What are the different kinds of knowledge? - What is a more nuanced, biblical definition of omniscience? (Originally recorded on 02/28/2024) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dazvwflwm6bpcogdqfjrl/2.06-God-is-Omniscient-Notes.pdf?rlkey=dng99644zyq7tdyslhyot3...

In this session, we look at God's attribute of incorporeality, or that God is a spirit and not a physical being, with an emphasis on the many biblical passages that speak of God in physical terms.: (Originally recorded on 02/21/2024) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1utyw1f73ih0cqj00gtoi/2.05-Attributes-of-God-Incorporeality-Notes.pdf?rlkey=rbqycg49p7vhodjubbvsbvju9&dl=0

In this session, we look at the notion of God's immutability - how he is changeless in his essential nature: - What does it mean that God doesn't change? - Does this mean God doesn't act or do anything? - What about where the bible says God changes his mind? - Why does God seem so different in the Old and New Testaments? (Originally recorded on 02/07/2024) Notes (PDF): https://www.drop...

In this session, we look at God's omnipresence, or how he is "present everywhere", and how we should think of this in light of an expanding physical universe or other concepts of God through history. (Originally recorded on 01/31/2024) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/r5yd7snaqo7xpdj69nwzs/2.03-Attributes-of-God-Omnipresence-Notes.pdf?rlkey=bzrnuwcniz6tvhgwjopvskvxb&dl...

In this session, we look at God's attribute of Eternity, of that he is timeless. We spend some time thinking about what that means, and how the nature of time will affect how we see God's relationship to it. (Originally recorded on 01/24/2024) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dnavicc2hftv0qjmo6ak1/2.02-Attributes-of-God-Eternity-Notes.pdf?rlkey=gsk162gatbbp6c3s7uvhbpg1g&dl=0

In this session, we prepare for an extended look at God's attributes, and discuss some of the questions and practical applications of knowing God's nature and character. (Originally recorded on 01/17/2024) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/b9zka86wyw4d47hxr0vpu/2.01-Attributes-of-God-Introduction-Notes.pdf?rlkey=rh5z879zxvskxzte883nqapwo&dl=0

This week we look at the origins and meaning of the Jewish Feast of Dedication, more commonly known as Hanukah. What's the story behind it? Is it just "Jewish Christmas"? Is it biblical? Is it something Christians can participate in and learn from? (Originally recorded on 12/06/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ui0umlw63oemyrzdfuqth/B.01-Jesus-in-Hanukah.pdf?rlkey=abk...

In this session, we look at some of the ancient documents commonly referred to as the "Lost Gospels", such as The Gospels of Peter or Thomas, and why they're not included in modern bibles. (Originally recorded on 11/29/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/atb2um2vz6zwnwmuuafeb/1.22-The-Lost-Gospels.pdf?rlkey=ft9towonxgc0ayivy4hwkt8ts&dl=0

In this session, we look at the collection of books present in Catholic bibles which are missing from Protestant bibles - more commonly known as "The Apocrypha" or "The Deuterocanon". Why is there a difference? What did the early church and the pre-Christian Jewish community think? How did the debate come about? Why, ultimately, did Protestants reject them? (Originally recorded...

In this session, we look at the question of which books are included in the bible, and why. There were debates among Jews and early Christians about specific books - some that made the cut, and others that didn't. What were the Church Fathers (and the Rabbis before them) looking for in something they called scripture? Was this a committee decision, an imperial decree, or a "crowdsourced&q...

In this session, we look at the controversy surrounding modern bibles and whether or not English-speaking Christians should only be using the King James Version. - The Byzantine vs. Alexandrian Text Families - Arguments for the Byzantine Text - Arguments for the King James Translation - Problems with the KJV-Only Position (Originally recorded on 10/12/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl...

In this session, we finish our look at the evidence against transmissional corruption in the bible, specifically the New Testament. We also look at some internal evidence arguing against any glossing or editing that we're told occurred. (Originally recorded on 10/05/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/olq32s2uixg0eysme3hol/1.18-Transmission-of-Scripture-OT.pdf?rlkey=liwjhk7ht8epo...

In this session, we look at the evidence of how the bible, specifically the New Testament, was transmitted faithfully and without significant corruption over the centuries. (Originally recorded on 09/28/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7hxlx5j73n7d67vj789sc/1.17-Bibliology-Transmission-of-Scripture-NT.pdf?rlkey=3e0cn9ugqcshkvjpnhbd0afrq&dl=0

In this session, we look at a very brief sampling of ways the bible has been proven to be historically reliable. (Originally recorded on 09/14/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/crk43ia0eqyub3rdc0uge/1.16-Bibliology-Historicity-of-Scripture.pdf?rlkey=44vzhs6o6lt8lu2qdr1o8yogl&dl=0

In this session, we continue our discussion of biblical authority with some applicational thoughts: - Can science, experience, or emotions/intuition be our ultimately authorities? - The difficulties and beauty of biblical authority (Originally recorded on Zoom on 08/31/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gbuqvae1z9wrai1ycbcpw/1.14-Bibliology-Authority-of-Scripture.pdf?rlkey=g4gs0g7uf...

In this session, we look at what it means to say that the bible is authoritative: - What is authority - Biblical support - Objections to the authority of the bible - Why can't tradition, reason, or science be our ultimate authorities? (Originally recorded on 08/24/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gbuqvae1z9wrai1ycbcpw/1.14-Bibliology-Authority-of-Scripture.pdf?rlkey=g4gs0g7uf3...

In this session, we look at how we can apply good reading principles of context, genre, etc. to deal with some specific examples of supposed bible contradictions: - What is a "contradiction"? - Tips for general approach - Case Study: The Death of Judas - Case Study: The Sending of the Twelve - Case Study: David's Census (Originally recorded on 06/15/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dro...

In this session, we finish our summary and exposition of the Chicago Statement and the many considerations that need to be taken into account when accusing an ancient document of not meeting modern standards. (Originally recorded on 06/01/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dkbtnk7ii58u79hjbtrha/1.12-Bibliology-Chicago-Statement-Pt.-2.pdf?rlkey=9ir0jxzqxnvuxxtvdk570gdth&dl=0

In this session, we look at the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and how it lays out what is and is not compatible with an inerrant bible: (Originally recorded on 05/25/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kwsmgehn0aj4mf51jrufz/1.11-Bibliology-Inerrancy-Chicago-Statement-Pt.-1.pdf?rlkey=x2c3hdsiq9ogvcwtneqmdgrgs&dl=0 Chicago Statement (PDF): https://www.etsjets.org/files/do...

In this session, we begin a section on biblical inerrancy and what the bible says about itself being "without error": (Originally recorded on 05/18/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vwqjbblblo3u61d9p8xp0/1.10-Bibliology-Inerrancy-Definition-and-Biblical-Support.pdf?rlkey=mmembwz9vptcbiu5dxi38jb0e&dl=0

In this session, we look at a biblical position of inspiration, often referred to as "Verbal Plenary Inspiration". (Originally recorded on 04/27/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/h36dptmvvfq6kznc3ytqo/1.9-Bibliology-Verbal-Plenary-Inspiration.pdf?rlkey=7cpo6wcx5uoruq2a4ashp8sn6&dl=0

In this session, we briefly return to General Revelation to discuss whether what we know about God from the natural world or our internal moral sense is enough to lead someone to saving faith: - The problem of the unevangelized - The biblical data - The issue of "fairness" - The urgency of evangelism (Originally recorded on 04/21/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ru01wg4w...

In this session, we continue looking at a biblical model of inspiration and how it must incorporate the human aspect, that the bible is both the Word of God, and yet also the words of humans: (Originally recorded on 03/09/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1xf64ssz8ee001qdb8k1r/1.7-Bibliology-Inspiration-Cont..pdf?rlkey=y6wueqg0tydrh5oypdhzj1dpg&dl=0

In this session, we conclude our look at particular revelation with some applicational thoughts before transitioning into our next section on what it means when we say the bible is "inspired": (Originally recorded on 03/02/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ltvfa0cm6pdo0kcwsk4hd/1.6-Bibliology-Particular-Revelation-Wrapup-Inspiration.pdf?rlkey=565hajf0aevjlrdascgyax5fr&amp...

In this session, we look at more categories of 'particular revelation' we see in the bible, their characteristics, and some of the ways they differ from other forms: (Originally recorded on 02/23/2023) Notes (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/h15pzc3nlj2k0ssd6kebf/1.5-Bibliology-Visions-Trances.pdf?rlkey=s6z4q2wrlmhgi8m04yxzve0kg&dl=0