Faithful Stewardship

CTT | Textual Criticism

Faithful Stewardship Leave a comment

As a layman scholar, there are serious limitations to my knowledge and credentials as I share the fruits of my Bible study here at Faithful Stewardship and with my wife and children. I don’t read Biblical Hebrew or Koine Greek, and I’m not a credentialed historian. I humbly rely on the authority of the Bible for what I present here and to my family. I think that is a great place to be in, as I am less tempted to rely on my own authority, but it also leaves me open to criticisms that are beyond my knowledge and experience.

The subject of Textual Criticism is currently the most fascinating to me. I’ve never really studied it before, nor was I even aware of the rich scholarship and evidence we have of the Biblical texts. When Dan Brown wrote his fiction, I didn’t bat an eye… but I also didn’t know how to refute his wild claims in his book/movie. More recently, we had that abysmal hit-piece printed in Time Magazine by Kurt Eichenwald who merely repackaged old, poor arguments against the Bible, got me interested in this topic.

Today, I’d like to share some resources you can watch (or just listen) on the topic of Textual Criticism. These are scholarly lectures provided by Dr Daniel B. Wallace of The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts.

Fighting for the Faith | Chris Rosebrough

Fighting for the Faith presents Dr. Daniel B Wallace’s lecture entitled, “Did Copyists Make Errors in the New Testament Manuscripts?”

Dr. Daniel B Wallace at Biola University

I wanted to see him speak, so I looked for some YouTube videos and found a similar lecture provided in a 2 part series to the students at Biola University.

Conclusion

We have every reason to trust in the whole of the Scriptures as presented in the best English translations we have today. Are there variants? Yes. Does this weaken our understanding of the Word of God? No. Can we be absolutely certain of a particular translation over another? No. We have excellent translations and an abundance of manuscripts. Avoiding anything amplified or paraphrased, my confidence in our current good translations (ESV, NASB, NET) is strengthened. I hope to learn Koine Greek and Biblical Hebrew in the future. For now, I study as God grants me grace to learn in my personal time.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV) 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Amen.
In Christ Jesus,
Jorge

‘Tis the Season of Interrupted Schedules

AsideFaithful Stewardship Leave a comment

My weekend plans were made null by an unexpected family trip. December and January will be very busy for our family, so we will be dialing back our Faithful Stewardship posting schedule somewhat. For the time being, we’ll be focusing our Bible study efforts on DiM Tuesday and Gospel Wednesday, while continuing to share a Friday Sermon. OT Thursdays will be placed on hold for a bit until after the new year, should the Lord tarry.

During this holiday season, if you have any questions or suggestions for study topics please feel free to contact us, we’d love to hear from you. In the meantime, stay focused on what this season is purportedly to be about, despite all of the non-Biblical trappings. For our Gospel Wednesday study, we will be working through the Gospel of Matthew. Last year, we spend a great deal of time in the Gospel of Luke. Links to those posts can be found here.

2 Timothy 4:1-5 (ESV)| Preach the Word

4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

In Christ Jesus,
Jorge

Our First Year

AsideFaithful Stewardship Leave a comment

Today marks our first year of sharing Bible Studies here at Faithful Stewardship. As I look through the posts over the year, I see a lot of growth in my walk and the walk of our family. I hope that as you look back over the past few months you can see similar growth. I look forward to sharing more time in the Word of God and in fellowship (albeit online) with one another.

God bless, and Take care.
In Christ Jesus,
Jorge

Taking a Short Planning Break

Faithful Stewardship Leave a comment
Prayer Meeting, First Stone by George Bellows (1882-1925)

Prayer Meeting, First Stone
by George Bellows (1882-1925)

With the end of our first year of blogging here at Faithful Stewardship approaching quickly, we are in the process of prayerfully discussing ways of expanding a bit. My wife is considering leading a Women’s Bible study at our home and possibly sharing women-centered Bible studies here on Faithful Stewardship. We ask for your prayers while we adjust our schedules.

In light of this planning, Faithful Stewardship Bible studies will be on hold for about a week while we focus on other things. Our Facebook page will likely become more active in the meantime, so feel free to reach out to us there (or in comments here).

1 Peter 1:3-13 (ESV) | Born Again to a Living Hope
1 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. 13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

May the Gospel of Grace fill your hearts and minds always,
In Christ Jesus,
Jorge