What I'm Reading -- How About You?

[HereIStand]

The Epistle to the Ephesians- F.F. Bruce
Christless Christianity- Michael Horton

I've been reading F.F. Bruce's The Canon of Scripture.

 

[RINO 72]

I've been reading F.F. Bruce's The Canon of Scripture.

That's on my list!

 

[HereIStand]

That's on my list!

I'm about halfway through it. I'm in the New Testament section now. The first half on the Old Testament, Septuagint, and Apocrypha really provides a clear history. Reading it gave me a sense of understanding this history for the first time.

 

[Iosias]

Bruce is a bit dated, The Biblical Canon: Its Origin, Transmission, and Authority by Lee Martin McDonald is much more up to date.

 

[HereIStand]

Bruce is a bit dated, The Biblical Canon: Its Origin, Transmission, and Authority by Lee Martin McDonald is much more up to date.

There may be newer secondary sources of value published since Bruce's book. But much of the book is based on primary historical sources, at least what I've read so far. Perhaps if there are new translations of these sources. Beyond that I don't see his arguments being dated.

 

[Iosias]

...

 

[Iosias]

The past 20 years has seen a revolution in our understanding of the primary sources and canon studies has boomed. See The Canon Debate edited by Lee Martin McDonald and James A. Sanders. No OT scholar accepts that the OT canon was closed by the time of Jesus, contrary to Bruce. See The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Origins of the Bible by Eugene Ulrich, The Bible at Qumran: Text, Shape, and Interpretation edited by Peter Flint, and The Formation of the Hebrew Bible: A New Reconstruction by David M. Carr. Bruce's work was great, but things move on.

 

[HereIStand]

The past 20 years has seen a revolution in our understanding of the primary sources and canon studies has boomed. See The Canon Debate edited by Lee Martin McDonald and James A. Sanders. No OT scholar accepts that the OT canon was closed by the time of Jesus, contrary to Bruce. See The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Origins of the Bible by Eugene Ulrich, The Bible at Qumran: Text, Shape, and Interpretation edited by Peter Flint, and The Formation of the Hebrew Bible: A New Reconstruction by David M. Carr. Bruce's work was great, but things move on.

Have you read Bruce's book?

 

[HiredGoon]

Reformer of Basel: The Life, Thought, and Influence of Johannes Oecolampadius by Diane Poythress.

 

[HereIStand]

Reformer of Basel: The Life, Thought, and Influence of Johannes Oecolampadius by Diane Poythress.

I've never heard of Johannes Oecolampadius. Looks interesting. Thanks.

 

[JM]

Finished this in one sitting:

Working on volume 2 now.

I'm surprised at how much American Fundamentalists Baptist theology and thinking has been influenced by Wesley. Except for the idea of 'eternal security' (not perseverance of the saints) IFBaptists are really credo Methodists.

 

[HereIStand]

Finished this in one sitting:

Working on volume 2 now.

I'm surprised at how much American Fundamentalists Baptist theology and thinking has been influenced by Wesley. Except for the idea of 'eternal security' (not perseverance of the saints) IFBaptists are really credo Methodists.

Eternal security can really be taken to extremes by some IFB Baptists, some of whom would not regard Nazarenes or Wesleyans as Christians because of their denial of eternal security.

 

[JM]

...some Methodists find Reformed theology heinous. We're even. lol

 

[HereIStand]

...some Methodists find Reformed theology heinous. We're even. lol

I finished up college at a Church of the Nazarene school (Olivet in Illinois). My impression there was that the Nazarenes have a healthy respect for Calvinism, although they obviously differ from it in some respects.

 

[JM]

I finished up college at a Church of the Nazarene school (Olivet in Illinois). My impression there was that the Nazarenes have a healthy respect for Calvinism, although they obviously differ from it in some respects.

I guess I'm referring to John Wesley, the real OG of the movement.

Are the Nazarenes conservative? Are they moral pietists?

 

[HereIStand]

I guess I'm referring to John Wesley, the real OG of the movement.

Are the Nazarenes conservative? Are they moral pietists?

Yes, the Nazarenes are conservative. I would differ with their theology, leaning more toward Calvinism and Lutheran theology as I do, especially in terms of election, grace, and sanctification.

The Nazarenes place great stress on holiness of living, which is good. They also emphasize a second work of grace after conversion, understood as being sanctified holy, a condition in which a Christian can sin, but will no longer have the desire to do so.

On the downside, the Nazarene view can lead to some legalistic extremes. I recall talking with a visitor at a football game and the gentleman was smoking. He received a less than friendly look from one of the Olivet administrators. Also, there is also a tendency sometimes to try to go up to the line of what is believed to be sinful without actually crossing it. Since only sin that is committed willfully (with malice and forethought as it were) is regarded as sinful.

 

[JM]

Thanks HereIStand.

 

[gord44]

Thanks HereIStand.

That looks like an interesting book. Let us know how it is.

 

[JM]

I've been watching the series The Americans. It really has me paranoid, especially since Obama recently said something along the lines of, 'I'm spying on you for your own good.' lol

 

[gord44]

Haven't watched The Americans. Will have to check it out.

Listening to this audiobook right now. As always, Bernard Cornwell is a fantastic writer of historical fiction.