Theology & Bible

Theology & Bible helps Christians understand Scripture and the core teachings of the Christian faith. Explore Bible-based articles on biblical interpretation, doctrine, salvation, the Holy Spirit, baptism, communion, creation, and key themes across the Old and New Testaments. You’ll find thoughtful guidance for studying the Bible faithfully, applying God’s Word to life and ministry, and growing in theological clarity rooted in the gospel. Whether you’re a church leader, teacher, student, or everyday disciple, this hub equips you to know God through Scripture and live with conviction and hope.

February 25, 2007

Christian Standard

Calvinism and the Bible: Origins

This article is no longer available online, but the entire four-part series is available for purchase as a downloadable resource/pdf. Considering Calvinism “¢ Item 02972 “¢ $4.99 What is Calvinism? How should we feel about what it teaches? How does Calvinism contrast with what we believe to be a more biblical view of sin and salvation? Jack Cottrell examines the essence and errors of Calvinism in this 10-page resource that originally appeared as a four-part series in CHRISTIAN STANDARD. The articles focus on “Sovereignty and Free Will According to Calvinism” and “According to the Bible,” and a two-part explanation and

February 25, 2007

Christian Standard

Calvinism and the Bible: A Bibliography

This article is no longer available online, but the entire four-part series is available for purchase as a downloadable resource/pdf. Considering Calvinism “¢ Item 02972 “¢ $4.99 What is Calvinism? How should we feel about what it teaches? How does Calvinism contrast with what we believe to be a more biblical view of sin and salvation? Jack Cottrell examines the essence and errors of Calvinism in this 10-page resource that originally appeared as a four-part series in CHRISTIAN STANDARD. The articles focus on “Sovereignty and Free Will According to Calvinism” and “According to the Bible,” and a two-part explanation and

February 25, 2007

Christian Standard

Should We Care About Calvinism?

By Staff According to some sources, Calvinism is making a comeback. We asked three leaders and preachers if they are concerned. Although all three preach or have preached in the Greater Indianapolis area, each of them has national influence and input. Russ Blowers has been retired for several years from his lifelong ministry at East 91st Street Christian Church. John Caldwell ministers with Kingsway Christian Church in Avon, Indiana. Howard Brammer preaches at Traders Point Christian Church, Indianapolis. Below are some of their comments. CS: Should we care about Calvinism in the Christian churches? JC: The Restoration Movement has done a

February 25, 2007

Christian Standard

Calvinism and the Bible (Part 1)

This article is no longer available online, but the entire four-part series is available for purchase as a downloadable resource/pdf. Considering Calvinism “¢ Item 02972 “¢ $4.99   What is Calvinism? How should we feel about what it teaches? How does Calvinism contrast with what we believe to be a more biblical view of sin and salvation? Jack Cottrell examines the essence and errors of Calvinism in this 10-page resource that originally appeared as a four-part series in CHRISTIAN STANDARD. The articles focus on “Sovereignty and Free Will According to Calvinism” and “According to the Bible,” and a two-part explanation

February 21, 2007

Christian Standard

A Series About Calvinism

By Mark A. Taylor “We need a thorough treatment of Calvinism to share with our members.” The young preacher of a growing new Christian church in the East made the comment to me just as we were finishing this issue. His request confirmed our decision to devote significant space to the subject of Calvinism, but it didn’t prompt it. The catalyst for our decision was a September cover story in Christianity Today that claimed, “Calvinism is making a comeback and shaking up the church.” Calvinism may not be shaking up Christian churches and churches of Christ yet. Indeed, three prominent

February 11, 2007

Christian Standard

They Called Themselves Christians

By Clint Gill The greatest privilege in the world is to be called Christian. According to 1 Peter 4:16, it is a privilege to die for! Such an assertion raises an interesting question: “What is a Christian?” If we were to ask this question in a public opinion poll, we would probably be astounded at the variety of answers. To some, a Christian is simply a “good person,” someone who tries with some measure of success to keep the Ten Commandments. To others, a Christian is someone who “belongs” to a church. Some would limit the name to those whose

November 26, 2006

Christian Standard

Open to Open Theism (Part 2)

By Paul Kissling Open theism arose as a system because of dissatisfaction with traditional theological formulations of the doctrine of God, whether Calvinist or Arminian. Calvinism is known for its consistency in emphasizing the sovereignty of God over all things. With the claim that God has ordained all things, God”s sovereignty is protected. Nothing has ever or will ever happen, according to the Calvinist, that is outside of God”s knowledge, control, and predestination. This is a consistent position, but it causes a variety of problems. If God predestines all things, it seems as if he is responsible not only for

November 26, 2006

Christian Standard

Does God Know the Word ‘Perhaps’? (Part 2)

By Patrick Nullens   We opened our inquiry and first article with the simple question of a child: “Does God know the word perhaps?” According to open theism, God is all-wise but does not have meticulous foreknowledge. Based on a full knowledge of the past and present, God can only make an astute guess about our responses. According to classical theists, God also knows perhaps, but it is essentially different from our understanding. God does not know uncertainties as we do. He knows exactly everything that will happen, including our own free choices. Whatever one might believe about classical theism

November 19, 2006

Christian Standard

Does God Know the Word ‘Perhaps’? (Part 1)

By Patrick Nullens The finest theological questions are those asked by children. Unfortunately they often tend to raise their questions at the wrong moment and in the wrong place. As I was maneuvering my car through Brussels traffic, one of my boys once asked me, “If God really knows everything, does he know the word perhaps?” What an amazing question for a 7-year-old boy. I wondered, Is there indeed an element of uncertainty in God”s knowledge of the future? Does God hope, wish, and anticipate as we do, infinitely more wise but still with a level of uncertainty? Is the

November 19, 2006

Christian Standard

Open to Open Theism (Part 1)

By Paul Kissling As someone who was asked to argue the “pro” side of open theism, I have a confession to make. I am not really “pro” open theism. As someone whose early training was in two Restoration Movement educational institutions, I am inherently suspicious of theological systems, even my own. If open theism has become such a system, I cannot say I am a proponent of it. But I am sympathetic to some of the questions some open theists raise about traditional systematic theology, whether Calvinistic or Arminian. More importantly, I think reading the Old and New Testaments without

October 8, 2006

Christian Standard

Our Fatherland, Our Home

By Jack R. Reese They were patriots. That fact is clear. And, living in such a place, who wouldn”t be? They were citizens of the greatest nation on earth, not just the most powerful nation in the world””the world”s only superpower””but the most civilized and the most benevolent nation in history. Everyone was proud of their country. And they had a right to be. These citizens of first-century Philippi were patriots, pure and simple. They were a Roman colony in the heart of Hellenism. They loved Rome. They loved their country. They loved the advantages they received because of their

August 27, 2006

Christian Standard

Is Hell Your Final Destination?

By Dave Stone A young soldier sat in front of a campfire on the night before a Civil War battle. The others noticed he appeared nervous. Someone asked him, “What”s the matter, are you afraid to die?” The young man replied, “I”m not afraid to die; it”s what”s beyond death that frightens me.” There is more to life than can be squeezed between two dates on a tombstone””there is eternity. We don”t enjoy talking about death; it can be awkward and uncomfortable, especially if you are uncertain of your final destination. Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed unto man once

August 27, 2006

Christian Standard

The God Who Loves Rebels

By Dave Smith I trudged up the hill. I was mad at God, the world, anything, and everybody. Why? Because I was tired of how God was running things. He sure wasn”t listening to me. And I had had enough. I was angry. I was going to stay angry, maybe forever, or at least till the end of the day. In that reverent spirit, I walked into a Tuesday morning chapel here at Ozark Christian College. I sat down. I stood up. We sang a song. And then, as if things weren”t bad enough, the worship leader said, “Get together

August 20, 2006

Christian Standard

Beyond the Puppet and Puppeteer

By Paul E. Boatman God is omnipotent. As a little child, I knew God could just say a word, and anything would change: “Let there be light!” and there it was. “I will send a flood,” and the whole earth was flooded. He parted the Red Sea and knocked down the walls of Jericho. Add the miracles and resurrection of Jesus, and we have a powerful God! However, as I grew older, that confidence in a powerful God faced tests: I remember praying that George, a nasty kid from “the project,” would quit picking on me, but his meanness continued.

July 30, 2006

Christian Standard

The Gospel of Judas

By Henry E. Webb In 1978 an Egyptian farmer discovered an ancient papyrus manuscript while digging in a cave near Nag Hammadi, site of an earlier discovery of several ancient texts. Realizing it was a valuable piece of antiquity, but having no idea as to its identity, he sold it to a dealer who brought it to the United States and offered to sell it to Yale University for $3 million. Unable to dispose of it, the dealer placed it in a bank vault where, unprotected from exposure to air, it deteriorated badly. Another antiquities dealer obtained possession of it

May 21, 2006

Christian Standard

Perplexed

By Vince Antonucci “Hi, I heard your radio ad and I was wondering if I can come to your church? You see, I”m gay, but you seem like a church that might welcome everyone. Thanks, Annette.” We promoted our church”s opening day with radio ads on secular rock stations. I received that question from Annette, and my in-box quickly filled with e-mails asking the same question. I am perplexed. I want to e-mail my own question to churches: Why do gay people need to ask this question? God Incarnate Recently, I received another e-mail. It was from the CHRISTIAN STANDARD:

May 21, 2006

Christian Standard

Questions and Answers About Homosexuality

By Vince Antonucci What does the Bible really say about homosexuality? The Bible is clear that homosexual behavior is not a part of God”s perfect plan for humanity, and is therefore sin. See, for instance, Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:24-27. What causes homosexuality? This is a hotly debated topic. Gay people claim, “It”s OK because I was made this way.” Most Christians would argue that people are created in the image of God, and therefore no one is born gay. Research has shown that many gay people were raised by a dominant parent of the opposite gender or experienced sexual

May 21, 2006

Christian Standard

A Safe Place to Be a Sinner

By Name Withheld A friend told me about an incident that occurred in the small Midwestern church where she grew up in the late 1970s. When she was about 10, her church hired a young associate minister. It seemed everyone enjoyed the breath of fresh air he brought to the congregation, especially during Sunday morning services. He was musically gifted and spoke eloquently from the pulpit, rivaling the senior pastor! (My friend recalls this young minister with fondness because her family often had him over to Sunday dinner and holiday gatherings.) You can imagine the shock she experienced when one

May 17, 2006

Christian Standard

Free to Share Our Freedom

By Mark A. Taylor A relative very close to me often expressed her doubts about where she’d go when she died. “I don’t know,” she’d say, shaking her head. “I just hope the Good Lord will have it in his heart to let me some way, somehow get into Heaven.” I was too young those days, and too ignorant of Scripture, to help her. How I wish I could have offered assurance to this faithful Christian who had sought to obey Christ since the day she was baptized. But her attitude is prevalent even among mature Christians I’ve met since

November 30, 2005

Christian Standard

Looking Back and Looking Forward (Communion Meditation)

Certain events invite us to both look back and look forward—graduations, weddings, New Year’s Day. At these times we consider the significance of the past and anticipate the future. The Lord’s Supper is such an event. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26, English Standard Version). When we worship through participation in Communion we look back to the cross. We are reminded of our sin that made Christ’s death necessary. As we remember the cross, we must face our unworthiness to receive God’s forgiveness

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