5 Comments
User's avatar
Gavin L Simpson's avatar

Great topics for this week, M.B. Some questions for Theo-Anthro Confession in consideration of Walton's archtypical Adam, Peter Enns' non-traditional historical Adam, and the old human view of William Lane Craig contrasted with the geneological Adam & Eve of S. Joshua Swamidass:

1. Does faithful Biblical exegesis and early creedal orthodoxy demand the Adam & Eve of the Edenic garden be the first human couple and genetic progenerater of all humanity?

2. Given that he second & last Adam is humanities' Federal Head & representative, not a biological or historical statement, could the concept of the first adam also be referring to Adam as humanities' Federal Head & representative, a theological idea, rather than an historical and biological descriptor?

3. Is it unorthodox to believe the description of Adam & Eve's creation is pictorial and theological (or even visionary re: Adam's halving to form Eve), rather than normal biological evolutionary development & natural birth?

4. Given that in Gen5.3: Adam fathers Seth "in his own likeness, after his image" (not said of Cain & Abel), and that Gen9.6 highlight's the image of God as a divine-human role of judicial judgment on murder, is the imago Dei not more a creation mandate, or functional statement of human destiny/purpose/character and role rather than a description of physical human nature or ontology?

5. If the role and character of humanity is to be the image of God in creation, does that not necessitate union, participation & fellowship with God for its meaning & fulfillment, and conversely, that the nature and depravity of original sin primarily & initially consists in the breaking of that union and the progress of antagonism to it in the whole human entity & personality?

[6. Personal: Would you accept the above questions as the basis of a M.Th. thesis proposal on the Imago Dei?]

Expand full comment
Michael F. Bird's avatar

Good questions!

Expand full comment
Scott Limpert's avatar

Can Christians affirm monogamous, covenantal, non-celibate same-sex relationships while continuing to affirm the authority of Scripture and practice orthodox Christian faith? If so, how? If not, why not?

Expand full comment
Heni's avatar

N.T. Wright has talked about one of the side-effects of vernacular Bible translations being the setting up of multiple exclusive congregations. How can we avoid this without going back to having a single language for worship, whether English, Latin, or something else?

Expand full comment
Heni's avatar

This might be off-topic. Please ignore it if it is.

Expand full comment