Dr. Michael Barber
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Dead Sea Scrolls On-Line
Posted by Dr. Michael Barber on 10.20.10 |
From Reuters:
Scholars and anyone with an Internet connection will be able to take a new look into the Biblical past through an online archive of high-resolution images of the 2,000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls.
Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), the custodian of the scrolls that shed light on the life of Jews and early Christians at the time of Jesus, said on Tuesday it was collaborating with Google’s… [Continue Reading]
The Prodigal Son, New Life & Sacramental Imagery
Posted by Dr. Michael Barber on 09.14.10 |parable, Prodigal Son, Sacramental Imagery
“You’re Dead to Me”
Jesus begins by telling the story of a man who had two sons. The parable begins with the younger brother going to the father and asking for his inheritance.
Of course, an inheritance is usually bestowed upon offspring after the death of the one bequeathing it. Essentially, then, by demanding his inheritance while his father is still alive the younger brother basically says, “Dad,… [Continue Reading]
Is Peter the Rock? (Part 3: Some Reasons I Think He Is)
Posted by Dr. Michael Barber on 09.08.10 |Jesus, Matt 16:18, Matthew 16:18, Peter, Peter the Rock, petra, petros
As I explained in the last post in this series, Gundry has made the case that Jesus’ use of petros / petra was intended to highlight the fact that Peter was not the foundation but that the church would be built upon Jesus’ own words.
While this reading may at first seem possible, a number of observations, in my opinion, render such an approach highly implausible. In sum, I would suggest that while… [Continue Reading]
Matthias Scheeben on the Mysteries of Christianity (Part 3)
Posted by Dr. Michael Barber on 09.02.10 |Matthias Scheeben, Mysteries of Christianity
“The fascination of mystery is so strong that almost all religious and social organizations that exercise or have exercised an inspiring and lasting influence on mankind have wrapped themselves up in the obscurity of mystery, and have even gloried in the mysteries which they were aware of, although they disdained Christianity because of its mysteries. Their mysteries, products of human invention,… [Continue Reading]
Is Peter the Rock? (Part 2: Gundry's Take)
Posted by Dr. Michael Barber on 08.31.10 |Jesus, Matt 16:18, Matthew 16:18, Peter, Peter the Rock, petra, petros
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In his detailed commentary on Matthew, Robert Gundry makes the argument that Jesus was purposeful in using different words in his declaration to Peter—“you are petros, and on this petra I will build my church” (Matt 16:18).
Gundry is representative of many Protestant commentators. His view: the rock the Church is built upon is decidedly not Peter, but something else. In Gundry’s view, the petra,… [Continue Reading]
Is Peter the Rock? (Part 1)
Posted by Dr. Michael Barber on 08.30.10 |Jesus, Matt 16:18, Matthew 16:18, Peter, Peter the Rock, petra, petros
Heads-up. Let’s get ready to rumble! Over the next coming days I’m going to spend some time here looking at one of the most debated passages in all of the Gospels. So, here we go. . .
In Matthew 16:13–20 we read the famous confession of faith by Peter at Caesarea Philippi. In response to his statement affirming him as the “Son of the Living God,” Jesus tells Peter: “I tell you, you are Peter [Greek:… [Continue Reading]
Matthias Scheeben on the Mysteries of Christianity (Part 2)
Posted by Dr. Michael Barber on 08.17.10 |Matthias Scheeben, Mysteries of Christianity
“Far from repudiating Christianity or regarding it with suspicious eyes because of its mysteries, we ought to recognize its divine grandeur in these very mysteries. So essential to Christianity are its mysteries that in its character of truth revealed by the Son of God and the Holy Spirit it would stand convicted of intrinsic contradiction if it brought forward no mysteries. Its Author would carry… [Continue Reading]
Matthias Scheeben on the Mysteries of Christianity (Part 1)
Posted by Dr. Michael Barber on 08.16.10 |Matthias Scheeben, Mysteries of Christianity
One of my all-time favorite theologians is Matthias Joseph Scheeben (pronounced: “shay-ben”), an obscure German theologian who lived in the 19th century. I want to post up some of what he has said about the mysterious dimension of the Christian faith. Before I do that though, a little bio.
Biography
Eugene Druwé gives a short biography of Scheeben in the a preface to Scheeben’s two volume work on… [Continue Reading]
