Josephus does not tell us that Christianity is true, and Christians do not need Josephus to tell them that Christ is risen. But Christianity makes claims about things that happened in public history under identifiable rulers, priests, and governors. For that reason, testimony from outside the church matters.
Today, the longing for cultural Christianity on both the left and the right hearkens back to an older version of Christendom that was a mixed blessing for the church in the western world. The cultural mediation of Christian views on created order has certainly benefitted the civilization we’ve inherited. But the gospel itself isn’t something that can be reduced to cultural mediation either. Instead, the gospel as a message stands apart from all human accomplishments and achievements, no matter how beneficial they might be.
The student of Scripture should always have a map open next to their Bible as they read. If possible, they should also travel to Israel, not to make a pilgrimage, but to see the context of the land in which these stories took place. These are not fairy tales made up about fictional fantasy lands; these are stories about real people in real places interacting with a real God.

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Looking back on the year, the narrative we’re fed is that we should be able to show how much we’ve grown, how much we’ve done, all the successes we’ve had, how improved we are.
God does not combat the impending armies of Satan with might and power, but with the weakness of a babe.
Instead of defining the true church in the way of the law, Augustine approaches the issue pastorally in the way of the gospel.
If someone confesses their sins into my ears, I have no options but to forgive them in the name of Christ.
Where Erasmus saw fear and collapse, Luther saw the never-ending comfort of Christ and his gospel.
When we read this chapter, we find that we are actually shaped by the word.
This creed is no mere squabble over words. Salvation is on the line.
They cannot know that I am already a father, but, this side of eternity, I won’t ever meet my child because of a miscarriage.
To be lukewarm is to take refuge in your own works apart from the works of God.
Christ triumphantly brings about a new day, an eighth day, the first day of a new week.
If sin is not “imputed” or “reckoned to” the sinner then who is it reckoned to? The good news is that it’s reckoned to God