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So, maybe the Apostle John did come from a rich family!

Actually there is some good evidence in Scripture, besides the one Scripture that I quoted in the other post that James and John bar Zebedee came from a rich family. In fact, it has been pointed out to me that there are some very good Scriptures that point to Zebedee’s family having some money and influence. Let’s take a look at some of those Scriptures. Mark 1:19-20 — When He had... [Read more]

Our pious ideas about the Apostles

One of the bloggers on yesterday’s post said: At the same time, I am reminded of the statement of Jesus to the effect that he was homeless, that he had no place to lay his head. Perhaps there is “voluntary poverty” involved? The statement to which he is referring is: And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His... [Read more]

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Poor and illiterate apostles and New Testament people?

After yesterday’s post, another blogger commented: What was their own standing in their own community? We can’t know, I think. But from the texts alone, it seems evident that they had their own business and one of them, at least, owned a boat. Several of them had houses (one passage in the Gospel says something to the effect that Jesus, too, owned a home). The passage you cited indicates some... [Read more]

Were the apostles poor and illiterate?

Were the twelve apostles poor and illiterate? I was leading a Bible Study tonight when one of the people involved made the statement that the Twelve Apostles were probably mostly poor and illiterate. After all, they were fishermen and salt of the earth, and many people did not know how to read or write back then. But, is this an accurate statement of the probable situation of the Twelve Apostles?... [Read more]

Christianity Today on grace

Thanks to another blog, I was linked to the following quote from an article in the online version of Christianity Today. Those steeped in the grace of God know there is no difference between freedom and obedience, and that the spiritual life is all about being compelled. Jeremiah says he cannot hold in the message God has given him (Jer. 20:9). Paul feels obligated to preach to Gentiles (Rom. 1:14).... [Read more]

Roman Catholic and Orthodox differences on Original Sin

In a couple of the last posts there has been an ongoing discussion of the differences in the concept of Original Sin between Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy. So, let me put a couple of citations from the Wikipedia that may help people to see the differences. Why from the Wikipedia? Well, because they are better at summarizing than theologians.   I am aware that any summary always is insufficient,... [Read more]

The American Revolution and morality, part 03

Now having said what I said on the first two posts in this series, you might assume that I am against any possibility of revolution. But, that would be wrong. My question was whether one could develop any Christian theology of a just revolution. And, I have pointed out that this is a very difficult subject and that there are several conservative theologians who doubt that the American Revolution qualifies... [Read more]

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The American Revolution and morality, part 02

Now some of you may be thinking that to question the morality of the American Revolution has to be some type of strike against conservative Christians or some attempt to do away with the idea that the USA is a Christian country. But, it may surprise you to know that the question has been raised by some of the most reliably conservative Christians in the USA, in a book written by a professor from Liberty... [Read more]

The American Revolution — was it moral?

Father Greg and I have both posted on our respective blogs on the issue of just revolution lately. When is a revolution moral by Christian standards? This is very important because the claim of many of us is that the USA has a basic Christian foundation. I think that it is beyond the shadow of a doubt that the cultural milieu within which the American colonies were founded was mostly one of either... [Read more]

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On Romans 13 and government

Copied below is a comment from the previous post that I have moved up to be a main post because it brings up several good issues.  I have slightly edited it to remove comments that refer to another blogger. The comments are from Fr. Greg, who has his own blog. First, regarding the legitimacy of government in general: That government, in general, is legitimate is well-attested, not only in Romans,... [Read more]