When surveyed about what should be on television, most people say they want more documentaries. The ABC has certainly complied with this wish, giving us documentaries on every conceivable (and inconceivable) subject. We have wandered the art world of Europe, the reproductive cycle of the ant, the history of dance, and the wonders of the cosmos. We have delved into the history of war and the history of love, the history of science, even the history of Christianity.
Building the Christian library: Concordances
Concordances are one of the most basic tools of Bible study. A concordance is an alphabetical listing of the words used in the Bible, giving the scripture reference and part of the verse for the context. (more…)
Commentary: 1 Corinthians, Judges
1 Corinthians
The best simple introductory commentary is by Leon Morris in the Tyndale series (New Edition, 1983). F.F. Bruce offers a similarly helpful introductory work, covering 1 and 2 Corinthians in the same volume (New Century Bible, 1981). (more…)
Maintaining the Faith of the Gospel – Part I
In the first of two articles, Andrew Reid (General Secretary of the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students) looks at student work in Australia. Where have we come from? What’s going on? Where are we going? (more…)
I’d like an argument, please
As moral debates of all kinds rage in our community, Christians feel the need to speak out. The trouble is, whenever we make strong moral statements, we end up sounding like were defending morality rather than preaching the gospel. How do we argue for Christian morality in a post-Christian society? (more…)
The gospel to Greeks
Everyday Ministry
Hundreds of thousands of Greeks came to Australia in the post-war migration boom. They came in search of wealth and a better future for their children.
Building the Christian library: The Oxford Bible Atlas
Anyone who is trying to teach stories from the Bible needs some background help. We want to be able to bring the story to life, with vivid details about the distance people travelled, or the weather they experienced, or the military threats they lived under.
Commentary: Romans, Joshua
ROMANS
INTRODUCTORY STUDIES
K.P. Donfried’s The Roman’s Debate (Augsburg, 1977), a collection of essays on the purpose of Romans, is a good introduction to this epistle.
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Where are the entrepreneurs?
One of the best-kept secrets in the Christian world is that gospel work needs money. Yes, Jesus did say “You cannot serve God and Money” and Paul backed him up with “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”-So its understandable that Christians are loathe to give the subject too much airplay. (more…)
Pelagius rides again
A fifth century heretic in modern clothes is abroad on the Australian Christian scene. To find out what he’s doing here and why he’s talking so much about baptism, read on…
You CAN get there from here
Everyday Ministry
“Where do you want to go?” the old farmer responded. He leaned a little farther out from his car window and listened again to the hitch-hiker’s question. “No, no,” he replied at last with a wry smile, “No, I’m sorry: you can’t get there from here”.
Building the Christian library: The one-volume commentary
THE ONE VOLUME COMMENTARY
Among the many books that should be part of a basic library, ‘a one volume commentary’ is a necessity. It is almost impossible for most of us to have the best available commentary for every book of the Bible on our shelves. And even if we could, it is still valuable to have the second comment on themes or issues that rise in a given book in order to stimulate our own thoughts. (more…)
Commentary: Acts, Deuteronomy
ACTS
INTRODUCTORY STUDIES
I. H. Marshall’s Luke-Historian and Theologian (Paternoster, 1970) and R. Maddox’s The Purpose of Luke-Acts (T & T Clark) are worthwhile starters to the book of Acts. There are also some very helpful articles in Apostolic History and The Gospel (Paternoster, 1970) by W.W. Gasque and R. P. Martin. (more…)
Cultbusters?
Our community is both fascinated and repulsed by the cults, but what should our attitude be? Should Evangelicals be persecuting and seeking to eradicate the cults? Or is religious freedom a more important principle? The Briefing examines the issues.
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The land of the Big Banana
THE LAND OF THE BIG BANANA
Tourism has been discovered by our politicians. We have finally ‘found ourselves’ and now we want the world to find us too. Crocodile Dundee (the real name of screen character Paul Hogan) has exhorted us to “Smile and say g’day” to foreigners who come to our shores. Economists have waxed lyrical about the potential for profits and job creation that lie in the tourist industry. (more…)