Doug’s Theological Thoughts

  • The Protoevangelium of James

    The Protoevangelium of James Trying to find a good critical commentary on the Protoevangelium of James.

  • American Flag in the Sanctuary

    I was watching a History Channel show on the battle flags of the North and South used during the Civil war. Feeling frustrated by the discussion recently on the subject of the flag in the church sanctuary. Quote “the flag represented their comrades … who had fallen trying to carry those flags”. It is hard…

  • Warning Signs of Power Corruption in Organizations

    Warning Signs of Power Corruption in Organizations

  • The Bible and Self-Defense

    I used to think that Jesus was in favor of self defense using deadly weapons under certain conditions Luke 22:36 Then said he [Jesus] unto them [His disciples], But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and…

  • Children not named after father

    One of the arguments in favor of the children being cousins is the claim that the Jews did not name their children after the father (see note 62 referring point). However, the following shows that is not true: Luk 1:59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the…

  • Perpetual Virginity of Mary

    Here’s a link to a goarch article on the Ever-Virginity of Mary. Here’s their comments on the historical question: Indeed, to suggest (a) that the tradition about her perpetual virginity could have been introduced after apostolic times, (b) that this tradition would have gone little noticed by a Church in the throes of questioning everything…

  • Word for cousin/kin

    In this passage, the mother and brothers of Jesus come to see Him: Mar 3:31-35 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he answered…

  • Talk about Mary – Part 1

    Piece of an Orthodox and Evangelical conversation about Mary.

  • Cal the Robot

  • More Calvinism

  • Calvinist mumbo jumbo

  • Elder = Bishop (Titus 1:5-7)

    This passage equates the two Greek words, presbuterous (elders) and episkopon (bishop). Tit 1:5-7 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders (πρεσβυτέρους) in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children…

  • Ignatius and the bishop

    Ignatius shows quite a different view but claims to be contemporaneous to the other texts. He presents a single bishop and multiple presbuteros (pastors/priests). In The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians Chapter 2, v 12, he writes: …attend to the bishop, and to the presbytery, and to the deacons…. There is some discussion of…

  • Polycarp and the Presbuteros

    Polycarp (in the Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians) describes the duties of the presbuteros (bishops) in Chapter 6. Once again, the focus is not on a monarchical bishop, but on a local pastor: And let the presbyters be compassionate and merciful to all, bringing back those that wander, visiting all the sick, and not…

  • Pastor, Priest, Bishop, Elder

    Hard to believe but the four terms Pastor, Priest, Bishop, and Elder are all used interchangeably in the NT to describe the same function/office. PastorThe English word Pastor is only used once in the KJV: Eph 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and…

  • What is a Bishop?

    Key to Apostolic Succession (AS) is the bishop. The bishop has Biblical origins. The role is bishop in the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) and Eastern Orthodox Church (EOC) seems to be different than the bishop as described in the New Testament (NT) in several ways. In the EOC and RCC, bishops cannot be married. In…

  • Apostolic Succession in general

    As someone examining the claims of the Eastern Orthodox church (EOC), the claim to apostolic succession (AS) by the EOC is an interesting subject. Wikipedia defines AS as: Apostolic succession is the doctrine in some of the more ancient Christian communions that the succession of bishops, in uninterrupted lines, is historically traceable back to the…

  • Apostolic Succession in Sweden

    It seems to me that the case of Sweden in this regard is interesting. In 1524, Pope Clement VII, in Rome, consecrated Petrus Magni bishop. Petrus Magni returned to Sweden as bishop of Västerås. In his turn, Petrus Magni, who was one of the last Catholic bishops in Sweden, consecrated Laurentius Petri bishop in 1531…

  • Humanity in a Divine Organization?

    I’m struggling to come to terms with the controversies going around in the Orthodox Church. I’ve added links to the BLOGs on the left side of this page which show both sides. Combat and words are being thrown around that make the Calvary Chapel battles of the past 13 years seem tame in comparison. The…

  • Lutherans, Homosexuals, Minnesota and a Calvinist Prophet

    John Piper has stated in his BLOG that the tornados that struck the Twin Cities were God’s judgment on the Lutheran body meeting to decide the place of homosexuals in the ordained ministry in the ELCA church. The secular press has picked up the story.

  • Perpetual Virginity of Mary

    The claim has been made by some Orthodox that: For about 1,600 years the entire Church affirmed the ever-virginity of Mary. The notion that she did not remain a virgin was introduced by the Anabaptists and some Calvinists long after the Reformation was an established reality. I don’t believe that is historically accurate. The teaching…

  • Emergent Theology and Orthodoxy

    One of the podcasts on Ancient Faith Radio concerned the four (struggling for the right word here) “angles” on the church. What surprised me was the speaker dealt with not just Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox but with the Emergent Church. I had expected interaction with the other older traditions, but to hear them grappling with…

  • The Ancient Faith

    A couple of things have caught my attention recently. Ancient Faith Radio I’ve spent the last couple of days listening to podcasts from Ancient Faith Radio. Some great material on there ranging from Liturgies to seminars to preaching and teaching. Energetic Procession A buddy of mine, Perry Robinson, has a great BLOG on Orthodox subjects,…

  • Epigenetics and Sin

    Epigenetics and Original Sin Interesting thought? That there’s more to our inheritance than merely the set of genes that are passed down. Somehow our behavior is passed down as well. The old nature vs nurture argument has shifted dramatically in the direction of nurture and away from the old mechanistic view that it’s all in…