Q&A: What’s a Heresy? Bradley Jersak
Question I just finished reading a book titled Finding God in the Waves by Mike McHargue. Have you heard of it? It’s about a guy who was raised in the church but became an atheist for two years. I thought it would inspire my faith, but it brought up so many questions. The faith Mike returned […]
“God is love, but…” [nothing] – Bradley Jersak
“Everything before the word ‘BUT’ is horse sh*t.” – Game of Thrones I’ve heard this statement elsewhere as “Nothing someone says before the word ‘but’ really counts,” especially when an affirmation of love is immediately followed by its negations. The aphorism is loaded with wisdom and experience. Even if you feel that love compels you to […]
The Cross: God’s Eternal Mercy Seat – Bradley Jersak
THE CROSS AS “HILASTERION” The celebration of Easter this month once again places the Cross of Christ and his resurrection front and center of our faith, as they should be. These events comprise a hinge-point in the human story and what theologians have called “salvation history.” The New Testament witness not only records what occurred […]
Q&R with Brad Jersak – Will Jesus be ashamed of us?
QUESTION Brad, could you help me to see a more beautiful way of understanding Luke 9:26? “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory, and in the glory of his Father, and of the holy angels.” RESPONSE That’s a […]
Q&R with Brad Jersak: What does “children of wrath” mean? (Ephesians 2:3)
Question I have a question about Ephesians 2:3 and the meaning of one of the words that Paul uses in it. The Greek word is “phusis/phýsis” and it’s translated as “nature.” Here’s the verse: “…among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the […]
The Great Descent – “A Harrowing Exit” – Bradley Jersak
THE GREAT DESCENT The Law, the Psalms and the Prophets forecast it. The Gospels and the Epistles allude to it. Ancient Christian hymns, liturgies and poetry announce it. It permeates both Eastern and Western theological tradition. It even has its own line in the Apostles’ Creed. But only recently has Christ’s conquest of Hades caught […]
A More Beautiful Gospel
“I fantasize about a world where kids are taught the Bible by people chiefly inspired by poets, philosophers, artists, novelists, musicians and almost never by those who only knew how to consume it as history and law and propaganda.” -Vincent Lin “Capture people with Beauty, then captivate them with the Good, then lead them to […]
OPEN TABLE / SSU – CONVERSATION ON HEBREWS
OFFICIAL INVITATION – SSU will be offering this fall’s OTC course on Hebrews for Grad Studies credit (cost, approx. $1000 USD on top of the OTC fee). To register, first sign up for the class through OpenTableConference.com/hebrews-class. Next, please email Debbie at registrar@ssu.ca and say, “I would like to register for Hebrews BIB5728 this fall. […]
Q&R: Isaiah 45:7 – Does God create evil?
QUESTION What do you make of Isaiah 45:7? It seems to say that God is the cause of evil and calamity? KJV: “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” NASB: “The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating disaster; I […]
Q&R: Titans, Tartarus and 2 Peter 2:4 – Bradley Jersak
Question Can you explain to me the passage from 2 Peter 2:4? Who were these angels that sinned? And how he cast them into hell, since hell would not be a geographical place of conscious eternal torment? “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in […]