‘In the Beginning, God created…’ Certainly this ranks among the most recognisable opening phrases of any literature known to mankind, yet what does it really mean? Do we ever stop to ask, ‘in the beginning of what?’ When we read ‘In the beginning’, it’s a bit like ‘Once upon a time’. They both immediately […]
The Context of Creation Read More »
‘What are you giving up for Lent’? I first remember being asked by a friend at school, and I hadn’t the faintest idea what she was talking about. My parents didn’t know about Lent either – except that it wasn’t in the Bible, so we didn’t need to bother with it. It was a Catholic
Why Bother with Lent? Read More »
Robots used to bring to mind rather clunky metal creations appearing or sounding vaguely human. The terrifying Daleks who kindled nightmares in the Dr Who generation of the 1960s had a fatal flaw which saved humanity – they couldn’t climb stairs! But robots have evolved, and today we have artificial intelligence (AI), a far more
Artificial Intelligence & the Image of God Read More »
What does the Bible say about the end of the world? Absolutely nothing. That phrase is never found in Scripture. So where does the idea come from, and why do I have several books on my shelf with ‘end of the world’ in the title? Jesus frequently speaks of the ‘the end’ – but he’s
The Bible and the End of the World Read More »
If you’re of a certain age, you may recall a time when the word ‘globalization’ didn’t exist. It’s a modern invention – only entered the dictionary in 1951. Legend traces its widespread use to a famous article in the Harvard Business Review in 1983. Surprised? Globalization is now so established in common parlance that we
Globalization and Gospel Read More »
Have you ever wondered about the relationship between theology, life, and the Bible? ‘Not really’, I hear you thinking. Well, perhaps not consciously, but that’s the point. As Christians we are continuously faced with questions about how we should live, what choices to make, how to lead godly lives in a complex world, how to
A Dynamic Interrelationship Read More »
Language is a strange thing. My nose runs and my feet smell – or does my nose smell and my feet run? Who doesn’t love a bit of wordplay? What did the ram say to his wife? I love ewe. Hebrew poetry is rife withwordplay – and poetry makes up over 30% of the Bible.
Language, Meaning, Genre Read More »
We’ve probably all been asked at one time or another, ‘Do you take the Bible literally’? My advice? Never, ever, ever answer that question. Why not? Because the questioner is either naïve, or it’s a trap. The question is simply not legitimate. First, the Bible is not a book. It’s a collection of books –
But do you take it literally? Read More »
A key aspect of a Christian worldview is the idea that God created the world (although how is another question). Not everyone believes this of course. Some don’t believe in God; others believe the physical world is an illusion, or that the universe itself is eternal. The way we understand and perceive the world is
A Faultline in the Christian Worldview Read More »
Gateway is a theology school, so what exactly is theology? Good question – one that academics and church leaders have pondered for generations – centuries even – and still not arrived at any consensus or unified definition. In most people’s minds, it’s an ‘ology’ word (like psychology, sociology, or anthropology). That alone puts it into
