Amud Yomi

This week the Spring Semester at Westminster Seminary began and I am excited to continue with Hebrew. The language is unique in many ways however I am grateful to have the opportunity to study in preparation for ministry. I also have Pentateuch, which covers the first five books of the Bible. Another beneficial course deals with the Pauline Epistles, a survey of Paul’s writings and the setting in which he wrote.  It’s amazingly hard to figure out why many scholars think Paul was the founder of Christianity and propound a view of Paul that is in direct contradiction to the work of Jesus. Anyway, I am excited to learn more about his letters and how they proclaim  Christ. (Col. 1:28)

The title of this blog comes from a Hebrew expression meaning “daily column.” I’m no where near that in terms of my blog records, but I thought it was appropriate in reference to Bible reading and devotion to mention that phrase.

Genesis lays the foundation for a covenant approach to theology and the work of God to form a people for Himself. There are many considerations that arise in people’s mind about the style or genre of Genesis and how that influences interpretation. One example that comes to mind is the age of the earth. The class I’m taking will look at the question more closely. When I took  the J. Gresham Machen class this past winter term we looked at a period of history that challenged as well as affirmed biblical authority. These two groups are roughly labeled fundamentalist/liberal.  The astounding thing about each group is there ostensible similarity, despite unique differences that caused each other’s blood to boil. One such occasion occurred during the Scopes Trial in 1925. This trial became a threat to evangelical Christians who saw a great problem with evolution and wanted to defend a creation position for fear of an atheistic platform to control society. William Jennings Bryan led the trial and championed the cause of creationism. This trial was emblematic of the struggle to proclaim truth, yet it was often done in such a defensive way that science and other fields of education regarded such notions as ridiculous as a flat earth.

Anyway, I pray that God’s Word is the meditation of your heart and that you look to Christ for refuge and strength.