Blogogetics

The Historical Resurrection of the Christ

info@blogogetics.com (Luke Shiras and Tom H. Moller) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:03:45 +0000

The Historical Resurrection of the Christ.mp3 The cross is either the liberation of mankind or its subjugation. The call of the Nazarene “come, and I will give you rest”, is either the call of a Savior or a Charlatan. The scandal of the cross is that the answer lies in history not merely in orthodoxy, in the objective, not merely in the subjective, and in precedent not merely in consequent; and the answer to the call is either fulfilled or emptied on that Sunday that is called Good. The cries of the heart covet for the theology at Golgotha to be true but intentions contradict desire. We want to have our longings satisfied but we also want our autonomy and it is the latter conceit that chastises the former hope. Wherein this lays our highest longing, the vessel where the longing is placed is its weakest member. – T.H. Moller If men could learn from history, what lessons it might teach us! But passion and party blind our eyes, and the light which experience gives is a lantern on the stern, which shines only on the waves behind us! – Samuel Taylor Coleridge I. Historical A) Burial of Jesus Christ [...]

The Historical Resurrection of the Christ

Harmonizing the Resurrection

info@blogogetics.com (Luke Shiras and Tom H. Moller) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:17:33 +0000

Harmonizing the Resurrection.MP3 Read the accounts of the Resurrection in the four Gospels then harmonize (or reconcile) the different accounts. Matthew 28:1-10 1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus [...]

Harmonizing the Resurrection

7 Rules of Historic Research

info@blogogetics.com (Luke Shiras and Tom H. Moller) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:54:26 +0000

7 Rules of Historic Research.MP3 “Sometimes the available evidence is such as to eliminate any reasonable doubt about the validity of an interpretation.” Frederick Copleston, Problems of Objectivity, On the History of Philosophy “The historian’s real work is the reconstruction in thought of a particular historical event: the geologist’s, the reconstruction in thought of a particular geological epoch at a particular place.” R. G. Collingwood, “Croce’s Philosophy of History”, Essays in the Philosophy of History “It is precisely the historian’s goal, using all his critical skills, to determine what happened in the past by reconstructing it on the basis of the evidence.” W.L. Craig, Reasonable Faith “Truth is what my peers will let me get away with saying” Richard Rorty 1. The hypothesis, together with other true statements, must imply further statements describing present observable data. 2. The hypothesis must have greater explanatory scope (that is, imply a greater variety of observable data) than rival hypotheses. 3. The hypothesis must have greater explanatory power (that is, make the observable date more probable) than rival hypotheses. 4. The hypothesis must be more plausible (that is, be implied by a greater variety of accepted truths, and its negation implied by few accepted [...]

7 Rules of Historic Research

Don’t Know Much About History

info@blogogetics.com (Luke Shiras and Tom H. Moller) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:36:24 +0000

Dont Know Much About History.MP3 A History of the History of Shiny Blue Ducks (aka apologetics) via historical argumentation I. From Paul to Isidore 1 Cor. 15 Polycarp-Pupil of John the Apostle (70-156) “But He who raised Him up from the dead WILL raise up us also” The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, Chapter II, An Exhortation to Virtue Ignatius-Pupil of John the Apostle (67-110) “He was also truly raised from the dead, His Father quickening Him, even as after the same manner His Father WILL SO raise up us who believe in Him by Christ Jesus” The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians, Chapter IX Irenaeus – Pupil of Polycarp of Lyons (130-202) “The power and glory of God shine forth in the weakness of human flesh, as he will render our body a participator of the resurrection and of immortality, although He has formed it from the dust of the earth; He WILL ALSO bestow upon it the enjoyment of immortality, just as He grants it this short life in common with the soul” Against Heresies, Book V, Chapter III Hippolytus of Rome – Pupil of Irenaeus (170-236) “Without protest, Christ endured his passion, he submitted to [...]

Don’t Know Much About History

Shiny Blue Ducks

info@blogogetics.com (Luke Shiras and Tom H. Moller) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:34:04 +0000

It’s been a while since anyone posted here but don’t worry, we aren’t gone yet. While new articles are still in the works, I thought I’d delve into the world of podcasting. Right now I only have one source which is a twice-monthly meeting of Shiny Blue Ducks. Obviously you have no idea what that is becuase its relatively new and very localized and it’s name makes little to no sense. No worries, I’m hear to explain. The name DOES male no sense but the Shiny Blue Ducks (SBD for short) is a local Apologetics group hosted by Tom H Moller. Rather than get into a long post about this Apologetics Group, let me just point you to last weeks Podcast (assuming this works). Knowledge of Resurrection – 12/8/09 P.S. if this doesn’t work and you know why (or have an idea) please share so we can get this working right. Shiny Blue Ducks

Shiny Blue Ducks

Big words for little ideas

info@blogogetics.com (Luke Shiras and Tom H. Moller) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:01:53 +0000

I thought it was a good idea to explain some words that tend to get thrown around in theological discussions but I realized, the folks over at Theological Word of the Day (TWOTD) have already done that. So here are some key words (and their meanings) about why we started this site. Hopefully we can have more fruitful discussions if we all used the same meanings when using our big words. Or at least be able to explain what we mean with our big words. Oh, and if you haven’t already, you might want to subscribe to TWOTD. Apologetics (Gk. apologia “an answer”) Apologetics is the discipline of defending or giving an answer for the faith to those who have questions or objections to the Christian faith. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” Significant apologists today include J.P. Moreland, William Lane Craig, Robert Bowman Jr., and Alvin Plantinga, among others. Theology Gk. theos, “God” logos “discourse” A reasoned study of God. Theology is a [...]

Big words for little ideas

Hyper-Calvinism

info@blogogetics.com (Luke Shiras and Tom H. Moller) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:11:14 +0000

You’re probably here because someone accused us (or you) of being hyper-Calvinists. Hyper-Calvinism is a term of derision that today is often used to negatively label anyone with a strong theological view of God’s sovereignty in the affairs of men. A legitimate understanding of hyper-Calvinism, in its technical sense, appears to be lost today. It seems as if anyone to the right of one’s own theological position is fair game to be labeled a hyper-Calvinist. For example, Arminians regard any who hold to unconditional election as hyper-Calvinists. The four-point Calvinist views the five-point Calvinist as “hyper” because he holds to a limited atonement. We also find five-point infralapsarians referring to five-point supralapsarians as hyper-Calvinists because of their view of the relationship between the fall of man and God’s predestination of the elect. But there is such a thing as hyper-Calvinism Read What is Hyper-Calvinism? by Jim Ellis for an in-depth study of the issue. His conclusion posted below. Simply stated, it consists of two fundamental errors: a denial of duty-faith and a resultant denial of the universal call of the gospel. These fundamental errors are a departure from the teaching of Scripture as well as historic Calvinism. These errors were [...]

Hyper-Calvinism

Six Issues of Separation

info@blogogetics.com (Luke Shiras and Tom H. Moller) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:42:00 +0000

A Refutation of Roman Catholicism I. An Open Letter to Roman Catholics II. Six Issues of Separation III. Cults and Catholicism: Comparison Chart An Open Letter To Roman Catholic Scholars The New Catholic Catechism in Section 847 states that non-Catholics who “seek God with a sincere heart” and “try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience” will “ achieve eternal salvation.” The Catholic Catechism in Sections 839-845 says that sincere people from non-Christian religions such as Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Taoists, animists, etc. will make it to heaven without the necessity of hearing of or believing in Catholicism. As long as they are sincere in their faith and live a good life, they will make it to heaven. Various modern Popes have also publicly stated that this means that sincere people who have no religious convictions such as agnostics, atheists, skeptics, etc. will make it to heaven without the necessity of hearing of our believing in Catholicism. As long as they are sincere and live a good life, they will make it to heaven. The Catholic Catechism also says in Section 838 that the Orthodox, Evangelicals, Pentacostals, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptists, [...]

Six Issues of Separation

Controversy

info@blogogetics.com (Luke Shiras and Tom H. Moller) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:07:47 +0000

What do you do when two “scholars” or “theologians” or “pastors” or “people” disagree on something? What do you do with controversy? There are three main views. 1) Balance. Some think the truth is always somewhere in the middle. 2) Unity. Some think truth pertains only to the things there is no disagreement. 3) Conviction. Others think truth must be worked for by considering both positions and settling on one with a full conscience. Our Motivations It is difficult to separate this discussion from the issues of the heart and its motivations. For no doctrinal or theological or intellectual issue is really just a head matter but our past experiences, biases, and sometimes sinful inclinations effect the way we think about or handle an issue. Our personal presuppositions matter. Often times the vie for balance is motivated by either laziness or disillusionment. That may sound harsh but usually a person who always thinks the truth is in the middle really has not took the time to thoroughly study both viewpoints (laziness) and feels overwhelmed by the amount of information or disagreement on the subject so they preemptively conclude neither position can be wholly true. Often times the vie for unity [...]

Controversy

Assurance

info@blogogetics.com (Luke Shiras and Tom H. Moller) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:04:02 +0000

Once of the greatest aspects of true Biblical religion is that it puts forth the position that a believer can have a true and full assurance of his personal eternal salvation. We can know without a shadow of a doubt that we have been chosen by the Father, purchased by the Son and sealed with the Spirit. Blessed God three in One! That this is the Biblical position on assurance can be seen from the example, command, and precept of the Holy Scripture. We find many examples in Scripture of believers who possessed an absolute assurance of their eternal salvation. They knew that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth who were on their way to the celestial city of heaven. Did not Mary express her assurance that God was her Savior in Luke (1:46-59)? Didn’t Stephen face death with the absolute confidence that his spirit would ascend to heaven at death to be with Christ in (Acts 7:56-59)? Is it not true that the Apostle Paul give us in his epistles many expressions of his assurance in (Romans 8:38, 39; Philippians 1:21-23; 2 Timothy 1:12; 4:7, 8)? We not only find the above examples of assurance in Scripture, but [...]

Assurance