The following is an excerpt from American Vision’s new book, The Greatest and the Least: A Biblical Theology of John the Baptist, by Eric Rauch and Zach Davis: In the New Testament, we find the familiar stories of the miraculous births of John the Baptist and Jesus. Luke gives the most information (Luke 1–2) and Matthew adds a bit more to our understanding of the historical events (Matthew 1 [...]
Gary and Kim Burgess conclude their discussion of 1 Corinthians 15. Paul still fully expected to be alive in his earthly body at the parousia of Christ as based on the direct warrant of Christ Himself in texts like Matthew 10:23, 16:27-28, and 24:34. This is precisely why Paul deliberately used “we” language in both 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15. For this we say to you by the word of the [...]
Thomas Ice and H. Wayne House (just two among many) maintain false divisions regarding the law. They want to make a radical distinction between the “law of God” and the “law of Christ” as if two law systems are operating in the Bible. Currently, God has made a new covenant with his people—the church—and we live under the “law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).[1] Indeed, there is a “new covenant” with si [...]
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27–28) There is a translation issue in Hebrews 9:28. The Greek word “time” is not used. Literally, it’s “out of the second” (ἐκ δευτέρου). [...]
Gary continues speaking with Kim Burgess about 1 Corinthians 15 and the timing and nature of the resurrection. This eschatology debate is not going to have any hope of getting anywhere if we simply argue back and forth among ourselves over a series of isolated proof texts. The solution to this deep and complicated debate is not simply going to be a matter of comparing this verse with that verse in [...]
Gary continues going through 1 Corinthians 15 with Kim Burgess. In this episode, they discuss death as being the final enemy. In Acts 24:14-15, Paul says this: “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men [...]
Gary continues his discussion with Kim Burgess on 1 Corinthians 15. One cannot say that it was all done at the cross or that it was all done at the ascension, or all done at Pentecost, and that is it, and then we move on. No, it was not. The covenantal consummation of this accomplishment of redemption was still being expected by the saints, post-AD 30, as they all were looking to the events that w [...]
Gary begins a series of podcasts on 1 Corinthians 15 with Kim Burgess. The New Covenant order could not and would not be fully in place, established and ready to go, unless and until the prior Old Covenant order was fully removed, historically and visibly. This means that, vastly important as all these events surely were, it took more than the cross, the resurrection, the ascension of Christ, and [...]
P. Andrew Sandlin posted the following on Facebook: “Greg Bahnsen’s name has been invoked in the defense of the hyper-preterist heresy.” He doesn’t say who. For those of you who do not know, Greg Bahnsen was a professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in the 1970s when I was a student there. He taught apologetics, ethics, and a course on eschatology. His article “The Prima Facie Acceptability of [...]
Someone on Facebook wrote, “Why a Literal Historical-Grammatical Interpretation of Scripture Matters. When it comes to understanding the Bible, a literal historical-grammatical approach—taking the text at its plain meaning within its historical and literary context—is crucial.” I agree. I find it ironic that many who advocate the LGH model are selective in how it’s applied. The following is from d [...]
Much of the confusion and questioning of today about eschatology arises from the fact that the Church did not make a distinction between passages related to (1) the “this generation” AD 70 coming of Jesus (Matt. 24:30; 26:64) and what is described (2) as a yet future second physical coming of Jesus. (See my “Slam Dunk” article). The Nicene Creed states, “And He shall come again with glory to judge [...]
Please help us reach $10K in donations for a matching grant I was on the Fight, Laugh, Feast show in Moscow, Idaho, on August 21, 2025. I was invited to come on the show by David Shannon to discuss the new book American Vision published, The Great Debate: Does God Exist?, edited with commentary by Joshua Pillows. David Shannon, Toby Sumpter, and Gabe Rench were in the studio with me, along with a [...]
Please help us reach $10K in donations for a matching grant A few years ago, some atheists ran an ad campaign with this banner: “Relax: hell does not exist, or heaven either, enjoy your life.” Who defines what gives someone joy and on what basis? The Declaration of Independence mentions “the pursuit of happiness.” One person’s happiness could be another person’s dread. How do we know? The Declarat [...]
Please help us reach $10K in donations for a matching grant Gary recommends a book by Pete and Rachel Wrue called End Times Explained. This book presents the many different end time views held today, without promoting any one in particular, allowing the reader to be the judge. It provides scriptural evidence as well as quotes from proponents of each position and clearly explains not only WHAT they [...]
Please help us reach $10K in donations for a matching grant For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.[1] [...]
“Just preach the gospel.” How many times have you heard pastors and critics of social and political action scold Christians concerned about the moral direction the church is taking for mixing the gospel with politics? The gospel is more than a life insurance program or a “Get Out of Hell Free” card. It is to transform everything we think about and act on. There is no neutrality or areas that are o [...]
Gary responds to a video clip of Bart Ehrman about various laws from Leviticus. All of life is ethical, and all of the Bible is permeated with a concern for ethics. Unlike the organization of an encyclopedia, our Bible was not written in such a way that it devotes separate sections exclusively to various topics of interest. Hence the Bible does not contain one separate, self-contained book or chap [...]
Gary discusses a few “contradictions” commonly pointed out by critics. The Bible is literature. God speaks to us in words and themes that can be understood. Not all literature can be interpreted in the same way. Some will claim that the Bible must be interpreted literally. But what does that mean? There are always caveats. Does a dragon really mean a dragon? Should you really pluck out [...]
Gary answers email questions that he has received recently about Romans 11 and what “all Israel” being saved means. During the sixteenth century, in the Reformation and immediate post-Reformation period, several theologians addressed the question of Israel’s place in God’s plans for the future. Theodore Beza, John Calvin’s successor in Geneva, taught, according to Eng [...]
Gary answers a listener question about the parenthetical statement in the Gospels about “letting the reader understand.” Earlier in Israel’s history, God threatened desolation because the Jews had defiled the temple with detestable things and abominations. “‘So as I live,’ declares the Lord God, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and with all [...]
