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The Seven Churches Pt. 2 – Introduction (Video)
(This is a confinuation of “The Seven Churches” Vlog series on the churches of Revelation 1-3. You may also want to watch other videos in this series to keep within context.)
While understanding the nature of the church age (as observed in last week’s session) is important to the interpretation of the letters to the seven churches, another very important interpretive principle is that of “context.” This week’s video will examine the context of the book of Revelation, that the proper interpretation of the letters to the churches may be achieved, and the message of the letters may reach its intended mark: the church age at large.
The Book of Hebrews (Introduction)
Today begins another new study series on the Video Blog area of Returningking.com. This series, currently being preached at First Baptist Church in Needville, TX, is an exegetical study of the book of Hebrews.
Any time a biblical book is studied, several questions are first asked concerning the author, recipients, dates and local scenarios. Understanding as many of these answers as is possible is very helpful to the grasping of the context of a book.
Today’s study begins week one of background work for the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews – Pt. 01 from Jeff Kluttz on Vimeo.
Interpreting the Bible 15 – Hebrew Poetry
(This is a continuation of the “Interpreting The Bible“ video blog series. This post assumes the prerequisite watching of earlier videos in the series. Click the link above to watch the entire series up to this week’s installment.)
Unlike Western poetry, Hebrew poetry is not fashioned with rhythm and rhyme, but with a device known as parallelism. Today’s study focuses on the nature of parallelism so that the biblical student may rightly divide poetic passages in scripture.
Bible Interpretation Pt. 15 – Hebrew Poetry from Jeff Kluttz on Vimeo.
The Seven Churches – Introduction (Video)
Today begins a new study series on the Video Blog area of Returningking.com. This series, currently being preached at First Baptist Church in Needville, TX, is an examination of the Seven Churches which the book of Revelation is written to in Asia Minor.
The title of the series, however, is not “The Seven Churches of Asia Minor,” but rather “The Seven Churches,” because once one begins interpretational work on the book of Revelation it becomes clear that the seven churches do not only represent the seven historical churches whose names are written on the letter. Rather, these seven churches are seen throughout history, which is the context of the book of Revelation:
Revelation 1:19 (ESV)
19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
Deeds not Creeds: The Anti-Doctrine Doctrine
A new variety of church-growth movement is squarely upon us. It decisively attempts to illegitimize any attempt at “doctrinal wall-building” for fear of excluding those frankly, who are unwilling to believe. This sentiment has found itself at home in an increasing number of churches in recent years; being a boon to church growth (numerically) by removing those pesky doctrinal encumbrances which often cause people to seek membership elsewhere.
“Our very survival is at stake,” we are told. The church, it is suggested, is to be about “tearing down walls” rather than building them; having entered into a “new” church-age whereby we focus attention copiously on harmony with others rather than differences. Commonalities draw us together. Differences divide us. The church is to be a place of unity, fellowship and cohesion. Anything that combats such a state of unanimity is quickly expelled as discordant, contentious and sinful. (Sadly, about the only “sin” that can be agreed upon in our modern user-friendly church culture is that of being disruptive to the alliance of “group sentiment.”) Such division, of course, is seen as a direct path to the most horrific sin of all: exclusivism. Continue reading
Interpreting the Bible 14 – The Law of Recurrence
(This is a continuation of the “Interpreting The Bible“ video blog series. This post assumes the prerequisite watching of earlier videos in the series. Click the link above to watch the entire series up to this week’s installment.)
This week’s installation involves what is known as The Law of Recurrence. This principle exists throughout the scriptures as an event narrated in two or more “passes.” In such cases, frequently a story is told very generally, and then told again from the beginning but providing additional detail.
Not only is such recurrence very frequent in scripture, it is in fact the technique by which scripture begins itself in the account of creation. Many have seen this particular instance of recurrence as an argument for two separate creation accounts. Others have seen this recurrence as the very frequent literary device that it is: a story told in passes of varying detail and focus.
Today’s consideration of the law of recurrence includes a good deal of example from scripture to assist the interpreter in the understanding of the principle.
Bible Interpretation Pt. 14 from Jeff Kluttz on Vimeo.
Interpreting The Bible 13 – The Law of First Mention
(This is a continuation of the “Interpreting The Bible“ video blog series. This post assumes the prerequisite watching of earlier videos in the series. Click the link above to watch the entire series up to this week’s installment.)
This week’s lesson focuses on a law known as “First Mention.” This law is simple in its principle, but profound in its application. This law essentially uses the concept of “precedent” to assist the biblical interpreter in the proper application of a theological term or truth. If, then, I know how a term or concept has been used earlier in scripture, I can properly interpret a later understanding of the same term or principle.
Bible Interpretation Pt. 13 from Jeff Kluttz on Vimeo.
Interpreting the Bible 12 – Progressive Revelation
(This is a continuation of the “Interpreting The Bible“ video blog series. This post assumes the prerequisite watching of earlier videos in the series. Click the link above to watch the entire series up to this week’s installment.)
This week’s topic in the series involves the principle of “progressive revelation.” Progressive revelation essentially enforces consideration of the fact that God did not reveal all theological truth at once, but over a long period of time. The fullness of what Moses knew about Jehovah, Noah did not know. What the apostles knew, Moses did not know.
Through millennia- from Adam to the apostles – God revealed his plan by small revelations which built upon one another. Even the understanding of Messiah began from an Edenic concept as simple as “a seed of woman” and was further developed in scripture to involve the seed of Abraham, Judah and David. By the time of Christ a composite sketch of many centuries had formed to give Israel an accurate accounting of what she should expect when Messiah was revealed. At the time of Isaiah, however, this portrait of Messiah would have been exceptionally limited; virtually only to lineage.
Understaning the principle of progressive revelation prevents the interpreter from injecting theological knowledge of a later date into the minds of earlier writers. While it is true that later writings bring clarity to earlier ones, it is not true that earlier theological truths are trumped; being interpreted in light of later ones. If that were so, then the earlier writings would have no meaning whatsoever to those to whom they were delivered.
Today’s video lesson explores the impact of progressive revelation on our interpretive process.
Bible Interpretation Pt. 12 from Jeff Kluttz on Vimeo.
The Gospel Truth Conclusion: Theories of Atonement
(This is the conclusion of The Gospel Truth video blog series. This post assumes the prerequisite watching of earlier videos in the series. Click the link above to watch the entire series up to this week’s installment.)
This week we conclude the whole of the “Gospel Truth” video series. This concluding message is an overview of numerous historical views concerning atonement theories.
As part of this message, special notes are made to a few modern groups who are insistent upon maligning the proper biblical understanding of the atonement in lieu of their own re-packaged agenda-driven models.
The Gospel Truth: Pt. 13 – Theories of Atonement from Jeff Kluttz on Vimeo.
Interpreting the Bible (Pt 11) – Double Reference (Pt. 2)
(This is a continuation of the “Interpreting The Bible“ video blog series. This post assumes the prerequisite watching of earlier videos in the series. Click the link above to watch the entire series up to this week’s installment.)
Continuing from last week’s introduction to the interpretive law of dual (or double) reference, this week’s lesson will focus in on the “gap” variety of dual reference; in which one prophecy is fulfilled in part from two different historical events which are separated by a gap of time. As such, there is frequently a presumed fulfillment of a prophecy, yet the fulfillment does not completely meet the criteria of the original prophetic word. As such, this presumed fulfillment is not complete, but partial, and will be later completed by further events.
Numerous messianic prophecies have unfolded in this manner. In several cases, one prophetic sentence – or paragraph – depicts both the first and second comings of Christ. These prophesies have been only partially fulfilled, as the “gap” has not yet passed before his second coming, when Christ will complete the prophetic vision.
Today’s video course is largely an illustration of this principle at work.
Bible Interpretation Pt. 11 from Jeff Kluttz on Vimeo.
