Apr 13, 2006
Jesus Dynasty
Actually, I agree with BW3 and Mark Goodacre that the recent claim James Tabor made in his new book Jesus Dynasty is far more significant than the Gospel of Judas. I have not read the book, but at least I heard it is based on serious scholarship and evidence, no matter you agree with the claims or conclusions.
Filed by edmund at 12.12 pm under Faith |
6 Comments
Anson
I’ve always heard brothers and sisters raising this question: Does it matter whether Jesus was born of virgin Mary or not?
What’s your take on this?
Apr 14th, 2006
edmund
I will just use Barth’s comment as my response:
The truth of the conception of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit and of His birth of the Virgin Mary points to the true incarnation of the true God achieved in His historical manifestation, and recalls the special form through which this beginning of the divine act of grace and revelation, that occurred in Jesus Christ, was distinguished from other human events. (Dogmatics in Outline, p. 95)
In other words, the virgin birth did not prove Jesus is from God, it tells you so.
But more importantly, as Christian, I found myself to have a hard time asking my Creator, Saviour and Comforter what He decided to do, “matter” or “does not matter”.
Apr 14th, 2006
Anson
Hey Edmund,
Actually after reading the excerpts and Q&A of this Jesus Dynasty book, I am a little disturbed. I just worry, as I enter seminary, facing all sorts of new knowledge, how can I discern what is worthwhile or not, what is true and what is false? It seems that even these suggestions that might rock the Christian faith are done by “serious scholarship” (as you said). And I am just a normal folk who knows nothing.
I just find it hard to comprehend that in the world of scholars. In one hand we have orthodox/evangelical scholars claiming that the deeper they dig into archeology and bible texts, they become more and more confident about the faith they behold. On the other hand, we have serious scholars like James Tabor, suggesting otherwise.
How am I suppose to discern between these two types of scholarship?
The reason I enter an evangelical seminary is to strengthen the faith that I already hold, as least to know clearly what I’m believing, because I believe that serious and honest scholarship will eventually lead to the truth and make things more clear. However, now I’m not so sure if this assumption is correct…
What do you think?
Apr 14th, 2006
Anson
Just one more note….
The biggest difficulty for me to face the change from a field of science to arts is that, in science, theories can be proven and the obsolete ones go away. No one today still claim that the earth is flat or an atom is the smallest unit in matter. In science, there may be all sorts of speculation or theories, but throughout time, they converge to a common understanding which all scientists can agree, and wrong ones get purged.
Now in biblical studies or simply history, there seems to be so much yada-yada, everyone suggesting different theories, and nothing converges. There are those who try very hard to defend the faith, and those who try very hard to deconstruct it. Both sides keep publishing books that claim their side is trust-worthy and credible, and afterall, there doesn’t seem to be any objective common understanding. It all depends on where you already stand and what you already believe.
Why can’t theology be as progressing and converging as science? Do I have to give it up and learn how to live with a complex and pluralistic new field of knowledge?
Apr 14th, 2006
edmund
I can see your concern. But don’t project it infinitely. You will learn some fundamental facts in seminary which allows you to figure out what is fact and what is not (and things plausible). What you are feeling is just information overload while you lack the knowledge to evaluate them, something which you should gain at Regent.
Having said that, I suggest you to read (yes, even more reading!) the series by Alan S. Bandy on faith-based scholarship.
Also, have you read the book I recommended to you long ago by Helmut Thielicke entitled A Little Exercise for Young Theologians? I am sure you bought the Chinese version while you were in Toronto.
You know, there are always reasons why I suggest people to read certain books.
Apr 15th, 2006
Anson
Thankyou for the pointers =)
I’ll get myself prepared when I get back to Vancouver.
Apr 15th, 2006
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