Category Archives: Theology

moses convinces God to look good – exodus 32

Posted on April 21, 2014 by christopher fisher

In Exodus 32, God sees Israel’s first major rebellion against Him. While Moses is on Mount Sinai talking to God about commandments for Israel, Israel camps below and builds a false idol in the shape of a calf. God then … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Calvinism, God, Omnipotence, Omniscience, Open Theism, Prophecy, Theology | 12 Comments

the conditional eternal kingdom of israel

Posted on April 19, 2014 by christopher fisher

In 1 Samuel 8, Israel demands a king. God feels rejected (1Sa 8:7) but appoints Saul (possibly a late fulfillment of Deuteronomy 17:15). God planned to use Saul and set Saul’s kingdom up forever. But Saul fails. God then revokes … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Calvinism, God, History, Immutablility, Jewish History, Omniscience, Open Theism, Theology | 3 Comments

cut up chuck – the failure of utilitarianism

Posted on April 14, 2014 by christopher fisher

Economist Bryan Caplan has a post about utilitarianism in which he describes a scenario he calls “Cut up Chuck”: The “Cut Up Chuck” Case: A homeless guy named Chuck comes into the ER with a treatable leg wound. But instead … Continue reading →

Posted in Morality | Leave a comment

the apostles taught the law

Posted on April 12, 2014 by christopher fisher

When debating covenant theologians (in this context, covenant theologians are those who believe Paul and Jesus, James and the twelve taught the same ministry), it is not a fruitful use of time to talk about the differences between Paul and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Dispensationalism, Theology | 3 Comments

mosaic sex laws

Posted on April 11, 2014 by christopher fisher

In Deuteronomy 22 we find the primary Mosaic laws on adultery, rape and consensual sex. The first scenario that is presented is a man marrying a woman. The issue at stake is if she advertised herself as a virgin and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Jewish History, Morality, Theology | 2 Comments

does God know all possible futures?

Posted on April 10, 2014 by christopher fisher

There are some Open Theists who claim God is omniscient in the sense that God knows all possible future possibilities. This claim is not that God knows every single choice any free creature can currently make, but that God knows … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Omniscience, Open Theism, Theology | 3 Comments

when the jews were embarrassed by God

Posted on April 6, 2014 by christopher fisher

In Exodus 32, Moses encounters God on Mount Sinai. God burns in wrath over Israel, who was turning to false gods at the foot of the mountain below. In the text, God wants to destroy Israel, but Moses lays out … Continue reading →

Posted in Church History, Theology | 1 Comment

understanding psalms 115

Posted on April 5, 2014 by christopher fisher

Most of the Old Testament (and the New) is written in the form of advocacy. The authors were advocating primarily to fellow Israelites about the character of God. Even the first books of the Bible are written in this respect. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Open Theism, Theology | Leave a comment

walter brueggemann on Scripture as advocacy

Posted on April 1, 2014 by christopher fisher

From Walter Brueggemann’s Theology of the Old Testament: …it is clear that Israel’s testimony is intended to generate an accepted, normative narrative construal of reality in which the members of Israel can live… It is readily imaginable that other testimonies … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Calvinism, Open Theism, Textual Criticism, Theology | Leave a comment

God creates a cascading contingency plan

Posted on March 30, 2014 by christopher fisher

Throughout the Bible, God prides Himself on leading Israel out of Egypt. God’s prophets point to the event incessantly, God highlights His own power by pointing to the event, and the Bible repeatedly links this event with God. Israel seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Calvinism, God, History, Jewish History, Omnipotence, Omniscience, Open Theism, Theology | 4 Comments