Gary Shogren's Blog
Note: we are not dealing with a hypothetical Planet X, a body that has been talked about for two centuries. It might be a large planet beyond Neptune, whose mass may affect Neptune’s orbit. Due to further data, since the 1990s such a Planet X has been widely thought to be disproved. I mention it... Continue Reading →
Remember that whole ‘invaders from Mars’ radio show that got Orson Wells into hot water, for panicking the cattle and stampeding the humans? In was back in '38, but you may have learned about it in school or seen it on the History channel. Well, on advice from the boys down in legal, let me... Continue Reading →
This was originally published in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 40/4 (December, 1997): 609-626. TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE, CLICK HERE. Here is a summary of our conclusion: Many of today’s cessationists rely on Warfield’s decision to tie the end of prophecy to the completion of the canon (with or without the help... Continue Reading →
Does the book of Acts intend to tell us a historical narrative, or does Luke tell us how we should be living? In other terms, is it principally or simply descriptive, or is it also prescriptive? One approach is that we should follow what Acts says - or follow it more confidently - only when... Continue Reading →
[UPDATE: in February 2022, BibleGateway removed The Passion Translation from its website. Note that this was the one it removed of all the 90 versions available.] I was only recently alerted to this new edition, which seems to have become all the rage in some ministries, especially Pentecostal ones. As is often the case with... Continue Reading →
So I hear: "I GET MY DOCTRINE FROM THE BIBLE AND WITH NO HUMAN INFLUENCE." While I of course respect the intent of the claim, and while I have a robust belief in the Spirit's guidance, I have to qualify it: EVERY CHRISTIAN IS INFLUENCED BY MERE HUMAN TEACHERS, AND EVERYONE READS THE BIBLE UNDER... Continue Reading →
This morning I read a portion of 1 John and happened to remember a rather odd teaching I heard a long time ago. It ran like this: Everyone knows 1 John 1:9, ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ However... Continue Reading →
There are hundreds of Bible versions in English. To express myself bluntly, that is hundreds too many, and we are pouring time and energy and resources into new versions that are not needed. I exclude the regular updating of the versions that already exist - and my friends on the NIV committee tell me are... Continue Reading →
By “Highlights” I do not mean the kids’ magazine, that staple of my dentist’s office as a kid, but rather my favorite reads of the year. I read 104 books in 2018 as I pursued my goal of two books a week; this does not include daily Bible reading or magazines. One happy turn was... Continue Reading →
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 1 Thess 5:1-2 "And further, not to know when the end is, or when the... Continue Reading →
Open Our Eyes, Lord! 