*** SHOW NOTES (not a transcript) ***

Lead:

You might know what prophecy is, but the “argument from philosophy?”

Intro:

Welcome to the New Testament! If you’re following along with The Bible Project’s reading plan like we do here, today we leave behind the part of the story about “the story so far” and begin directly engaging Jesus and his kingdom. Many of these daily readings are little shorter, so we’ll be able to tackle some theology and worldview kinds of definitions as I like to do, and we’ll shoot to end with praying through a psalm every couple three days.

A couple housekeeping items before I tee up the word of the day…first a shout out o Pip Craighead and his musical works called The Dandelion Project. We’re giving the track Night School a try as the new backing music, and I’d encourage you to check out his other stuff if you like ambient music…links can be found, of course, at this show’s page forthehope.org/blog.

Second, since we’re starting a new book, you’ll also want to visit that page to watch The Bible Project’s video about the first half of Matthew.

Finally, a quick reminder that if you want everything I produce, please consider subscribing to the daily email. It’ll send you a link to each day’s podcast, but it’ll catch other stuff I write that may not be turned into audio. And while you’re at it, would you kindly share with friends or even give a rating or review wherever you access the podcast? Much appreciated.

Today’s word: prophecy, not only because it’s germane to the book of Matthew, but because it’s sometimes misunderstood by those you might help.

Sponsor:

Today’s sponsor and provider of background music is Pip Craighead’s The Dandelion Project, and the new track is Night School.

Bible segment (read along with The Bible Project):

Passage: Matthew 1-2
Translation: NIV (New International Version)
Verses: 48
Words: ~1015

Thinking/reflection segment:

Argument from prophecy — A type of apologetic argument that attempts to defend the divinely inspired character of prophets (and ultimately of the Scriptures that record the prophecies) by showing that the prophets foretold events whose occurrence could not have been humanly foreseen. Thus an argument from prophecy is essentially an argument that appeals to miracles. Sometimes the argument is used in a reverse direction. The fact that the life of Jesus fulfilled certain Old Testament prophecies, for example, is cited to support the claim that Jesus really is the Messiah. Arguments from prophecy have become less popular in an age characterized by critical biblical scholarship, which in many cases claims that apparently fulfilled prophecies were written after the events prophesied occurred.(1)

Wisdom segment:

Passage: Psalm 70-71
Translation: NIV (New International Version)
Verses: 29
Words: ~476

Love you!

-R

Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.

Sources and resources:

(1) C. Stephen Evans, Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics & Philosophy of Religion (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), 12–13.

#861: Matthew 1-2 | Argument from prophecy | Psalms 70-71