It is commonly known that Erasmus did not include a large section of 1 John 5:7 in the 1st and 2nd Editions of his Greek New Testament. This is the so called Comma Johanneum, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:...
Objections to Confessional Bibliology – 8
by Chris.Thomas | March 1, 2025 | Objections to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
The Role of the Church in Canon and Text:Reconciling Historical Diversity with a Singular “Ecclesiastical Text” 1. Introduction In confessional bibliology, one frequently hears appeals to “the Church’s recognition” of a particular text-form—often the Textus Receptus...
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Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 1 Part 8
by Chris.Thomas | February 24, 2025 | WCF Ch1 Series | 0 Comments
Article 8: Why the Apocrypha Is Not Scripture (WCF 1.3) Within Protestantism, the most evident departure from Roman Catholic teaching on the canon revolves around the status of the so-called “Apocrypha”—a set of texts included in the Vulgate and recognized as...
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 1 Part 7
by Chris.Thomas | February 17, 2025 | WCF Ch1 Series | 0 Comments
Article 7: The New Testament Canon: Apostles and Evangelists Having surveyed the Old Testament canon (Article 6), we turn now to the New Testament canon—a set of twenty-seven books that completes Scripture’s testimony regarding the person and work of Jesus Christ and...
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 1 Part 6
by Chris.Thomas | February 10, 2025 | WCF Ch1 Series | 0 Comments
Article 6: The Old Testament Canon: Law, Prophets, and Writings Building on the question of canonicity explored in Article 5, we now turn specifically to the Old Testament canon—its threefold division into Law, Prophets, and Writings, its historical recognition among...
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 1 Part 5
by Chris.Thomas | February 3, 2025 | WCF Ch1 Series | 0 Comments
Article 5: What Makes a Book “Canonical”? (WCF 1.2) Having examined the tension between tradition and Scripture (Article 4), we now turn to a closely related issue: how the Reformed tradition, and particularly the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF 1.2), defines and...
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 1 Part 4
by Chris.Thomas | January 27, 2025 | WCF Ch1 Series | 0 Comments
Article 4: Views of Tradition vs. Written Revelation in Church History Article 4 turns to a core contention in Reformation-era polemics and one of the most enduring debates in Christian theology: the relative place of tradition alongside the written Word of God. The...
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 1 Part 3
by Chris.Thomas | January 20, 2025 | WCF Ch1 Series | 0 Comments
Article 3: “Sundry Times and Divers Manners”: How God Revealed Himself (WCF 1.1) From the outset, the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) recognizes that the God of Scripture has not always communicated His redemptive purposes in the same way. Rather, He has...
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 1 Part 2
by Chris.Thomas | January 13, 2025 | WCF Ch1 Series | 0 Comments
Article 2: The Necessity of Scripture: Why God Spoke in Writing (WCF 1.1) The second article in this series focuses on the opening paragraph of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF 1.1), which unequivocally affirms the necessity of Holy Scripture. By “necessity,”...
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 1 Part 1
by Chris.Thomas | January 6, 2025 | WCF Ch1 Series | 0 Comments
Article I: Introducing Chapter 1 of the Westminster Confession of Faith The opening chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF), entitled “Of the Holy Scripture,” is foundational not only to the Confession’s overall theological system but to the entire...
Doctrine of Inspiration Part 8
by Chris.Thomas | February 24, 2025 | Doctrine of Inspiration Series | 0 Comments
Article 8: The Old Testament—Law, Prophets, Writings, and Inspiration The Old Testament stands as a large, complex tapestry of narratives, poetry, legal codes, genealogies, prophecies, and wisdom literature—written by numerous authors across a span of roughly a...
Doctrine of Inspiration Part 7
by Chris.Thomas | February 17, 2025 | Doctrine of Inspiration Series | 0 Comments
Article 7: Unity and Diversity—Many Authors, One Divine Voice When people first encounter the Bible, they sometimes express surprise at how profoundly varied its contents are. The Psalms, stirring us with poetic hymns of lament or praise, hardly sound like the...
Doctrine of Inspiration Part 6
by Chris.Thomas | February 10, 2025 | Doctrine of Inspiration Series | 0 Comments
Article 6: Getting Comfortable With Terms—Revelation, Inspiration, Illumination When people discuss the Bible as “the Word of God,” they often invoke three theological terms—revelation, inspiration, and illumination—that appear intertwined yet carry distinct nuances....
Doctrine of Inspiration Part 5
by Chris.Thomas | February 3, 2025 | Doctrine of Inspiration Series | 0 Comments
Article 5: The Bible as “Living Oracles” One of the most stirring claims made about Scripture is that it constitutes the very “oracles” of God—living, active declarations that transcend time and speak directly into human experience. In the early Church, New Testament...
Doctrine of Inspiration Part 4
by Chris.Thomas | January 27, 2025 | Doctrine of Inspiration Series | 0 Comments
Article 4: Luther, Calvin, and the Reformers on God’s Word The 16th-century Reformation stands as a pivotal moment in Christian history, reshaping not merely church structures and sacraments but also the very understanding of Scripture’s authority. Suddenly, the...
Doctrine of Inspiration Part 3
by Chris.Thomas | January 20, 2025 | Doctrine of Inspiration Series | 0 Comments
Article 3: Scripture Through the Ages—Medieval to Reformation Throughout history, the Christian Church has consistently regarded the Bible as far more than a mere repository of religious ideas. From the early centuries to modern times, believers have spoken of...
Doctrine of Inspiration Part 2
by Chris.Thomas | January 13, 2025 | Doctrine of Inspiration Series | 0 Comments
Article 2: Scripture as ‘Holy Letters’—Getting to Know Theopneustia When the apostle Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, wrote the phrase “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” he likely had no idea how pivotal that expression—“God-breathed”—would become...
Doctrine of Inspiration Part 1
by Chris.Thomas | January 6, 2025 | Doctrine of Inspiration Series | 0 Comments
The Grand Story of Scripture: Why Inspiration Matters When we open the pages of the Bible, we are immediately confronted with a sweeping narrative that spans from the dawn of creation to the consummation of all things. Within its texts, we discover epic accounts of...
Providential Preservation Series Part 8
by Chris.Thomas | February 25, 2025 | Providential Preservation Series | 0 Comments
Article 8: Reformation-Era Confessions and the Pure Text – Comparing Confessional Statements Introduction The Protestant Reformation was a watershed moment that radically reshaped Christian theology, worship, and church governance. Yet behind its visible...
Providential Preservation Series Part 7
by Chris.Thomas | February 18, 2025 | Providential Preservation Series | 0 Comments
Article 7: Sola Scriptura and the Necessity of a Preserved Bible – How Preservation Undergirds Protestant Epistemology Introduction Among the defining cries of the Protestant Reformation, Sola Scriptura—“Scripture alone”—stands out as both the hinge and heartbeat of...
Providential Preservation Series Part 6
by Chris.Thomas | February 11, 2025 | Providential Preservation Series | 0 Comments
Article 6: Historical Testimony of the Church on Preservation – From Early Church Fathers to the Reformation Introduction The doctrine of providential preservation—that God has guarded the Scriptures from catastrophic loss or corruption—did not emerge in a historical...
Providential Preservation Series Part 5
by Chris.Thomas | February 4, 2025 | Providential Preservation Series | 0 Comments
Article 5: The Westminster Confession and Preservation – Analyzing WCF 1:8 Introduction Among the many articles of the Westminster Confession of Faith, few have generated as much ongoing conversation as Chapter 1, Section 8, which declares that the Scriptures, “being...
Providential Preservation Series Part 4
by Chris.Thomas | January 28, 2025 | Providential Preservation Series | 0 Comments
Article 4: The Reformers and the Preservation of Scripture – Luther, Calvin, and the Doctrine of Scripture Introduction Few movements in Christian history changed the course of Western thought more profoundly than the Protestant Reformation. In the early 16th century,...
Providential Preservation Series Part 3
by Chris.Thomas | January 21, 2025 | Providential Preservation Series | 0 Comments
Article 3: The Role of Providence in Scripture – How God’s Providence Ensures Textual Purity Introduction Within Christian theology, few concepts are as essential—and yet often misunderstood—as providence. Traditionally, providence denotes God’s continuous action of...
Providential Preservation Series Part 2
by Chris.Thomas | January 14, 2025 | Providential Preservation Series | 0 Comments
Article 2: Biblical Foundations for Preservation – Key Scriptures on God’s Promise to Preserve His Word Introduction Few doctrines in Christian theology hinge so obviously upon Scripture’s own statements as the belief that God preserves His written Word. From the...
Providential Preservation Series Part 1
by Chris.Thomas | January 7, 2025 | Providential Preservation Series | 0 Comments
Article 1: Introduction to Providential Preservation – Defining the Doctrine and Its Significance Introduction For centuries, Christians have grappled with one enduring question: How can we be sure the Scriptures have come down to us, across countless generations and...
Doctrine of the Canon Part 8
by Chris.Thomas | February 25, 2025 | Doctrine of the Canon Series | 0 Comments
Defining ‘Inspiration’ and Its Role in Canon FormationArticle 8 (Series 1) Introduction In Christian theology, few concepts are as central or as contested as inspiration. From the earliest Church Fathers to modern Reformed confessions, believers have insisted that...
Doctrine of the Canon Part 7
by Chris.Thomas | February 18, 2025 | Doctrine of the Canon Series | 0 Comments
The Essential Attributes of Canonicity—Divine Authority and InfallibilityArticle 7 (Series 1) Introduction What sets the canonical books of Scripture apart from all other writings? In Christian theology, two attributes often rise to the forefront: divine authority and...
Doctrine of the Canon Part 6
by Chris.Thomas | February 11, 2025 | Doctrine of the Canon Series | 0 Comments
Faith as the Inward Principle of Canon RecognitionArticle 6 (Series 1) Introduction Christian theology affirms that the canon of Scripture—the collection of God-breathed writings recognized by the Church as authoritative—cannot be grasped purely through historical,...
Doctrine of the Canon Part 5
by Chris.Thomas | February 4, 2025 | Doctrine of the Canon Series | 0 Comments
Canon vs. Tradition—A Reformation PerspectiveArticle 5 (Series 1) Introduction From the earliest centuries of Christian history, there has been a perennial tension between Scripture and Tradition. At stake is the question of final authority in matters of faith and...
Doctrine of the Canon Part 4
by Chris.Thomas | January 28, 2025 | Doctrine of the Canon Series | 0 Comments
The Apostles and the New Testament Canon: Inspired Recognition, Not Ecclesiastical FiatArticle 4 (Series 1) Introduction Few questions in early Christian history have generated as much attention as the formation of the New Testament (NT) canon: Why were certain...
Doctrine of the Canon Part 3
by Chris.Thomas | January 21, 2025 | Doctrine of the Canon Series | 0 Comments
Christ’s Testimony to the Old Testament Canon: A Model for the ChurchArticle 3 (Series 1) Introduction From the earliest centuries of Christianity, believers have found comfort and confidence in the fact that Christ Himself treated the Old Testament (OT) as sacred...
Doctrine of the Canon Part 2
by Chris.Thomas | January 14, 2025 | Doctrine of the Canon Series | 0 Comments
Scripture as Divine Self-Revelation—Why Canon MattersArticle 2 (Series 1) Introduction The assertion that Scripture is divine self-revelation lies at the heart of historic Christian theology. It means that the texts we call “canonical” are not merely ancient documents...
Doctrine of the Canon Part 1
by Chris.Thomas | January 7, 2025 | Doctrine of the Canon Series | 0 Comments
What Is the Canon? Defining ‘Canon’ in Biblical and Historical ContextArticle 1 (Series 1) Introduction The term “canon,” in ecclesiastical contexts, describes far more than a mere collection of religious texts. It stands, historically, for a body of writings received...
The Received Text: A Field Guide – Review
by Chris.Thomas | February 26, 2025 | Book Review | 0 Comments
Book Review of The Received Text: A Field Guide By Taylor DeSoto Kept Pure Press, 2024 (Exact page count not listed) 1. Bibliographic Information •Title: The Received Text: A Field Guide •Author: Taylor DeSoto •Publisher: Kept Pure Press (2024) •Length: Not explicitly...
Why I Preach from the Received Text – Review
by Chris.Thomas | February 19, 2025 | Book Review | 0 Comments
1. Bibliographic Information Title: Why I Preach from the Received Text: An Anthology of Essays by Reformed MinistersEditors: Jeffrey T. Riddle & Christian M. McShaffreyPublisher (Year): The Greater Heritage (2022)Length: Twenty-five essays (plus editorial...
Has the Bible Been Kept Pure – Review
by Chris.Thomas | February 12, 2025 | Book Review | 0 Comments
Bibliographic InformationTitle: Has the Bible been kept pure? The Westminster Confession of Faith and the providential preservation of ScriptureAuthor: T. Garnet Howard MilnePublisher (Year): Copyright © Garnet Howard Milne 2017 (self-published or independently...
The Canon of the Holy Scriptures from the Double Point of View of Science and Faith – Review
by Chris.Thomas | February 5, 2025 | Book Review | 0 Comments
1. Bibliographic Information Title: The Canon of the Holy Scriptures from the Double Point of View of Science and FaithAuthor: Louis Gaussen (D.D., Geneva)Publisher (Year): James Nisbet and Co., 21 Berners Street, London, 1862 (Third Edition)Length: Over 700 pages in...
Theopneustia – Review
by Chris.Thomas | January 29, 2025 | Book Review | 0 Comments
1. Bibliographic Information Title: Theopneustia: The Bible, Its Divine Origin and InspirationAuthor: Louis Gaussen (Professor of Systematic Theology, Oratoire, Geneva)Publisher (Year): George S. Blanchard (Cincinnati, 1859) (New and Revised Edition)Length:...
Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics, Vol. 2 (Holy Scripture) Review
by Chris.Thomas | January 22, 2025 | Book Review | 0 Comments
1. Bibliographic Information Title: Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 2: Holy Scripture—The Cognitive Foundation of Theology (Second Edition)Author: Richard A. MullerPublisher (Year): Baker Academic (2003; second printing 2006)Length: 580+ pages (divided...
John Owen On Holy Scriptures – A Review
by Chris.Thomas | January 15, 2025 | Book Review | 0 Comments
1. Bibliographic Information Title: The Works of John Owen, Volume 16Author: John Owen (1616–1683)Publisher/Edition: Various printings exist; most modern reproductions follow the Banner of Truth Trust’s 16-volume set (originally edited by William H. Goold and...
Presuppositional Analysis of The King James Only Controversy by James R. White
by Chris.Thomas | January 13, 2025 | Authorized Version, Book Review | 0 Comments
Presuppositional Analysis of The King James Only Controversy by James R. White Purpose and Scope of Analysis: This presuppositional analysis critically evaluates The King James Only Controversy by James R. White, focusing on the author’s underlying beliefs,...
Book Review: The King James Only Controversy by James R. White
by Chris.Thomas | January 13, 2025 | Authority of Scripture, Biblical Authority, Book Review | 0 Comments
1. Introduction: Title: The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust Modern Translations? Author: James R. White Topic: An alleged critique of the King James Only (KJVO) movement, aimed at questioning the validity of limiting one’s scriptural authority to the King...
Review of A Disputation on Holy Scripture
by Chris.Thomas | January 8, 2025 | Book Review | 0 Comments
Book Review ofA Disputation on Holy ScriptureBy William Whitaker (1588) 1. Bibliographic Information Title: A Disputation on Holy Scripture: Against the Papists, Especially Bellarmine and Stapleton Author: William Whitaker Original Publication Date: 1588 (Several...
The Comma Johanneum Part 8
by Chris.Thomas | February 28, 2025 | The Comma Johanneum Series | 0 Comments
Article 8: The Waldensians and the Transmission of the Comma(Drawing on insights from “In Defense of the Authenticity of 1 John 5:7” by C. H. Pappas ThM and “A History of the Debate over 1 John 5:7-8” by Michael Maynard M.L.S.) Among the most intriguing episodes in...
The Comma Johanneum Part 7
by Chris.Thomas | February 21, 2025 | The Comma Johanneum Series | 0 Comments
Article 7: The Councils and Ecclesiastical Usage(Drawing on insights from “In Defense of the Authenticity of 1 John 5:7” by C. H. Pappas ThM and “A History of the Debate over 1 John 5:7-8” by Michael Maynard M.L.S.) One of the most telling indicators of how a biblical...
The Comma Johanneum Part 6
by Chris.Thomas | February 14, 2025 | The Comma Johanneum Series | 0 Comments
Article 6: Cassiodorus, Fulgentius, and the Witness of the Latin Fathers(Drawing on insights from “In Defense of the Authenticity of 1 John 5:7” by C. H. Pappas ThM and “A History of the Debate over 1 John 5:7-8” by Michael Maynard M.L.S.) For centuries, one of the...
The Comma Johanneum Part 5
by Chris.Thomas | February 7, 2025 | The Comma Johanneum Series | 0 Comments
Article 5: Jerome’s Vulgate and the Prologue to the Catholic Epistles(Drawing on insights from “In Defense of the Authenticity of 1 John 5:7” by C. H. Pappas ThM and “A History of the Debate over 1 John 5:7-8” by Michael Maynard M.L.S.) For anyone delving into the...
The Comma Johanneum Part 4
by Chris.Thomas | January 31, 2025 | The Comma Johanneum Series | 0 Comments
Article 4: The Old Latin Manuscripts and the Early Versions(Drawing on insights from “In Defense of the Authenticity of 1 John 5:7” by C. H. Pappas ThM and “A History of the Debate over 1 John 5:7-8” by Michael Maynard M.L.S.) The debate over the authenticity of 1...
The Comma Johanneum Part 3
by Chris.Thomas | January 24, 2025 | The Comma Johanneum Series | 0 Comments
Article 3: Priscillian and the Latin Evidence(Drawing on insights from “In Defense of the Authenticity of 1 John 5:7” by C. H. Pappas ThM and “A History of the Debate over 1 John 5:7-8” by Michael Maynard M.L.S.) When discussing the history and transmission of 1 John...
The Comma Johanneum Part 2
by Chris.Thomas | January 17, 2025 | The Comma Johanneum Series | 0 Comments
Article 2: Early Church Witnesses: Tertullian and Cyprian(Drawing on insights from “In Defense of the Authenticity of 1 John 5:7” by C. H. Pappas ThM and “A History of the Debate over 1 John 5:7-8” by Michael Maynard M.L.S.) When one studies the origin and...
The Comma Johanneum Part 1
by Chris.Thomas | January 10, 2025 | The Comma Johanneum Series | 0 Comments
Article 1: Introduction: Why Defend 1 John 5:7?(Drawing on insights from “In Defense of the Authenticity of 1 John 5:7” by C. H. Pappas ThM and “A History of the Debate over 1 John 5:7-8” by Michael Maynard M.L.S.) The passage commonly referred to as the “Comma...
Objections to Confessional Bibliology – 8
by Chris.Thomas | March 1, 2025 | Objections to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
The Role of the Church in Canon and Text:Reconciling Historical Diversity with a Singular “Ecclesiastical Text” 1. Introduction In confessional bibliology, one frequently hears appeals to “the Church’s recognition” of a particular text-form—often the Textus Receptus...
Objections to Confessional Bibliology – 7
by Chris.Thomas | February 21, 2025 | Objections to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
Modern Translations vs. TR-Based Translations:How Confessional Bibliology Views Their Reliability 1. Introduction In the crowded world of English Bible translations, readers often encounter a variety of approaches and textual bases. On the one side are translations...
Objections to Confessional Bibliology – 6
by Chris.Thomas | February 14, 2025 | Objections to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
Archetype vs. Providential Preservation:Does Older Evidence Undermine a Single Confessional Textual Line? 1. Introduction A central tenet of confessional bibliology is the belief that God has providentially preserved the text of Scripture in a particular form—most...
Objections to Confessional Bibliology – 5
by Chris.Thomas | February 7, 2025 | Objections to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
Confessional Authority vs. Scriptural Authority:Are We Elevating Tradition over Revelation? 1. Introduction Throughout church history, Christians have wrestled with the question of how human traditions—creeds, confessions, or denominational standards—relate to...
Objections to Confessional Bibliology – 4
by Chris.Thomas | January 31, 2025 | Objections to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
Which Textus Receptus Edition Is the “Authentic” One?The Final Form in the King James Version and Scrivener’s Edition 1. Introduction For many who adhere to confessional bibliology, the Textus Receptus (often abbreviated “TR”) represents the preserved Greek New...
Objections to Confessional Bibliology – 3
by Chris.Thomas | January 24, 2025 | Objections to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
“Scientific” Textual Criticism vs. Confessional Bibliology:Why Would We Subordinate Modern Methods to Historic Confessions? 1. Introduction For many Christians, the Bible is not just another ancient text. It is God’s inspired Word, carrying ultimate authority for...
Objections to Confessional Bibliology – 2
by Chris.Thomas | January 17, 2025 | Objections to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
Manuscript Variations in the Ecclesiastical Text:How Do We Know Which Readings Are Correct? 1. Introduction When we talk about Bible manuscripts—hand-copied versions of biblical books—we often hear about the differences between so-called text types or families: the...
Objections to Confessional Bibliology – 1
by Chris.Thomas | January 10, 2025 | Objections to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
Confessional Bibliology and the Reformation Text: Exploring the Question of Older Manuscripts Introduction When you pick up a modern Bible in English—whether it’s the King James Version (KJV), the New International Version (NIV), the English Standard Version (ESV), or...
Presuppositional Analysis – The Received Text: A Field Guide
by Chris.Thomas | February 26, 2025 | Presuppositional Book Analysis | 0 Comments
1. Introduction to the Presuppositional Method A presuppositional analysis looks beneath an author’s explicit claims to evaluate the foundational beliefs or assumptions that guide his thinking. It asks: “Where does the author ground his epistemology (i.e., theory of...
Presuppositional Analysis – Why I Preach from the Received Text
by Chris.Thomas | February 19, 2025 | Presuppositional Book Analysis | 0 Comments
Presuppositional Analysis ofWhy I Preach from the Received Text: An Anthology of Essays by Reformed Ministers 1. Introduction to the Presuppositional Method God’s Self-Attesting RevelationThis anthology, Why I Preach from the Received Text, is a collective testimony...
Presuppositional Analysis – Has the Bible Been Kept Pure
by Chris.Thomas | February 12, 2025 | Presuppositional Book Analysis | 0 Comments
Presuppositional Analysis of T. Garnet Howard Milne’sHas the Bible Been Kept Pure? The Westminster Confession of Faith and the Providential Preservation of Scripture 1. Introduction to the Presuppositional Method God’s Self-Attesting RevelationT. Garnet Howard Milne’s...
Presuppositional Analysis – The Canon of the Holy Scriptures
by Chris.Thomas | February 5, 2025 | Presuppositional Book Analysis | 0 Comments
1. Introduction to the Presuppositional Method 1.1 God’s Self-Attesting Revelation In a presuppositional framework, the triune God reveals Himself authoritatively in Scripture such that the Bible bears self-authenticating marks. This principle emerges throughout...
Presuppositional Analysis – Theopneustia
by Chris.Thomas | January 29, 2025 | Presuppositional Book Analysis | 0 Comments
Presuppositional Analysis ofTheopneustia; or, The Divine Origin and Inspiration of the Holy Scripturesby Louis Gaussen 1. Introduction to the Presuppositional Method In Theopneustia, Louis Gaussen sets out a strong, unambiguous thesis: The Bible, in its entirety, is...
Presuppositional Analysis – Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics, Vol. 2 (Holy Scripture)
by Chris.Thomas | January 22, 2025 | Presuppositional Book Analysis | 0 Comments
Presuppositional Analysis ofPost-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 2: Holy Scripture—The Cognitive Foundation of Theologyby Richard A. Muller 1. Introduction to the Presuppositional Method A presuppositional reading of Richard A. Muller’s Holy Scripture: The...
Presuppositional Analysis of John Owen On Holy Scriptures
by Chris.Thomas | January 15, 2025 | Presuppositional Book Analysis | 0 Comments
1. Introduction to the Presuppositional Method Biblical presuppositional apologetics begins with the recognition that the triune God, who created and sustains all things, speaks authoritatively in His Word. In other words, God’s self-attesting revelation—recorded in...
A Disputation on Holy Scripture Presuppositional Analysis
by Chris.Thomas | January 8, 2025 | Presuppositional Book Analysis | 0 Comments
1. Introduction to the Presuppositional Method Within presuppositional apologetics, the hallmark is that all reasoning—historical, textual, or theological—presupposes either the triune God’s revelation or a competing ultimate authority. A text that accords well with...
Presuppositional Analysis of Books: An Introduction
by Chris.Thomas | November 13, 2024 | Presuppositional Book Analysis, Start Here | 0 Comments
In the realm of textual criticism and biblical theology, presuppositions—assumptions that authors bring to their work—play a crucial role in shaping interpretations, conclusions, and even methodologies. This article introduces our Presuppositional Analysis of Books...
Modern Textual Criticism in the Light of Scripture – Part 8
by Chris.Thomas | February 27, 2025 | Presuppositional Analysis of Textual Criticism | 0 Comments
Presuppositions at War: Why Simon’s Starting Point Rejects Confessional Bibliology Introduction Every scholar—whether Catholic, Protestant, or secular—approaches Scripture with certain foundational assumptions. In the late seventeenth century, Richard Simon, a...
Modern Textual Criticism in the Light of Scripture – Part 7
by Chris.Thomas | February 20, 2025 | Presuppositional Analysis of Textual Criticism | 0 Comments
The Roots of Modern Textual Criticism: Tracing the Influence of Simon’s Historical Methods Introduction Textual criticism, the discipline that studies the history and transmission of ancient manuscripts to discern their original form, has become a mainstay of biblical...
Modern Textual Criticism in the Light of Scripture – Part 6
by Chris.Thomas | February 13, 2025 | Presuppositional Analysis of Textual Criticism | 0 Comments
Undermining Certainty: Analyzing Simon’s Critique of “Protestant” Scripture Preservation Introduction One of the hallmark convictions of the Protestant Reformation has been that the Scriptures, as God’s inspired Word, are divinely preserved through history, remaining...
Modern Textual Criticism in the Light of Scripture – Part 5
by Chris.Thomas | February 6, 2025 | Presuppositional Analysis of Textual Criticism | 0 Comments
“The True Church” in Conflict: Simon’s Catholic Polemics and Their Impact on Biblical Authority Introduction From the earliest days of the Protestant Reformation, the notion of “the true church” was hotly contested. Protestants declared that, in returning to Scripture...
Modern Textual Criticism in the Light of Scripture – Part 4
by Chris.Thomas | January 30, 2025 | Presuppositional Analysis of Textual Criticism | 0 Comments
Tradition vs. Revelation: Assessing Simon’s Preference for Ecclesiastical Authority over Scripture Introduction Richard Simon’s Critical History of the Text of the New Testament is most often remembered for its pioneering contributions to textual criticism. Yet,...
Modern Textual Criticism in the Light of Scripture – Part 3
by Chris.Thomas | January 23, 2025 | Presuppositional Analysis of Textual Criticism | 0 Comments
Questioning the “Original Text”: A Presuppositional Critique of Richard Simon’s Manuscript Analyses Introduction Few debates in church history have been as pivotal as those concerning the purity and preservation of the New Testament text. For Protestant Reformers, the...
Modern Textual Criticism in the Light of Scripture – Part 2
by Chris.Thomas | January 16, 2025 | Presuppositional Analysis of Textual Criticism | 0 Comments
The Rise of Enlightenment Rationalism: How Simon’s Methods Foreshadow Modern Skepticism Introduction Richard Simon (1638–1712) is often described as “the father of modern textual criticism.” More than a century before Enlightenment thinkers openly questioned the...
Modern Textual Criticism in the Light of Scripture – Part 1
by Chris.Thomas | January 9, 2025 | Presuppositional Analysis of Textual Criticism | 0 Comments
Unmasking the Counter-Reformation Agenda: Richard Simon’s Assault on Sola Scriptura Introduction and Historical Context In the late seventeenth century, a French Oratorian priest named Richard Simon (1638–1712) laid the groundwork for what we now call modern textual...
Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives Part 8
by Chris.Thomas | February 20, 2025 | Introduction to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
Conclusion and Future DirectionsSeries Title: “Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives” Introduction Over the course of this eight-part series, we have explored Confessional Bibliology from its historical inception in...
Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives Part 7
by Chris.Thomas | February 13, 2025 | Introduction to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
Engagement with the Wider Evangelical and Academic CommunitiesSeries Title: “Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives” Introduction In our previous articles, we explored Confessional Bibliology—its historical roots...
Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives Part 6
by Chris.Thomas | February 6, 2025 | Introduction to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
Practical Implications for the Church and TheologySeries Title: “Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives” Introduction Having addressed common misconceptions in Article 5—distinguishing Confessional Bibliology from...
Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives Part 5
by Chris.Thomas | January 30, 2025 | Introduction to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
Common Misconceptions and ControversiesSeries Title: “Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives” Introduction In the preceding articles, we have surveyed the foundations and theology of Confessional Bibliology—an...
Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives Part 4
by Chris.Thomas | January 23, 2025 | Introduction to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
The Textual Tradition: Receptus, Critical Text, and the Confessional ApproachSeries Title: “Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives” Introduction In our previous articles, we established the historical background of...
Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives Part 3
by Chris.Thomas | January 16, 2025 | Introduction to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
Article 3The Theological Architecture of Confessional BibliologySeries Title: “Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives” Introduction In the previous articles, we established the historical and confessional basis for...
Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives Part 2
by Chris.Thomas | January 9, 2025 | Introduction to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
Article 2Historical and Confessional FoundationsSeries Title: “Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives” Introduction In our first article, we introduced Confessional Bibliology as the robustly Reformed stance that God...
Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives Part 1
by Chris.Thomas | January 2, 2025 | Introduction to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
Article 1: Introduction to Confessional BibliologySeries Title: “Understanding Confessional Bibliology: Historical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives” I. Setting the Stage 1. Defining “Confessional Bibliology.”At its core, Confessional Bibliology is the position...
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Latest News on Confessional Bibliology
Objections to Confessional Bibliology – 8
by Chris.Thomas | March 1, 2025 | Objections to Confessional Bibliology | 0 Comments
The Role of the Church in Canon and Text:Reconciling Historical Diversity with a Singular “Ecclesiastical Text” 1. Introduction In confessional bibliology, one frequently hears appeals to “the Church’s recognition” of a particular text-form—often the Textus Receptus...
The Hypocrisy and Ecclesiastical Politicking of the Men Behind ConfessionalBibliology.org
by Chris.Thomas | February 28, 2025 | Bad Actors | 0 Comments
A Critical Examination of Their Inconsistencies, Doctrinal Priorities, and Institutional Motivations For eight years, Confessional Bibliology stood as a public defense of the Textus Receptus and the Masoretic Hebrew text, providing arguments against the corruption of...
The Comma Johanneum Part 8
by Chris.Thomas | February 28, 2025 | The Comma Johanneum Series | 0 Comments
Article 8: The Waldensians and the Transmission of the Comma(Drawing on insights from “In Defense of the Authenticity of 1 John 5:7” by C. H. Pappas ThM and “A History of the Debate over 1 John 5:7-8” by Michael Maynard M.L.S.) Among the most intriguing episodes in...
Modern Textual Criticism in the Light of Scripture – Part 8
by Chris.Thomas | February 27, 2025 | Presuppositional Analysis of Textual Criticism | 0 Comments
Presuppositions at War: Why Simon’s Starting Point Rejects Confessional Bibliology Introduction Every scholar—whether Catholic, Protestant, or secular—approaches Scripture with certain foundational assumptions. In the late seventeenth century, Richard Simon, a...
Presuppositional Analysis – The Received Text: A Field Guide
by Chris.Thomas | February 26, 2025 | Presuppositional Book Analysis | 0 Comments
1. Introduction to the Presuppositional Method A presuppositional analysis looks beneath an author’s explicit claims to evaluate the foundational beliefs or assumptions that guide his thinking. It asks: “Where does the author ground his epistemology (i.e., theory of...
The Received Text: A Field Guide – Review
by Chris.Thomas | February 26, 2025 | Book Review | 0 Comments
Book Review of The Received Text: A Field Guide By Taylor DeSoto Kept Pure Press, 2024 (Exact page count not listed) 1. Bibliographic Information •Title: The Received Text: A Field Guide •Author: Taylor DeSoto •Publisher: Kept Pure Press (2024) •Length: Not explicitly...
Doctrine of the Canon Part 8
by Chris.Thomas | February 25, 2025 | Doctrine of the Canon Series | 0 Comments
Defining ‘Inspiration’ and Its Role in Canon FormationArticle 8 (Series 1) Introduction In Christian theology, few concepts are as central or as contested as inspiration. From the earliest Church Fathers to modern Reformed confessions, believers have insisted that...
Providential Preservation Series Part 8
by Chris.Thomas | February 25, 2025 | Providential Preservation Series | 0 Comments
Article 8: Reformation-Era Confessions and the Pure Text – Comparing Confessional Statements Introduction The Protestant Reformation was a watershed moment that radically reshaped Christian theology, worship, and church governance. Yet behind its visible...
Doctrine of Inspiration Part 8
by Chris.Thomas | February 24, 2025 | Doctrine of Inspiration Series | 0 Comments
Article 8: The Old Testament—Law, Prophets, Writings, and Inspiration The Old Testament stands as a large, complex tapestry of narratives, poetry, legal codes, genealogies, prophecies, and wisdom literature—written by numerous authors across a span of roughly a...
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 1 Part 8
by Chris.Thomas | February 24, 2025 | WCF Ch1 Series | 0 Comments
Article 8: Why the Apocrypha Is Not Scripture (WCF 1.3) Within Protestantism, the most evident departure from Roman Catholic teaching on the canon revolves around the status of the so-called “Apocrypha”—a set of texts included in the Vulgate and recognized as...
Erasmian Myths: Codex Vaticanus
by Chris Thomas
Erasmus & Codex Vaticanus [Part 1: Erasmus & the Comma Johanneum] In part 2 of our series, The Erasmian Myths, we will deal with the oft repeated, but never proven claim, that Erasmus didn’t have access to Codex Vaticanus, but if he did he would have used...
Erasmian Myths: The Comma Wager
by Chris Thomas
Erasmian Myths This year marks the 500th anniversary of the publication of Erasmus Greek New Testament and his Latin translation. And next week at Houston Baptist University there will be a conference on Erasmus and his work. In light of this, I present the...
Therefore I like that of Bellarmine, who stands upon it, that of such like things a certainty may be had from the testimonies of men, in some sort comparable to natural evidence it self, for that it leaves no scruple or dubitation in our minds: But what of all this? Why it shewes that the general consent of (in a manner) all Hebricians and Grecians in the Christian world, consenting that our Originals are by the good hand of God preserved uncorrupt, and pure, is a sufficient persuasion, to breed a moral certainty answerable to natural evidence, excluding all reasonable dubitation to the contrary.
Richard Capel
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