New Pauline Commentaries

“Many of us probably do not realize how spoiled we are these days with so many competent evangelical exegetical commentaries. Such was not the case 50 years ago. This is a grace — a gift — for the church that we should not take for granted…”

– Justin Taylor provides a brief rundown on some new Pauline commentaries, including the Pillar New Testament Commentary on 1 Corinthians, by Roy Ciampa and Brian Rosner.

The Sarum Mass compared with the 1549 Prayer Book

Church Society has republished one of the old Church Association Tracts – this one comparing and contrasting the mediaeval Sarum mass and the 1549 Prayer Book.

“Compared with the Missal, the First Book was a highly Protestant production: yet it was, after all, ‘a compromise which satisfied nobody.’”

The 1549 Prayer Book (the First Prayer Book of Edward VI) is well recognised as an important step towards Cranmer’s enduring legacy in the much more reformed book of 1552.

Interested in learning more? The Tutorial Prayer Book by Neil and Willoughby – (reprints from various sources, including Book Depository, also second-hand – and online) – is worth a look.

Planning underway for GAFCON 2

“The GAFCON/FCA Primates Council has announced a leaders conference is being planned for 2011 and the second ‘GAFCON’ for 2012.

The announcement was part of a wide-ranging statement from its October meeting in England, dubbed the ‘Oxford Statement’.

Among its 14 points, the leaders of around two-thirds of the Anglican Communion have come to a common mind on the proposed Anglican covenant…”

– Russell Powell, at SydneyAnglicans.net, reports on The Oxford Statement.

Online bargains this weekend and Monday

This weekend, many online stores in the US are having sales (‘Black Friday’ and ‘Cyber Monday’).

Tim Challies has compiled a helpful list. Of interest will be downloadable albums from Andrew Peterson and others.

(Bear in mind Monday specials will extend into Tuesday Australian time.)

The hole in our holiness

Does Bishop J.C. Ryle’s call to holiness (example) seem a little quaint these days? Kevin DeYoung:

“I find it telling that you can find plenty of young Christians today who are really excited about justice and serving in their communities. You can find Christians fired up about evangelism. You can find lots of Generation XYZ believers passionate about precise theology. Yes and amen to all that. But where are the Christians known for their zeal for holiness? Where is the corresponding passion for honoring Christ with Christlike obedience? …

When is the last time we took a verse like Ephesians 5:4–“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving”–when is the last time we took a verse like this and even began to try to apply this to our conversation, our joking, our movies, our you tube clips, our t.v. and commercial intake?…”

– Kevin DeYoung is writing in a US context – doubtless with much relevance here too.

GAFCON/FCA Oxford Statement released

The GAFCON/FCA Primates Council, which recently met in Oxford, has released ‘the Oxford Statement’.

Read it here (PDF file) – there is an introduction from Archbishop Gregory Venables which pertains to the latest developments in England and the current meeting of the General Synod.

Also available on the GAFCON website.

New website for Reformers bookshop

Reformers Bookshop at Stanmore has an updated website with lots of improvements.

Ethics Classes announcement ‘impoverishes education’

Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney Media Statement
Ethics Classes announcement ‘impoverishes education’

Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of the Anglican Church in New South Wales, Dr Peter Jensen, says the decision to allow the introduction of ethics lessons during time set aside for Special Religious Education (SRE) is “a bad decision, made under political pressure, which will impoverish the education of many NSW public schoolchildren.”

“Philosophical ethics is not a real alternative to the study of religion and it is unfair to confront parents with the dilemma of having them both taught at the same time. The ‘examined life’ starts with a well-rounded education.” Dr Jensen said.

“Our concerns are for the children who now will be denied an introduction to the great questions posed by the faith-traditions. For example, even though the ethics lesson plans were not publicly released, it is apparent that they did not include clear guidance on right and wrong.”

“I congratulate Barry O’Farrell and the Liberal and National parties for their opposition to this change and their commitment to take seriously the other solutions the Premier and the Minister declined to consider” the Archbishop said.

“The Anglican Church is committed to the future of public education. The thousands of volunteer scripture teachers and helpers will continue to do their utmost to deliver an orderly, challenging and educationally-rich program in schools, week by week, for all ages.”

23rd November 2010 AD

CBMW Responds to New NIV(2011)

“Over the past three weeks, the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) has been conducting a review of the recently released and extensively revised new NIV(2011).

As of now, the translation is only available online.  Zondervan’s release of the TNIV in 2002 (New Testament) and 2005 (full Bible) brought about a significant controversy in the evangelical community over Bible translation philosophy in general and translation of gender-related passages in particular.

Given that the Committee on Bible Translation (CBT) used the TNIV as their starting point, and that CBMW was deeply involved in opposing the TNIV, we feel a certain obligation to provide an assessment of the new NIV(2011)…”

– The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood takes a look at the New NIV, due out next year. (h/t Tim Challies.)

John Dyer also has some resources to help calatogue the changes being made to the NIV. (h/t Justin Taylor.)

47 years ago today

C. S. Lewis—one week shy of his 65th birthday—collapsed and died at 5:30 PM (GMT) at his residence at The Kilns, outside Oxford, England.

Two hours later, U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, TX, pronounced dead at 1:21 PM (CST). He was only 46 years old.

Exactly six hours later, Aldous Huxley, the English writer and author of Brave New World, died at 5:21 PM (PST) in Los Angeles. He was 69.

– Justin Taylor reminds us of 23rd November 1963.

Churches applaud Opposition’s announcement

23 November 2010 – a second press release today from the NSW Council of Churches –

The NSW Council of Churches applauds the decision of the Opposition to not continue Ethics Classes in NSW Schools if it is elected in 2011.

“The voters of NSW can now decide on this important issue,” Rev Richard Quadrio said late today.

“The so-called Ethics Trial taught valueless ethics described by one principal as leaving students without a moral compass.”

“Mr O’Farrell had made some very positive statements regarding this issue and now is to be congratulated for clarifying their position on this issue and giving the people of NSW an alternative,” said Rev Richard Quadrio

The churches never endorse any political party in elections but encourage all its members to vote on the issues.

“The future of scripture teaching in schools is an important issue to many people of faith,” said Rev Richard Quadrio.

‘Churches will fight for SRE in the March election’

Press release from the NSW Council of Churches –

The decision by the government today on Ethics classes is a cynical attempt by a mortally wounded government to try to revive itself before the March election. While some members like Minister Verity Firth will gain a few local votes in inner Sydney by this decision, the widespread Church backlash will cost many more votes across the state.

President of the NSW Council of Churches, Rev Richard Quadrio is calling people of all religious persuasions to see this for what it really is – “an attack on people of faith.”

“The so called Ethics Trial taught valueless ethics described by one principal as leaving students without a moral compass.”   Read more

ANiC ordinations

On Sunday (November 21), Anglican Network in Canada Bishops Don Harvey and Trevor Walters ordained four deacons (the Revs Keith Ganzer, Aaron Roberts, Doug Beattie, and David McElrea) to the priesthood. The service was held at the Broadmoor Baptist Church in Richmond, British Columbia.

Ed Hird has posted some brief segments of Dr J I Packer’s ordination sermon on his YouTube channel.

It’s a good reminder to pray for all affected by last week’s court decision.

People learn what I’m excited about

“If I have learned anything in 35 or 40 years of teaching, it is that students don’t learn everything I teach them. What they learn is what I am excited about, the kinds of things I emphasize again and again and again and again. That had better be the gospel.

If the gospel—even when you are orthodox—becomes something which you primarily assume, but what you are excited about is what you are doing in some sort of social reconstruction, you will be teaching the people that you influence that the gospel really isn’t all that important. You won’t be saying that—you won’t even mean that—but that’s what you will be teaching. And then you are only half a generation away from losing the gospel.

Make sure that in your own practice and excitement, what you talk about, what you think about, what you pray over, what you exude confidence over, joy over, what you are enthusiastic about is Jesus, the gospel, the cross. And out of that framework, by all means, let the transformed life flow.”

– Don Carson.

From Middle East to Home

“I have just finished my Middle East deployment after six months.

When I arrived in May 10, Nov 10 seemed a long way off but now it is here. I have moved out of my permanent room and into the Transit accommodation. I am finishing up my work here and cleaning my gear in preparation for the plane trip home. I can’t wait and am looking forward to being with my wife and adult sons and daughter again…”

– Moore College graduate Peter Friend is now back in Oz after being the Australian Coordinating Chaplain in the Middle East. Read his reflections at Defence Anglicans – and then for those concerned.

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