Monthly Archives: April 2012

The Jewish nature of Jesus and early Christianity

Posted on April 29, 2012 by theoutwardquest

Paula Fredriksen has a review of three new books about Judaism and early Christianity. She says: “As with Gentile Christianity, so with Rabbinic Judaism: both asserted, very loudly, that though Jesus may have been a Jew, he was a special … Continue reading →

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The Thorn in the Flesh

Posted on April 29, 2012 by theoutwardquest

Frank Viola has revived and refined a theory of some of the Church Fathers that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” in 2 Corinthians 12:7 refers to his opponents.  Only Viola goes one step further in thinking Paul may have meant just … Continue reading →

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Welch-Temples and practicality

Posted on April 29, 2012 by theoutwardquest

Adam Welch, in The Code of Deuteronomy: A New Theory of its Origin, argued that to centralize worship in the temple at Jerusalem would not have been very practical. The Mormons have temples. They just built a new one in Kansas … Continue reading →

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Define spirituality

Posted on April 27, 2012 by theoutwardquest

Ok, this is why we need an outward tending spirituality. Just down the road (Interstate 70) from me, scientists at the University of Missouri have done some studies on spirituality and the brain. They say that they have found a … Continue reading →

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Welch-Deuteronomy before Hezekiah

Posted on April 26, 2012 by theoutwardquest

My house is full of books, My storage shed is full of books. I have vowed not to get any more books. There is no room. More and more I am turning to e-books. But you still cannot get everything. … Continue reading →

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Anti-Puritan politics

Posted on April 23, 2012 by theoutwardquest

It has been an entertaining week in the American presidential campaign. I always knew this campaign would go to the dogs, and now it has. Apparently our choice is between dog in a crate or dog on a plate. Some … Continue reading →

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Paul-groaning toward resurrection

Posted on April 20, 2012 by theoutwardquest

I have been talking about how Paul the Apostle viewed the resurrection. The main text was 1 Corinthians 15. But, in my last post, I gave the opinion that 2 Corinthians 5:ff. shows a development over 1 Corinthians 15. There Paul thinks … Continue reading →

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Paul-dealing with a delayed resurrection

Posted on April 18, 2012 by theoutwardquest

The delay of the return of Christ poses a major problem for Paul’s view of the resurrection. In his earliest letters he clearly expects to still be alive when Christ returns (1 Thesselonians 4:17, I Corinthians 15:51). But here we … Continue reading →

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Paul-a bright and glorious body

Posted on April 16, 2012 by theoutwardquest

I continue to reflect on Paul’s view of the resurrection.  Right now I am looking at 1 Corinthians 15. Paul is appalled that anyone would misunderstand him as asserting such an absurd notion as that the resurrection means the resuscitation of … Continue reading →

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A Passover Music Vid

Posted on April 13, 2012 by theoutwardquest

Put and old, popular movie together with an old, popular song and you get a fun Passover video.  

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