Abstracts for  Classroom Syllabi

by
   
Dr. Robert C. Newman
RCNewman@ibri.org

Updated and Revised December,  2014



Dr. Robert C. Newman is Professor Emeritus at Biblical Theological Seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania (a suburb of Philadelphia), and is Director of the Interdisciplinary Biblical Research Institute.  He is a frequent speaker at churches and colleges on evidences for the truth of Christianity and on the interaction between science and the Bible. Dr. Newman earned a doctorate from Cornell University in theoretical astrophysics,  the Master of Divinity from Faith Theological Seminary, and Master of Sacred Theology degree from Biblical Theological Seminary. He is past President of the Evangelical Theological Society, author or co-author of five books, and has also published over a hundred articles in Christian magazines, scientific and theological journals. 

Both Microsoft Powerpoint and Adobe Acrobat readers are available for free download if your computer does not have the software.

 

Talks are arranged alphabetically by title with topic noted in left column:

B: Bible; E: Evidences/Education; G: Government/Geography; H: History; I: Intelligent Design;

O: Origins; R: Responses; S: Science/Science & Christianity; T: Theology

 

Download by double-clicking on the appropriate link. Approximate file size (Kb = thousands of bytes; Mb = millions of bytes) is shown.

Web pages require Javascript, and download slides individually as requested. The slides vary in size.

 

download
Topic

Date

Title/Abstract
Link to Web Page (html)

Word

Acrobat

Related
Powerpoints and Audio
_________________________


2011
Messianic Passages in the Old Testament as Cited in Rabbinic Literature Alfred Edersheim Edited by Robert C. Newman
download
422Kb
61 pages
download
467Kb

B,H,R,T
1997
Notes for NTG716: Acts & Pauline Epistles
Mediterranean Geography; Chronology and Introductions to the New Testament books.

download
856Kb
119 pages
download
1.1Mb
Hebrews

Revelation
B, H, R, T
1984

The Ancient Exegesis of Genesis 6:2, 4:  The exegesis of Gen 6:2, 4 in ancient times is surveyed among extant sources, both Jewish and Christian.  These interpretations are categorized as either "supernatural" or "nonsupernatural" depending upon the identification of the "sons of God."  It is observed that the interpretation of "sons of God" as angels and "Nephilim" as giants dominates.  This interpretation also seems to be that of the NT, almost certainly in Jude 6 and 2 Pet 2:4, and probably in 1 Cor 11:10 and Matt 22:30.  Some suggestions regarding the source of this interpreation and its validity are made.

download
156 kb
22 pages
published

download
252 kb

E,I,O,R,S
1998
Artificial Life and Cellular Automata
Artificial Life (AL) is a rather new scientific discipline, which didn't really get going until the 1980s.   Unlike biology, it seeks to study life not out in nature or in the laboratory, but in the computer.   AL seeks to mimic life mathematically, and especially to generate known features of life from basic principles.

download
156Kb
17 pages
download
372Kb
Computer Viruses, Artificial Life and the Origin of Life

Computer Simulations of Evolution
B,E,H,T
1996
The Apologetic Value of Fulfilled Prophecy
Types of Fulfilled Prophecy;  Works in Fulfilled Prophecy;  Liberal Responses to Fulfilled Prophecy;  Making Apologetic Use of Fulfilled Prophecy
download
72Kb
11 pages
download
120Kb
Jesus: The Testimony of Prophecy and History

New Testament Prophecy


Prophecy:  Ancient & Modern
H,S
1992
Beliefs and Physics: Some Lessons from the Ancient Greeks
A brief sketch of ancient Greek physics from Thales to Aristotle reveals a strong interaction between metaphysical belief and the practice of physics.  This interaction worked in both directions, as metaphysical views suggested (and inhibited) questions and approaches to the physical realm, and physical observations and experiments favored or disfav¬ored various metaphysical views.  Some lessons are suggested concerning how we should view current theories in modern physics
download
84Kb
11 pages
download
152Kb
Beliefs and Physics
B, R, S, T
1970

Biblical Accuracy and Human Error:  Since humans are finite and fallen, their interpretation of both Bible and nature are prone to error.  Here we examine a passage commonly seen as biblical error, the "dome sky" remark in Job 37:18, and suggest that this is merely a problem of mistranslation.  A more likely translation teaches no such thing.

download
32Kb
11 pages
published
download
BRT
?
Biblical Teaching on the Holy Spirit:
The personality and deity of the Holy Spirit are shown from various Biblical texts.
download
64Kb
8 pages
Outline
download
B, E, O, S, T
1980

The Bible and Science: 
The Bible is under attack by many who march under the banner of science.  Is science really opposed to the Bible?  Depends on whether one is speaking of "closed universe" science or "open universe" science.  Diverse views on Bible and science by Bible-believers.  Vindications of the Bible's science.  Evolution and Creation.  Other problems.  Bibliography.

download
48Kb
5 pages
Published
download
B,T
2002
The Birth Pains of the Messiah: Have They Started Yet?
The concept of birth pains as a figure for eschatological troubles is investigated in the NT, OT and rabbinic literature, especially as this may relate to Jesus= comment in Matthew 24:8.  Why is this figure of birth pains used?    Does it have any connection with the phenomenology of birth contractions?  Do we have any biblical warrant for when these troubles might begin?  How do they function as signs of the end?  Is there any reason from current disaster phenomena to think that the end is near?
download
664Kb
19 pages
download
276Kb
The Birth Pains of the Messiah
B,H,T
1996
Breadmaking with Jesus
"Beware!  Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees!"   said Jesus to his disciples.  "Beware!"  Did Jesus intend this warning just for the twelve in the boat with him?  Or was he aiming at a wider audience?
download
84Kb
12 pages
download
160Kb


1974
A Brief Survey of the Book of Jubilees:
 The intertestamental Jewish book of Jubilees is classed as pseudepigrapha, a retelling of Genesis and the early chapters of Exodus with an emphasis on dating the events by jubilees, weeks, and years.  Here we sketch its text, contents, character, dependence on other writings, date, theology and authorship.  A more lengthy is provided of the book's calendar, which appears to be the same as that of 1 Enoch and the Qumran community.
download
96Kb
9 pages
Paper

download
B, H, R, T
1978

The Charismatic Movement:  Testing Its Truth-Claims: 
Prophecy, healing, and tongue-speaking are briefly examined, noting the Scriptural phenomena in each case, contrasting this with the phenomena in the modern Charismatic movement.

download
68Kb
9 pages
Outline

download
B, H, R, S
1984
The Christmas Story: 
A response to a Christmas column by Edwin M. Yoder that appeared in the Washington Post in 1984, in which Yoder noted it would be nice if Luke's account of Jesus' birth were true, but moderns can't really believe superstitions about miracles.
download
40Kb
3 pages
paper

download
B, H, R. T
1988

Colossians:  Antidote to the Cults: 
A sketch of the religious background and Christological teaching of Colossians, showing how it responds to an Essene-like cult at Paul's time, and how its teachings can help us respond to a wide variety of cults today.

download
44Kb
3 pages
paper

download
B,R,T
1997
Cracking "The Bible Code"
For some years now, several Israeli mathematicians and rabbis have been investigating the idea that the Bible contains "code words" hidden in its text. Obviously, God is capable of doing something of this sort should He choose to.  The question is, do we have any good evidence that He has chosen to do so?
download
176Kb
15 pages
download
204Kb
Cracking the Bible Code
B,H,T
1996
Course Notes for Colossians
Background to the Colossians; Exegesis of the Introductory, Doctrinal, Horatory and Personal sections; Identification of the heresy in Colosse.
download
376Kb
14 pages
download
272Kb

B,O,T
2001
Creation
An encyclopedia article on “creation,” undestood as the theological doctrine as taught in the Bible.
download
44Kb
3 pages
download
88Kb

B,O,S,T
2001
Creationism
An encyclopedia article on “creationism,” understood as the various attempts by Evangelicals and Fundamentalists to related the Bible and science/nature on origins.
download
60Kb
6 pages
download
116Kb
Computer Simulations of Evolution

Computer Viruses, Artificial Life and the Origin of Life

The Cosmos and the Bible

Creation-Evolution Debate: Recent Developments

Creation, Science & the Bible
B, E, T
c1967

Credo: 
An attempt to construct an epistemology from a common sense perspective.  Encounter with the Bible and its pre-knowledge of science and its fulfilled predictions.  Authority, practical empiricism and dogmatic empiricism.  Bible as source of ethics, philosophy and life goals.

download
28Kb
2 pages
paper

download
H,O,S
1992
The Darwin Conversion Story: An Update
Since the discussions of Rusch (1975), Rusch and Klotz (1988) and Herbert (1990), new information on the Darwin conversion story has come to light.  The earliest version of the story has been located in the Watchman-Examiner, and some further biographical information on a possible candidate for Lady Hope is presented.
download
368Kb
4 pages
download
312Kb
The Darwin Conversion Story
B, R, T
?

The Deity of Jesus: 
Passages on Yahweh in the OT which ascribe similar characteristics to Him as passages on Jesus in the NT do to Jesus.

download
48Kb
4 pages
notes

download
B,E,H,
S,T
1994
Evangelicals and Crackpot Science
Because of the tension which has developed between the scientific and the evangelical communities in the past century and a half, Bible believers are often (rightly or wrongly) suspicious of the discoveries and theorizing of modern science.  This has led to a rather widespread attraction to theories viewed as crackpot by scientists and other educated people.  Some examples are discussed and strategies proposed to protect Christians from looking unnecessarily foolish before the watching world.
download
88Kb
14 pages
download
188Kb
The Da Vinci Code and the NT Canon

The Da Vinci Code and OT Messianic Prophecy

Joshua's Long Day and the NASA Computers

Scientific Problems for "Creation Science."

Scientific Problems for Scientism
B,H,O
R,S,T
1990
Evangelicals and Modern Science
What's happening in science -- and Evangelical Responses.
download
92Kb
15 pages
download
188Kb
Recent Developments in Physics
B,E,H,I,
O,R,S,T
2006
Evidence for the Christian Faith
A survey of major evidences for the truth of Christianity, drawn from God’s activity in nature (general revelation), in Scripture (special revelation) and in his people (redemption), together with some discussion of various objections commonly encountered against Christianity.
download
348Kb
68 pages
download
520Kb
Is the Bible Reliable?

Can We Really Know God?

Cosmos and Contact: Evidence of Design in the Universe.

Discovering God's Fingerprints

Evidence for the Resurrection.
E, S, T
1985

God in the Universe: 
A talk given at the National Prayer Breakfast at the Naval Air Engineering Center in Lakehurst, NJ.  Is prayer like talking on an unplugged phone?  Recent scientific discoveries point to the existence of God.  In cosmology, evidence for a universe with a beginning; and design in the fine-tuning of nature's basic forces.  In planetology, an Earth with just the right stuff!  In biochemistry, certain elements and compounds are just right to allow life.

download
32Kb
3 pages
outline

download
B,H,R,T
2000
Greco-Roman Symbolism in the Book of Revelation
A sketch of some dozen places where it appears that the Book of Revelation makes use of symbolism derived from the Greco-Roman culture of its original readers.
download
68Kb
10 pages
download
184Kb
Greco-Roman Symbolism in the Book of Revelation
B,R,T
ca. 1995
Some Comments on Healing
The major problems I see with some views on healing are not whether God can choose to heal miraculously today (He can), nor whether we should exercise faith and depend on Him to do so (we should), but rather (1) the claim that God will and must heal you if you exercise enough faith, and (2) that it is a sin of unbelief to make use of physicians and medicine as a part of healing.
download
44Kb
3 pages
download
96Kb

B,H,T
1999
Course Notes on Hebrews
Historical background, OT allusions, content and teaching of the Letter to the Hebrews.
download
256Kb
34 pages
download
388Kb
Hebrews
B, H. R
1970
A History of the Higher Criticism: 
A sketch of the history of higher critical theories of the Pentateuch up to the development of the still-dominant Graf-Wellhausen or JEDP theory.  An examination of how similar methodologies have been tested and found wanting in the study of general literature.
download
B,E,R,T
1990
I Don’t Need Religion
Why does a person think religion is not needed? A bad response and others.
download
40Kb
3 pages
download
88Kb

E, O, S, T
1984

Intimations from Order of a Mind Behind the Universe: 
A talk given at the Physics Colloquium for the University of Delaware.  How does one recognize an artifact?  How an intelligent extra-terrestrial message?  Is life an artifact or an accident?  The organization of living things.  Is the universe an artifcat or an accident?  The organization in the universe.  How do we explain these things?  Chance?  An intelligent universe?  A mind behind the universe?

download
36Kb
5 pages
outline

download
B, H, R, T
1970s

Jesus and Inerrancy: 
What was Jesus' attitude toward the Bible?  What about his statements in the Sermon on the Mount?  How did he teach the people?  How did he argue with the religious leaders?  How did he speak when he laid his life on the line?  How did he instruct his disciples after his resurrection?

download
28Kb
4 pages
outline

download
B,H,T
1995
Jewish Backgrounds to the New Testament
A survey of the Jewish literature from the intertestament period and early centuries of the Christian era, as it provides background and insight into the historical and religious circumstances surrounding the New Testament.
download
300Kb
59 pages
download
492Kb
Jewish Background to the New Testament.
B,T
2006
Jesus: Foundation of the New Testament
A survey of key passages and re¬sponse to modern criticism.
download
2.1Mb
59 pages
download
880Kb

B, H, R, T
1975
Jesus' Self-Understanding According to the So-Called Q Material:
 Taking the minimal definition of the Q material (shared material in Matthew and Luke but not in Mark), we survey how it pictures Jesus' self-understanding of his person, nature, mission, message and destiny.  We suggest that we find here a strong presentation of Jesus' messiahship, deity and humanity, along with a certain mystery about him, the same picture given in John and the Synoptics.
download
28Kb
20 pages
paper

download
B, H, T
1976
Jewish Polemic Against Christianity in the Second Century:
 Jewish, Pagan and Christian reports of Jewish polemic are located in the ancient literature.  The specific charges against Christianity are categorized as very well-attested, less well-attested, and slightly-attested.  No attempt is made here to respond to these charges.
download
224Kb
33 pages
paper

download
B,H,T
2005
Johannine Literature and General Epistles
Authorship, date, historical background, contents, and response to critical problems connected with the Gospel of John, the Johannine Letters, Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, Jude, and Revelation.  The canon of the New Testament.
download
456Kb
106 pages
download
708Kb
Gospel of John

Letter of James

Letter of Jude

Letters of John

Letters of Peter
B,E,H,T
1999
The Kingdom Parables in Matthew:
A Prophetic Sketch of Church History?

the Jesus parables of the kingdom give us a sort of overview of the church age, not in a strict straight-line chronology from beginning to end, but in the form of the typical history of the Gospel in any given society.
download
64Kb
9 pages
download
140Kb
Parables of the Kingdom
B,H,T
1991
The Gospel of Luke
Historical background, authorship, date, characteristics, and content of the Gospel of Luke.
download
240Kb
41 pages
download
712Kb
Gospel Genres

The Gospels as Literary Works
B,R,T
2006
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
C.S. Lewis’ Use  of Mooreeffoc to Gain a Hearing for the Gospel

download
48Kb
5 pages
download
116Kb
Narnia and the Watchful Dragons
B,H,T
2003
The Gospel of Matthew
Historical background, authorship, date, characteristics, and content of the Gospel of Matthew.
download
228Kb
52 pages
download
368Kb
Authorship & Date of the Synoptic Gospels

God and Reward:  Parable of the Vineyard Workers

Parables of the Kingdom

Parable of the Tenants

Unforgiving Servant

Walking on Water
B,H,T
1994
The Minor Prophets
Historical background, content and teaching of each of the twelve OT books considered in this category:  Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
download
124Kb
25 pages
download
200Kb

B, H, R, T
1981

Miracles: True and False: 
What is a miracle?  Do miracles occur?  What kind of evidence do we have for this?  Some examples are given from fulfilled prophecy.  What are true miracles over against false ones?  How do we distinguish them?

download
40Kb
3 pages
outline

download
B,H,R,
S,T
1995
The Miraculous and the Miracles of Jesus
An introduction to miracles, tracing them through miracle claims in the centuries of church history, the rejection of miracles in recent centuries, arguments against miracles and responses.  An exegesis of the miracles of Jesus.
download
224Kb
45 pages
download
364Kb
Exegeting a Miracle Account
B,R,T
2000
Mooreeffoc in Narnia ... and the Bible:
The Value of Fresh Perspective in
Gaining a Hearing for the Gospel

download
56Kb
6 pages
download
116Kb
Narnia and the Watchful Dragons
B,O,S,T
ca. 1995
Exegeting Nature and Scripture:
    Hermeneutics and Reality


download
92Kb
14 pages
download
184Kb
The Biblical View of Nature
B, H
1991
New Testament Backgrounds: 
A course syllabus last taught in 1991, after which the course was eliminated in a curriculum revision.  The first section, a history of the intertestament period, was moved to the course Synoptic Gospels.  The second section, NT geography and chronology, was apportioned partly to Synoptic Gospels, partly to Acts & Pauline Epistles, but some of the material on chronology is nowhere duplicated.  The third section, NT culture & archaeology, is also nowhere duplicated.
download
488Kb
51 pages
syllabus

download
B,H,R,T
1994
New Testament Introduction
This course will cover three broad areas relating to the New Testament as a whole, namely (1) the language of the NT; (2) the text of the NT; and (3) the canon of the NT.  We will cover the first and third of these rather briefly, but the second (because of its complexity) in more detail.
download
612Kb
111 pages
download
1.0Mb
The Canon of the New Testament
E,H,R
2001
email: Nostradamus and 9/11
Response to a friend’s questions about an alleged fulfillment of a prophecy of Nostradamus in connection with the collapse of the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York City.
download
44Kb
3 pages
download
80Kb
Fulfilled Prophecy: Nostradamus and the Bible
B,H,T
1988
Old Testament Wisdom Literature:
Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon


download
140Kb
27 pages
download
236Kb
The Book of Job:  Understanding Suffering
B, H, R. T
1971

Pacifism and Biblical Interpretation: 
In this paper we shall attempt briefly to sketch the history of pacifism in Christendom to date.  Then we shall examine three important forms of such pacifism, considering each view and the arguments used to support it.  We shall call these views Historic Pacifism, Liberal Pacifism, and Neo-Orthodox Pacifism.  Finally we shall attempt a brief critique of each view.

download
92Kb
13 pages
paper

download
B,H,T
2006
Parables of Jesus
Introduction to Parables; Exegesis of Parables
download
292Kb
57 pages
download
432Kb
Exegeting Jesus' Parables

Parables of the Kingdom


Rabbinic Parables
B,H,T
2006
Parables of the Kingdom: Some Sobering Thoughts.
An exegesis of  Matthew Chapter 13.
download
56Kb
7 pages
download
128Kb
Parables of the Kingdom
B,R,T
1986
Perspective Transformation by Means of Parables
How the parables of Jesus function to get his audience to look at various situations from a new perspective, so that they may come to see things as God sees them.
download
232Kb
17 pages
download
216Kb
Exegeting Jesus' Parables
B,E,I
R,S
1993
Presenting the Gospel to Those who Reject Scripture
Paul has left us an example of being all things to all men, that he might by all means save some.  When he spoke to those who knew Scripture, he used Scripture.  When he spoke to those who did not, he didn't use Scripture.  How can we present the Gospel in a believable way to those who do not view the Bible as God's Word?
download
100Kb
10 pages
download
512Kb
Discovering God's Fingerprints
B,R,S,T
2003
Some Problems for Theistic Evolution
Most readers of PSCF are acquainted with the terms “young-earth creation,” “old-earth creation,” and “theistic evolution.”   These reflect the fact that, among Christians in general and within the ASA in particular, there is considerable disagreement on how to relate the biblical and scientific data on origins.  Some feel that theistic evolution is not the best solution.  Here I wish to suggest why, examining some problems for theistic evolution, both scientific and theological.
download
2.4Mb
19 pages
download
264Kb
Some Problems for Theistic Evolution
B,E,H
R,T
1991
Prophecies about the Coming Messiah
Besides scattered references to the Servant throughout Isaiah 40-56, there are several extended passages in which his character and labors are detailed.  These are Isa 42:1-7; 49:1-12; 50:4-11; and 52:13-53:12.  Numerous features in these passages point to the Servant being Jesus as he is described for us historically and theologically in the New Testament.  But to counter claims that the New Testament was explicitly written to fit these predictions, we here look at one of them which happened long after New Testament times and which the New Testament writers could not have engineered.
download
72Kb
8 pages
download
136Kb
Prophecy, Probability and God
B,H,T
2000
Rabbinic Parables
Frequency; Variety; Parables as Analogies; Parables as Mini-Dramas; Caricature; Stock Metaphors; Function and Audience; Comparison with Jesus' Parables

download
48Kb
4 pages
download
124Kb
Rabbinic Parables
B,H,R,T
1999
Rescuing the Bible from Bishop Spong
John Shelby Spong, Episcopal Bishop of Newark, NJ  wrote Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, which sold enough copies to go into paperback the following year, and now has reached its 17th  printing.  Spong is concerned that the only lay people who take the Bible seriously are the fundamentalists -- with whom he lumps evangelicals and anyone else who believes in the inerrancy of Scripture.  Spong wants to convince his readers that the Bible is filled with errors, but that behind and beneath its text is a powerful message and experience which modern people need and will accept if it can be freed from the shackles of an ancient worldview.
download
324Kb
3 pages
download
468Kb
Theological Liberalism and Biblical Christianity
B,E,H,R
2001
Response to review of In Defense of Miracles
download
44Kb
5 pages
download
112Kb
Fulfilled Prophecy: Nostradamus and the Bible

Prophecy, Probability and God

Jesus: The Testimony of Prophecy and History

New Testament Prophecy


Prophecy:  Ancient & Modern
B,H,T
2002
Revelation Course Notes
Some brief material on author, date, historical background, but mainly working through the text of Revelation, using its OT allusions to help us understand its teachings.
download
256Kb
58 pages
download
448Kb
Revelation

Various Views of Revelation

Greco-Roman Symbolism in the Book of Revelation

The Millennial Question: An Attempt at a Solution
B, H, S, R, T
1970
Revelation and Research: 
A study of H. M. Kuitert, Do You Understand What You Read? and John Warwick Montgomery, Where Is History Going?  Each book is outlined, summarized, and propositions drawn from it are analyzed, concluding with a few additional propositions of my own relevant to the Bible's relation to history and science.
download
116Kb
18 pages
paper

download
B, S, T
1968
Science and the Scriptures: 
A talk given at Faith Community Church, Roslyn, PA.  What is science?  Should we expect scientific statements in the bible?  To what extent is science a scriptural activity?  The occurrence of science in the Scriptures.  Problems of interpretation.
download
20Kb
2 pages
outline

download
E,H,I
O,R,S
1995
Scientific Problems for Scientism
Five areas are examined in which scientism C the view that the cosmos is all that exists, and that it is entirely explicable by natural law C has shown itself to be problematic even from the perspective of scientific evidence.
download
100Kb
14 pages
download
208Kb
Scientific Problems for Scientism
B,E,H,O
R,S,T
1995
Scientific and Religious Aspects of the Origins Debate
The rise of evolution, reactions in Christendom, problems for “Blind Watchmaker” evolution, for theistic evolution, for young-earth creationism, the old-earth creation alternative.
download
116Kb
21 pages
download
240Kb
Doing Science in a Theistic Universe
B,O,R,
S,T
1980s
Scriptural Evidence for an Old Earth
download
64Kb
6 pages
download
132Kb
Scientific Problems for "Creation Science."
B, H, R, T
1981

Some Influences of Apologetic Motivation on Biblical Exegesis: 
A survey of the history of Biblical interpretation from the intertestament period to the present, noting some hundred examples where apologetic motivation has had an influence, for good or bad, on exegesis.  The influences are summarized at the end into a number of categories of good or bad influence.

download
248Kb
37 pages
paper

download
B, H, R, T
2006
Some Material Relevant to the Question, "Who is Jesus?": 
A listing of PowerPoints and IBRI Research Reports which have a bearing on this question.  The bibliography was prepared for a debate/dialogue held at Arcadia University, Glenside, PA, 23 Feb 2006, between Dr. Robert C. Newman and Rabbi Seth Frisch.
download
48Kb
3 pages
biblio.

download
B,H,S,T
1997
Stars and Constellations
 A sketch of stars and constellations in the ancient near east, how they are viewed in the Bible, and an attempt to identify the various references to astronomical objects in Scripture.
download
68Kb
6 pages
download
156Kb
The Star of Bethlehem:  What Was It?
B, R, T ?
Substitutes for Sanctification:
An Ironic presentation: "How to do-it-yourself without depending on the Holy Spirit."
download download
B,H,R,T
2005
The Synoptic Gospels
The Historical Jesus; The Jewish Background; Narratives; Authorship and Date of the Synoptics; Parables; the Gospels as Literary Works.
download
892Kb
160 pages
download
2.1Mb
Authorship & Date of the Synoptic Gospels
B, H, T
1970s

The Trustworthiness of Scripture: 
A talk given in Ithaca, NY.  It is hard to witness to people who reject the authority of Scripture.  This problem has gotten worse in US culture, but is not new.  The combination of scholarship and unbelief has raised a serious barrier for biblical Christianity.  It has led to evolution, various psychological theories, and direct attacks on the Bible in religious academia.  Yet these theories require the Bible to be a very unusal book indeed.  The Bible predicts this sort of opposition to Christianity.  Yet the trustworthiness of Scripture is a central Biblical doctrine.  The trustworthiness of the Bible is a revealed doctrine, not one reached by empirical investigation.  It is a living principle through which people are saved and believers strengthened and guided.  It is a powerful weapon, revealing who people are, providing insights to respond to human theorizing, fulfilled prophecy to support its own claims, and pointing to Jesus as God's solution to human futility.

download
56Kb
8 pages
paper

download
B,E,H
R,S,T
ca. 1973
Where is Heaven?
Early in the space age -- back in the sixties -- when the Russians were ahead of us, one of the Russian astronauts came back from his suborbital mission and announced to the press that he was now sure that God did not exist -- after all, he had looked around carefully and not seen Him anywhere! This incident illustrates an opinion on the location of heaven is that has been very common throughout history.  It is often being used today by unbelievers against those who believe the Bible is true.  We would like to deal with this question here, Where is heaven?

download
136Kb
16 pages
download
180Kb
Where is Heaven?

Audio
B, H, R, T
1976
Wilkerson's Vision and Deuteronomy 18: 
An attempt to test Wilkerson's Vision in March 1976, just a few years after it was published.  Several prophecies are surveyed which are to be fulfilled "in the next decade" before zeroing in on one referring to the next few years (from April 1973).  With the data then in hand, it looked like this particular prediction had be disfulfilled.  In 2008, it is clear that the next decade prophecies bombed.
download
248Kb
9 pages
paper

download
B,H,T
1981
Unfulfilled Prophecy: How Near Is The End?
download
164Kb
27 pages
download
324Kb
How Near is the End?






Updated and Revised December,  2014