Category Archives: Understanding the Bible

Two women, the kings and the nations

Posted on April 8, 2010 by PaulVK

The book of Revelation ends with an interesting tale of two cities. Augustine didn’t get this stuff out of thin air. Revelation 17:1 begins with one of the angels from the seven plagues giving John a tour of the whore … Continue reading →

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The "Mark of the Beast"

Posted on March 18, 2010 by PaulVK

I wrote this in response to a CRC-Voices thread on fears prompted by RFID tagging or tattoes with respect to the “mark of the beast” found in the book of Revelation Check out a concordance search of “forehead” from the … Continue reading →

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What to make of the multiplication of Biblical translations

Posted on December 29, 2009 by PaulVK

I wrote this for CRC-Voices in response to a discussion on the multiplication of translations. Over the last few years I’ve been doing detailed Bible study with my adult sunday school class. Each week I reproduce for them a multi-columned … Continue reading →

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Is the Tower of Babel story an urban vs. nature story?

Posted on December 23, 2009 by PaulVK

This is from a discussion on CRC-Voices that wandered into the urban vs. rural conflict. Are cities evil? Keller got mentioned so that’s how he got into the argument. Keller inherits the urban ministry work done by Westminster East and … Continue reading →

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"Pastor, just tell me what to DO!"

Posted on November 12, 2009 by PaulVK

Most of the time people hate being told what to do unless they want something, then they love to be told what to do in order to get it. I am an amazingly frustrating pastor to some people because they’re … Continue reading →

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Time and Pain

Posted on October 2, 2009 by PaulVK

Part of why we doubt God is the relationship of time and pain. Pain is in fact all about time. When there is no time, there is no pain. In Luke 13:6-9 the master of the fruitless fruit tree is … Continue reading →

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To Know Good and Evil

Posted on September 17, 2009 by PaulVK

I’m in Revelation 13 in my Adult Sunday School class. Revelation 13:7 says that the beast, the empire/proxy of the dragon was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. Isn’t that a strange verse? Why would … Continue reading →

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The fool says in his heart "there is no God" and even Peter's got his doubts

Posted on August 12, 2009 by PaulVK

Peter’s question in Luke 12:41 is interesting. What motivated him to ask it? He was clearly referring to the parable that comes right before this verse. This is a parable about the coming of the Son of Man who is … Continue reading →

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Miroslav Volf on God's violence or ours

Posted on August 12, 2009 by PaulVK

One could object that it is not worthy of God to wield the sword. Is God not love, long-suffering and all-powerful love? A counter-question could go something like this: Is it not a bit too arrogant to presume that our … Continue reading →

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Bounded-set, center-set, Jesus and organized religion

Posted on August 11, 2009 by PaulVK

Organized Religion Recently a friend approached me looking for a donation for a friend of his who was robbed of some needed work tools. I suggested he approach the deacons of my church and ask for help. He did and … Continue reading →

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