Theology

Archived Posts from this Category

August 15, 2023

Not Taste Death Until….

Posted by Jason Dulle under Eschatology, Theology
[3] Comments 

Jesus told His disciples that some of them would not “taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” (Mt 16:28). This saying appears in the other Synoptics as well. Mark 9:1 describes it as “until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power,” while Luke 9:27 describes it as “until they see the kingdom of God.” Most focus on identifying the event that Jesus had in mind. I’ll come to that question shortly, but first I want to point out something I never noticed before: Jesus affirmed that at least some of His disciples would die. He said they would “taste death,” but that they would not taste death until they had some particular experience. This is important because many interpreters have claimed that Jesus promised His Second Coming would occur in the first century in His apostles’ lifetime. Here, however, Jesus testifies to the fact that at least some of His apostles would die.

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July 25, 2023

Divorce and Remarriage

Posted by Jason Dulle under Marriage and Divorce, Theology
[3] Comments 


I recently finished my podcast series on divorce and remarriage. If you have not listened to the series yet, you can do so at https://thinkingtobelieve.buzzsprout.com, or wherever you get your podcasts (just search for “Thinking to Believe”).

As promised, I am also publishing my paper on the subject. This has been many years in the making. I spent a year researching and writing, then several more years reflecting on the topic and editing.

I have three versions to share with you. There is the full paper, which clocks in at 102 pages. That is the equivalent of a 150 page book. I would highly encourage you to read the full paper since it contains the most detailed argument; however, I understand that not everyone has the time or desire to digest that much information. That is why I also wrote a shorter paper that condenses the main argument into 18 pages. If you are really pressed for time, I also summarized my conclusions in a two page summary statement.

Divorce and Remarriage – Full Paper v7 8-7-25

Divorce and Remarriage – Short Paper v3 11-11-24

Divorce and Remarriage – Summary Statement v1 7-25-23

 

June 1, 2023

“As long as it doesn’t hurt anybody”

Posted by Jason Dulle under Ethics, Theology
[6] Comments 

The American moral standard has long been “as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody” (ALAIDHA), and this has led to the acceptance of all sorts of immoral behavior. There are so many problems with this “moral theory.”

First, why should anyone think that this is the standard of morality we should be living by? The truth of ALAIDHA is never justified – only assumed. It’s not self-evident at all that this is the standard we should use for moral decision-making.

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April 24, 2023

Apologetics and theology curricula for kids

Posted by Jason Dulle under Apologetics, Theology, Worldview
1 Comment 

Many parents would like to educate their kids in Christian theology, apologetics, and worldview, but don’t know where to start or where to obtain good resources. If you are looking for a curriculum for kids age 4-14, check out http://www.foundationworldview.com. It’s on online curriculum using videos, worksheets, and parent resources. There are four courses:

1. Worldview (ages 4-8)
2. Comparative Worldview (ages 8-12)
3. Studying the Bible (ages 8-12)
4. Careful thinking (ages 10-14)

Ratio Christi has also put together a list of resources by education level:
• Elementary school
• Middle School
• High School

Dr. Frank Turek has produced some curriculum for 2nd-5th graders, 6th-8th graders,  and high school-aged kids.

Finally, check out a video I recorded a few years ago showcasing the theology and apologetics resources I have used with my kids over the years.

 

April 3, 2023

Divorce and Remarriage

Posted by Jason Dulle under Marriage and Divorce, Theology
[4] Comments 

I have started a new podcast series on the Biblical teaching regarding divorce and remarriage. This was an intensive research project for me that I am finally ready to share. I have already posted a 1-N-Done episode on the topic which summarizes my conclusions. This will be followed by a long series of episodes where I will explore the topic in much more detail. Once I have finished the series, I will publish my research paper as well.

In my experience, few pastors are willing to address this issue from the pulpit because (1) they aren’t certain what the Bible teaches on the matter or (2) because they are afraid it will negatively impact too many people in their congregation. I understand those concerns, but God’s people need to hear what God’s Word has to say on this important and culturally relevant topic. Give it a listen and share it with your friends and family.

You can listen wherever you get your podcasts from, or at https://thinkingtobelieve.buzzsprout.com.

 

January 23, 2023

Saul did not affirm Jesus’ deity on the Damascus Road

Posted by Jason Dulle under Christology, Theology
[6] Comments 

I’ve often heard people claim that Saul of Tarsus confessed the deity of Christ during his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road by calling him “lord.” We read: “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ 5 ‘Who are you, Lord? Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.”  (Acts 9:3-5)

Those who see a confession of Jesus’ deity in this passage assert that as a monotheistic Jew, Saul’s acknowledgement of Jesus as “Lord” would be an explicit affirmation of His deity since Jews used “Lord” as a substitute for God’s name, YHWH. I find this interpretation unlikely for a number of reasons.

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December 5, 2022

Did Jesus Offer a Bad Argument for the Resurrection?

Posted by Jason Dulle under Bible, Bible Difficulties, Hermeneutics, Resurrection, Theology
[12] Comments 

In Jesus’ debate with the Sadducees, He defended His position that there will be a resurrection of the dead by quoting Exodus 3:6. Luke records Jesus as saying, “But even Moses revealed that the dead are raised in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live before him.” (Luke 20:37-8, NET).

Jesus’ argument seems to be as follows:

(1) God can only be “the God of…X”, if X exists

(2) God identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob centuries after their death

(3) Therefore, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob still existed when God spoke to Moses

I find two problems with this line of reasoning.

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November 22, 2022

Understanding the Atonement

Posted by Jason Dulle under Atonement, Soteriology, Theology
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I completely forgot to mention that I was doing a series on the atonement for the Thinking to Believe podcast. It is a four part series. The final episode just went live.

The series seeks to explain the meaning of Jesus’ death and how it stands at the center of the Christian faith. Episode 1 explores the nature of Jesus’ mission, the OT sacrificial system as a means of atonement, and the necessity of the incarnation for God to fully and finally satisfy both His desire for justice and His desire for mercy.

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November 4, 2022

Human Value: Intrinsic, Extrinsic, or Fictitious?

Posted by Jason Dulle under Anthropology, Apologetics, Bioethics
[2] Comments 

Naturalism cannot support the idea that human beings have real, intrinsic value. This is a feature of the Judeo-Christian theology of the imago Dei – that we are made in the image of God. Absent this theological foundation, there is no reason to think human value is real. At best, humans only have a subjective, extrinsic value; i.e. our value is derived from our own estimation of ourselves. Human beings value particular traits that they possess, and thus value the human beings who possess such traits (a circular, biased, and wholly subjective estimation). This sort of value, however, is fictitious. It only exists in our minds, and it only extends to those that we think it extends to. This value is never equal, and it rarely applies to all human beings. Some human beings will be considered to be more valuable than others, and some will be deemed to have no value at all.

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November 1, 2022

Happiness and its connection to marriage

Posted by Jason Dulle under Marriage and Divorce, Odds & Ends, Theology
[6] Comments 

Conservatives are happier than liberals – especially women.

Brad Wilcox, professor of sociology at the University of Virginia did a study on happiness and found that conservatives were much happier than liberals, especially women. More than twice as many conservative women claim to be completely satisfied with their lives compared to liberal women. Why? Among other things, because conservatives were much more likely to be married than liberals.

Feminism has sold women a bag of goods that happiness is to be found in pursuing careers over family and that family structures must be egalitarian. This will not produce happiness.

 

October 27, 2022

Is God Unknowable?

Posted by Jason Dulle under Apologetics, Religions, Theism, Theology, Theology Proper
[4] Comments 

Many Eastern religions make this claim about God. And now, it is being picked up as a popular idea among Westerners. Unfortunately, it is incoherent.

To say God is unknowable is either a statement about God or a statement about ourselves. If it is a statement about God, it is an affirmation that he has no properties capable of being known. And yet having at least one property is what differentiates existence from non-existence. If God has no properties, then he doesn’t exist.

If it is a statement about ourselves – our ability to know a God with specific properties – then it is self-refuting because the statement itself is a claim to know something about God: He is unknowable. If God were unknowable, we would not even be able to know that He was unknowable. The point can be made succinctly by asking, “How do you know God is unknowable if nothing can be known of God? Isn’t that something you know about him?”

Either way you look at it, that statement is incoherent.

 

October 14, 2022

Blessed Are Those Who Believe Without Seeing

Posted by Jason Dulle under Apologetics, Resurrection
[6] Comments 

Thomas would not believe the report of the other disciples who said they had seen Jesus alive. He only believed in Jesus’ resurrection after Jesus appeared to Him as well. Jesus’ words to Thomas on that day have been immortalized in the Gospel of John: “Because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

This verse is often used by those who oppose the use of evidence and reason in evangelism. They argue that if God’s blessing is given to those who believe in Jesus’ resurrection without evidence, then apologetic arguments aren’t just unnecessary, but a spiritual hindrance that robs people of the blessing that comes through faith. On its face, Jesus does appear to berate Thomas for requiring evidence of His resurrection while pronouncing a blessing on those who believe without the need for evidence. A closer examination of the passage in its context, however, reveals this reading of the text to be mistaken.

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September 2, 2022

New podcast series: The Case for Theology

Posted by Jason Dulle under Theology
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Why study theology? Why does it matter? Isn’t theology just for preachers and smart guys? Isn’t theology divisive and difficult? In my latest podcast series titled “The Case for Theology,” I argue that while theology can be difficult and divisive, it’s unavoidable. All of us are theologians. The question is simply whether we will be a good or bad theologian.

In this two-part series, I’m going to show why theology matters and how it benefits every believer. Episode 1 has already been published. In that episode, I argue that theology (1) defines what we are to believe; (2) reveals to us what the spiritual realm is like; and (3) it is a prerequisite for salvation.

Check it out wherever you get your podcasts from. Just search for “Thinking to Believe” or “Jason Dulle.” Or, you can listen at thinkingtobelieve.buzzsprout.com.

 

August 30, 2022

What happens when inerrancy is denied

Posted by Jason Dulle under Bible, Inspiration, Theology
[2] Comments 

Those who deny inerrancy end up replacing the authority of the Bible with their own authority because they get to determine which parts of the Bible are divinely inspired and which are not. The process is almost entirely subjective.

The tendency is to deny the inspiration of any part of Scripture that does not line up with what they think is true. When the Bible’s sexual ethics conflict with their sexual ethic, it is because those texts reflect man’s opinion rather than God’s. When the Bible’s teaching seems to conflict with the current scientific consensus, it is because those teachings are not inspired. When the Bible portrays God doing something that conflicts with their understanding of God, those passages must reflect man’s ideas rather than God’s. In the end, the Bible (and Christianity) is remade into their own image. When God just so happens to endorse everything you already believe, you’ve probably got the wrong God.

 

August 3, 2022

Cessationism is fueled by experience, not exegesis

Posted by Jason Dulle under Spiritual gifts, Theology
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While cessationists offer Biblical arguments for their position, truth be told, Scripture plays a secondary role in most cessationists’ epistemology/theology. What’s really driving their position is their experience – or more properly, their lack of experience of the supernatural.

They seem to reason as follows: “I have never witnessed a miracle or the operation of any spiritual gifts. None of the people in my church or broader religious organization have experienced such either. I know I am a Christian and the people in my fellowship are Christians, so if God were still doing supernatural he miraculous today, surely we would witness such events in our midst. Since we have not witnessed such events, God must not be doing supernatural things in our day.” From there, one simply needs to determine when and why God stopped doing miracles and giving spiritual gifts.

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July 19, 2022

The meaning of life

Posted by Jason Dulle under Theology
1 Comment 

The meaning of life is being in relationship with God and fulfilling God’s purpose for our life in relationship to others.

 

July 14, 2022

What is the name above every name?

Posted by Jason Dulle under Christology, Theology
[8] Comments 

What is the name above every name that was given to Jesus by God (Phil 2:5-11)? Was it “Jesus” or “Lord”?

In favor of “Jesus” is the fact that Paul says every knee will bow “at the name of Jesus” immediately after saying Jesus was given the name above every name (vs. 9-10). If the first name mentioned is “Jesus,” then “Jesus” would appear to be the name in question. Against this interpretation, however, is the fact that the giving of the name was an act of exultation in response to Christ’s humiliation, which includes His crucifixion. Jesus already had the name “Jesus” prior to the crucifixion, and thus it would seem to follow that “Jesus” cannot be the name above every name. Also, many Hebrew men shared the name Jesus. It was not unique.

In favor of “Lord” is the fact that Paul went on to say that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (v. 11). “Lord” appears to be a higher name than Jesus, which is why it is important to identify Jesus as the Lord. Add to this the fact that Paul is paraphrasing Isaiah 45:23 where it is said that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess to YHWH. The NT translates YHWH as kurios (Lord). It would seem, then, that Paul is identifying Jesus as the YHWH of the OT, and thus with the title “Lord.” Since “Lord” is unique to YHWH, it truly is the name above every other name.

I think the evidence points in favor of the name being “Lord,” but I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the matter.

 

June 10, 2022

When the theological tail wags the hermeneutical dog: “Nothing shall separate us from the love of God”

Posted by Jason Dulle under Bible, Calvinism v Arminianism, Hermeneutics, Theology
[14] Comments 

It’s amazing to me how we can interpret a passage to mean almost the exact opposite of its intended meaning simply because the intended meaning seems to conflict with our theology. A great example of this is Paul’s teaching in Romans 8:35-39:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

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May 17, 2022

Are the Biblical Witnesses of the Resurrection Disqualified Because they are Christians?

Posted by Jason Dulle under Apologetics, Resurrection, Theology
[5] Comments 

Many unbelievers have dismissed the testimony of the Biblical writers regarding the resurrection of Jesus on the basis that these witnesses are Christians. They argue that as Christians, the Biblical authors were biased to believe in the resurrection, making their testimony unreliable. Greg Koukl discussed the merits of this argument on his radio broadcast many years ago. I would like to share some of his ideas with you, as well as add a few of my own.

This objection presumes that rational objectivity is impossible if one has taken a position on a matter (in this case, the resurrection of Jesus Christ), but this ignores the fact that rational objectivity may be what led these individuals to believe in the resurrection in the first place. The evidence could have been so strong in favor of that conclusion that they were incapable of remaining intellectually honest without affirming that Jesus rose from the dead.

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April 20, 2022

The Lord’s Supper

Posted by Jason Dulle under Lord's Supper, Theology
[9] Comments 

For many years now I have harbored concerns about the way many churches practice the Lord’s Supper:

— We practice it too infrequently
— Our “supper” differs in appearance from that of the early church
— We make it a time of sadness and fear rather than joy and hope.

Too Infrequent

Biblically and historically, the Lord’s Supper has been a regular part of the Christian gathering. Only after the Reformation did the sermon replace the Supper as the most significant part of a service. Now, the Supper is rarely celebrated in many Protestant churches.

The early church seemed to celebrate the Lord’s Supper on a regular, if not weekly basis. In Acts 2:42 we read, “They [the Christian converts] were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (NET Bible) While this could be a reference to general communal eating, the context suggests otherwise. First, eating is not a Christian practice to which converts must devote themselves. Eating is a practice common to everyone regardless of their religious affiliation. Secondly, the surrounding activities are religious in nature: doctrinal teaching, fellowship, and prayer. It is best to understand this eating as the Eucharist meal.

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