Category Archives: Modern Doctrines

When Christians Conquered a Nation

Posted on 01/25/2021 by Paul Pavao

This was written very close to the year 200, to the Roman emperors, who almost certainly never read it, but the words have been preserved. This is what conquest of an empire by real Christians looks like: This is long, … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Early Christianity, Evangelicals, History, History (Stories), Modern Doctrines, Rebuilding the Foundations, Teachings that must not be lost | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Past Tense Salvation by Faith and Future Tense Judgment by Works

Posted on 01/20/2021 by Paul Pavao

In the comments of my video on 2 Peter 1:3-11, I wrote this. I just don’t get you guys. You wrote, “To clarify, faith grants us salvation.” That is not clarification. Did you watch the video? Do you know that … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Dealing with Scripture Honestly, Evangelicals, Gospel, Modern Doctrines, Verses Evangelicals Ignore | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

The Gospel Story As Told by the Primitive Churches and As Told Today

Posted on 12/28/2020 by Paul Pavao

Two Stories: One is the Gospel tale as it was told in the second and third centuries (as best I can tell it). The second is the Gospel tale, or one version of it, as it is taught in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Evangelicals, Gospel, History, Modern Doctrines, Protestants | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

The Kind and Merciful Judgment of God

Posted on 12/04/2020 by Paul Pavao

Biblical teaching on the judgment is critically important. Many churches insult God by portraying him as merciless, a cruel deity who would torture a human for eternity for one sin because he is “holy” and “just.” (What sort of holiness … Continue reading →

Posted in Dealing with Scripture Honestly, Evangelicals, Gospel, Modern Doctrines, Rebuilding the Foundations | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

A Good Understand Have All Those Who Do (Psalm 111:10)

Posted on 11/28/2020 by Paul Pavao

This morning I wrote on Facebook: As I think through my list of Christians I admire, both in the present and over the last 2,000 years—both the ones close to me and the ones I only hear about or hear … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Holiness, Miscellaneous, Modern Doctrines | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Judgment by Works: The Most Important Doctrine to Learn from the Early Church Fathers

Posted on 11/02/2020 by Paul Pavao

I wrote the following in a comment on Patristics for Protestants about what is the most important thing to learn from the early church fathers. There are several quotes from the earliest fathers in my comment, but I give you … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Christianity, Gospel, Modern Doctrines, Rebuilding the Foundations | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Plan of Salvation Is Not What You Think It Is

Posted on 10/07/2020 by Paul Pavao

This is the way things are: Romans 2:6-7: “God will render to everyone according to their deeds. To those who, by patiently continuing to do good seek for glory, honor, and immortality, he will repay eternal life.” This is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Evangelicals, Gospel, Modern Doctrines, Verses Evangelicals Ignore | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ravi Zacharias, the Judgment, and the Weakness of Man: A WARNING!

Posted on 10/06/2020 by Paul Pavao

A FB friend commented on new allegations against Ravi Zacharias. I can hardly take it. My stomach is roiling. I knew nothing about this. I can’t even get myself to post the link to the report. Folks, we are going … Continue reading →

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Wisdom in Proverbs, Daniel’s Son of Man, the Trinity, and Jesus the Messiah and Son of God

Posted on 09/08/2020 by Paul Pavao

This article argues for the early Christian/Nicene concept of the Trinity (still held among the Eastern Orthodox), that Wisdom in Proverbs should be understood throughout as referring to the Son of God, who is also called the Word, and provides … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Dealing with Scripture Honestly, Early Christianity, Modern Doctrines, Roman Catholic & Orthodox, Teachings that must not be lost | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Difficult Verses and Bible Interpretation

Posted on 08/25/2020 by Paul Pavao

Perhaps the best Bible interpretation advice I can give has to do with difficult verses. There are verses that are actually difficult. For example, no one knows who Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 15:29. Who was “baptizing for … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Dealing with Scripture Honestly, Modern Doctrines | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments