If scholars faithfully use reliable manuscripts when translating Scripture, why do we have different versions of the Bible?

Perhaps the most vital thing to understand about different Bible versions: by their very nature translations are NEVER word for word.

Translators must interpret to some degree, and how they go about this process falls into two philosophies: FORMAL EQUIVALENCE or DYNAMIC EQUIVALENCE.

Listen to learn how this impacts the translation process and check out some Bible translations that are worth your consideration.

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Recommended Bible Translations:
Those looking for a recommendation of a good Bible versions will find the ESV, the NASB, the Legacy, and the CSB to be excellent choices.

English Standard Version
New American Standard Bible
Legacy Standard Version
Christian Standard Bible

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In his book Humble Calvinism, author J.A. Medders writes:

"Many of us who love to love the “doctrines of grace” have not grown in showing grace. We have not become more gracious, kind, tender, and compassionate. And that can only mean one thing: we actually don’t know the doctrines of grace. Sure, we know the points and can rehearse the arguments ...But an arrogant and argumentative Calvinist is just a Pharisee with a fresh coat of paint."

But it doesn't have to be this way. The term "humble Calvinism" should not be an oxymoron.

On this replay episode, we discuss why a right understanding of Calvinism should cause us to be gracious, loving, and humble towards others.

On This Episode We’ll Discuss:

• What Calvinism is and why a "humble Calvinist" seems like an oxymoron to many
• Why "cage-stage" Calvinism is such a prevalent issue
• Some keys to help us graciously hold to the Doctrines of Grace
• How we can be zealous for the truth and be humble and gracious towards others

Pick up a copy of Humble Calvinism: https://amzn.to/3TpAUwx

For more resources and information, see the show notes at ReasonableTheology.org/Episode23

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• Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy
• A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library

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In the book of Titus, Paul is instructing Titus to remind these Christians of how they are to live lives pleasing to God in a pagan land of Crete. Crete was known across the ancient world for its immorality; Paul quotes one of their own poets who claimed “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

How were Christians to live in such a culture? More than a question of personal obedience and sanctification, this is a question of the Great Commission. How does their conduct impact how the Cretans see Christ?

The apostle Paul's instructions for first-century Christians in Crete remain relevant for us today. What should our response be as spiritual pilgrims living in an increasingly unholy land?

This is a very important question, as far too many believers fall into the ditches of either capitulating to the culture or adopting a posture of outright hostility towards it. Both errors are a hindrance to our proclamation of the Gospel.

Some Christians respond with anger, others with despair, and still others become indifferent to the cultural rot all around us. 

In helping us rightly engage the world around us, Titus 3:1-7 offers three crucial reminders: a reminder of how we are to live, a reminder of who we once were, and a reminder of what Christ has done for us.

In this sermon we will consider how we can navigate the increasingly ungodly culture around us with compassion, conviction, and confidence.

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• A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library

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Is it true that the story of Jesus is just a retelling of pagan myths that also featured gods who were born of a virgin, died, and rose again?

It is often alleged that a number of ancient gods have biographies shockingly similar to that of Jesus of Nazareth. Names that are commonly included in this group of doppelganger deities include Mithras, Dionysus, and Osiris, among others.

This allegation implies that if gods we consider false claim the same things that Christianity claims, Christianity must also be false. But is the allegation true?

There are two important questions that a believer should ask when tackling the “Jesus myth” allegations:

1) Are these alleged parallels to pagan gods historically accurate?

2) If they were, what difference would it make?

Listen as we review three alleged parallels to the life of Christ and consider whether or not it would really matter if there were pagan gods with stories similar to the life of Christ.

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The Sermon on the Mount is perhaps the most famous of all of Jesus’ teachings, and the beatitudes in particular have come to be some of the best-known and best-loved verses in the whole of the New Testament.

Christians have much to gain from a deep study of these passages, and our guest today is going to give us some insight into how our study of these verses (and all the New Testament) can benefit from a knowledge of Greek.

Ryan Martin is the man behind Kairos Classroom, which provides online, live instruction in biblical Greek and Hebrew. 

On this episode we examine the language of the beatitudes and gain greater insight into Jesus’ teaching by understanding more about His words in the original Greek. We’ll talk about what it means to be “blessed” – how we are to rightly understand biblical meekness, and how we can avoid common mistakes when using language tools like dictionaries when studying Scripture.

At the end, we’ll discuss how you can better equip yourself to dive deeper into your study of Scripture.

This episode will inspire you to see the Scriptures through a new lens and perhaps even embark on the rewarding journey of learning Greek or Hebrew yourself.

See how you can begin your study of Greek with Kairos Classroom and get 10% off your first course with promo code THEOLOGY: ReasonableTheology.org/Greek

Subscribe to our newsletter at ReasonableTheology.org/Subscribe for the latest updates and resources, including articles, theological definitions, artistic depictions, musical selections, and book recommendations to build your library. Support the show and expand your understanding of theology one email at a time.

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• A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly
• A Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church History
• Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy
• A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library

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"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" was a sermon preached by Jonathan Edwards in 1741 during the First Great Awakening.

Edwards is perhaps the greatest theological mind America has ever produced, and Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God is one of the most famous sermons of all time.

Its vivid imagery depicting the precarious position our lives are in — and the judgment that awaits us if we do not find forgiveness for our sins through faith in Jesus Christ — had an impact that spread far wider than Edward's congregation.

As important as this sermon is, few in our day have taken the time to read it in full, and fewer still have ever heard it preached as it would have been originally delivered.

On this edition of the Reasonable Theology podcast, you can get a chance to listen to the complete, unabridged sermon delivered with the dynamic of live preaching.

So here is Jonathan Edwards famous sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. It was recorded by the late Tod Magstadt.

Get a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos

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• A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library

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Thanks to the internet, false teachers are able to gain a wider influence than ever before. They don't even have to enter your church to negatively impact your congregation - they can spread their errant theology on YouTube, Twitter, TikTok and elsewhere.

Given the proliferation of false teachers and the ease at which people can encounter their teaching, it is vital that we know how to recognize them.

While there are many passages of Scripture that speak to the danger of false teaching and how to guard against it, perhaps no book of the Bible focuses its attention on the issue more pointedly than 2 Peter.

In this video, we'll cover three ways you can recognize a false teacher.

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C.H. Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, passed away on January 31, 1892. The impact of his ministry, however, continues to this very day. 

In picturing the day of his own funeral 20 years earlier, Spurgeon said to his congregation:

…when you see my coffin carried to the silent grave, I should like every one of you, whether converted or not, to be constrained to say, “He did earnestly urge us, in plain and simple language, not to put off the consideration of eternal things. He did entreat us to look to Christ.

Even today, more than 130 years after his death, C.H. Spurgeon continues to do just that.

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Let's talk about four critical areas of evidence for the reliability of the Bible. We'll explore the wealth of evidence supporting the trustworthiness of Scripture, from thousands of biblical manuscripts and archaeological findings to the faithful preservation of original writings and the timely composition of the New Testament.

1 | Manuscript Evidence: Discover how the 6,000 New Testament manuscripts, far surpassing any other ancient document, provide a solid foundation for comparing and verifying the accuracy of Scripture.
2 | Archaeological Corroboration: Learn about the numerous archaeological discoveries that align with biblical accounts, further solidifying the historical validity of the Scriptures.
3 | Preservation of Original Texts: Understand the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls and other ancient manuscripts in demonstrating the meticulous care scribes took in preserving the Bible's content over centuries.
4 | Historical Timing of New Testament Writings: Gain insight into how the proximity of New Testament writings to the actual events they describe adds an additional layer of credibility.

For more resources on this topic, I recommend the following books:
 
• Why I Trust the Bible by Bill Mounce https://amzn.to/2WpA0Wc
• Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World by Josh and Sean McDowell https://amzn.to/2VSKxYc
• The Historical Reliability of the New Testament: Countering the Challenges to Evangelical Christian Beliefs by Craig Blomberg https://amzn.to/2HuyKGZ
• How We Got the Bible by Neil Gordon Lightfoot https://amzn.to/2EkXsYk

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• A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly
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• Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy
• A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library

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Benjamin Keach was a pivotal figure in 17th-century Baptist history. Known for his influential writings and his role in introducing hymn singing in Baptist congregations, Keach's contributions have left an indelible mark on religious thought and practice.

His journey from a persecuted dissenter to a respected preacher and author paints a vivid picture of the religious and political turbulence of his time.

And yet, Keach is not as well known as some other figures of church history.

On this episode, I have a conversation with Dr. Matthew Stanton, a renowned Keach scholar and co-editor of The Works of Benjamin Keach from Particular Baptist Heritage Book.

Dr. Stanton will help us delve deeper into Keach's world, revealing how Keach’s ministry impacted not only his own time but ours as well.

Join us as discuss this tumultuous time in England’s history, how Keach’s children’s book landed him in the stockade, how he pioneered the introduction of hymns to the worship service, what he was like as a family man and pastor, and much more.

When you’re done, check out the show notes at ReasonableTheology.org/Keach for resources to learn more.

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• A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly
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• A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library

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