The Christological Fallacy

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The Christological Fallacy by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 2:27pm QUESTION: What is the “Christological fallacy”? REPLY: One of the most serious threats to sound doctrine is something I call “the Christological fallacy.” It is a fallacy because it places Jesus in a role he was never intended to fill. How does it do this? It makes Jesus the SOURCE and/or NORM for all doctrine. Why is this a serious threat to sound doctrine? Because trying to look at everything through Christological lenses distorts our understanding of some if not all of the most crucial truths … Continue reading →

Women, Quietness, & Silence: 1 Tim. 2:12 & 1 Cor. 14:34

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Women, Quietness, & Silence: 1 Tim. 2:12 & 1 Cor. 14:34 by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 12:39pm A RECENT QUESTION: In your book “The Faith Once For All” you say that “hesuchia” in 1 Timothy 2:12 does not mean “be silent” (as the NIV translates it), but that it means to have a quiet demeanor or attitude. I was wondering if the word “sigao” in 1 Cor. 14:34 has a different meaning; and if so, what is Paul saying there? Also, how does this fit in with 1 Cor. 11:5, where a woman is pictured … Continue reading →

Are We Justified by Christ’s Death or by Faith?

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Are We Justified by Christ’s Death or by Faith? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 11:40am QUERY: Are we justified by Christ’s death, or by our faith in Christ? ANSWER: Both are involved, but in different ways. Romans 5:9 says we are “justified by his blood,”and Romans 3:28 says that “one is justified by faith.” Justification (equivalent to forgiveness of sins) is God’s declaration that he accepts us as righteous before the law, in the sense that our debt of eternal punishment has been canceled. To be justified means that God, in his role as Judge, … Continue reading →

Recommendations for Studying Greek

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Recommendations for Studying Greek by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 10:57am A RECENT REQUEST: I could use some help regarding resources for studying Greek. I have noticed that some texts reflect some rather liberal views of the Word of God. Someone recommended Walter Bauer’s “A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature,” University of Chicago Press, 1979. Is this one OK? Can you recommend a Greek NT, and any other basic resources that might be essential? MY REPLY: I am not an expert on Greek, so I passed this request along to … Continue reading →

Did Jesus Go to Hell When He Died (1 Pet. 3:18-19)?

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Did Jesus Go to Hell When He Died (1 Pet. 3:18-19)? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Sunday, November 8, 2009 at 3:29pm I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF INQUIRIES about 1 Peter 3:18ff., which says: “He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago.” What does this mean? Did Jesus somehow “go to hell” after he died on the cross? If so, is this part of his atoning work? Or does it mean that he went and preached to … Continue reading →

Heb. 6:4-8 and “Once Saved, Always Saved”

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Heb. 6:4-8 and “Once Saved, Always Saved” by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 10:03am A RECENT QUERY: “We are doing a study in Hebrews and this week chapter 6 rears its ugly head regarding eternal security. I know that I have at least 2 with a strong calvinistic background in my class, and we will be addressing the ‘once saved, always saved’ problem. Any thoughts?” MY REPLY: In my book, “The Faith Once for All,” I have a whole chapter on the subject of assurance of salvation (ch. 21). In this chapter I give a strong … Continue reading →

What is the Age of Accountability?

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What is the Age of Accountability? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 12:21pm QUERY: How can we tell when a child reaches the “age of accountability”? ANSWER: The word “accountability” raises two questions: a) Accountable FOR WHAT? and, b) Accountable TO WHOM? The obvious answers are: accountable FOR SIN, and accountable TO GOD. Thus the age of accountability is that point when a child comes to the understanding that he or she is a sinner before God and faces the penalty of eternal punishment. The key word is “understanding.” For there to be sin, four things … Continue reading →

Does Silence Mean Prohibition or Permission?

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Does Silence Mean Prohibition or Permission? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 11:11am AN INQUIRY ABOUT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS: “I grew up in a non-instrumental church of Christ. Now, however, I do not believe it is against God’s will to have instruments in worship. But those at my home church make a good point in that instruments are not mentioned in the New Testament. I have also heard that instruments were not used in the early churches and were only introduced later. What do you think about this argument?” MY REPLY: It is granted that the NT … Continue reading →

Is Faith a Gift?

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Is Faith a Gift? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 9:42am A RECENT QUERY: “I came across a church website that says (slightly abbreviated): ‘We share the values of the Reformation, the five “Alones”: ●Christ Alone: We believe that Jesus Christ was, is and always will be fully God (Hebrews 13:8) and that he became fully human, taking the very nature of a man (Philippians 2) and that he came to show us what God the Father is like; when you see Jesus you see God the Father (John 14:9). ●Grace Alone: Our relationship with God … Continue reading →

What Is Baptism for the Dead?

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What Is Baptism for the Dead? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 2:42pm QUERY: What is your interpretation of the baptism of the dead? MY ANSWER: This question refers to Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 15:29, “Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?” What does Paul mean? I begin by citing one of my best commentaries on First Corinthians (F. W. Grosheide): “Vs. 29 is one of the most difficult passages in the New Testament. Interpretations abound … Continue reading →