Top 12 Biblical-Theological Posts in 2015

The end of the year provides us two opportunities: to remember the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to reflect upon what we've learned this year.

Here are 12 of this blog's most read and talked-about posts from 2015.

These posts represent a cross-section of cutting-edge research and deep reflection on the Person and theology of the Christian faith. They also showcase a number of existing and emerging voices breathing new life into biblical and theological studies. We trust this review of the top biblical-theological articles in 2015 will inform, encourage, and enliven your faith and studies in the coming year.

#1) Did Jesus Lie? (John 7:8) – Mondays with Mounce 275

Jesus told his brothers he wasn't going to Jerusalem for the festival...then he went. Did he lie? Bill Mounce applies a key rule of textual criticism to the question.

#2) A Discerning Christian’s Guide to Apple Watch

The digital revolution (including Apple Watch) is transforming our faith. In this post, Tim Challies presents three critical areas for considering technology: it’s mandate; it’s morality; and it’s connection to our heart.

#3) [Common Places] New Voices for Theology: Wesley Hill’s Paul and the Trinity

While many biblical scholars believe the road from Pauline theology to trinitarian doctrine is either non-existent or barricaded, Wesley Hill insists that Paul and the Trinity are connected. Fred Sanders explores the hypothesis.

#4) Meet Alvin Plantinga – An Excerpt from Awakening the Evangelical Mind

Meet one of the foremost philosophers of our age who also happens to be an evangelical Christian: Alvin Plantinga. In Awakening the Evangelical Mind, Owen Strachen introduces us to this prominent intellectual spokesperson for theism, as well as the forefathers of the movement of which Plantinga now champions.

#5) The Almost Extinct and Very Rare Pastoral Role: Pastor Theologian — An Excerpt from The Pastor Theologian

When you think of ‘pastor,’ you probably don't think 'theologian.' Todd Wilson and Gerald Hiestand aim to change this.

#6) When You Can’t Say “He” or “She” — Mondays with Mounce 261

What if you spoke a language that had a single word for “he,” “she,” and “it”? Bill Mounce encountered such a language while teaching in another country, and shares it with us to get us thinking deeply about language, translation, and the Bible.

#7) Hebrew and You with Lee M. Fields — Keeping Sabbath Holy: Purpose or Means (Exod 20:8; Deut 5:12)?

Does God require Gentile Christians to "Remember the Sabbath"? In an exegetical exploration of the original Hebrew, Lee Fields answers both ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’

#8) [Common Places] New Voices for Theology: Michael Legaspi’s The Death of Scripture and the Rise of Biblical Studies

There's a story behind the rise of modern biblical studies, and it's often told in a very particular way. Michael Legaspi offers us a vastly different way of telling the story.

#9) The Joys of Ellipsis (John 12:7) — Mondays with Mounce 246

One of the more challenging aspects of Bible translation is the linguistic ellipsis construction—the omission of one or more words from a clause that are still understood from the surrounding context. Bill Mounce illustrates this challenge using an example from the events leading to Jesus’ crucifixion.

#10) [Common Places] Engaging with Kate Sonderegger: The One and the Many

Most contemporary theology, post-Barth and post-Rahner, is methodologically Christocentric. Kate Sonderegger’s theological enterprise is decidedly Theo-centric; as a methodological key, Christology (and all else) follows the doctrine of God. Explore this method with scholar Michael Allen.

#11) Extrabiblical Sources as Context – An Excerpt from Reading Romans in Context

How should we approach extrabiblical sources when studying Scripture? Engage the question with this selection from Reading Romans in Context.

#12) 3 Misconceptions of One of the Most Unknown, Fruitful Theological Ideas

In Luis de Molina, Kirk MacGregor outlines “one of the most fruitful theological concepts ever formulated” that’s also one of the more unknown: Molinism. Know about it? Review three popular misconceptions here.

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