How did the Greek and Latin Fathers differ in their view of the Trinity? by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
The Greek Fathers and the Latin Fathers, representing the Eastern and Western Christian traditions, respectively, had some differences in their views of the Trinity. These differences were influenced by various factors, including cultural, linguistic, and theological contexts. Here are some key points of contrast: One significant difference between the Greek and Latin Fathers was the language and terminology they used to discuss the Trinity. The Greek Fathers, such as Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, [...]
Should I expect that miracles are for today? by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
Should I expect miracles today? In the first part of this article, I dispelled the idea that miracles only took place in a very short period in the Biblical era. There seems to be a plentitude of faith healers and Churches that seem to think so. A significant proportion of the future Church in Africa seems to hold that miracles are normative, and we can expect God's supernatural way of dealing with our everyday lives. [...]
Did miracles happen only in a fraction of the Biblical era? by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
Reformed Theologian Dr. John MacArthur writes. “Most biblical miracles happened in three relatively brief periods of Bible history: in the days of Moses and Joshua, during the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, and in the time of Christ and the apostles... All three periods of miracles were times when God gave his written revelation— Scripture— in substantial quantities. Those doing the miracles were essentially the same ones heralding an era of revelation. Moses wrote the [...]
Why does Jesus love me? By Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
I talked with a gentleman on a flight from Johannesburg (SA) to Durban (SA) a few months ago. Because I was wearing my SATS shirt, our talk veered into the topic of faith and God. First, the gentleman noted that several of his best friends were quite religious, but he didn't see them doing anything special besides attending Church. When I asked him about his faith, he said he never felt good enough to pray or [...]
Does God still hate Sin? By Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
Obviously, I am writing this question being very qualified in the area of Sin. Please, I do not think for a moment that you, the reader, also share any claim to ultimate perfection. I have written elsewhere about the Biblical definition of Sin. I am keenly aware that some of us have justified what is displeasing to the Lord by minimizing what we personally struggle with. For some of us, we have totally disqualified ourselves [...]
The Divine Dance: Unpacking the Divine Encounters in Human Experience by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
In Biblical theology, the doctrine of accommodation refers to the idea that God, when revealing divine truths to humanity, adapts or accommodates the message in a way that is understandable and relatable to human beings. When we look at the reception of any revelation from God, we understand that God reveals, preserves, and relates it as He wills. We clearly recognize the inherent limitations of human comprehension and reception of God’s revelation, but we always [...]
Table of Qur’anic Surahs with short explanations.
Surah # Anglicized title(s) Arabic title(s) English title(s) Number of verses Place of Revelation Main theme Juz’ 1 Al-Fatiha ٱلْفَاتِحَة al-Fātiḥah al Hamd The Opening, The Opening of the Divine Writ, The Essence of the Divine Writ, The Surah of Praise, The Foundation of the Qur’an, andThe Seven Oft-Repeated [Verses] 7 (1) Makkah The “seed” of the whole Qur’ān 1 2 Al-Baqarah ٱلْبَقَرَة al-Baq̈arah The Calf, The Cow 286 (40) Madinah The necessity of God-consciousness. The [...]
Not everyone is a Heretic by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
“Heresy!” They blurted out when the preacher said something that sounded suspicious. “He is preaching something that is out of the norm...” “I just do not like that guy's vibe...” “Where was he educated?” “Whatever the Bible says, it can’t be that?” “I just don’t like him...” Steven Bullivant writes. “Heresy is what sincere Christians, quite properly and prudently, are keen to avoid. It comes from the Greek word hairesis, which means “choice," “opinion," or [...]
Does the Prophetic still matter? by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
I love the Bible and, even more, what God did in history as it is accounted for in these books. From both the Old and the New Testaments, one aspect that seems relevant is the area of the Prophetic. Sam Storms writes that; "Prophecy is always the communication of something the Holy Spirit has "revealed," or disclosed to a person." Dr Hugh Goosen says; "Prophecy occurs when an individual (a) through various means, including vision, [...]
Jesus died for…..SOME? by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
I have many friends who hold to the idea that Christ Died only for those that are elect, or even better, those decreed to be His from the beginning. Now I am not even going to touch upon if He did so before the foundation of the World (Subla-lapsairianism) or only after the fall (infralapsarianism). The idea that God does know the end from the beginning, and he, therefore, determines the eventual outcome, is one [...]