Reviews

The ESV Study Bible

The ESV Study Bible may just be the finest study Bible ever produced. We do not say that lightly, given the array of study Bibles and tools produced over the last thirty years or so. We base our conclusions on the following reasons:

1. It's built on an excellent translation of the Bible. The ESV Bible is "an essentially literal translation" (from the Introduction). This Bible suits serious students of God's Word because it faithfully translates into English the words of the original languages. Other translations, only seek to approximate the words, something called dynamic equivalence. Conscientious students of God's Word will want to stick with more literal translations, such as the ESV.

2. The excellent commentary from some of the best evangelical scholars. If you check out the Contributors section, you will be impressed by the capable scholars assembled for this project. They all hold to a high view of Scripture and all serve in respectable evangelical institutions.

3. Informative articles on a variety of topics, such as biblical doctrine, ethics (like marriage and sexuality), war, and a host of others.

4. Excellent illustrations drawn with precision and detail. These illustrations range from elaborate cutout views of the temple to even a Galilean fishing boat.

5. Countless maps of key locations and significant events of both the Old and New Testaments. These maps are interspersed throughout the body of this Bible, not relegated to a back section (which, to be sure, some readers would prefer).

6. Comprehensive book introductions that include authorship, purpose, key themes, and other helpful tools that help the reader to correctly interpret the book.

In summary, we cannot find a better "one-stop" resource for complete and thorough Bible study than the ESV Study Bible.

Updates

Well Known Pastor Predicts Imminent Peril in U.S.

David Wilkerson, Founding Pastor of Times Square Church in New York City, has once again predicted dire circumstances for the cities across America. He uttered this recent forecast in his blog. But Pastor Wilkerson is no stranger to such utterances, having sounded off in the past with similar warnings.

How should God's people respond to these forecasts? Should we give them any credence at all? For more on this latest "vision," please click here.

Regeneration

We've just completed a new entry on "regeneration." Click here to learn more.

About Bibletruth

My name is Sam Petitfils, and I serve as webmaster of Bibletruth. At Bibletruth we value and explore the great themes of Scripture. We believe Scripture is central to a correct understanding of our world and our role as believers. We have chosen to emphasize theology as a key and valid discipline for our day.

We hope you will browse the site and look over some of the resources and links.

I have graduate degrees from Talbot and Westminster (in California) seminaries and have pastored in California for many years. Please contact me if you have questions or comments.

Systematic Theology

A Website for Students of Theology

Welcome to Bibletruth! You'll find resources on this site that will help you as you study God's Word and reflect on His truth. We provide doctrinal summaries, helpful links, and reflect on some key theological issues. To begin your journey, we suggest our theology page. Though our site is for serious students, we do not necessarily mean "experienced" students only. In fact, new believers grow best when they obtain a solid grounding in the truth of God's Word.

What is Systematic Theology

Here's a simple definition of systematic theology: "What does the Bible teach us about a given topic?" (from Robert Reymond, A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, xxv). "Biblical theology" examines truth in its historic unfolding (for example, the "Old Testament doctrine of the Holy Spirit," or "Paul's doctrine of the church"). Systematic theology, on the other hand, takes the completed revelation, or the Bible, and applies it to various topics. Professor John Frame puts it this way, "Theology is the application of Scripture to all areas of human life" (Salvation Belongs to the Lord, 72).

In order to effectively study theology, one needs to:

• Submit to God, and be willing to discard old biases and accept truth as God reveals it in his Word.
• Pray for insight and illumination.
• Commit to a disciplined and systematic habit of serious study.
• Walk humbly with God, and allow His truth to shape all of life.
• Compare your work with others in the field (see the previous point).

Blessings to Students of Theology

God promises rich reward to those who seek Him (John 7:17; Ps. 119:130), and those who do will find Him (Jer. 29:13). Furthermore, doctrinal correctness furnishes structure to life, something we can ill-afford to live without. With God-given truth and boundaries, the child of God no longer walks around in darkness, but instead has the "light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6). Additionally, students of theology can detect false teaching much more quickly than the typical Christian, who is often left to the mercy of unscrupulous "teachers" with mixed motives. Finally, theologically sensitive Christians notice the link between their growth in knowledge and Christ like character. They add knowledge to the other virtues of the sanctified life (2 Pet. 1:5-8).

Blessings to the Church

When lovers of God search His Word for truth then begin to apply that truth to church practice, everyone benefits. One problem today is church "practitioners" seek to build their ministries apart from biblical principles. I would caution students of theology to approach such ministries humbly and with a servant's heart. After all, they are doing God's will. Equally, however, church pastors and elders should welcome the concerns of theologians and not assume they don't need any help. Unfortunately, these two groups sometimes section off into two "camps," having no other dialogue other than near hostile exchanges. Internet forums will make no progress in influencing others if they adopt defensive and even offensive tones that do anything but encourage healthy exchanges.