The Prophetic Presbyterian & His Narrow Way

Polygamy!    Is it morally acceptable to have 2 wives? To answer this question, we need to draw a proper distinction between that which is moral & that which is wise.  Matthew 5:27–28 (ESV): You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. As you can see, in the Sermon on the Mount, adultery is not defined merely by the fact that he or she is not your spouse. Adultery is defined by lustful intent. What is lust? Lust is, at its root, the failure to love God over & above everything & everyone else & your neighbor before yourself.  Loving yourself more than God & others is definitional to lust, & lust is what underwrites sexual sin - not the mere sex/gender of your target &/or the lack of marriage certificate.    Using Matt. 5:19 - or any text - to move the moral grounds of moral guil...

There are multiple ways to outline Matthew’s Gospel.  One way is to follow the form of a suzerain covenant,  Here is another approach from an application of that approach, keeping in mind that the temptation narrative itself follows the form of a suzerain covenant.  I. Matthew 1 - 3  : Introduction The author/authors introduce us to Yeshua via a gematria laden eschatological genealogy, a very brief birth narrative, a note about Yeshua’s ascent into manhood, & His baptism by John the Baptist that ends in a theophany. II. Matthew 4  : Prophet, Priest, King   Each of the 3 temptations highlights one of Yeshua’s 3 offices —- Prophet, Priest, & King, in that order. This provides the narrative framework (ie outline) for the remainder of the Gospel. Yeshua calls His disciples, essentially putting together a school of highly prophetic people who would serve as functional levites ministering to the poor, the sick & infirm, the marginalized, even Rom...

MCDOWELL : The basis of the affirming position seems to be that biblical writers did not understand sexual orientation or have knowledge of the kinds of consensual, committed, loving same-sex relationships we see today. How do you address this claim? That may be what a great many affirming writers believe, but that’s direct function of Ecclesiastical Tradition & Liturgical Philosophy that has ruled the hearts & minds of people for several centuries.  What the biblical authors believed isn’t really germane to this discussion.    What made it to the page is the determinant of what the Bible teaches, not what the author may or may not have believed. SPRINKLE: It’s a great point to raise, and evangelicals need to understand and consider the argument. My response it twofold: First, we do see examples of adult consensual same sex relations in and around the first century. So those who say that “they didn’t exist” are simply wrong. I show why in my book. True. Second, th...