Truth Versus Tradition: Were Joseph and Mary Poor?

Ken Brown | December 4, 2009

Tradition can be a subtle thing. We grow up believing something about a Biblical doctrine or event. It might never even occur to us to question where some particular belief came from, especially if that belief happens to be regarding some relatively minor point. I think the financial status of Joseph and Mary is a matter like that for many Christians.

It is a commonly held belief that the mother and “stepfather” of our Lord Jesus Christ were poor, but where does this belief come from?

Truth Versus Tradition

Ken Brown | October 31, 2009

God’s Word is truth. In life, one must eventually choose what he holds to be the standard for what is and what is not truth when it comes to the things of God. I choose God’s Word, the Bible (as originally written). Everyone eventually makes a choice. Choose wisely.

Why Is God Called Father?

Jane Harvester | October 13, 2009

Why is God called “Father” instead of “Mother” or some other name? It may not be what you think. Find out more about what He is and isn’t, and His heart to love you, here.

Romans on Righteousness (Part Two)

Ken Brown | October 10, 2009

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin? I should say so!! Now THAT would be quite the deal to get in on would it not? Who is it that gets to have this amazing grace? The record continues on to show through Abraham that “this blessedness” has come to the Gentiles (uncircumcision) as well as to “the circumcision.” It shows that they who walk in the steps of the faith of Abraham receive the Righteousness of faith whether they are of the circumcision or uncircumcision…

Romans on Righteousness (Part One)

Ken Brown | October 3, 2009

“Righteousness” basically means “rightness.” The earliest English versions of the Bible used the word, “rightwiseness.” When Romans speaks of one’s righteousness, or rightness, it refers to one’s rightness before God. It is the condition of being before God as one ought to be. This is not a side note when it comes to right believing. What constitutes being right before God, and why, is as fundamental as it gets.

Pride Goes Before a Fall?

Ken Brown | September 12, 2009

“Pride goes before a fall” has been a devastating expression for many Christian believers. They don’t understand it, and they get it used against them. Often there has been some wonderful believer faced with adversity who has made up his mind to go for it, to trust God, to choose to believe that his efforts with God’s help will bring to fruition his dream. Upon sharing his optimism with some other supposedly more seasoned “believer.” The latter feels compelled to deflate his tires and does so with, “Watch out. Pride goes before a fall.” Forgive me. I have an emotional response to this one, having seen it used by God’s people to hurt others of His people and dissuade His purposes.

Belief and Logic

Ken Brown | July 4, 2009

In our introduction to Biblical research, the first two principles given for approaching God’s Word were: (1) Believe what you read and (2) think and be reasonable: you can’t throw logic out the window just because you are reading the Bible. Those who can stare a clear scripture in the face and deny what it obviously says because it disagrees with a previously held belief have ceased learning. Likewise, those who can accept two or more contradictory views at the same time will never come to an accurate understanding of God’s Word (or of much of anything else for that matter). On the surface, this seems so obvious to most of you (I hope) that you are probably scratching your heads, wondering why I am making an issue of it. As it plays out in practical application, however, relatively few people are completely consistent about this as it pertains to Biblical exegesis.

As one example, let’s look at 2 Corinthians 5:20, a familiar verse for many of us, but have you ever considered the fundamental problem with how the King James and a number of other versions translate this verse?

Introduction to Biblical Research

Ken Brown | June 15, 2009

“Biblical research” as the term is used on this blog simply means the study of the Scriptures to gain an accurate understanding of God’s Word and thus His will. It involves a lifetime of learning. No few articles on a web site can tell you all you need to know.

On the other hand, it isn’t rocket science. God never intended for his Word to be complicated, intelligible only to a gifted few. He gave His Word so that all men (and women) might know Him. It is supposed to make sense to you from what you can read for yourself. If you are confronted with a doctrine that seems like you would have to be Einstein to be able to understand or Mother Theresa to be able to relate, take a breath and another look. You are probably being fed a line that is not in the Bible. It isn’t supposed to be difficult.

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