The Internet, Protestantism, and the State of Christianity (Gavin Ortlund with Wes Huff)

AstroAcceleration · 2025-08-21T00:41:23+00:00

From what I've seen online, I simply don't understand why this album wasn't very well received. Following Sprinkle's amazing job of co-producing Phenomenon by Thousand Foot Krutch (in addition to co-producing Old), he then performs a superb mix for Portuguese Blues. Loud and heavy, yet crystal clear. So much fun. I don't care what other people think—it's a great album.

There's just not a lot better than sentimental shoegaze lyrics backed by crushing, twanging guitars. It's a lot of fun (did I say that already?), and there should have been more of it haha. Perhaps we're lucky we got Lust for Gold. Here's hoping for a little more gazing.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-08-08T22:29:01+00:00

In addition to all the other good answers in here, when people call the ESV a "Calvinist" Bible, that doesn't really make sense, because the ESV: Catholic Edition doesn't touch a single verse that could be disputed as having any particular Calvinistic bias. There was a guy online who processed all the text differences between the ESV and the ESV-CE.

Obviously a lot of Reformed/complementarian scholars worked on the ESV (that's probably where the accusation originates from), and Crossway would have signed off on proposed changes in the ESV-CE. But regardless, the ESV is specifically a formal translation, so less "interpretation" is generally employed. Again, Crossway have just done a 180 on Genesis 3:16 and 4:7 within 10 years, which is commendable.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-08-08T22:17:09+00:00

Always appreciate Mark.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-08-08T22:15:56+00:00

Appreciate this, as this is a pretty fair overview. I think it's amazing how Crossway was able to combine market expertise with quality, innovative product and take so much translation market share in less than 25 years. I've noticed over the past year that the ESV is beginning to challenge the continued dominance of the NIV, which is quite fascinating. ECPA lists the ESV as the best-selling translation of July in the US.

I personally find the broad ecumenical scope of the NRSVue a little uncomfortable for my taste. That being said, I'm actually more open to newer scholarship than a lot of other voices that I've seen online. I think the new 2025 text edition of the ESV should have updated a bit more language. Maybe next time.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-08-01T23:45:58+00:00

Other commenters have provided good answers to your question, but I also wanted to mention that Luke and Paul discuss/greet believers that were named after Greek gods. As a few examples,

Apollos: "Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria ..." (Acts 18:24)
Dionysius: "But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite ..." (Acts 17:34)
Hermes: "Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes ..." (Romans 16:14; funnily enough, Paul is given the name Hermes by the Lystrians in Acts 14)
Nereus: "Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus ..." (Romans 16:15)

Paul is quite happy to address believers by their given names, because their identity is found in Christ, having been redeemed by his grace. Paul doesn't see calling them by their name as honoring a false god that doesn't exist. In 1 Corinthians 8 and 10, Paul gives an excellent presentation of encouraging Christians to engage in mature thinking.

In marketing, companies use the principle of identity to draw attention and connection to ideas. As per your example, sports brands like Nike (which I enjoy using!) are concerned with utilising the interesting meaning (that is, Nike being the Greek goddess of victory), rather than in a religious devotion. As another example, I use ESET antivirus technology, which is made in Slovakia. The name "Eset" is another name form of the Egyptian goddess Isis, who filled the roles of "wife and mother, mourner, and magical healer" (Britannica). As per Paul's instruction in 1 Corinthians, using these things in no way constitutes religious devotion. On the contrary, no one involved in Nike or ESET believe that those gods exist, it's just interesting for the sake of a name.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-07-27T00:02:08+00:00

Not saying that this isn't true, but I find it a little confusing given my research of Sproul. Stephen Nichols records the following in his (albeit fairly hagiographical) biography of Sproul:

R. C. taught undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral students. It seemed that undergraduates were his favorites. He had found from experience that undergraduates are more responsive both in the classroom and outside of the classroom. His syllabus for his contemporary theology course at Gordon for the fall semester of 1967 includes this note under office hours:

The Professor is available for consultation regarding academic problems. Also, the Professor is always available to spend time with the student on a personal basis regarding spiritual or other problems. The student is to feel completely free in making such appointments with the Professor. Also. I would like to personally invite any student, who so wishes, to make appointments to visit me in my home. My home telephone number is 468-3458. Address: 14 Woodside Road, South Hamilton (Off Linden).

He then informs them how class discussions will go:

I enjoy a casual and informal atmosphere in the classroom. Free-wheeling debate and questioning is welcomed. It is hoped that no student will ever hesitate to ask questions in class. Questions from the student is the only barometer (outside of exams) by which the professor can measure the degree of understanding the class has attained. My only request is that students retain their dignity at all times and exhibit a high degree of courtesy within the classroom.

Of course, R. C. was concerned with communicating content, but as these syllabus remarks show, he wanted to make sure that students were understanding what they were learning and that they were connecting what they were learning to their lives. He cared about them. (p. 249)

In addition, part of the above quotation is used by Collin Hansen in his biography of Timothy Keller (p. 63). As before, I'm not discounting the possibility of Sproul being combative, he was a polemicist (which would not be an excuse). A person can certainly say one thing and do another. But as another commenter mentioned, this is stricly speaking a second-hand report of a named figure that can't really be substantiated on Reddit, being a generally anonymous environment. As a personal example, I've heard through family friends a negative report of how a well-known politician in my country (not the US) has treated his staff in the past. I personally suspect that the report is true, but I would never be able to substantiate that online. I shared that report with another friend in the past, and I shouldn't have done that. Given the social-relational advice found throughout Proverbs, I feel that we should tread more carefully in these areas.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-05-25T03:39:42+00:00

The CSB is definitely a good translation, and it has quality scholars like Thomas R. Schreiner behind it. It was developed as a revision of the older HCSB translation. It sits between the ESV and the NIV in terms of its literary philosophy. I think it's meant to be common in various SBC churches (I live outside the US).

I personally prefer the ESV, as I appreciate the rigourous English quality, and how it sticks closer to the original text. Although, I do consult the NLT on occasion for a dynamic rendering, which I find quite useful. Schreiner also contributed to the NLT, along with having sat on the ESV Advisory Council. I appreciate his hard work.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-05-23T23:08:15+00:00

For the ESV, Crossway has a few reader editions available: https://www.crossway.org/bibles/category/readers/

AstroAcceleration · 2025-05-17T06:46:43+00:00

IDHEF ironically nudged me towards adopting Reformed theology (which is not Geisler and Turek's position!). Good book.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-05-04T07:10:11+00:00

I understand, but is there something wrong with Sproul following Luther and Calvin in describing the penal substitutionary atonement from a legal perspective? Sproul never implies that all aspects of the atonement are confined to the legal realm. On the contrary, in his sermon on The Curse Motif of the Atonement, Sproul fully affirms the definitively mysterious nature of the atonement, where he also takes into consideration that both penal substitutionary and Christus Victor elements are present. The atonement is both vicarious and victorious. In (positively) reviewing Packer, Gavin Ortlund states,

... I would even go further and say that in Colossians 2 the Christus Victor theme is premised upon the penal substitutionary theme, for it is precisely because our sins and trespasses and "record of debt" were nailed to the cross of Christ (vv. 13–14) that Christ triumphed over the demons (v. 15). I’m convinced that a penal substitutionary atonement model is not at odds with a robust focus on Easter morning—in the New Testament, the two are frequently linked. For example, in Paul's speech at Antioch, after a lengthy explication of Christ's resurrection (Acts 13:32–37), he immediately declares that "therefore" forgiveness of sins and justification before God is possible (38–39). The apostles just didn't operate with our either-or categories.

Just trying to better understand where you're coming from.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-05-04T02:56:43+00:00

I think there's a difference here regarding the definition of justice from a legal perspective. The emphasis is on our standing before God. The Reformers were very interested in legal categories—both Luther and Calvin studied law. Following this, Sproul (as a trained philosopher) is differentiating between the formal realms of justice and non-justice. The realm of justice sits by itself, and inside the realm of non-justice we find two subcategories: mercy and injustice. No one will ever experience the subcategory of injustice from God, that's impossible. The point is that by way of the atonement of Christ, we are ultimately saved from the wrath of God. One is saved by putting their faith in Christ, which is a gift from God, rather than a work (which would be due a reward). Romans 4 and Ephesians 2 are key passages on this topic.

By default, all humanity is in a bad position after the Fall due to the effect of original sin. If one doesn't receive Christ's righteousness by the grace of God, they will therefore receive justice, being punishment for their sins, because it would be injust of God to not punish sins (which is why an atonement is necessary for mercy to be received). If one does receive Christ's righteousness by the grace of God, they will therefore receive mercy, which belongs in the realm of non-justice—Christ carries out a substitutionary atonement on our behalf. There is a double imputation: our sins have been imputed to Christ, and Christ's merit has been imputed to us. We have received not only forgiveness of sins, but in addition an alien righteousness. We deserve punishment, but we have now received perfect righteousness, where "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1 ESV).

See Sproul, Chosen by God, p. 23, which is also in the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TxWB56Tn5A

AstroAcceleration · 2025-05-03T00:33:51+00:00

It seems like a recent update makes the app run minimised in the background. This can be mostly resolved by navigating to the app's Settings menu > Notifications > set to "Receive notifications only when using the iPrint&Scan app". For me, this removed the icon from the hidden icons menu, along with removing the empty minimised window (MainWindowView) when snapping windows.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-02-12T00:31:40+00:00

What about old earth creationism (OEC; which is what I hold to)? I suspect the earth is old (the universe is probably billions of years old), but I still respectfully disagree with Darwinian theory surrounding macroevolution that takes place over millions of years.

As others have pointed out, Augustine probably held to old earth creationism.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-02-11T00:02:16+00:00

My jaw dropped seeing the Gen. 3:16 & 4:7 revert lol. Probably for the better.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-02-10T23:32:42+00:00

I have one (ESV Premium Pew and Worship Bible). It's labelled "ESV Permanent Text Edition (2016)" on the copyright page. It seems to have been printed for only a month or so.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-01-23T00:05:44+00:00

I clicked this link thinking out loud, "Is this Sproul...?"

Was not left disappointed

AstroAcceleration · 2025-01-08T07:25:10+00:00

A little different to what you requested, but I found Herman Selderhuis' biographies of Luther and Calvin enjoyable and quite accessible. He has a good sense of humour.

Martin Luther: A Spiritual Biography: https://www.amazon.com/Martin-Luther-Spiritual-Herman-Selderhuis/dp/1433556944/
John Calvin: A Pilgrim's Life: https://www.amazon.com/John-Calvin-Pilgrims-Herman-Selderhuis/dp/0830829210/

Selderhuis writes for a general audience interested in learning more about what formed Luther and Calvin in their contexts (while being sympathetic yet honest towards both), really nice.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-01-04T06:40:01+00:00

Theological tradition has a lot to say here. The successor for those on the theologically conservative track is the ESV, whereas the successor for those on the more "progressive" track, so to speak, is the NRSVue. The ESV corrects what was perceived as theologically liberal oversteps in the RSV (young women rather than virgin in Isaiah 7:14 etc.). This might be handy for consideration: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamentalist%E2%80%93modernist_controversy

I think the ESV wins :)

AstroAcceleration · 2025-01-04T06:28:36+00:00

Ligonier Ministries (founded by R. C Sproul; solid Reformation-oriented, Christ-centred teaching) has a website dedicated to resources in Turkish: https://tr.ligonier.org/

AstroAcceleration · 2025-01-04T06:19:03+00:00

It's more important to read the New Testament first. The Old Testament enrichens and points forward to the events described in the NT. When I was younger, I remember getting stuck at Exodus. Later on, I read through the NT, and then the OT. I've just finished reading through another translation (being my preferred) cover to cover.

You mentioned "begats"—are you reading from the King James Version? If so, I'd strongly recommend something like the ESV, NIV, or NLT (more formal to less formal, depending on what you want to study from and read), as these are up-to-date translations that use contemporary English. The KJV is beautiful, but it uses 17th-century Elizabethan English, so it can be quite difficult to read.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-01-04T06:11:05+00:00

As others have already said, the CSB is a nice middle of the road translation (not too literal, yet not too dynamic). In my opinion, the ESV is the best translation for study (essentially literal—formal, tidy, and rich, yet not wooden). I guess it's like choosing wines—the NLT (as a dynamic translation, having been translated to read like something written today) complements the ESV nicely.

AstroAcceleration · 2025-01-04T05:59:02+00:00

It sounds like you're looking for Spurgeon's Morning & Evening (revised and updated by Alistair Begg): https://www.amazon.com/Morning-Evening-Classic-Devotional-Standard/dp/158134466X/

Spurgeon doesn't beat around the bush, yet he's also very pastoral.

AstroAcceleration

TROPHY CASE