HOW THE ANCIENTS HEARD RESURRECTION

Uncategorized September 7, 2018 Leave a comment

PMW 2018-072 by Brian Mattson (The Calvinist International)

Eastern Orthodox theologian David Bentley Hart has written an essay on the Pauline terms “spirit,” (pneuma) “soul,” (psuche), and “flesh” (sarx), maintaining that modern readers are greatly (or perhaps completely) hindered in their understanding of them. He lays blame on a kind of “Protestant biblical scholarship” that is allegedly weighed down with all sorts of wrong-headed theological predispositions—presuppositions that preclude any genuine understanding of the “intellectual and spiritual environment of the apostolic church.” He is indicting an entire tradition of biblical interpretation, so his lone example (N.T. Wright) is but an incidental detail, a mere straw placeholder for what turns out to be a much more sweeping agenda. Continue reading →

THE IDENTIFICATION OF BABYLON

Uncategorized September 4, 2018 Comments: 4

PMW 2018-071 D. Ragan Ewing (Lucas Christian Academy)

Gentry note: This article was posted on Bible.org. The full article (of which the material below is but the Introduction) is four chapters long. Ewing is non-covenantal and somewhat dispensational. Yet he argues that the Babylonian harlot in Rev. 17 is an image of first-century Jerusalem. This is an excellent series in itself, but I am posting it to show that the preterist analysis of Revelation is having an influence in dispensational Baptist circles.

The Book of Revelation is perhaps the most notoriously cryptic work of literature ever composed. The history of the interpretation of this book leaves most students with more questions than answers. Commentators have come to little, if any, consensus on the interpretation of many key passages, and many of the best scholars of Christian history have simply thrown up their hands in bewilderment at the challenge of scaling its enigmatic heights.[1]

Thus, approaching the Apocalypse for analysis necessarily requires the possession of a couple of key items: one, an interpretive grid integrating one’s hermeneutics and general theological viewpoint, and two, a healthy dose of respectful reservation. Interpretation of Revelation and dogmatism do not go well together, despite the impression one might draw from the popular literature.

That said, it is the intent of this study to examine what is hopefully a sufficiently narrow issue in the interpretation of the Apocalypse: the identification of “Babylon,” the harlot of chapters seventeen and eighteen.[2] Continue reading →

MATTHEW’S OUTLINE; JESUS’ IDENTITY

AD 70, Matthew 24, Olivet Discourse August 31, 2018 Leave a comment

PMW 2018-070 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

I am currently working on a commentary on Matthew 21–25. In this commentary I will be focusing on the Olivet Discourse in its contextual setting. I will be demonstrating this fifth and final major discourse of Jesus (Matt. 5–7; 10; 13; 18; 24–25) not only prophesies the destruction of the temple and God’s judgment on Israel in AD 70, but also the Final Judgment upon all the nations at the end of history.

Jesus’ teaching in this section dramatically declares his universal lordship over both Israel (e.g., Matt. 24:2, 16, 34) and all men and nations (Matt. 25:31–46). Earlier (and uniquely!) in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus specifically limited his mission to Israel (Matt. 10:5–6; 15:24). But now as the narrative of his life unfolds to its climax, he expands his mission to “all the nations” (Matt. 28:19). Thus, in this section he will begin repeatedly emphasizing the inclusion of the Gentiles in his program (e.g., Matt. 21:43; 22:8–10; 24:14, 31; 31–46). Continue reading →

LBGT IDENTITY, REVOICE, AND BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY

Culture, Ethics, morality August 28, 2018 Leave a comment

PMW 2018-069 by Albert Mohler

Gentry note:
One of the most surprisingly successful assaults on biblical Christianity, Christian morality, and Western cultural values has been the LBGT movement. In this article Christian theologian Albert Mohler provides an intelligent and important evaluation of Revoice conference, which is causing consternation among many evangelical Christians and may well bring down the Presbyterian Church in America.

For the Revoice conference’s relevance to the PCA, see: click

Torn Between Two Cultures? Revoice, LGBT Identity, and Biblical Christianity
By Albert Mohler

The chaos and confusion which are the inevitable products of the Sexual Revolution continue to expand and the challenges constantly proliferate. The LGBTQ+ revolution has long been the leading edge of the expanding chaos, and by now the genuinely revolutionary nature of the movement is fully apparent. The normalization of the behaviors and relationships and identities included (for now) in the LGBTQ+ spectrum will require nothing less than turning the world upside down. Continue reading →

MY CREATIONIST TESTIMONY

Creation August 24, 2018 Leave a comment

PMW 2018-068 interview by Lita Cosner

Note: This interview of me was conducted and published by Creation Ministries, International. I have a strong interest in and commitment to Six-day Creation as an important feature of the biblical worldview. The interview was conducted by Lita Cosner, Information Officer for CMI.

Dr Ken Gentry has recently retired from the pastorate after 37 years of ministry in conservative, evangelical Presbyterian churches. He has been married to his wife, Melissa, since 1971. They have three grown children who are all Christians, and six grandchildren. Continue reading →

MATTHEW ENDS AS HE BEGINS

Interpretation August 21, 2018 Leave a comment

PMW 2018-067 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

I am currently working on a new commentary. This one will be on Matthew 21–25, the immediate context for the Olivet Discourse. This is a discrete literary unit set off from the rest of the Gospel.

Structural unity

In Matthew 21:1 Jesus heads toward Jerusalem, where he will be finally and fully rejected by the Jewish nation. Just after the conclusion to this discrete unit, we read Matthew’s note that Jesus has ended his formal, public teaching and is now ready to be killed by Israel:

Matt. 26:1–3: “When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, ‘You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion.’ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him.”

Continue reading →

HOW DID YOU COME TO POSTMILLENNIALISM?

Uncategorized August 17, 2018 Comments: 5

PMW 2018-066 by PostmillennialWordlview readers

On  Facebook I recently asked postmillennial friends to give a brief statement regarding how they came to postmillennialism. Here are several of their testimonies. God uses different means for reaching different people!

Hector Falcon
I read the Great Commission and considered its extent with regard to the mission of the church. We have our mission statement given by Jesus prior to him returning to the father’s side. We work to complete that mission and extending God’s kingdom on earth until we die in this life.

 

 

Postmillennialism
By Keith Mathison
The promises of the gospel offer hope of a brighter future for the families and nations of the earth. Mathison’s an optimistic eschatology supported by biblical, historical, and theological considerations.

See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com

 

Caesar Arevelo
I have been evangelical for more than twenty years and youth pastor for five years, during that time I was dispensationalist. As evangelical I worked with different denominations including Pentecostal and Baptist churches. All of these groups espoused a pre-millennial dispensationalist view of eschatology. However, things started changing after came to my hands reformed literature. Continue reading →