N.T. Wright: 'Christ & Creation' (2017 BioLogos Conference)

[blakerice]

That value this lecture should be bringing to the church….. so sad so few will ever see it or even seek to understand it

[hakkiicym]

WONDERFUL explanation of the scripture to lead us to strengthen our faith.

[sambamstewart]

Thank you NT Wright and Biologos for posting this great video!

[fabienmaldonado]

This is interesting... I realize I have been mistakingly trying to "squeeze" the logos back into creation... thanks for the great lecture!!!!

[anti-nazarene]

Phd. student Richard Allinger reinforces the need for the continuation of the Reformation which started five centuries ago for the following six reasons cited in his book "The Reformation Cannot Be Over !":
i. God speaks today.
ii. Theologians make mistakes.
iii. New issues require new thinking.
iv. Scriptures must have priority over confessions.
v. The right of private judgment.
vi. Above all, it is important that we engage in the process of (semper reformanda) "always reforming" in the proper spirit and manner.

[Panhorst]

I think our brother in Christ does a great job in the beginning of this discussion talking about Christ in creation. However where he begins to stray away from good solid Biblical interpretation is when he uses the parable of the sower as a point of reference to suggest that God made the world through slow processes and death. A good exegete has to be careful when considering taking scripture out of context and adding a much broader interpretation and that certainly is what he did there. The parable of the sower has nothing to do with original creation in its context or the processes God used to make the world's that is something he is reading into the text and wants his listeners to believe. What we observe in the world today is a result of the fall according to the scripture. The entire creation has been subjected to this corruption because of when sin entered the world through the one act of disobedience death entered the world. Death is a consequence for sin not a purpose in design. The Bible's testimony about creation is that God made it with purpose and all by the word of his power. Jesus is that word of power and he said it was good. Consider these proof text. 


And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31 KJV


Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Hebrews 11:3 KJV


In the parable of the sower Jesus is teaching his disciples what it will be like when they preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to different people and how some people will believe and others will not because of Satan. Satan hinders some believers from maturing through various temptations and others he destroys their faith altogether. Jesus explains this in a parable but explains it more plainly to his own disciples later on. We know the Lord does this often for his 12 but the rest he taught them in parables. Interpreting the parable is easy. Some may not believe right away but then it happens at God's appointed time. God causes the fruit of the Spirit to blossom in the way that he wants to in those who have received grace by God's mercy in election. Some of them God brings to maturity as our Lord explains. It may be interpreted from other passages that God's grace is distributed differently and that Christian growth is also dependent on the will of God. Ultimately all things will work together for the good for them that love God to them that are the called by God according to his good pleasure. Paul tells us in Corinthians, "I planted Apollos watered but it is God who gave the growth."The ones who do not believe do not believe because of Satan. Paul the Apostle also says the same thing but in his own style. He says that the gospel message is like a fragrance some it is a fragrance from life to life others from life to death. Paul tells us in his epistles that the unbelievers are held in captivity and blinded by the god of this world. In conclusion, Jesus is not talking about original creation in this parable and definitely not revealing any mysteries about macro-evolution or any type of suggestion that man has evolved from one simple life-form to another. Furthermore, I think it is important to realize that NT Wright has used this passage out of context to support theistic evolution.

[thefreemangirl]

God's Word, God's law is the second person of the trinity.

[faithtruth]

Strange statement he begins with Genesis is saying God spoke things into creation while John is personifying Christ as the Spoken revelation of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. He then goes on to confuse the kingdom with the New Heaven and Earth Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth, " for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. Jesus was never enthroned on the cross. He Heavenly Enthronement of Jesus Christ . After the Ascension, some time in the ten days before Pentecost, Jesus was enthroned in Heaven on the throne of David, at the right hand of the Father. Pauls weakness was so that he would not have the glory through his own strength but that Christ who strengthens him might be given the glory. A god of boundless love? He saw millions of years of death and destruction and saw that it was good? The kings divine right to rule is a political view and philosophy just like democracy. If he is stating that evolution was born out of the same philosophy then it is none scientific if not then why does he mix the two? I don't know if he is talking about the modern view of epicureanism or the ancient view were you give up pleasure in the pursuit of happiness but neither make much sense here. I don't know what his view of creation is from this but it was manifestation of power by the almighty God created the heavens and the earth as an expression of His glory. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. (Psalms 19:1 NASB) and The heavens declare His righteousness, And all the peoples have seen His glory. The end of this seems to imply that it was created for man.

[sunpro]

Philosophers need to start by summarizing their conclusions in a short concise way. It's easy to get distracted and take your own conclusions and impose it on their speech.

[dannyiselin]

This ex-bishop of the Church of England expels methane flatuence consistent with those 2 Timothy warns against. His methane has no soteriological significance for a crystal meth addicted sinner. Living after grace or royalties?