Thinking to Believe
Episodes
212 episodes
212: Can Women be Pastors and Teachers pt 11? - Headship, Submission, and Authority pt 2
I look at what the NT has to say regarding headship, submission, and authority, focusing on texts like 1 Cor 11 and Eph 5.
211: Can Women be Pastors and Teachers pt 10? - Headship, Submission, and Authority pt 1
Does the Bible teach male headship? Yes. I examine Genesis 3:16 where God told Eve "your desire will be to your husband, and he will rule over you." I argue that it refers to the woman's desire to exercise authority over her husband rather than...
210: Can Women be Pastors and Teachers pt 9? - 1 Cor 14 pt 4
I explore the last two possible interpretations of 1 Cor 14:34-35, namely the view that Paul is prohibiting women from engaging in theological discussion/debate in the church, and the view that Paul is prohibiting women from engaging in the jud...
209: Can Women be Pastors and Teachers pt 8? - 1 Cor 14 pt 3
I explored two more possible interpretations of 1 Cor 14:34-35: (1) the cultural/circumstantial view; (2) the absolute silence view.I argued that the cultural/circumstantial views cannot explain all that we see in the text, and we would ...
208: Can Women be Pastors and Teachers pt 7? - 1 Cor 14 pt 2
After dealing with possible understandings of Paul's reference to "the Law," I examined two interpretations of 1 Cor 14:34-35: (1) The interpolation view which holds that these verses are not Pauline, but were added to the text by a scribe earl...
207: Can Women be Pastors and Teachers pt 6? 1 Tim 2 recap and 1 Cor 14 pt 1
Did an extended recap of what I covered for 1 Tim 2, and then began my discussion of 1 Cor 14:33-35. I concluded:1. Paul's teaching pertains to public worship.2. "As in all the churches of the saints" in 33b is the start of the se...
206: Can Women be Pastors and Teachers pt 5? 1 Tim 2 pt 4
I focus on Paul's second reason for prohibiting a woman from teaching or exercising authority over a man, namely the fact that it was Eve - not Adam - who was deceived by the devil. While Eve was the first to sinn, Adam was held res...
205: Can Women be Pastors and Teachers pt 4? 1 Tim 2 pt 3
I examine 1 Tim 2:13, where Paul provides his first reason for permitting women from teaching or exercising authority over males, namely creation order. Man was created first, then Eve, and thus Eve was created in a place of submission to Adam....
204: Can Women be Pastors and Teachers pt 3? 1 Tim 2 pt 2
I explore the two things Paul did not prohibit women from doing in 1 Tim 2:12 - teaching and exercising authority. I show why the egalitarian claim that "exercise authority" is talking about an abuse of authority is mistaken.
203: Can Women be Pastors and Teachers pt 2? 1 Tim 2 pt 1
I begin my examination of the most important NT text on this topic: 1 Tim 2:11-14. I look at the meaning of "silence" and "subjection" in verse 11, and then start my exegesis of verse 12 by exploring two things: (1) Does the fact that Paul said...
202: Can Women be Pastors and Teachers pt 1? Introduction
Is the role of pastors and teacher open to women, or has God ordained that these roles be occupied by men? In this episode, I define the positions, define some key Biblical terminology, and clarify what the debate is about. Finally, I provide t...
201: Can Women be Pastors and Teachers? 1-N-Done
To even ask the question is heretical to feminism and an affront to some very recent Christian traditions, but the question is not what we think should be true or would like to be true. It's what Scripture teaches. In this 1-N-Done, I argue tha...
200: Answering God's Critics pt 29 - Divine Sins pt 10 - Is God Sexist & Misogynistic? pt 3 - OT pt 2 NT pt 1
I finish up my examination of difficult OT passages and start with the NT teaching that women are "weaker vessels" and should submit to their husbands as unto Christ. In the process, I show why the doctrine of "mutual submission" is not Bi...
199: Answering God's Critics pt 28 - Divine Sins pt 9 - Is God Sexist & Misogynistic? pt 2 - OT pt 1
After looking at a variety of texts where women are given important roles and spoken of favorably, I looked at a number of difficult OT texts:--God's word to Eve that her husband would rule over her--The jealousy trial--Cov...
198: Answering God's Critics pt 27 - Divine Sins pt 8 - Is God Sexist & Misogynistic? pt 1 - Intro
Is the God of the Bible sexist and misogynistic? No, He’s no feminist either. After critiquing feminist ideology, I demonstrate that the Bible teaches women are equal to men in dignity and spiritual status.
197: Answering God's Critics pt 26 - Divine Sins pt 7 - Slavery in the Bible pt 3
I look at the NT data regarding slavery to wrap up my discussion on the Biblical view of slavery. The NT teaches that our spiritual status is more important than our earthly social status. In Christ, there is neither slave nor free. While Paul ...
196: Answering God's Critics pt 25 - Divine Sins pt 6 - Slavery in the Bible pt 2
There are really two institutions of slavery in the OT: one for Israelites, and one for foreigners. The last episode explained the former institution, while this podcast explains the latter. I explain how they were different.
195: Answering God's Critics pt 24 - Divine Sins pt 5 - Slavery in the Bible pt 1
Did you know the Bible regulates slavery rather than condemn it? How can a good God allow something as immoral as slavery? In this episode, I look at the OT data, specifically the OT teaching regarding Hebrew slaves. I argue that the kind of sl...
194: Answering God's Critics pt 23 - Divine Sins pt 4 - Conquest of Canaan pt 2
I demonstrate that the commands to devote the Canaanites to destruction are hyperbolic rather than literal, explain why God can (but we cannot) kill anyone He wants, ask whether women and children were killed in the Conquest, and compare the Co...
193: Answering God's Critics pt 22 - Divine Sins pt 3 - Conquest of Canaan pt 1
Critics have claimed the Conquest of Canaan is an example of divinely commanded genocide or ethnic cleansing. I argue that the rationale for the Conquest had nothing to do with race or ethnicity, and is not an example of genocide. It’s an examp...
192: Answering God's Critics pt 21 - Divine Sins pt 2 - Is the God of the OT different than the God of the NT?
Many think the God of the OT is harsh and judgmental, while the God of the NT is gracious and loving. Is the God of the OT different than the God of the NT? Did God reform Himself between the testaments? No. I demonstrate that we find a God of ...
191: Answering God's Critics pt 20 - Divine Sins pt 1 - Introduction and Principles
Christians and Jews believe the God of the Bible is morally good. Many non-believers, however, think otherwise. They claim the God of Christianity is morally evil, and thus no god at all. So is the Biblical God the epitome of moral perfection, ...
190: Answering God's Critics pt 19 - Problem of Evil pt 10 - Emotional Problem of Evil pt 2
I finished my thoughts on how Christians can deal with the emotional problem of evil, which wraps up this sub-series on the problem of evil. I explored the different purposes God has for evil, give some perspective in light of eternity and the ...