Dr Paul Allen

I could strengthen you with my mouth,  and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain. (Job 16:5) Job’s sufferings reveal Job’s heart. What he says in suffering opens a window into his soul. He is under intense pressure. He has lost his wealth, position, children, and health. But the worst pressure is that his so-called comforters accuse him of unforgiven sin. They say that his accursed state proves he is under the curse of God; the fact that he is “shriveled... up” is “a witness against” him (Job 16:8). There is something of Job’s comforters in us all. We hear of someone’s misfortune, and we can hardly help but wonder if, in some way, they deserved it; in the same breath, the thought occurs to us that perhaps our own happy state shows we deserve that too. How wrong we can be! In this speech, Job's heart is described in two remarkable ways. First, despite how badly they are treating him, Job longs to comfort and bring solace to his friends (v. 5). Far from wanting to “get back a...

The reign of Christ represents the ultimate standard of truth, justice, and righteousness. However, throughout history, various ideologies, practices, and worldviews have emerged as counterfeits of His rule. These counterfeits often appear to address societal needs but ultimately deviate from biblical truth, undermining God’s design for humanity and creation. Below are 10 prominent counterfeits of the reign of Christ, structured to highlight their biblical contradictions and societal implications. Socialism vs. Meritocracy Based on Sowing and Reaping The Bible affirms the principle of sowing and reaping, as outlined in Galatians 6:7: “A man reaps what he sows.” This principle underpins a meritocratic system where individuals are rewarded for their labor, diligence, and stewardship. Socialism, by contrast, redistributes resources irrespective of effort, undermining personal responsibility and the biblical work ethic. While Scripture calls for generosity and care for the poor, these are ...

The Olivet Discourse (Mark 13; Matt 24; Luke 21) has puzzled interpreters for centuries. Is Jesus predicting the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, his future return, or both? To examine this complex passage, we examine its structure, exegetical issues, and interpretive options, such as futurist (dispensationalist), preterist, and telescoping views. The Olivet Discourse describes Jesus predicting the temple’s destruction and subsequent eschatological events, sparking questions about their interpretation and timing. It raises queries about whether Jesus refers to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, his future return, the destruction of a yet-to-be-built temple, or a combination of these elements. The dilemma of “this generation.” One of the most challenging issues is Jesus’s statement that “this generation” will not pass away (13:30). Each interpretative camp must wrestle with what “generation” refers to and what it means for it not to pass away until “all these things take place” (E...

When multiple independent sources agree on the key contours of a story, it is worth considering the possibility that the narrative they share is credible. That is especially true when this shared story includes details that do not place the storyteller in the best light. So, what does all of this have to do with whether or not the resurrection really happened? Multiple independent sources agree on the same general sequence of events regarding the story of Jesus's resurrection. Every retelling of the resurrection mentions that Jesus died, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, and that he appeared to specific individuals and groups. All four New Testament Gospels and a later independent retelling of the resurrection preserved in the manuscript Papyrus Cairo 10759 identify Mary Magdalene as the first witness at the empty tomb. When it comes to when and how Jesus died, the eminent Roman historian Tacitus agrees with the Gospel writers that Jesus was crucified in Jude...

Matthew 16:19 talks about the "keys of the kingdom," interpretations of church authority, and the implications of "binding and loosing." Key Takeaways Roman Catholic Perspective:  Emphasizes Peter's unique authority, linking keys to salvation and papal succession based on Peter’s role among the apostles Protestant Views: Offer alternative interpretations of binding and loosing relating to demonic activity or reflect heavenly realities, focusing on Peter’s confession as the church's foundation . Contextual Analysis:  Highlights the significance of the plural pronoun in Matthew 18:18, emphasizing collective church authority in binding and loosing. Church Discipline:  Discusses the practical application of authority in excommunication, representing heaven's will. Belgic Confession Connection:  Relates the Marks of the True Church—preaching, sacraments, and discipline—to the concept of keys. Countering Individualism:  Emphasizes the importance of recognizi...

In 841 BC, the prophet Elisha’s messenger came to Jehu’s house and anointed him the next king of Israel. According to the Lord’s purpose, Jehu was to destroy the house of Ahab so that God might avenge the blood of His prophets. Jehu executed this divine mandate with unprecedented zeal. His zeal to destroy those the Lord commanded be destroyed, including all the prophets of Baal, was astonishing. Unfortunately, Jehu was not zealous against all idolatry (2 Kings 10:29). For almost a century, two abominable golden calves had stood in the land to ensure the Israelites did not travel south to worship in the temple and re-unify the kingdom. Rather than completing his eradication of idolatry, Jehu left these two graven images primarily to protect his own political interests. This lesson from Jehu warns that we can be zealous against idolatry and even purge idols from our lives while still protecting our most cherished ones. As we close this series, we consider how Christians can be zealous ag...

Romans 12:11 Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Spiritual erosion happens slowly but surely, like water cutting a channel through rock. By mid-thirties, the believer who started out with zeal in adolescence is on the verge of complacency. The heart once stirred by the Scriptures is now indifferent to them. Such decline happens so subtly that you are often unaware of its deadly work. It usually comes through these almost imperceptible means: A gradual shift from devotion to performance . Christ commended the church at Ephesus for their ceaseless labour but admonished them for neglecting their “first love” (Rev. 2:4 NASB). Spiritual attrition is inevitable when your passion for Christ becomes secondary to your deeds. A gradual change from commitment to convenience. Faithfulness in little things is the stuff disciples are made of. When your relationship with Christ is structured to fit into your tidy agenda, spiritual decline sets in. Christ demands your all—b...

The English Standard Version (ESV) Bible is set to undergo its first text update in nearly a decade. The ESV Translation Oversight Committee has announced revisions to 36 passages across 42 verses. One of the most significant  changes  involves  Genesis 3:16 , a verse that has sparked considerable discussion among theologians.  The  ESV's 2016 edition  translated the Hebrew preposition "el" as "contrary to," resulting in the verse: "Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you." In the 2025 revision, the verse will revert to its 2001 translation: "Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."  This revision aligns the translation with historic English Bible versions such as the Revised Standard Version (RSV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), and New King James Version (NKJV), according to the TOC. "The interpretive options can now be seen in the alternative renderings provided in the ...

With the recent apostasy of Kanye West, the issue of celebrity Christians has once again surfaced. In addition to Kanye West’s high-profile religious rise and fall, we might think of Russell Brand’s recent profession of faith.  Brand has been vocal on social media, extolling Jesus and the gospel, although at times, he has said and done things that leave believers scratching their heads, not quite sure how they fit with his claim to be saved. We have seen an exponential increase in amateur and professional athletes publicly thanking Christ after competitions. How should Christians respond when a celebrity publicly embraces Christ? Two responses often prevail when celebrities claim to have been converted to Christianity. On one end, we have people who excitedly embrace them, platform them, and treat them as de facto religious leaders.  They see these celebrities as great spokespeople for Christ and the Christian faith. Having such cultural influencers on the side of truth will r...

Stephen Wellum Any sane person knows that there is something wrong with us. No one can honestly examine history, let alone their own lives, without being struck by the extent to which we as a human race have “missed the mark” and not lived up to our ideals. Reinhold Niebuhr keenly observed that “the doctrine of original sin is the only empirically verifiable doctrine of the Christian faith.”[1]  The “human condition” has been the subject of countless books, films, and plays as people have wrestled with the reality of good and evil. One of my favourites is The Lord of the Rings, in which Tolkien explores the insidious power of the ring and the evil that lurks in every heart. 1. Reinhold Niebuhr, Man’s Nature and His Communities: Essays on the Dynamics and Enigmas of Man’s Personal and Social Existence (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1965; repr., Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2012), 24. However, although everyone admits that something is wrong with us, we do not explain the “huma...

  Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning, I saw seven golden lampstands, and amid the lampstands, one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and a golden sash around his chest. (Rev. 1:12–13)  John saw Jesus “amid the lampstands.” Much of the imagery in Revelation is challenging to understand, but we don’t have to wonder what these lampstands represent. Later in this first chapter, we are told that the lampstands represent the churches (1:20). When John turned to see the voice speaking to him, the first thing that caught his attention was Jesus standing among his people. Were these early Christians wondering if the church would be snuffed out as persecution increased? When they gathered to hear this letter read to them, it must have provided deep encouragement to see that Jesus was not standing off at a distance while his followers suffered for him. He was right there with them, walking in the midst of them, keeping their fire for the gospe...