Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Andy Naselli

The Problem of Religious Conservatism

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Dick France (b. 1938), who has served on the Committee on Bible Translation (CBT) for two periods (1990–1995 and 1999–present), reflects on “some issues in Bible translations” at the end of this article:

“The Bible in English: An Overview.” Pages 177–97 in The Challenge of Bible Translation: Communicating God’s Word to the World; Understanding the Theory, History, and Practice: Essays in Honor of Ronald F. Youngblood. Edited by Glen G. Scorgie, Mark L. Strauss, and Steven M. Voth. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

France briefly reflects on five issues:

  1. The Text to Be Translated
  2. Literal versus Dynamic Translation
  3. The Problem of Religious Conservatism
  4. Public and Private Reading
  5. Inclusive Language

What he says about the third issue applies to more than just Bible translation:

The Problem of Religious Conservatism

Conservatism—in the sense of resistance to change—seems to affect people in matters of religion more readily than in other areas. Thoroughly modern people with radical political views may nonetheless be staunch advocates of the KJV and the Book of Common Prayer. Saint Luke long ago summed up the typical reaction to change in matters of religion: “The old is good” (Luke 5:39 NRSV). This is a hurdle every Bible translator must face. [Read more…] about The Problem of Religious Conservatism

Wisdom Christology

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This book could be a template for a topical sermon series:

Daniel J. Ebert IV. Wisdom Christology: How Jesus Becomes God’s Wisdom for Us. Explorations in Biblical Theology. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed, 2011.

About the Author

Dan Ebert served as a missionary in Asia from 1977 to 1999. Then he taught at Clearwater Christian College for nine years, and he now teaches at Cedarville University. He also does adjunct teaching at several schools, including Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Virginia Beach.

He wrote his dissertation under D. A. Carson: [Read more…] about Wisdom Christology

Formalist and Hypocrisy Taking a Shortcut

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Taken from John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress: From This World to That Which Is to Come (edited by C. J. Lovik; illustrated by Mike Wimmer; Wheaton: Crossway, 2009), 60. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. [Cf. my review.]

Taken from John Bunyan, Dangerous Journey: The Story of Pilgrim’s Progress (edited by Oliver Hunkin; illustrated by Alan Parry; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985), 42. [Cf. my review coauthored with my wife.]
[Read more…] about Formalist and Hypocrisy Taking a Shortcut

The Pilgrim’s Progress for Children (and Adults)

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My family loves John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678). Charles Spurgeon read this classic over one hundred times. It’s a pity that many Christians today have not read it even once. Here are some versions we enjoy:

1. Pictorial Pilgrim’s Progress, illustrated by Joanne Brubaker (Chicago: Moody, 1960).

  • It’s excellent for young children because there is a picture on every page, and the text is simple and straightforward.
  • The Kindle version includes all the illustrations.
  • The book is especially meaningful to me for reasons that are evident in the below correspondence I had with my former pastor, Mike Bullmore:

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[email from me to Mike Bullmore on 6/7/2010]

Dear Mike,

I’m in the process of cataloging my print and electronic library, and I just entered this book in my database:

Bunyan, John. Pictorial Pilgrim’s Progress. Chicago: Moody, 1960.

I opened it up and reread what I wrote on the inside cover:

I read this very book to Michael after he relapsed. He loved to look at the pictures as I read and explained Bunyan’s outstanding allegory. Now Michael is at the glorious end of his difficult journey, and I look forward to seeing him again in the celestial city!

Andy
4/25/2002

A little background:

I’m the second of seven children . . . . In December 1998 (during my freshman year of college), my family was shocked to learn that my youngest brother Michael, who was three years old at the time, had cancer—Stage IV Neuroblastoma. [Read more…] about The Pilgrim’s Progress for Children (and Adults)

Irresistible Grace

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Kenneth J. Stewart, Ten Myths About Calvinism: Recovering the Breadth of the Reformed Tradition (Downers Grove: IVP, 2011):

[T]he I in TULIP was actually a caricature of the position championed in the Synod of Dordt. Those who derided the Reformed idea of effectual calling or prevailing grace branded it “irresistible.”[n53] This is the kind of inside information that needs circulating. It should change popular Calvinism’s use of TULIP.

[n53] The “I” of the acronym T-U-L-I-P, far from encapsulating Dordt’s intended emphasis, actually relays the protest of the Dutch Remonstrants against early seventeenth-century Calvinism in a way dependent on Jesuit writers of that time. How is it possible that irresistible, a term intended to besmirch and caricature the concept of a grace that eventually prevails over all opposition, has been taken up and championed by those it was meant to portray unfavorably? See Anthony Hoekema, Saved by Grace (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989), pp. 104–5.

“Irresistible” is not an unredeemable term (I love singing “Grace irresistible drew me“!), but it’s not my first choice because it is so easily misunderstood. [Read more…] about Irresistible Grace

Pastor-Scholars and Scholar-Pastors

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John Piper and D. A. Carson teamed up on April 23, 2009 to address “The Pastor as Scholar and the Scholar as Pastor.”

(I live-blogged the event, and audio, video, and manuscripts are available.)

Now it’s been updated as a 124-page book:

John Piper and D. A. Carson. The Pastor as Scholar and the Scholar as Pastor: Reflections on Life and Ministry. Edited by Owen Strachan and David Mathis. Wheaton: Crossway, 2011.

 

 

Gospel Meditations for Men

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Last year my wife blogged about Gospel Meditations for Women by Chris Anderson and Joe Tyrpak.

Chris and Joe wrote a corresponding booklet for men that’s available starting today (in time for Father’s Day if you order soon).

Applying the gospel never gets old because we always need it. These fresh meditations serve men well.

More info:

  • order ($2.50 for 1-9 copies, $2.25 for 10-50, $2 for 51+)
  • sample PDF
  • more info (including endorsements by Phil Johnson, Sam Horn, and Milton Vincent)

Leisure

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Mat Stribling, an elder at my church, served us well with his talk entitled “Rescuing Leisure from the American Dream.”

Here’s the outline:

Introduction: Defending Leisure’s Necessity

I. Definition: What is Leisure?

A. Work-Play Continuum

B. Three-part Definition

  1. Time: discretionary
  2. Activity: intentionality
  3. Purpose: enrichment

II. Problems: Identifying Some Issues with Leisure

A. Axis of Error

B. Five Problems in Leisure [Read more…] about Leisure