Selected Reading, December 5, 2020

 

Two good things to read (or listen to) this weekend.

God

How May God Be Known?
This is an excerpt from Things Unseen: A Systematic Introduction to the Christian Faith and Reformed Theology, which is collection of essays compiled from radio addresses by J. Gresham Machen. His voice and personality comes through in this little piece.

Christ

Offices of Christ
I did a theological term post on the offices of Christ recently, and now here’s an excellent short podcast on the subject. 

Theological Term of the Week: Synoptic Problem

synoptic problem
The issue of how to account for the similarities and differences in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke); the debated subject of whether these similarities and differences can be explained by interdependence—one or two of the gospels were used as source(s) for others—or dependence on an outside source.

• From the three accounts of the healing of the paralytic (Notice particularly the similar parenthetical statements I’ve italicized.):

“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” (Matthew 9:6 ESV)

“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” (Mark 2:10-11 ESV)

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” (Luke 5:24 ESV)

• From The Synoptic Problem: An Introduction by Robert H. Stein:

One of the most persuasive arguments for the literary interdependence of the synoptic Gospels is the presence of identical parenthetical material, for it is highly unlikely that two or three writers would by coincidence insert into their accounts exactly the same editorial comment at exactly the same place. 

Learn more:1

1. Blue Letter Bible: The Synoptic Problem
2. GotQuestions.org: What is the Synoptic Problem?
3. Theopedia: The Synoptic Problem
4. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministries: What is the gospel of Q and does it prove the gospels are false?
5. Daniel Wallace: The Synoptic Problem, The Synoptic Problem and Inspiration
6. John MacArthur: Introduction to Mark
7. James Arlandson: What Is the “Q” Gospel?
8. Mark D. Roberts: What Sources Did the Gospel Writers Use?

Related terms: 

• synoptic gospels

Filed under Scripture

1The authors of these articles do not all agree on the best solution to the synoptic problem, or even whether there actually is one, and I don’t know enough to have an informed opinion.

---

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.

Sunday's Hymn: How Firm a Foundation

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed;
I, I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

“E’en down to old age all my people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.

“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.”

—John Rip­pon

Other hymns, worship songs, or quotes for this Sunday:

• Behold, He Cometh at The Happy Wonderer
• The Person Christmas Celebrates — Hymn 1 at The Outspoken Tulip