The battle for the truth of the gospel - with Thomas Schreiner
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- One of the world’s leading New Testament Scholars Thomas Schriener is in Sydney for the Moore College Lectures on ‘The Battle for the truth of the gospel.’
At the center of his attention is NT Wright and the New Perspective on Paul, a debate that questions whether ancient Judaism was legalistic.
Schreiner tells of his roots in Roman Catholicism, a transformative evangelical faith, and the enduring importance of the Reformation perspective of justification by faith alone.
Schreiner, who chairs the Christian Standard Bible translation committee, takes us behind the scenes of the Christian Standard Bible's translation process, revealing the rigorous debates and decisions that shape how we read that translation.
He outlines how denominational diversity influences translation accuracy.
Plus we unpack the profound need to teach biblical gender roles in contemporary culture.
Thomas Schreiner is professor of New Testament at Southern Baptist Theological College in Louisville, Kentucky.
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Excellent discussion.
Amen to the topic of women pastors.
I too love N.T Wright, but I must admit I gave up on his biography on Paul over just how hard the new perspective was being pushed as being the 'sophisticated' option and the orthodox/historic perspective not.
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I'm a bit confused by the discussion from 8:08. Thomas and Dominic are critical of the expression 'salvation by allegiance alone', because that word implies we contribute to our salvation, whereas 'faith' implies that we only receive it.
However wouldn't such a contribution also be implied by the word 'repentance'? I've often heard repentance explained as making a firm commitment or decision to follow Christ and his commands. If that's what it is, it sounds to me very similar to 'allegiance'.
So would there be anything wrong in saying 'salvation by faith and repentance alone"?
I don't think the concern with salvation by "allegiance" is that it implies a contribution to our salvation; rather, it is the lack of scriptural support. Romans has about 38 usages of "faith" many of them in the context of justification. (e.g., Rom 3:28, Rom 5:1-2) The contrast made in the discussion was between faith, said to be a gift of God, so the direction of the initiative and gift is from God to man, and allegiance, which would be from man to God. See the flow in Ephesians 2:8-10. "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift-not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do." Salvation is the gift of God received by grace through faith, resulting in a life of repentance and good works. Some of us consider the direction of causation to be important if one is to hold fast to the gospel. C.f., the words of Jesus recorded in John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit-fruit that will last."
@@gracenotes5379 Thanks very much for helping me with this. Do you think it'd be unhelpful to say 'salvation through faith and repentance alone'? If so, when I'm trying to explain the gospel to someone, should I leave out repentance as a requirement for becoming a Christian, and simply say 'put your trust in Jesus?'
I'd be surprised if Dominic thought so, based on previous episodes of the Pastor's Heart, but I'm confused by his seeming opposition to using the word 'allegiance'.
@@willmackerras2394 Attempting to summarize the "requirements" for becoming a Christian is a hazardous business, and reduction to simple catch phrases that are not even themselves scriptural is something I'd much prefer to avoid. Moreover, I strongly favor keeping repentance as part of any discussion with someone who is considering becoming a Christian, as it would be a misrepresentation of the gospel to think one could simply change "teams" and call oneself a Christian without the expectation of having one's life transformed radically. We are not simply talking about changing sides, we are talking about "being transformed by the renewing of our minds." (Romans 12:2) Transformation is primarily God's work in our lives, but it requires our cooperation and a willingness to sacrifice on our part. I can offer "allegiance" to a sports team of my choosing, and may even put money and time into my new-found "tribe," but I will not be supernaturally transformed this activity. Similarly, it's not a matter of professing allegiance with God as a lifestyle choice, but rather that we "have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15). Being adopted into a family, we also come under the discipline of the One who loves us, which implies repentance and a willingness to "to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires." (Ephesians 4:22).
@@willmackerras2394 I would be very cautious about trying to create a succinct salvation formula along the lines you suggest, and I'd be especially nervous about any formulation that concludes with "alone." Peter's first sermon, after he had already convinced his hearers that "God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah," ended by calling on them to, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38). An authentic response to the gospel comprises: faith in Jesus as being both Lord and Christ, repentance, baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit. It would be a misrepresentation of the gospel and a disservice to a potential convert to omit the need for repentance and the expectation of a transformed life with radically different priorities. So no, I wouldn't simply say, 'put your trust in Jesus,' without mentioning the need to live out our trust by actually obeying Him as well. Your word "allegiance" speaks to the subordination of the believer under the lordship of Christ, which I agree is necessary, but is not a very complete picture of the salvation relationship. Sonship is a far richer word if you consider the parable of the Prodigal son in Luke 15, and Paul's discussion of adoption as sons in Romans 8:14-16. (The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”)
With a lot of dodgy sources online (e.g. UA-cam, Tiktok, Whatsapp shared links) - it's become harder than ever for the church pastor to cut through the noise with the undiluted gospel. The gospel message in church can be controlled, but any parishioner can share poop on their social media or across chat groups during the week.
And, then church pastor encourages reading of e-Bible which indirectly endorses and enforces online "truth"-seeking. Of hard copy Bible: 'The less the gilt, the less the guilt'.
GNOSTICISM (and its varients), is the biggest issue that this discussion didnt quite identify. To my recent learning, this explains sooo much of the Western church's loss of truth, scripture, the Gospel. It turns Christianity into a subjective, private, emotional, hyperspiritual, individualistic pursuit that is all about YOU. Fundamentally, it's the old trap of Eden, "you will be like God". Reading the bible becomes a gnostic act... what does it mean 'for you'. Remember, Satan knows the Scripture as well.
Check it out. It's probably no surprise, given it was the #1 enemy of the early church (very much alive in RC, and its charismatic children). Has
Christian gnosticism become prevalent in our post modern, post truth culture, that finding orthodoxy is not possible? I fear so.