The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible: (Beeke, Barrett, Bilkes, Smalley)

Ever wondered how some of the more popular Study Bibles handle interpretive issues in their notes?  You'd probably be surprised that it is not a novelty to acknowledge both divine sovereignty and human responsibility are both truth.  Even more important, even the editors of these Study Bibles are willing to put into published form as not having to be dogmatic (well at least not all the time).

I would like to recommend a new study Bible published in 2014 by Reformation Heritage Books.
As you would've guessed its the Reformation Heritage Study Bible (KJV translation).  It is currently my study Bible of choice.  I will hold off to my favorite feature of this study Bible till the end section.

Allow me to recommend some of its features:

From almost the first page the reader is challenged to read the scriptures "experientially."
A list of ten considerations is provided as tests for seeing whether we read our Bibles this way or not (xii).

This is followed by a lengthy introduction to the King James Version text (xiii-xix).  Quite frankly I still enjoy memorizing and studying from my KJV.  I fully understand the liberty of conscience, translation theory and a whole list of other variables for using other English translations.  I have made a choice based on where we live in farm country USA to continue using a translation that is being used in the local churches around us, is least likely to cause offense and division, and this is for me personally actually more loving to put translational liberties aside.

Well after that little digression.

Each book introduction has the standard topics of discussion: authorship, date, theme, purpose, and outline.  The introductory notes are noticeably different than other "evangelical" study Bibles in that they are remarkably conservative.  They have no qualms identifying people and their positions as "liberal."  This is a refreshing contrast to the often repeated refrain "some scholars believe..."in other more popular Study Bibles in evangelical circles.

The following is a sample of some of the study Bible notes:

Gen 1:25, "All the land creatures are made on the sixth day--this includes dinosaurs which we know from fossils existed in the past."

Jud 11:26, "A crucial number for Jephthah's argument.  This would date the exodus to the fifteenth century BC."

1 Kin 6:1, "If we assume that the 480 years to be taken literally (and there is no contextual warrant to assume otherwise), adding 480 years gives the date 1446 BC for the exodus."

1 Tim 3:1, "However, this desire must be based upon biblical grounds and not one's own subjective will."

In addition to the thousands of conservative evangelical study notes, the best feature in my opinion is the "Thoughts for Personal/Family Worship" accompanying every chapter.  As far as a daily reading and challenge is concerned these thoughts are excellent in exposing sin and focusing on repentance of sin.

Consider Exodus 10:

(p. 104) "The Bible reveals both God's total sovereignty over all things, and man's real resonsibility for his willful choices....Even if we do not understand how these fit together, we must believe them both."

(p. 1632) "We should believe the doctrine of God's sovereign predestination on the testimony of Holy Scripture.  It is not incompatible with evangelistic concern, however difficult it may seem to reconcile the two."

This study Bible also includes articles on every major doctrine of systematic theology (Trinity, Justification, Repentance, etc...).  It also includes the major creeds and confession of church history (in full, yes even all from the Larger Catechism).  There is a rather lengthy section of Christian living (which won't be to friendly to the antinomian stripe, "Worship, Fellowship, Affliction, Criticism, Serving, Leisure time, etc...".  It also includes a nicely written survey of the first twenty centuries of church history (about one page per century).

I wish all was perfect but I must warn of some concerns:

1. There are no middle column cross references.  Prophecies are marked in the notes and similar concepts.  But I do find it strange that they left out a middle column full of cross references.

2. KJV English (good or bad, you decide).  It is as of today, only available in the KJV.  For those who use other English translations, this may be a road block.  For me personally, no big deal, I memorize from it anyway.

3. KJV clarity appears in the notes.  Whenever there is an archaic (think 1600s English) the notes tend (in my opinion, haven't checked them all yet), tend to modernize the KJV gloss not necessarily the underlying Greek or Hebrew term.

Overall, I highly recommend this study Bible.
Especially to those of a Reformed Covenant persuasion. 

Then again, having your soul and mind challenged with the applications for every chapter from Genesis to Revelation in my thought is worth the price.

Ordo Salutis: Is there a textual basis for regeneration prior to faith? John 3 Test Case, Part One

Christians have debated this topic for centuries and this article will not change anyone's mind.
I hope however it will cause you to think through the text and believe the text of Scripture how God has given it to us through the pen of human writers without imposing theological concepts or adjectivally bound terms upon the text.

Before hitting extensive word studies I would like to consider several test cases.  They are common historical scenarios in the Biblical text for daily Bible readers.  Probably even from a Sunday School lesson.

For purposes of this shore article I will take up the third chapter of the gospel of John.  This article is only summarizing the primary arguments used from this text.  The scenario is a Pharisee named Nicodemus coming to have a conversation with Jesus at night (John 3:1-2).

I would like to suggest that Christ's conversation with Nicodemus has two elements.  First, the theological concept of the "new birth" (vv. 3-8) and faith (vv. 9-21).  Second, I don't have time to discuss all the details here (you would probably get bored and stop reading) so I'll hit some of the main points to help in this issue.

Concerning regeneration, first, notice the parallel Jesus makes between verses three and five.
(v. 3) Except a man be born again,                                 he cannot see the kingdom of God.
(v. 5) Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
As you read people's notes and comments see what parallel they make between the two verses.  Do they refer to one event (hendiadys, fancy word,"two nouns linked with conjuncton"), two events, perhaps even some including water baptism or spiritual baptism.

Second, is the focus on inability to actually give physical birth to yourself or any other kind of birth.  Notice Nicodemus took him literally (v. 4).
Verses 2, 3, 5, and 8 are used to show that the new birth is incapable by human beings.  This is absolutely true.  This birth is caused by the Holy Spirit, "born of the Spirit" (vv. 6, 8).  The spirit when it is at work cannot be seen but you can witness its presence "thou hearest the sound thereof" (v. 8).

Third and finally, both these clauses contain the verb "is."  The verb actually occurred in the past (perfect tense) and this verb has results which continue on into the future.  Included in this is the idea that the verb is (passive) meaning the subject of the verb was acted upon.  For example, the ball has been thrown.  The ball did not throw itself.  Someone else threw the ball.  Note the verb tense in relation "is born of the flesh" (perfect tense) also.

If the viewing of text stopped here one would walk away thinking man has no responsibility at all.  I would agree with you.  In fact based on the clauses and verbs mentioned man is not able to do anything in this "born again" idea.  Again, we are in hardy agreement.  However the context does not stop here at verse eight.  There is another side to this that I find often missing which is to be addressed in the next article "faith/believing"  Funny thing is that the multiple sides of this debate see these facts too!

However the emphasis becomes important as it touches on other doctrines such as sanctification (progressive especially), perseverance/preservation, and theology proper to name a few.

Questions to ponder:

1. If the new birth is done/accomplished by God, when in your life did it happen? eternity past?

2. For those who believe the theological concept (regeneration/effectual calling) has to occur prior to human responsibility, what actual exegetical-basis is the found in John 3?  (Please note: the question is not whether you believe divine sovereignty and human responsibility are both true nor is the question whether you believe the Bible teaches regeneration/effectual calling).

3. Depending on how you answer #1 and #2, would you be willing to say the order of priority is based on a previously determined theology? (Note: the question is not whether systematic theology is okay).

4. Is it possible to admit both are true (paradox), without knowing exactly when or how they fit together?  (Yes other texts found in other contexts will be addressed in time).

Hope this helps some.  Comments encouraged especially if including extra grammatical points enforcing the idea of divine sovereignty in the new birth.

Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility in Salvation

Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility in Salvation

There are many verses in Scripture championed by various theological positions concerning salvation.  Consider the following texts which teach both divine sovereignty and human responsibility:

Matthew  23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem ... how often would I have gathered they children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"

John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and chim that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

John 6:44 "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me odraw him: and gI will raise him up at the last day."

Acts 13:48 "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and das many as were ordained to eternal life believed."

Acts 16:14 "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of zThyatira, awhich worshipped God, heard us: whose bheart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul."

1 Thess 1:3-4 "Remembering gwithout ceasing hyour work of ifaith, and klabour of ilove, and lpatience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of mGod and our Father; 4 Knowing, brethren ||nbeloved, nyour election of God."

2 Thess 2:13-14 "But gwe are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, hbrethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath ifrom the beginning chosen you to salvation kthrough sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto lhe called you by our gospel, mto the obtaining of the lglory of our Lord Jesus Christ."