I know the title of this post might sound offensive, but don’t give in to that feeling. I’m probably not even talking to you. The title channels something I read by C. S. Lewis somewhere in the past (that I really don’t feel like looking up right now) and that I also heard from Jon. D. Levenson while […]
Nature of the Bible
Does Your Faith “Cave In” to Culture? I Hope So.
Every once in a while people disagree with me. I know. Shocking. What kind of a sick, twisted world do we live in, anyway? I hear the following from time to time, and so might you: “Instead of following the Bible, you’re just caving into culture.” I often hear this, for example, when evolution is […]
If You Want Your Faith to Survive, It Had Better Adapt
The title of this post might not win me many friends, but that’s OK since I don’t actually have any actual friends. Plus, I’m right. Christians talk about how God is—unlike us—constant and doesn’t change. And I think this is a wonderful thought that I don’t have any serious quibbles about (though some theologians do, […]
“I Wonder What God Thinks of the Bible.” A Play in One Act.
Actors: One or more Jewish scribes living during the Babylonian Exile or sometime thereafter. God Jewish scribe(s): Oh Lord, we’ve had it pretty rough lately, what with the exile and all. We thought it would be a great idea if we had super clear instructions on what you want from us so we can avoid […]
10 Books that Made Me Rethink the Bible, and So Can You
This is not my 10 “best” books list, nor am I suggesting these are “must reads” for everyone (though they are all great books), but they may help you rethink the Bible. These are books that crossed my path 20-25 years ago, mainly while in graduate school, that influenced my thinking in new and heretofore largely unexplored directions, and so […]
The Path of Wisdom: The Bible Actually Invites Us on a Quest
If we take Scripture seriously, we will find our expectations challenged & come to see that the Bible invites us to join an ancient sacred quest to follow the path of Wisdom.
There are No Contradictions in the Bible (Yeah, You Heard Me)
1. If I say, “I hate oatmeal” and then turn to someone else and say “I love oatmeal,” I am contradicting myself. 2. If I said 20 years ago “I hate oatmeal” and now say “I love oatmeal,” I am not contradicting myself. Rather my view of oatmeal changed over time. 3. If I say […]
Facebook Live with Pete Enns: Jesus and the Old Testament
Questions that Pete addresses in this Facebook Live video: In the Christian’s common understanding of Isaiah 52 and 53 referring to Jesus the Messiah, is that an accurate and fair application? How do I talk to friends about double predestination? Where is the line drawn between prophecy and creative use of scripture? If Adam and the Genesis […]
What Permanently Screwed Me Up about the Bible (but it turned out well)
The New Testament writers had a habit of saying things about the Old Testament that are not in the Old Testament but are in these creative, Jewish writings of the period.
Paul: Well, Technically Speaking, He’s Not REALLY “Winging It”
What we might call a fast and loose use of the Old Testament was for Paul and his contemporaries a normal and expected approach to biblical interpretation—creatively connecting the past with the present.