published by Bill Mounce on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 16:56
We were changed in conversion, and a changed person will live a changed life, not because you have to, but because you want to. In the Bible, one of the first things people did after conversion was to announce it publicly in a ritual called “baptism.”
In the history of the church there has been a lot of arguing about baptism, and unfortunately in some cases (and fortunately in others) it has led to dissension and division; and yet we are told to be baptized and so a young Christian needs to understand what it is and what it isn’t.
From the following you will see that I believe baptism is an intentional act of a person’s faith. For those who have a different view of baptism, this blog is not for you. But if you believe in believer’s baptism, I would like to know how the following works. Does it explain baptism correctly, simply, and convincingly? Thanks.
published by Bill Mounce on Sun, 01/29/2012 - 21:31
Hell is a slippery concept; and no, I’m not talking about recent debates. I am talking about what the word ᾅδης means.
I was reminded of this in reading the NIV of Acts 2:27. Peter cites Ps 16:10 as fulfilled in Christ. “You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.” Why did the NIV switch from “grave” (1984) to “realm of the dead”? (I was not on the CBT when this change was made, so I was not part of the discussion.)
ᾅδης occurs ten times in the New Testament. In eight the NIV translates ᾅδης as “Hades.” In Acts 2:27 and in Peter’s following comment (v 31), it translates ᾅδης as the “realm of the dead.” In our passage, most translations simply write ”Hades” (NASB, NRSV, HCSB, NET) or “Hell” (ESV, KJV).
published by Bill Mounce on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 11:04
BiblicalTraining is asking for your prayers for a meeting tomorrow (Thursday). I am sorry that I can't be more specific, but we have asked for a resource that we can put on the website that will substantively increase our ability to serve people around the world with their ongoing educational needs. There is a meeting tomorrow that will determine if the resource will be given to us. Please pray that God softens their hearts and allows this to go forward. Sorry I can't be more specific; but if it happens, I will let you know.
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