John Shelby Spong, a retired bishop of the Anglican Church, has made a career of being a rogue “priest” who assaults almost everything that is sacred within the Christian religion. His outrageous ideology has been an embarrassment to many of his Anglican kinsmen. This week’s Penpoints focuses upon some of Spong’s theological aberrations.

It was recently announced that Roman Catholic nun, Teresa, received an “exorcism” just before her death. What is the Christian to make of this?

The article discusses the extinction of the woolly mammoth, theories about its sudden demise, including climate change and the concept of uniformitarianism, and how catastrophism and the Genesis Flood provide alternative explanations. The possible existence of an Ice Age is also discussed.

Purgatory is a state, fabricated by the Roman Catholic, which is supposed to be a depository for those who die, not wicked enough to enter hell, but not good enough to merit heaven. Accordingly, th...

When the apostle Matthew wrote that an Old Testament prophecy had been “fulfilled” by Christ, just what did he mean? Engage in this study with us.

The Roman emperor, known as Julian “the Apostate,” represents but another “glitch” on the panoramic screen of history in the futile efforts to discredit Christianity.

In the concluding portion of the book of Job, God introduces, as an example of his power, the great creature, Behemoth. What was this great creature? Wayne Jackson discusses the various theories offered by way of identification.

The Old Testament prophet Haggai instructs us on what is really important — and what is not.

In the Old Testament, this term denoted the firstborn offspring of humans or animals. The firstborn was accorded a place of special prominence (cf. Gen. 48:13-18; Dt. 21:15-17; 2 Chron. 21:3). 

Th...

The practice of baptism “for the dead” is mentioned once in the New Testament. “If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?” (1 Cor. 15:29). Though the passage is somewh...

When a child of God abandons his faith, is it still appropriate to refer to him as a “Christian”? What is the significance of this revered name?

The New Testament record of women being the first witnesses to Christ’s resurrection argues for the integrity of the biblical records.

Is there biblical evidence that, in some cases, God has limited his own foreknowledge?

On the Sunday of his resurrection, Jesus said to certain disciples, “Receive ye the Spirit.” What is the meaning of this cryptic text?

How is Christianity different than religions that worship several gods?

Some allege that the Gospel Accounts—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—reflect Old Testament legislation, and therefore these books do not constitute an authoritative body of instruction for Christians. This article addresses the fallacy of this kind of reasoning.

Why are all those lists of names in the Bible?

This article reviews the recent scholarship prize award by John N. Clayton.

News sources are filled with sensational reports that the “bones of Jesus” have been discovered in Jerusalem. This is but another tale for the illusional. Read about it.

Occasionally a book will appear among the people of God that is so fraught with error that it requires comment. Such is the case with the recently-published, Theology Simplified. This week’s Penpoints takes note of this volume.