Comments on: Difficult Bible Passages: Matthew 19:12 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2009/10/30/difficult-bible-passages-matthew-1912/ Bill Muehlenberg's commentary on issues of the day... Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:03:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bill Muehlenberg http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2009/10/30/difficult-bible-passages-matthew-1912/comment-page-1/#comment-205628 Bill Muehlenberg Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:47:04 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/?p=2072#comment-205628 Thanks Ross Hey, you just want me to write another article on difficult Bible passages, don’t you?! But I can give you the short answer here. There is actually one NT text which gives considerable weight to the view that Paul was married: 2 Cor. 12:7 - that is, if we interpret Paul’s thorn to mean his mother-in-law! Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch Thanks Ross

Hey, you just want me to write another article on difficult Bible passages, don’t you?! But I can give you the short answer here. There is actually one NT text which gives considerable weight to the view that Paul was married: 2 Cor. 12:7 – that is, if we interpret Paul’s thorn to mean his mother-in-law!

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

]]> By: Ross http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2009/10/30/difficult-bible-passages-matthew-1912/comment-page-1/#comment-205627 Ross Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:40:19 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/?p=2072#comment-205627 I appreciate your clarity in exegeting this difficult passage. Some scholars have argued that earlier in life, the apostle Paul was once married. Do you agree with this? I'm not sure myself. Ross McPhee I appreciate your clarity in exegeting this difficult passage. Some scholars have argued that earlier in life, the apostle Paul was once married. Do you agree with this? I’m not sure myself.
Ross McPhee

]]> By: Bill Muehlenberg http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2009/10/30/difficult-bible-passages-matthew-1912/comment-page-1/#comment-161235 Bill Muehlenberg Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:52:03 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/?p=2072#comment-161235 Thanks Rod Yes another good passage worth doing an article on at some point. It raises a number of tough questions actually. Hopefully I will get to it soon! Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch Thanks Rod

Yes another good passage worth doing an article on at some point. It raises a number of tough questions actually. Hopefully I will get to it soon!

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

]]> By: Rod Blackwell http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2009/10/30/difficult-bible-passages-matthew-1912/comment-page-1/#comment-161233 Rod Blackwell Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:47:19 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/?p=2072#comment-161233 I would be interested in your thoughts on Acts 5: 1- 11. Do you think this was natural or supernatural? Regards Rod Blackwell I would be interested in your thoughts on Acts 5: 1- 11. Do you think this was natural or supernatural?

Regards

Rod Blackwell

]]> By: Bill Muehlenberg http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2009/10/30/difficult-bible-passages-matthew-1912/comment-page-1/#comment-160060 Bill Muehlenberg Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:46:54 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/?p=2072#comment-160060 Thanks Dunstan Yes it is this one from the New Zealand couple: Neil and Briar Whitehead, <em>My Genes Made Me Do It</em>. Huntington House Publishers, 1999. It is a very good book indeed. Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch Thanks Dunstan

Yes it is this one from the New Zealand couple:

Neil and Briar Whitehead, My Genes Made Me Do It. Huntington House Publishers, 1999.

It is a very good book indeed.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

]]> By: Dunstan Hartley http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2009/10/30/difficult-bible-passages-matthew-1912/comment-page-1/#comment-160059 Dunstan Hartley Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:34:02 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/?p=2072#comment-160059 As to the supposed biological/genetic pre-disposition to homosexuality; there is an excellent book on the subject, refuting the allegation, written by a husband and wife team. He is a biochemist and she a journalist, whose names escape me. The title of the book is: "My genes made me do it"; probably available on a Google search. Dunstan Hartley As to the supposed biological/genetic pre-disposition to homosexuality; there is an excellent book on the subject, refuting the allegation, written by a husband and wife team. He is a biochemist and she a journalist, whose names escape me. The title of the book is: “My genes made me do it”; probably available on a Google search.
Dunstan Hartley

]]> By: Doriel Josic http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2009/10/30/difficult-bible-passages-matthew-1912/comment-page-1/#comment-159847 Doriel Josic Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:32:51 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/?p=2072#comment-159847 I too am curious about the binding/loosing passages (Matthew 16:19; 18:18). I have never given them much thought until reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell (which I know you did a review on). While his explanations seem to make sense, a further study/review would be much appreciated. Doriel Josic I too am curious about the binding/loosing passages (Matthew 16:19; 18:18). I have never given them much thought until reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell (which I know you did a review on). While his explanations seem to make sense, a further study/review would be much appreciated.
Doriel Josic

]]> By: Bill Muehlenberg http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2009/10/30/difficult-bible-passages-matthew-1912/comment-page-1/#comment-159692 Bill Muehlenberg Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:38:25 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/?p=2072#comment-159692 Thanks Kevin and Marj Ah, now you are rolling out the heavy weight passages! Both topics are indeed complex and worth looking at more closely. Stay tuned. Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch Thanks Kevin and Marj

Ah, now you are rolling out the heavy weight passages! Both topics are indeed complex and worth looking at more closely. Stay tuned.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

]]> By: Marj Lucas http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2009/10/30/difficult-bible-passages-matthew-1912/comment-page-1/#comment-159680 Marj Lucas Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:36:57 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/?p=2072#comment-159680 Bill, I welcome this opportunity to ask you about a passage that is somewhat controversial: Matt 18:18, Jesus' comment about binding and loosing. Traditionally, in most pentecostal churches this has been taught in the context of spiritual warfare, i.e. binding (disallowing) the strategies of the enemy and loosing (allowing or praying down) the opposite/the answer. I have believed this teaching for years but have recently been challenged to have another look at it. I would greatly value your comments. Thank you for your passionate pursuit of truth. Marj Lucas Bill, I welcome this opportunity to ask you about a passage that is somewhat controversial: Matt 18:18, Jesus’ comment about binding and loosing. Traditionally, in most pentecostal churches this has been taught in the context of spiritual warfare, i.e. binding (disallowing) the strategies of the enemy and loosing (allowing or praying down) the opposite/the answer. I have believed this teaching for years but have recently been challenged to have another look at it. I would greatly value your comments.
Thank you for your passionate pursuit of truth.
Marj Lucas

]]> By: Kevin Clark http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2009/10/30/difficult-bible-passages-matthew-1912/comment-page-1/#comment-159679 Kevin Clark Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:12:05 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/?p=2072#comment-159679 Hi Bill More and more these days we hear of Christians getting divorced and it is something I struggle to come to terms with. I would really love to see you unpack this one. I have a friend who is in his forties and has never been married. He is a committed Christian and his heart is to follow God in every way. To that end he has kept himself pure all these years. He recently started dating a woman who divorced her husband several years ago after years of constant emotional (and possibly physical) abuse. Many people in her church were aware of this and some encouraged her to leave and others to stay. After putting it off for years and after several breakdowns she eventually divorced this man for the safety of herself and her children. My friend is in a real dilemma over this scripture in Matthew. If he marries this woman are they committing adultery? Some might say that her husband has in a sense betrayed the marriage vow. I would be interested in your thoughts on this Kevin Clark Hi Bill
More and more these days we hear of Christians getting divorced and it is something I struggle to come to terms with. I would really love to see you unpack this one.

I have a friend who is in his forties and has never been married. He is a committed Christian and his heart is to follow God in every way. To that end he has kept himself pure all these years. He recently started dating a woman who divorced her husband several years ago after years of constant emotional (and possibly physical) abuse. Many people in her church were aware of this and some encouraged her to leave and others to stay. After putting it off for years and after several breakdowns she eventually divorced this man for the safety of herself and her children. My friend is in a real dilemma over this scripture in Matthew. If he marries this woman are they committing adultery?

Some might say that her husband has in a sense betrayed the marriage vow. I would be interested in your thoughts on this

Kevin Clark

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