David Wilber's Blog, page 2
August 24, 2022
Yes, Leviticus 18:22 Explicitly Prohibits Homosexual Activity
Author: David Wilber
Leviticus 18:22 strongly condemns and prohibits homosexual activity, even if such activity is between consenting adults in a loving relationship. According to scholar Roy Gane, the language of this verse is “devastatingly untechnical, leaving no room for ambiguity.”[1] One does not have to like this verse or agree with it, but that does not change what it says.
Why do I point this out? Because in recent days, progressive Christians have claimed that Leviticus 18:22 does not me...
July 24, 2022
Did Jesus Reject the Torah’s Dietary Laws? (Mark 7:1-23)
Author: David Wilber
Did Jesus reject the Torah’s dietary laws? Many say that he did, citing Mark 7:1-23 as proof. In this article, I will explain the problems with the traditional interpretation of this passage and offer an alternative view that presents a more consistent and accurate portrayal of Jesus’s teaching.
Mark 7:1-23 describes a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees. This confrontation begins when the Pharisees observe that Jesus’s disciples did not ritually wash their hands bef...
June 17, 2022
Addressing R. L. Solberg's Disappointing Mischaracterization of Me
Author: David Wilber
R. L. Solberg recently released the new edition of his book, Torahism, in which he attempts to refute the beliefs of "Pronomian" (Pro-law) Christians concerning the validity of God's Law/Torah. I've read the previous edition of Solberg's book and wasn't persuaded by any of his arguments, so I was looking forward to seeing his new content to see if he had any worthwhile rebuttal to Pronomianism. I bought the book on Kindle yesterday, and I was surprised to discover that I was ...
December 26, 2021
Our God and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1)
Author: David Wilber
Does Peter call Jesus “God” in 2 Peter 1:1? When we examine this verse from a grammatical standpoint, it is evident that he does. Let’s look at the verse:
Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
—2 Peter 1:1
In English, the phrase “our God and Savior Jesus Christ” is ambiguous and could be read in two different ways. One option is to take this vers...
December 13, 2021
Jesus Fulfilled the Torah: What Does That Mean?
Author: David Wilber
Is the Torah (Law of Moses) relevant to Christians today? Many modern Christians say no. Progressive Christians argue that God gave the Torah to the nation of Israel for only a designated time in history, and that time has ended with the death and resurrection of Christ. Thus, the Torah was not intended to inform how Christians live today.[1] Like the old heretic Marcion, some Christian leaders have even advocated for “unhitching” from the Old Testament entirely.[2] However, ...
October 17, 2021
Polygamy Harms Men, Women, and Children
Author: David Wilber
I’ve been reading some scientific studies on the psychosocial impact of polygamy (in particular, the form of polygamy known as polygyny, that is, a husband having two or more wives). Modern-day advocates for polygamy argue that this practice benefits families and society, but the scientific data tells a different story. The harmful effects of polygamy on the well-being of men, women, and children are striking.
I’m going to highlight the findings of one fascinating two-part res...
August 26, 2021
Monogamy: God's Creational Marriage Ideal
Author: David Wilber
The first few chapters of Genesis are essential to understanding God’s intention for marriage. As Dan Allender and Tremper Longman argue, the creation narratives in Genesis 1-3 establish “crucial principles that are to shape our marriages.”[1] Richard Davidson notes that Genesis’s portrayal of the first marriage “constitutes the foundation for the rest of the biblical narrative and discourse on human sexuality and encapsulates the fundamental principles of a theology of sexua...
July 22, 2021
Understanding the Torah's Polygamy Regulations (Exodus 21:7-11; Deuteronomy 21:15-17)
Author: David Wilber
Some Christians think that God approves of polygamy because the Torah has legislation regulating it. Exodus 21:7-11 and Deuteronomy 21:15-17 are the two most commonly cited passages that allegedly demonstrate God’s endorsement of polygamy. However, as I explain in my book, the Bible teaches that God disapproves of polygamy. (Leviticus 18:18 might even prohibit it directly.) How do we make sense of the Torah’s polygamy regulations in light of the Bible’s overall condemnation o...
July 4, 2021
Understanding Submission in Marriage (Ephesians 5)
Author: David Wilber
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). If you just read that verse out loud, then you might hear a faint, high-pitched noise. That sound is every feminist worldwide shrieking about how Christianity oppresses women. Feminist author Valerie Tarico cites this verse as evidence that the Bible regards women as human “chattel.”[1] But is this instruction in Ephesians really oppressive toward women?
To give some historical context, Ephesians 5:21-6:9 a...
June 18, 2021
Jesus Saved Israel Out Of Egypt (Jude 5)
Author: David Wilber
Did Jesus exist before he was conceived in Mary’s womb? Unitarians say no. “You cannot be before you are,” scoffs Anthony Buzzard, who calls the doctrine of Messiah’s preexistence “baffling” and “impossible.”[1]
However, we shouldn’t base our beliefs about this concept on whether or not Anthony Buzzard can wrap his mind around it. The primary question should be, “Do the Scriptures teach that the Messiah existed as a pre-incarnate person?” We must determine what the Scriptures ...
