Biblical Controversies - Mathematical Bible

Authorship (2 controversies)

Authorship of Hebrews

Positions:

Pauline

Paul wrote Hebrews (traditional in East)

Apollos

Apollos wrote it (Luther's suggestion)

Barnabas

Barnabas wrote it (Tertullian)

Unknown

Author is unknown and unidentifiable

Key Passages

Hebrews 2:3 (author was not an eyewitness), Hebrews 13:23 (knows Timothy)

Historical Context: Origen: 'Only God knows who wrote it.' Pauline authorship helped Eastern acceptance. Western church long doubted it.

Modern Implications: Affects canonical discussions, understanding of early Christianity

Authorship of Isaiah

Positions:

Single Author

Isaiah wrote all 66 chapters (traditional view)

Multiple Authors

Isaiah 1-39 (8th c), 40-55 (exile), 56-66 (post-exile) - critical view

Isaiah School

Isaiah's disciples continued his tradition

Key Passages

Isaiah 40:1 (change in setting), Isaiah 44:28, 45:1 (Cyrus named)

Historical Context: Single authorship held until 18th century. Duhm proposed three Isaiahs (1892). DSS found complete Isaiah scroll.

Modern Implications: Affects views of prophecy, biblical inerrancy, literary analysis

Canon (3 controversies)

Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical Books

Positions:

Catholic/Orthodox

These books are inspired Scripture (Tobit, Judith, 1-2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, additions to Daniel/Esther)

Protestant

Useful but not canonical; not found in Hebrew Bible

Jewish

Not part of Tanakh; written after prophetic period ended

Key Passages

2 Maccabees 12:44-45 (prayer for dead), Wisdom 2:23-24 (immortality), Sirach 24 (Wisdom personified)

Historical Context: The LXX included these books. Jerome distinguished 'canonical' from 'ecclesiastical' books. Luther separated them. Council of Trent declared them canonical (1546).

Modern Implications: Affects doctrines of purgatory, prayer for the dead, and salvation theology

Book of Enoch

Positions:

Ethiopian Orthodox

Canonical Scripture

Most Christians

Valuable but non-canonical

Critical scholars

Important for understanding NT worldview

Key Passages

Jude 14-15 quotes 1 Enoch 1:9, References to Watchers, Nephilim, Azazel

Historical Context: Quoted in Jude 14-15. Deeply influenced Second Temple Judaism and early Christianity. Found among Dead Sea Scrolls.

Modern Implications: Affects understanding of angels, demons, apocalypticism, and NT vocabulary

Revelation/Apocalypse

Positions:

Western Church

Canonical from early period

Eastern Church

Long disputed; not read liturgically in some traditions

Luther

Questioned its apostolicity (though retained)

Key Passages

All of Revelation

Historical Context: Eusebius listed it among 'disputed' books. Not in Peshitta. Eastern Orthodox still don't read it in liturgy.

Modern Implications: Foundational for eschatology, millennialism, and apocalyptic expectation

Ecclesiology (1 controversies)

Women in Ministry

Positions:

Complementarian

Women cannot be pastors/elders; different roles by design

Egalitarian

Full equality in all ministry roles; restrictions were cultural

Moderate

Some roles restricted, others open

Key Passages

1 Timothy 2:11-15, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, Galatians 3:28, Romans 16:1-7, Acts 18:26

Historical Context: Women leaders in early church (Phoebe, Priscilla). Restrictions developed. Modern feminist biblical scholarship.

Modern Implications: Affects denominational identity, church leadership, gender theology

Eschatology (2 controversies)

Nature of Hell

Positions:

Eternal Conscious Torment

Traditional view - unending suffering in hell

Annihilationism/Conditionalism

The wicked are destroyed/cease to exist

Universalism

All will eventually be saved

Purgatorial Universalism

Hell is remedial, leading to eventual salvation

Key Passages

Matthew 25:46, Revelation 14:11, Romans 6:23, Malachi 4:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:22

Historical Context: Origen taught apokatastasis. Augustine established eternal torment as orthodox. Modern evangelical debate ongoing.

Modern Implications: Affects evangelism urgency, God's character, justice and mercy balance

Millennium

Positions:

Premillennialism

Christ returns before a literal 1000-year reign on earth

Postmillennialism

Christ returns after the gospel transforms the world

Amillennialism

The 1000 years is symbolic of the church age

Key Passages

Revelation 20:1-6, Isaiah 11, Romans 11:25-27, 2 Peter 3:10-13

Historical Context: Early church had various views. Augustine established amillennialism. Dispensationalism (19th c) popularized premillennialism.

Modern Implications: Affects engagement with culture, Israel theology, end-times expectation

Genesis (1 controversies)

Nephilim/Sons of God

Positions:

Angelic View

'Sons of God' were fallen angels who mated with human women

Sethite View

'Sons of God' were godly line of Seth; 'daughters of men' were Cainites

Royal View

'Sons of God' were tyrannical kings practicing polygamy

Key Passages

Genesis 6:1-4, Job 1:6, 2:1, Jude 6-7, 2 Peter 2:4-5, 1 Enoch 6-11

Historical Context: Jewish tradition (Enoch, Jubilees) held angelic view. Augustine promoted Sethite view. Modern debate continues.

Modern Implications: Affects angelology, demonology, interpretation of judgment narratives

Hermeneutics (1 controversies)

Genesis Creation Days

Positions:

Young Earth

Six literal 24-hour days; earth is ~6,000-10,000 years old

Day-Age

Each 'day' represents a long period of time

Framework

Literary framework, not chronological sequence

Gap Theory

Long gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2

Theistic Evolution

God used evolution over billions of years

Key Passages

Genesis 1-2, Exodus 20:11, Psalm 90:4, 2 Peter 3:8

Historical Context: Church fathers had various views. Modern debate intensified with Darwin. Scopes Trial (1925).

Modern Implications: Affects science-faith dialogue, educational policy, biblical authority discussions

Pneumatology (1 controversies)

Speaking in Tongues

Positions:

Cessationism

Tongues ceased after apostolic age

Continuationism

Tongues continue today as prayer language or evangelistic gift

Third Wave

All gifts continue; tongues not required for Spirit baptism

Key Passages

Acts 2:1-11, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Mark 16:17, 1 Corinthians 13:8-10

Historical Context: Montanist controversy (2nd c). Azusa Street Revival (1906). Charismatic Movement (1960s).

Modern Implications: Affects worship style, spiritual formation, denominational identity

Sacraments (1 controversies)

Baptism

Positions:

Baptist/Believer's Baptism

Only professing believers should be baptized by immersion

Paedobaptism (Reformed)

Infant baptism as sign of covenant; does not save

Baptismal Regeneration

Baptism conveys saving grace (Catholic, Lutheran, some Orthodox)

Non-essential

Baptism is symbolic only, not required for salvation

Key Passages

Acts 2:38, Romans 6:3-4, 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 16:33, Colossians 2:11-12

Historical Context: Infant baptism from at least 2nd century. Anabaptist movement (16th c). Ongoing denominational differences.

Modern Implications: Affects church membership, salvation assurance, ecumenical relations

Soteriology (2 controversies)

Predestination vs Free Will

Positions:

Calvinism

God unconditionally elects some to salvation; irresistible grace

Arminianism

God's election is conditional on foreseen faith; grace can be resisted

Molinism

God uses middle knowledge to achieve his purposes through free choices

Open Theism

God does not fully know future free choices

Key Passages

Romans 9:10-24, Ephesians 1:4-5, John 6:44, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:4

Historical Context: Augustine vs Pelagius (5th c). Luther vs Erasmus (16th c). Synod of Dort (1618). Continues today.

Modern Implications: Affects evangelism methods, assurance of salvation, theodicy

The 'Unforgivable Sin'

Positions:

Attributing Christ's Work to Satan

The specific sin of calling Holy Spirit's work demonic

Final Impenitence

Persistent, willful rejection of the Spirit to death

Apostasy

Complete abandonment of faith after experiencing its reality

Key Passages

Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-30, Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 10:26-31, 1 John 5:16

Historical Context: Much pastoral concern over this passage. Many fear they have committed it.

Modern Implications: Affects assurance of salvation, pastoral care, understanding of grace

Theology Proper (1 controversies)

Trinity

Positions:

Nicene Trinitarianism

One God in three co-equal, co-eternal persons

Modalism/Oneness

One God who manifests in three modes

Arianism

Son is created, subordinate to Father

Unitarianism

God is one person; Jesus is not divine

Key Passages

Matthew 28:19, John 1:1, John 10:30, Colossians 1:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:6

Historical Context: Council of Nicaea (325), Constantinople (381). Athanasius vs Arius. Creeds developed over centuries.

Modern Implications: Defines Christian orthodoxy; affects Christology, salvation, worship

Worship (1 controversies)

Sabbath vs Sunday

Positions:

Sabbatarian

Saturday Sabbath remains binding (Seventh-day Adventists, some others)

Lord's Day

Sunday worship commemorates resurrection; supersedes Sabbath

Any Day

No specific day required; principle of rest remains

Key Passages

Exodus 20:8-11, Colossians 2:16-17, Acts 20:7, Romans 14:5-6, Hebrews 4:9-10

Historical Context: Early Christians met on Sunday. Constantine made Sunday official. Sabbatarian movements arose in Reformation.

Modern Implications: Affects worship practice, cultural engagement, work-rest balance