I had the BEST day today. Me and some buddies climbed Sharp Top Mountain.
The foliage on the drive there was magnificent.
Eventually, Sharp Top came into view.,
Sharp Top (on the left ) and Flat Top (on the right) are together known as the Peaks of Otter.
When kids are asked to draw a "mountain," they often draw something resembling Sharp Top. It's the quintessential peak.
After a 3-hour drive I arrived at the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center and took this photo.
After that I drove to the trailhead and chillaxed until my friends arrived.
Both of them teach Greek at Liberty University so we have a lot in common!
Arriving at the summit, it was time for the perfunctory summit picture.
This view shows Abbott Lake and neighboring Flat Top Mountain.
Rather than taking the shuttle back to the parking lot, I decided I'd run the descent on the access road.
Don't punch me in the face because you're jealous. Again and again, I kept thinking just how in my element I was running down the trail, sometimes feeling like my lungs would explode, sometimes taking in the deliriously gorgeous views.
Sharp Top may not be the most challenging peak on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but you'll be happy you climbed it. I love it when people try new things. Most people who live here have never climbed ANY of the peaks in the Appalachian Mountains. What a shame.
Thanks to Ben and Thomas for hiking the trail with me today. It was awesome seeing you guys again.
This past Sunday was Reformation Sunday. The Reformation was a watershed in church history. The Reformers were right in declaring that the attitude we have toward the trustworthiness and supremacy of Scripture determines our other positions, not only on faith, but also on practice. The evidence is indisputable that those who surrender the doctrine of inerrancy inevitably move away from orthodoxy. If the evangelical branch of Protestantism bids to take over the historical leadership of the Church today, this question of biblical authority must be settled. To fail to speak up is more than cowardice. It is sinful. Faithfulness to the Scriptures is not easy but it is simple. All it takes is a heart full of Jesus, a Bible, the capacity to study and learn, and a commitment to the kingdom of God. How thankful I am for this congregation in Augusta that is standing on the Bible as the word of God. I hope you enjoy their Reformation Sunday service as much as I did.
Our family has bred Shetland Sheepdogs for decades now. Becky and I started it. Now the kids are doing it. We love this breed, which are affectionately called "Shelties."
What I did not know was the origin of that term. Hence I found this video to be extremely informative.
Shetland is ABSOLUTELY beautiful. It looks so remote and isolated. Little wonder their language sounds so unique. I'll never probably never travel there though I would love to someday.
Here's a little tip for those of you who are trying to learn a foreign language.
In order to learn, say, German, you need to insist on speaking German. Many Germans speak excellent English and will want to speak to you in English. I've learned that if you continue to answer in German they'll eventually get the hint and then speak to you in German. I've discovered that Germans are very happy to help you along as you struggle through their language as they are the first admit that Deutsche Sprache, schwere Sprache, "The German language is a difficult language." By the way, one of the funniest things about Germans is that they will often insist their English is terrible and then proceed to speak flawless English with a perfect accent!
"Benign" has got to be one of the sweetest words in the English language.
Let's say your wife suspects a problem and goes to see her doctor. Tests are run and you wait for what seems to be an eternity for the results. Finally, the two of you meet with the oncologist and she says, "There's nothing to worry about. The lump is benign." The sense of relief you experience is like no other. You begin to weep with joy, thanking God for his kindness and goodness to you.
Not infrequently, however, the test results reveal the presence of cancer in your wife's body. Doctors will "stage" the cancer, beginning with "Stage 1" and going up to "Stage 4." The doctors are gentle but honest. "The tumor is cancerous." There's no sugar-coating it. In our case, they told us, "It's a very rare form of endometrial cancer. We believe it's already at Stage 4." You thank the physicians, make plans for surgery, then get in the car to drive home. But not before you weep. It's not a hopeless cry. It's a brokenness cry. Just the thought of losing your spouse requires a radical and painful adjustment. Canadian evangelist Leighton Ford put it well when his eldest son Sandy died at the age of 21. "The struggle is to bring our faith and our emotions together," adding, "When you love deeply, you hurt deeply."
When Becky passed from earth to heaven 11 years ago this Saturday, she was surrounded by those who loved her. For the last time I held the hand of the one who'd been by my side for 37 wonderful years. One of the things I always say is that being brave doesn't mean that you're not scared. Sometimes it's too much, no matter how much you try to make it better. Don't get me wrong. What I've experienced is nothing like the hard that so many of my friends have experienced this year. Life's sweetness is always laced with the bitter. Every wonderful day I spend on the farm is a day I am achingly aware of her absence. Every moment I think my heart is going to burst watching one of my grandkids accomplish something amazing is another reminder that life is so tenuous and so breakable. Someday in their life they too will be asked to claim the promise that God is still God even when there are no miracles to be found, even when the doctors do not say "benign," even when they are forced to forget everything except his strength, knowing that he has not abandoned them to slip beneath the waves.
This weekend I'll be commemorating Becky's homegoing by attending a performance of the North Carolina Symphony in Raleigh. I won't be alone. My daughter who lives in Alabama will fly in to attend the concert with me. It will be a wonderful time filled with wonderful memories. Then, next month, I'll spend Thanksgiving with her and her husband and their 5 children in their beautiful home. As I look back now, I see that no matter how lonely I have felt since Becky died, I have never been alone. More than anything, I've had my family there to remind me that Jesus defeated sin and death through his crucifixion and resurrection. Then, once again, I find reason and courage to keep going and to continue believing.
I don't do this often, but as I close I'd like to pray for you if I may.
Dear Father, thank you for your very gracious willingness to listen to us when we call upon you in our times of need. Thank you that in your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we have a Savior who has come to our rescue. He's right here, right now with us. He wants to live his life inside us. He wants to become for us a source of encouragement, and strength, and companionship, and hope. Help us, our Father, to trust in Christ. Help us to turn our lives over to him again by faith. Lord, use today's blog post as a very special message to those who eat a meal at a table for one, who sleep alone, who live apart from the companionship they once knew and enjoyed, who may feel hopeless and friendless. Minister to them by bringing into their lives a friend to whom they can confide their deepest secrets and who rescues them from discouragement and hopelessness. Thank you, Father, in advance for how you will use these words in the lives of those who need to hear it. In the name of Jesus I pray.
Thank you for sharing these brief thoughts with me today. You are part of my journey, you who read and cheer and pray along with us, so it's only right that you celebrate with us too.
In this thing we call the Christian life, there have always been some Christ-followers who have stood out from all the rest. They are the resilient ones. The harder the challenge, the stronger they become. Becky was one of them. My passion to become a resilient man came from her. Becky's death impressed on me the importance of not living in the past. She was the one who was always pointing out that it was in the final lap of life that champions show what they're made of. Now that I am well into the final stages of the race, I too want to run strong to the tape.
For the past three years I've become both a slower runner and a weaker climber. Shocker, I know. Raise your hand if you can relate. That's what happens as you age. As the years pile on, the body begins to break down. We lose strength and flexibility. Our ability to take in oxygen decreases. We tire more easily. The thing is, once you accept that fact, you can still have big goals and strive for them. Here's a video of the climb I want to make next summer in Zermatt.
The Riffelhorn ain't no Breithorn, but it will do. I'm no longer up for 4,000 meter peaks, but a 3,000 meter summit still seems possible.
So, what can we do? Prepare. Train our minds and bodies to believe. Keep working out.
And, most importantly, never stop dreaming. Chasing down the Riffelhorn gives new purpose to my workouts.
And guess what? I think might actually have enough upper body strength to pull it off.
So, my lessons for the day:
1. Stop trying to control something you have no control over (like aging).
2. Be kind but hard on yourself. After all, who wants to coast through their later years accomplishing nothing?
3. Be willing to let go of your expectations of how things "should" be.
4. Realize that everyone has struggles, no matter what their Facebook entries look like.
Enough of all that. What am I going to do for the rest of my life? The only thing I know is that it involves running and climbing, no matter the pace of the race or the height of the mountain. All of what I love and value is right here in front of me right now.
Our Lord likened his followers to sheep. We can learn a few things from this analogy.
Sheep are just plain cute. They can be real charmers. They aren't rough or overbearing. But to survive, sheep must be defended by someone other than their fellow sheep. Because they are defenseless, they are dependent creatures. When the wolves come to attack the sheep, they don't scatter because they're afraid of the sheep. They're afraid of the shepherd. The wolf pack must yield to him -- or else.
The church is under the protective shield of its elders. My friend, I can't tell you how important it is that you choose elders that know the Book.
While my students are taking their quiz today I plan going over this amazing book. I can't thank its translator Andy Bowden enough for making the original Spanish version available to us.
Suppose our concept of "ministry" was far broader than most of our one-dimensional models would lead us to believe?
The other day -- again -- I heard the pastorate referred to as the highest calling in the world. After all, it's THE ministry.
Let's put the proverbial cards on the table. God uses loaves and fishes if that's what's in my sack. If it's got a hammer in it, every nail pounded in Jesus' name brings him honor and glory. What's your gift? God can and will use it to accomplish his kingdom purposes. I, for one, believe in the unique and special gifting of all God's people for works of ministry (Eph. 4:11-12).
When I'm wearing Depends and working as a greeter at Walmart, don't you tell me I'm not serving the Lord I love.
I love how John says "On the next day." I've circled the expression below.
Older versions would say "On the morrow." All the Greek has here are the words "the next" in the dative case. It's much more efficient.
I hate saying "the day after tomorrow." English once had a word for it but it fell into disuse. German has übermorgen. It literally means "beyond tomorrow." I think I'll revive that idea in English. Starting today I will refer to "overmorrow." Maybe people will eventually follow my lead. As for the German vorgestern ("the day before yesterday"), I propose we use "voryestern"?
Luke's syntax reminds me so much of German. I mean, try reading Acts in Greek, as I was doing this week. Luke's sentences will give you a Charley Horse between the ears. But if you know German, that's okay. You're used to it. Case in point:
"Ich habe gesagt, dass er mich es fallen lassen gesehen haben soll."
"I have said that he me it fall let seen have should."
Meaning:
"I said that he should have seen me let it fall."
German loves such odd syntax, as does Luke. If you don't understand that, you're sunk. Note this:
"Nach Hause müssen die Kinder einen Affen gebracht haben."
"To home must the children a monkey brought have."
Or this:
"Es ist unglaublich, dass er angekommen sein könnte."
"It is unbelievable that he arrived be could."
Or this:
"Ich weiss, dass ich Deutsch lernen sollte."
"I know that I German learn should."
It's often said that German grammar can be a minefield. Wrong. German grammar is a minefield. As Mark Twain so eloquently put it, German is "a harassing and infuriating study." Not to worry. If you're patient, you can unlock the meaning of even the most convoluted sentences. That goes for reading Acts, too.
"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God."
This powerful quote reminds us to be present and fully committed to the current moment, completely immersing ourselves in those opportunities we are convinced are aligned with God's purposes for us. This came home to me while reading 2 Tim. 4 this morning.
In verse 2 Paul gives this command:
epistēthi!
I love how Phillips translates it: "Never lose your sense of urgency." The Hawaiian Pidgin version renders it: "You gotta be ready and go all out."
Ours is an age of constant distraction. Yet our future depends on our ability to pay careful attention to the present. To reach our future goals, we have to be present in the moment. When you're climbing the Alps, you know immediately if your foothold is secure. You have to constantly remind yourself:
Keep your attention so focused that distractions can't penetrate the process.
Be so engrossed with the task that you are unaware of the passing of time.
Focus your awareness on what's happening right now.
Be engaged.
Don't zone out.
Get off of autopilot.
Be present.
This message applies to Greek students as much as it does to climbers. Stop overthinking the future. Don't think about the next step. Master the chapter you're in before going onto the next chapter. "You gotta be ready and go all out." In a race, even in a marathon, there is a finish line. With preparation, courage, persistence, and a whole lot of God's grace, you can cross that finish line. You can take honest pride in what you've accomplished having done your very best. And for that one moment you can enjoy your achievement.
Most of us find the truth about ourselves at the edges of our ability. Every day is a starting line. Every day we have to face ourselves with brutal honesty. Sometimes we have to allow ourselves to believe we are better than we are. And sometimes we have to allow ourselves to accept the fact that we are much less than we really are.
For me, the pull up has been such a litmus test. It took me YEARS before I was able to do a single unassisted pull up. But every time I practice I get just a little better. It all boils down to learning how to figure out exactly who you are and what your skills are. Today I was able to easily crank out 5 assisted pull ups at the Y with good form.
But my goal is to do 5 pull ups WITHOUT assistance. The fear is always present that I'll never be able to do that. But the fear doesn't stop me. It doesn't paralyze me. I don't let it.
Like each new day, every day at the gym is filled with potential. Gym-going friend, if you haven't lifted hard, properly, and consistently for at least 3 years, it's too early for you to think about quitting. You've not even seen what your body is naturally capable of. That usually doesn't happen until you reach the more advanced stages of lifting. But first, you have to build up a solid foundation of knowledge and experience.
I've seen tons of guys quit the gym. In the majority of those cases these guys are just looking for some kind of shortcut or quick fix. If that's you, remember that you probably have a lot more natural muscle-building potential than you realize. As you make progress over the years, you might just find that you actually feel pretty good about where you're at overall. Ot at least good enough to keep chasing down your goals. It's not just about seeing how much muscle you can put on but also about the development and evolution of your mindset as well. Generally speaking, unless you have elite genetics, it's going to take you years before you reach your potential in any aspect of physical activity. It doesn't matter. Can people who are struggling to get their first pull up be athletes? Of course they can! Can people who have waited until they are in their 60s and 70s to become physically active be athletes? You better believe it! Can people who finish dead last in a marathon (as I have done) be athletes? Yes they can. And yes they are.
For most of my life I was a non-lifter. But after years of practicing, after struggling with all the limitations of my age, I realized that I had come to see the world differently. Lifting was no longer something I did. It was something I was. I am an athlete even when I'm not at the gym. Activities I once regarded as threatening I now see as rewards. And when you surpass your dreams? You dream on. Being an athlete is an odyssey -- an odyssey of constant discovery. And it can be the journey of your dreams.
So why not? Why not do it? Yes, you will have good days and bad days. Yes, you will meet some of your goals and fail to meet others. But every day you will try to do your best. For better or for worse, you are the only YOU you will ever have. What you decide to do with YOU is totally up to you. The only question is: Will tomorrow bring you closer to the You you want to be?
If you went yesterday, I applaud you. If you are going tomorrow, I applaud you. If you lift light, I applaud you. If you lift heavy, I applaud you. If you recently set a new PR, I applaud you. If you didn't set a new PR, I applaud you.
Most people only talk about going to the gym. You're actually trying.
Since you asked about running (wait -- did you ask?), right now I'm at home recovering from this morning's run. If you have never done a trail run, you are really missing out. It's completely and totally a different experience from road running. You have to remain focused or you're likely to trip and fall. This uphill section of the trail was nice and challenging.
Today I headed out to Prince Edward County to get in a run at the Smyth Trail. It's about an hour and a half drive from the farm. I was the only one there. (Poor, lonely trail.) There was a lot to like about this trail -- no crowds, a cool breeze, lots of hills but no especially tough climbs, and a really good cardio workout. What I didn't like so much was all the gravel. Trails are good places to sprain or twist an ankle. Here I am trying to have some fun on a downhill section.
Note to self: Next time slow down or you're likely to break your neck. All in all, I got in a happy 5 miles on the trail. Afterwards, my knees didn't hurt at all, for which I am very grateful. Earlier I had gotten in an hour-long workout at the gym. At the risk of sounding annoying, it was another fabulous workout. You all need to get out to your local gym sometime. If you do visit it, don't forget to stretch.
Pastor friend: Up the ante. Put responsibility on the people themselves when it comes to Bible study. This way they can grow even when the church doesn't meet all their needs.
Church friend: Become a self-feeder. If the personal study of the Scriptures is not done on a regular basis, optimal growth will not occur.
Had a wonderful time this morning at Clearview Church in Henderson, NC. I was interviewed along with pastor Abidan Shah about the current state of New Testament textual criticism. Their radio program is called "Clearview Today."
Thank you, John and Ryan, for such a stimulating discussion!
When people start talking about goal setting, I eat this stuff up. I am a major to-do-list maker. I've generally got willpower to a fault, so once I set a goal in my head it usually takes root.
That's part of why I started writing this blog. I find that people (myself included) tend to either underestimate or overestimate what they can achieve, especially in the short term. For some of the crazier goals I've set for myself (ultramarathons, climbing the Alps), I've had to have a little more flexibility with my goal setting. Still, I love writing them down and I love reviewing them every day. It makes me feel like I'm getting somewhere in life. My goals usually expand the things I want to get better at, and, yes, even at my age there are things I want to get better at.
Well, as you know, last year I had planned to return to the Alps to climb another 4,000-meter peak -- the Allalinhorn to be exact. It didn't happen. I didn't feel I was strong enough for that peak, and my mountain guide agreed with me. I had trained long and hard for that peak, but it was not to be. I was okay with that. Experts tell us that the act of writing down goals makes it infinitely more likely that you will pursue and even achieve them. But nothing is guaranteed. Goals, we are told, should be challenging, but they should also be believable. So I've been saying to myself, "Dave, is there an Alp you think is still achievable for a guy who will turn 73 next June?" Dave replied, "Yep. How 'bout the Riffelhorn?" So I've prayed about it and I've decided, Lord willing, to give the old Riffelhorn a try next summer if I think I'm ready for it. It's considered a "baby Alp" for people who do high elevation mountaineering, but since I'm "regressing" in my ability that's not a bad thing. Besides, I wouldn't mind getting back to my favorite European city (Zermatt). Even if you never climb a peak, Zermatt offers hundreds of scenic running trails and even its own marathon. If it floats your boat, why not go for it, right? Really, the overriding goal here is to tap into your full potential as a human being and as a creation of God. We are truly at our best when we we accept what is and work with it instead of trying to change or stop it. Aging is inexorable. But you need to get over it. The less time you think about how old you are allows you to think about what you want.
I could go on and on but I think you see my point. I appreciate the many opportunities God gives me to be active. I continue to set new goals to reach for and will never allow my failures to control my thinking. And so, during today's workout, I focused on being present and just enjoying the process.
And, since upper body strength is crucial for alpine climbing, I focused on arm and back exercises. I used this band a lot.
It allows me to do assisted pull ups.
It's still hard work, just a bit easier. These are the kinds of exercises that will hopefully get me back to the Alps.
Friend, you get out of life what you put into it. So be devoted and you will see results. Give yourself a small yet achievable goal and go for it. But keep it all in perspective. Being fit and having goals is amazing, but that's not all that there is to life. There's a balance to be found. Don't let your ego get the best of you. Above all, have gratitude. If you are able to get out of bed in the morning, your body is doing you a favor. Don't take that for granted.
Most good things in life don't come easy. That's what makes life so amazing. Something in the human spirit sings whenever we go further than we ever thought we could.
Lookie here! Today we're covering the Greek participle in class.
They say that "Greek is a participle-loving" language. That's probably an understatement. There are 7,941 verses in the Greek New Testament. 4,277 of them contain at least one participle. 1 Cor. 7:30 has 6 of them! Now we can FINALLY discuss the grammar of the Great Commission of Matt. 28:19-20. Note that there is only one main command and three participles that describe how we should go about doing it.
The English might read:
Going
Make disciples!
Baptizing
Teaching
The first participle -- "going" -- undoubtedly has an imperatival force. But that doesn't mean it's the main command. It's not. "Make disciples" is. I love what Stan Porter says.
He discusses in detail the grammar of Matthew's Great Commission.
His conclusion? Read it for yourself.
So, then, how shall we go about rendering all this in English? One suggestion might be:
As you go to the people in every nation, train them how to become my followers. Immerse them by the authority of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Then instruct them to obey all the commandments I have given you.
There are 195 nations in the world today. How many is your church helping to reach for Christ? Is mine?
Incidentally, the tense of the verb "Make disciples" doesn't mean "once and for all action." Not at all. What the tense does imply is urgency. Do it! Get 'er done! Don't dilly-dally! Don't procrastinate!
As I sit here writing this post I am convicted. Am I a Great Commission Christian? What more can I be doing to reach the nations for Christ? The "retired" part of me says, "You've done enough, Dave. It's time to rest." That's stupid. I need to practice what I preach. I need to take the Great Commission more seriously than ever.
I write all this simply for what it's worth. Everyone is different. One thing I have definitely realized is that obeying Jesus' command takes both time and effort. But one thing is guaranteed. If you put in the time and make the effort, great things can happen.
Like many a marathoner, a few years ago I decided to sign up for my first 50K ultramarathon. I've now completed three of them. I'm still learning, and I love to share what I'm learning with others.
The ability to complete a 32-mile race isn't based on your ability to run a marathon. The biggest milestone en route to running an ultra comes when you are able to run a 5K comfortably. That's only about 3 miles. Once you can run a 5K, you can run a 10K -- then a 10-miler, then a 13.1-mile half marathon. Once you've established a foundation of health and fitness, you can run a marathon successfully. If you can complete a marathon, chances are you can complete a 50K race.
I'm not saying that everyone should run an ultra or even a 5K race. Find an activity that's comfortable, energizing, and fun. Even low to moderate levels of exercise can improve your health. The goal here has nothing to do with time or distance. It's about health and well-being. Walking is a great place to start. It's also a great place to circle back to time and again.
Fitness is not a destination. It's a fun, relaxing journey. Try it and see where it takes you!
MYTH: The Sturzian method employs an oversimplified and mechanical approach to textual criticism.
FACT: The Sturzian method includes ALL of the basic tenets of both external and internal evidence.
Gal. 5:21 is a great example!
There can be no doubt that the word phonoi ("murders") is original here. It's ridiculously simple. Phonoi enjoys early and widespread external attestation, which is corroborated on the basis of internal evidence -- a copyist simply passed over phonoi due to an error of the eye.
This isn't rocket science.
In this regard, I give the THGNT a lot of credit for breaking with the Critical Text here and printing phonoi in their text.
It's a hopeful sign. The ECM needs to do the same.
His name is Reuben. He's my grandson. He turns 1 today.
It is wonderful to watch him grow and reach new milestones. It feels like he's growing right before our very eyes. I can't believe a year has already passed.
Hey Reuben! Happy birthday from Papa B! I love you!
So I've been working furiously on a revision of my book on textual criticism.
A volume that's been in print for 30 years probably could use an update, don't ya think? Which reminds me of the 6 things Chief Justice John Roberts wanted the graduates to remember when he spoke at their commencement ceremony:
1) From time to time I hope you'll be treated unfairly so that you'll come to know the value of justice.
2) I hope you will suffer betrayal because that will teach you the importance of loyalty.
3) I hope you will be lonely from time to time so that you will never take your friends for granted.
4) When you lose, as you will occasionally, I hope every now and then your opponents will gloat over your failure. It is a way for you to understand the importance of sportsmanship.
5) I hope you will be ignored so that you will learn the importance of listening.
6) I hope you will have just enough pain for you to understand compassion.
So I've been doing a lot of listening. Among other things, I've been watching tons of Youtubes on the subject -- not only those by scholars but also those by Bible-believing pastors and lay people who love the subject of textual criticism. Dwayne Green (whom I mentioned yesterday) and Stephen Hackett are two of the best.
Anyhow, in a recent interview with Dwayne Green, Drs. Maurice Robinson and Peter Gurry were asked, "Are text types still useful?" In his response, Dr. Gurry made it clear that the Sturzian approach to text types "is exactly what you should never do with text types, because that requires text types to be independent entities." Since they are not independent entities, he argued, you simply can't count "two against one."
Similarly, in a print interview that Dr. Robinson did at the Evangelical Textual Criticism website in 2015, he wrote:
What should not be done with the texttype concept, however, is to utilize a "majority of texttypes" approach as some solution presumed to determine the autograph (cf. Sturz in this regard) -- such becomes merely another form of "nose-counting" and should be rejected solely on those grounds.
I had to chuckle when I read that statement by Dr. Robinson since "nose-counting" is precisely the accusation many opponents of his Byzantine Priority position have leveled against him!
Robinson merely counts manuscripts.
Sturz merely counts text types.
Both statements are, at best, caricatures.
Anybody who has read Maurice Robinson knows full well that he insists that a theory of textual transmission is essential not only to his view but to any text-critical endeavor. Based on his own reconstruction of that textual transmission through scribal history, he argues (convincingly to some, unconvincingly to others) that the Byzantine text is the only universal Greek text of the New Testament that ever existed. Reasoned Eclecticism, on the other hand, ends up preferring "a regionally localized minority texttype, only sporadically transmitted in history in contrast to the vast majority of Greek MSS consistently perpetuated over the centuries in the primary Greek-speaking region of the Eastern Mediterranean world (modern southern Italy, Greece, and Turkey)" (source).
Similarly, the Sturzian method is equally committed to recovering a transmissional history of the New Testament text. Did you know that? Dr. Sturz summarized his conclusions in a chart found on page 131 of his book The Byzantine Text-Type & New Testament Textual Criticism.
Clearly, this is no mere case of "nose-counting." It represents as much of a commitment to reasoned transmissionalism as does the Robinson-Pierpont approach. Put simply, researchers can no longer ignore the fact that Sturz himself considered his views as ultimately deriving from transmissional and historical considerations. If the extant documentary evidence for any reading enjoys wide geographical support from the second century onward, an assumption of preference for the more universal reading is a logical concomitant. As Bruce Metzger indicated on page 209 of the third edition of his book The Text of the New Testament, external evidence involves three major considerations (bold added):
1) The date of the witness.
2) The geographical distribution of the witnesses that agree in supporting a variant.
3) The genealogical relationship of texts and families of witnesses.
In short, if Sturz is correct, then there is no reason why all three of the traditional "text types" should not be considered to have at least second-century roots, especially if one agrees with E.C. Colwell and G. D. Kilpatrick that virtually ALL significant readings were in existence before the end of the second century. This is precisely why at the time of his death Harry Sturz was engaged in the editing of a Greek New Testament (The Second Century Greek New Testament) in which he was employing the two-against-one method that Drs. Robinson and Gurry so adamantly reject.
Of course, I realize that the usefulness of the term "text type" is being questioned by many today. That's why Pastor Green brought up the subject in his interview. For what it's worth, my own view about the term "text type" is summarized perfectly in a statement Dr. Robinson made in the above-mentioned interview at the ETC blog. When asked, "The current editors of the Nestle text have argued that our NT witnesses cannot be meaningfully grouped into text-types (Western, Alexandrian, etc.). Assuming you disagree with this assessment, how do you distinguish one text-type as over against another?" Dr. Robinson replied:
Contrary to the prevailing concepts currently expressed, I see no reason to abandon the basic texttype designations as providing a convenient grouping terminology for MSS that associate more closely with each other than with those that associate within other grouping situations. This does not mean that I view the concept as representing "recensions" per se -- a term that implies a formal revision process at some particular place and time; rather, I view texttypes in John G. Griffith's sense of "near-neighbor clusters," that is, MSS that by their agreement in a reasonable pattern of readings are recognized as somewhat but not entirely related to one another.
Sturz himself could have written that statement. Dr. Robinson adds:
I have no real difficulty in recognizing as texttypes either an "Alexandrian" (or "Egyptian," or whatever term might be preferred), a "Western" (even with limited Greek support, but bolstered by various Old Latin and Syrian sources), and even a "Caesarean" type of text, based upon a particular pattern of readings reflected in its respective clusterings.
These words, as I said, were written in 2015. Later, in a book published in 2023 after the 2022 Clearview Apologetics Conference (which Abidan Shah and I co-edited), Dr. Robinson wrote (p. 57):
The Sturzian method is further obviated by the current observation that the theory of texttypes associated with geographical location has generally been rejected, replaced by acknowledged textual "clusters" sharing certain patterns of readings to varying degree (even if still termed by the older names), putative geographic location no longer maintaining a central role.
As a Sturzian, I have no objections to continuing to refer to the text types by their "older names." But "clusters" works as well. I do hope, therefore, that those of us who believe that we are much closer to the words of God in the NKJV than in the ESV will pause before rejecting the traditional nomenclature.
Sheesh! This post is way too long! More on text types in the revision of my New Testament Textual Criticism. I am open to changing my mind on the subject. But until I'm convinced otherwise, I think I'll continue to advocate an approach that suggests that if a reading appears in the majority of centers of growth in the early church it should probably be considered more likely to be original than its counterparts.
The other day someone asked me if the ECM of Mark still places Mark 16:9-20 in double square brackets. Well, I checked, and sadly the answer is yes. Whereas 1,643 Greek manuscripts support the inclusion of these verses, only 3 lack them. Not to mention all the versional and patristic testimony in favor of the longer ending. Until this changes, I see no end to the continuing interlude in the field of New Testament textual criticism. The guild seemingly remains content with the predominantly Alexandrian-based reasoned eclectic method and its resultant UBS/NA/ECM texts. True, an occasional Byzantine reading is preferred, but not to the degree that would significantly change the Alexandrian-ness of the critical text.
Dwayne Green's latest livestream on the text of Acts 8:37 is a MUST SEE!
There are many things I could say about this fascinating discussion, but one of the first things you'll notice is how important and relevant in the discussion are the ancient versions (including the Armenian) and the ancient church fathers. So I decided to write this post to remind everyone who produces an edition of the Greek New Testament to PLEASE include in your apparatus the leading versions and fathers. If you do, I will thaw into a gratitude puddle.
Now, I will give credit to the ECM that many versions are listed. But hey, why not include the Armenian as well? I like the Armenian version because it is a very literal translation. It's also early. It dates back to the 5th century and was made from both Syriac and Greek texts. According to Bruce Metzger, Armenia was the first kingdom to accept Christianity as its official religion in the late 3rd century.
That's earlier than Constantine did! You may not also realize that Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, predates the founding of Rome. Amazing.
I hope one day to return to Armenia. It has an awesome Museum of Ancient Manuscripts, which I've had the privilege of visiting on three different trips to that country.
I obviously had to peruse their New Testament manuscripts. Whenever I see a textual variant in my Greek New Testament, I always like to see what the Armenian version reads. Interestingly enough, it frequently agrees with the Byzantine text. Below are major textual variants I've written about in such journals as New Testament Studies and Novum Testamentum.
The readings I argued for in those essays are given in black. Notice that only in one case does the Armenian go with the Critical Text. Oh sure, the Armenian version isn't as ancient as Coptic or the Old Latin ("Itala"), but it's still a very old translation. I hope one day its readings will be included in the ECM, but what I think probably doesn't matter very much.
By the way, I LOVED teaching in Armenia. No words can describe the rejoicing in my heart when students get excited about the study of God's word!
My class in Yerevan. Half of these students were from neighboring Iran.
Church peeps, let's try and stay away from the corporate mentality in the way we do church, okay? The church is not a corporation. So stop calling it an elder board. A corporation has a board of directors. But a church will have a body of elders. Stop distinguishing your "senior pastor" from your other elders. That's a distinction the New Testament never makes. A pastor is an elder and an elder is a pastor. Besides, the title "senior pastor" is reserved for Christ (1 Pet. 5:4). And how I wish we could get rid of the term "church." I love how Tyndale rendered ekklesia as "congregation." He was simply following the lead he found in Martin Luther's translation of the Bible into German, in which Luther avoided the term "Kirche," preferring instead "Gemeinde." The equivalent in English would be "community." You see, an ekklesia is a group of people that have come together and have something in common, as opposed to a group of people that have come together and have little to nothing in common (that's an ochlos, or "crowd"). In Germany, you can drive into, say, "Gemeinde Lörrach" (the municipality of Lörrach) and then attend "die Baptistengemeinde Lörrach" (the Baptist church of Lörrach) on Sunday. Beautiful!
And when we will ever stop referring to the pastorate as "the" ministry. Remember, those who served tables and those who taught the word in Acts 6 were both engaged in "ministry" (diakonia)!
I am 72 years old. I should be in my warm bed on a cold day like today, not shivering while running on a trail it took me over an hour to drive to. But, see, that's the point! We do these things because they get us out of our warm beds and into the crazy world all around us. That's exactly why I've signed up for another 32-mile ultra in December and why I got in a training run today. It forces me to be active and thus it prevents complacency and boredom.
I got in a 10-mile run today. I ran from downtown Farmville to the High Bridge, crossed it, then turned around.
Guess what? It's beginning to look like fall. This place will be knock-dead gorgeous in a few weeks once all the leaves have changed their colors.
One thing I love about training on a trail is that you can leave behind the gym rats, the car exhaust, and other distractions and clear your head. Race day is always a big crap shoot. You can train endlessly and on race day wake up to a torrential downpour or even a snowstorm. You have to have the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual fortitude to go that far. The will to run 67,000 steps. The guts to cover 164,000 feet. The stamina to be out on the course for up to 9 or 10 hours. Even with good weather, there aren't any guarantees. So you train and hope for the best.
The great thing about running is that there are always risks. Lots of unknowns. In other words: ADVENTURE. And that's exactly why we do it.
I'm thinking about doing another 50K ultramarathon trail race in December. It would be my fourth race at that distance (32 miles). I recall that before my first ultra someone told me, "Every time I always think I can't do this. But then I just start." That's kinda stuck with me. It is hard! And it hasn't gotten any easier. But by focusing on what you will have accomplished at the end, I've learned to enjoy the toughness more. Having a mantra can help. I sometimes use these:
"Remember, you paid to do this."
"This isn't something I have to do. It's something I get to do."
"The body can achieve what the mind believes."
"Don't think about it. Just do it."
"Don't worry about getting to the last mile. Think about getting to the next one."
Here's a final (weird) piece of advice. Pay attention to what your face is doing. Are you always grimacing? Try to relax it or even go for a slight smile during the hardest parts. You face doesn't just show your emotion. It creates it too.
I guess the point I'm rambling about is that consistency and patience are the biggest factors to seeing positive growth in your life. Find a style of exercise that you enjoy. Then just stay consistent with being active. One quote I like is, "It never gets easier. You just get better."
Today I wanted to bring a brief word of encouragement to those of you who might have experienced a significant loss in your life, be it a spouse, a child, a job, and the like. This is not an academic subject. One day things will happen to you that will cut your legs out from under you. As Paul writes in 2 Cor. 4:7, "We are like fragile clay jars" (NLT). That's all we are. I'm just as fragile today as when I lost Becky 11 years ago. I'm just as human as when we first got her diagnosis. I'm just as given to discouragement now as I was then. By the grace of God I've stayed on my feet, but there've been times when I wondered if I could stay the course. Why? Because I'm a clay jar. Clay jars make it clear to all that their power "is from God, not from ourselves." Thus Paul adds, "We are hard pressed on every side but not completely cornered or without room for movement, embattled but never driven to surrender, bewildered but not at our wit's end, at a loss but never totally at a loss, hounded by the foe but not left to his mercy, knocked to the ground but not permanently grounded." That's life. That will happen. And in the midst of it all, God will still use us in all our brokenness.
So let people see the cracks in your life. Let them see the pain. In the midst of your loss and grief, just keep your equilibrium. Don't give in to despair. You say, "I've come to the end of my strength." That's a good thing. God's sovereignty allows us to believe that he's bigger than our loss and will make our lives better because of it.
After a long day of work in Wake Forest I come home to this? Nothing could be better.
They work SO HARD. Farming is such difficult work. But it's good work. It puts you to bed with a good tired, if you know what I mean. It brings me indescribable joy.
Guess what I'm going to do some day? Grow old. Wait a minute. To my grandkids I'm not just old. I'm VERY old. Yes, I'm almost three-quarters of a century old. But my heart feels about 30.
Getting older has its downsides for sure. But here's one thing I've really enjoyed about aging. And that is that I care much less about what others think about me. I am comfortable in my own skin. It wasn't always like this. I used to have really thin skin. What you thought about me MATTERED. No longer. I don't say this disrespectfully. But it just doesn't. I am less and less concerned about what people think and more and more concerned about living the life that I think pleases the Lord. Friend, it's about living YOUR life (within reason, of course).
"Would you be happy for the rest of your life doing anything but teaching?"
I ask that question often to students who are seeking my counsel about going on for their doctorate to become a full-time professor of New Testament and Greek.
I've loved all 48 years that I've served the Lord as a teacher. It's like I was made for this. The 3 years I studied in Basel were the best years of my life. My profs believed in me. They set an example of what a great teacher looked like. I've never lived up to it. But it's been a great ride.
What has God created you to do and to be? When you find out what that is, pursue it with all your might.
