Anabaptist Apologist

The Transfiguration of Jesus Promise & Fulfillment Understanding the context will help us better understand the significance of this event. Just prior, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who are men saying that I am?”—Peter’s answer, “You are the Christ.”[1]. Note: Peter didn’t say, “You’re God in the flesh,” or, “You’re the second person of the Trinity” or anything related to a Trinitarian concept of God. Simply, he said, “You’re God’s anointed…you’re God’s messiah.” In response to this, Jesus said he would die but be resurrected and that some disciples wouldn’t die until they first witnessed “the son of man coming in his kingdom” or that “the kingdom of God already come in power.” In other words, some disciples were going to see a glimpse of what the final kingdom would look like with Jesus glorified.[2] The Transfiguration was a fulfillment of that promise and a glimpse into the final stage of the Kingdom of God’s establishment. Immortal Soul Theory Unsurprisingly, this event is used a...

Put up Again Thy Sword It's unfortunate that so many believers are under the impression that we have a God-given right to retaliate when attacked or provoked. But Jesus, in no uncertain terms, has effectively disarmed his followers when he was arrested. What did Jesus say when Peter was quick to defend him with force? "Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.[1] Truth #1 Jesus said this because prophecy had to be fulfilled; without the death, burial, and resurrection, our faith is in vain.[2]  Truth #2 Jesus' followers are to suffer and "resist not."[3] In Luke 22:38, it's written his followers came to him, And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. Evangelicals cite this verse to prove they have a "God-given right" to own any firearm and use it against a threat. But, the Lord they supposedly worship and follow didn't use that "right...

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 The Trinity in the 4th Century-Part 4 by David Burke Upon Constantine’s death in AD 337, the empire was divided among his three sons: Constantine II,[1] Constantius II,[2] and Constans.[3] Each convened local councils to uphold localised versions of orthodoxy. Arianism became increasingly refined during this period[4] and benefited from the deaths of the two Nicene emperors.[5] Having outlived his brothers, Constantius II established Arianism as official Christology throughout the empire[6] but was killed en-route to fight his half-uncle Julian the Apostate, in AD 361. Reigning for only two years, Julian was a pagan who tried to restore paganism as the state religion of Rome. During this period three Cappadocians emerged as champions of the Athanasian legacy: Gregory Nazianzen,[7] Gregory of Nyssa, and his brother, Basil of Caesarea.[8] Today they are known as the Cappadocian Fathers. Following almost two decades of political unrest, Theodosius I came to power as c...