Free PDF Apologetics’ Dissertation: The Literary Structure of the Fifth Book of the Hebrew Psalter: A Structural Analysis and Canonical Reading of Psalms 107–150

Here’s a doctoral dissertation that Southern Seminary has made available titled “The Literary Structure of the Fifth Book of the Hebrew Psalter: A Structural Analysis and Canonical Reading of Psalms 107–150.”

This is a treat for those into the Psalms and Messianic Prophecies!  In particular I think it contributes to apologetics with the insight of how Book five of the Psalms delineate a literary structure with three sections, each of which presents an angle of the future Davidic King and collectively all three sections gives us a three-dimensional Messianic portrait.

Those who read this blog knows I love exegesis, biblical theology, the Psalms, Messianic Prophecies and the implication of that for apologetics from the approach that esteem the Bible as self-evidencing.  So I cannot help but to share this find!

The dissertation was written by Jonathan Alan Ginn and was completed on December 2022.  Its neat to see his dissertation is available online for free.

Here’s an abstract:

Read Full Post »

Van Til’s Thought on Vatican 2

Many apologists today do not want to tackle Roman Catholicism.  This is something our friend Ex-Catholic Tom points out in many conversations I have had with him.

Not so with Cornelius Van Til.

Read Full Post »

Bible Contradiction? Were the Israelites to spare the trees in the countries they invaded?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked:Were the Israelites to spare the trees in the countries they invaded?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:

Yes

“Then you shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and cut down every good tree and stop up all the springs of water, and spoil every good plot of land with stones.’”” (2 Kings 3:19)

No

“When you besiege a city for a long time, to make war against it in order to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by swinging an axe against them; for you may eat from them, so you shall not cut them down. For is the tree of the field a human, that it should ^[b]be besieged by you?” (Deuteronomy 20:19)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

Read Full Post »

Van Til’s Thoughts: Apologists don’t need to know everything and the power of an Argument from the Precondition of Intelligibility

I want to share something that I read recently from Cornelius Van Til that touches on how how a Christian apologists doesn’t need to know everything and yet there is the power of an Argument from the Precondition of Intelligibility needs the Christian worldview.

Cornelius Van Til is a theologian, apologist and philosopher that I appreciate since he tried to be biblically driven during his life time and academic career (Years ago I posted A SYLLABUS ON CORNELIUS VAN TIL’S HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONTRIBUTION TO PRESUPPOSITIONAL APOLOGETICS).

His writings are not always easy to read but it is always rewarding for me to work through them especially when he gives great insight with theological and apologetics methods.

Read Full Post »

Sola Scriptura and the Church Fathers Series: Scripture is Self-Authenticating

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I have in the past written on the topic that Scripture is self-attesting.

Here’s a two part video discussions on this topic and also about Church history (church fathers) and Sola Scriptura.

Read Full Post »

Bible Contradiction? Who bought the sepulcher in Shechem from the sons of Hamor?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Who bought the sepulcher in Shechem from the sons of Hamor?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:

Jacob

“Now they buried the bones of Joseph, which the sons of Israel brought up from Egypt, at Shechem, in the plot of land which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money; and they became the inheritance of Joseph’s sons.” (Joshua 24:32)

Abraham

“And they were brought back from there to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.” (Acts 7:16)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

Read Full Post »

Presuppositional Apologetic’s Links: Third Week of May 2023

 

These are links concerning Presuppositional apologetics gathered from May 15th-21st, 2023. 

1.) Cave to the Cross’ Cosmological And Ontological Arguments – Ep.225 – Apologetics By John Frame – Theistic Argument – Part 4

2.) Bible Contradiction? What animals must you sacrifice each day?

3.) Van Til Seminar (7 of 10): Survey of Christian Epistemology (Plato; God’s Incomprehensibility)

4.) Apologetic Sermon Illustration #87: Not forgetting the Prize and Remembering Christ

5.) An Evangelist for the Gospel of Darwin

6.) Messianic Passages and the Salvation of Nations

 

Missed the last round up?  Check out the re-blogged post from a friend here 

Read Full Post »

Bible Contradiction? What animals must you sacrifice each day?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: What animals must you sacrifice each day?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:

A bullock and two lambs

“Each day you shall offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement, and you shall purify the altar when you make atonement for it, and you shall anoint it to consecrate it. 37 For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it; then the altar shall be most holy, and whatever touches the altar shall be holy. 38 “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two one-year-old lambs each day, continuously. 39 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight;” (Exodus 29:36-39)

Two lambs (without a bullock)

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be careful to present to Me My offering, My food for My offerings by fire, of a soothing aroma to Me, at their appointed time.’ 3 And you shall say to them, ‘This is the offering by fire which you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs one year old without defect as a continual burnt offering every day. 4 You shall offer the one lamb in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight;” (Numbers 28:1-4)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

Read Full Post »

Messianic Passages and the Salvation of Nations

I love Messianic Prophecies.

Read Full Post »

Apologetic Sermon Illustration #87: Not forgetting the Prize and Remembering Christ

GO TO PART 86

Point: This might be more biblical counseling but have you had to deal with someone who do not live out the biblical worldview and end up forgetting to focus on Christ?  In some sense that’s all of us especially when we sin.  Yet it is foolish.  How do we capture the foolishness of that?

Read Full Post »

Free PDF Apologetics’ Senior Thesis: Inside Out Apologetics: Engaging Cultural Narratives in Peninsular Malaysia

Here’s a senior thesis that Liberty University’s School of Divinity has made available titled “Inside Out Apologetics: Engaging Cultural Narratives in Peninsular Malaysia.”   They just have this shared online this week!  I imagine this would be a treat and food for thought for those into apologetics, history and historical methodology.  I myself am fascinated with these areas.

The thesis was written by Xian Wei Hah was completed Spring 2023 as part of his completion of his degree.  I am thankful Liberty University has made this thesis available online for free.

Here’s an abstract:

Read Full Post »

Bible Contradiction? Is it OK to use perfume?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Is it OK to use perfume?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:

Yes

Perfume rejoices the heart.

“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, And a person’s advice is sweet to his friend.” (Proverbs 27:9)

Esther used it to impress the king. (And she was one of God’s favorite women.)

“So it came about, when the command and decree of the king were heard and many young ladies were gathered to the citadel of Susa into the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s palace into the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women. 9 Now the young lady pleased him and found favor with him. So he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and food, gave her seven choice female attendants from the king’s palace, and transferred her and her attendants to the best place in the harem. 10 Esther did not reveal her people or her kindred, because Mordecai had instructed her that she was not to reveal them. 11 And every day Mordecai walked back and forth in front of the courtyard of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her. 12 Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women—for the days of their beauty treatment were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with balsam oil and the cosmetics for women” (Esther 2:8-12)

The author of the Song of Solomon was a big fan of perfume.

“What is this coming up from the wilderness Like columns of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the scented powders of the merchant?” (Song of Solomon 3:6)

“How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much [a]sweeter is your love than wine, And the fragrance of your oils Than that of all kinds of balsam oils!” ( Song of Solomon 4:10)

“I arose to open to my beloved; And my hands dripped with myrrh, And my fingers with drops of myrrh, On the handles of the bolt.” (Song of Solomon 5:5)

And perfume was poured on Jesus’s feet.

“Mary then took a ^[a]pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (John 12:3)

No, they are unclean

Perfume is for God, not you.

“And the incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the Lord.” (Exodus 30:37)

Only whores use perfume

“I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.” (Proverbs 7:17)

The daughters of Zion used perfume. (So God discovered their secret parts.)

“Moreover, the Lord said, “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty And walk with heads held high and seductive eyes, And go along with mincing steps And jingle the anklets on their feet, 17 The Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs, And the Lord will make their foreheads bare.” 18 On that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, headbands, crescent ornaments, 19 dangling earrings, bracelets, veils, 20 headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets, 21 finger rings, nose rings, 22 festive robes, outer garments, shawls, purses, 23 papyrus garments, undergarments, headbands, and veils. 24 Now it will come about that instead of balsam oil there will be a stench; Instead of a belt, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, a plucked-out scalp; Instead of fine clothes, a robe of sackcloth; And branding instead of beauty.” (Isaiah 3:16-24)

“You have journeyed to the king with oil And increased your perfumes; You have sent your messengers a great distance And made them go down to Sheol.” (Isaiah 57:9)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

Read Full Post »

Apologetic Sermon Illustration #86: Popular Human Authorities can be wrong and 51 Intel Officials

GO TO PART 85

Point: Ever had a conversation where someone keep making an appeal to authority but don’t want to discuss the actual truth claims and contents of argumentation instead?  How do you respond?

Read Full Post »

Van Til’s Thought: Assumptions behind the assertion that “nobody knows”

You ever hear people, when they are uncomfortable with the claims of Christianity, asserts that nobody knows the truth?

I am reading slowly a book by Cornelius Van Til a theologian, apologist and philosopher and I thought he made some good observations of the assumptions behind this assertion.

Read Full Post »

Bible Contradiction? Is it OK to marry unbelievers?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Is it OK to marry unbelievers?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:

Yes

“But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not [c]divorce her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through [d]her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.” (1 Corinthians 7:12-14)

No, they are unclean

“Do not be mismatched with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness share together, or what does light have in common with darkness? 15 Or what harmony does Christ have with Belial, or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are [e]the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell among them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

Read Full Post »