Confusing Bible Verses: Matt Slick & Mark 4

Matt Slick recently debated Jerry Walls regarding the omnibenevolence of God. That is to say, the following question was addressed: Is God really all-loving? I have argued that not only is God all-loving, but that it is actually a sin to doubt God’s love for all people — let alone teach that God does not … Continue reading Confusing Bible Verses: Matt Slick & Mark 4

How Should a Molinist Understand 1 Peter 1:3?

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. . .” 1 Pet. 1:3 (ESV) For the determinist, this verse would seem to pose a problem for … Continue reading How Should a Molinist Understand 1 Peter 1:3?

An Unfortunate Appraisal of Molinism: A Response to CARM.org’s “What Is Molinism and is it Biblical?”

Summary: CARM, a Reformed ministry, has given a negative appraisal of Molinism. I lay out 9 issues with their explanation and critique of the doctrine, undercutting/rebutting their claims by showing that they either rely on comprehensional errors, dictional ambiguity, or question begging (or some medley of these).1 Source: http://carm.org/what-molinism Issue 1: CARM Misrepresents Libertarian Free … Continue reading An Unfortunate Appraisal of Molinism: A Response to CARM.org’s “What Is Molinism and is it Biblical?”

What Is Libertarian Free Will?

Question: Hey Tim, you talk about libertarian free will all the time. Can you please explain and define exactly what you mean by this term? Thanks. Matt Tim’s Response: Thanks for your question, Matt! The first thing I need to discuss is the use of the word “libertarian.” According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “Libertarian” is defined … Continue reading What Is Libertarian Free Will?

Simply Divine?

As an aspiring theologian I desire knowledge of God’s nature. I also aspire to gain a proper understanding of foundational Christian teachings on the nature of God. Given this goal, a great deal of my apologetics and philosophical journey has been researching the attributes of God. Not only do I strive to attain justified true beliefs … Continue reading Simply Divine?

Confusing Bible Verses, Free Will, & Determinism (Part 2)

Question: Tim, I can’t say I admire your exegesis in your article Confusing Bible Verses, Free Will, & Determinism (Part 1), explaining the biblical texts. Within the context of John 6:44 it’s clear the key is not the word “can” but the statement as a whole that those who come to Jesus (believe in him) … Continue reading Confusing Bible Verses, Free Will, & Determinism (Part 2)

“The Bible Trumps Logic!”

Like clockwork, whenever I offer logic-based arguments or syllogisms that deductively conclude a certain worldview is false (like this one), those who presuppose otherwise come out of the woodwork to express their disdain. It never ceases to amaze me how some are so blindly committed to a certain view that they reject opposing conclusions based on … Continue reading “The Bible Trumps Logic!”

Inerrancy Debate

One of the best professors I have ever had is Dr. Michael R. Licona. The two of us have become good friends since my time in his classroom and he continues to sharpen my thinking today. Recently I shared his written debate with skeptical scholar Bart Ehrman on social media. The debate was regarding the reliability of the Gospels (I … Continue reading Inerrancy Debate

Counter Intuitive Truths: Easing the Pain When Loved Ones Die

“Pain,” or “evil” is a tough part of life, but the reason no prominent philosopher defends the logical “problem of pain” any more (ie: that pain proves God doesn’t exist) is that we can’t prove that God couldn’t have purposes for it. Chaos Theory shows how incredibly subtle things can have dramatic and far-reaching ripple … Continue reading Counter Intuitive Truths: Easing the Pain When Loved Ones Die

Gratuitous Evil & Animal Suffering

A common complaint is that unlike science, philosophy does not make any progress. This is completely false. Philosophers stand on the shoulders of giants and often improve arguments made by great thinkers of the past. Moreover, academics are often sparked by philosophers of yesteryear to craft related, but different, arguments demonstrating the way things are (ultimate reality). Alvin … Continue reading Gratuitous Evil & Animal Suffering