Comments on: Timothy Keller: Belief in an Age of Skepticism? http://www.pietyhilldesign.com/blog/2008/08/05/timothy-keller-belief-in-an-age-of-skepticism/ Where Faith, Opinion, Design and Technology Collide Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:54:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: pietyhill http://www.pietyhilldesign.com/blog/2008/08/05/timothy-keller-belief-in-an-age-of-skepticism/#comment-10277 pietyhill Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:18:15 +0000 http://www.pietyhilldesign.com/blog/?p=357#comment-10277 Agreed with all of the above. Yes, your point about the women as the first witnesses of the resurrection is definitely a stamp of authenticity, in much the same way as the annunciation to the shepherds (recorded in Luke 2). If you were fabricating a legend, you would want to transmit it through "credible witnesses" -- not fickle women and dishonest, low-life shepherds. But, it's different in the Gospels. Let's see... the primary witnesses to the arrival of the Messiah and His kingdom will be women and shepherds... bad PR move from a human standpoint, but very wise from God's perspective: <em>1 Corinthians 1:18 - 25 For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.</em> Agreed with all of the above. Yes, your point about the women as the first witnesses of the resurrection is definitely a stamp of authenticity, in much the same way as the annunciation to the shepherds (recorded in Luke 2). If you were fabricating a legend, you would want to transmit it through “credible witnesses” — not fickle women and dishonest, low-life shepherds.

But, it’s different in the Gospels. Let’s see… the primary witnesses to the arrival of the Messiah and His kingdom will be women and shepherds… bad PR move from a human standpoint, but very wise from God’s perspective:

1 Corinthians 1:18 - 25 For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

]]> By: Sean http://www.pietyhilldesign.com/blog/2008/08/05/timothy-keller-belief-in-an-age-of-skepticism/#comment-10273 Sean Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:30:32 +0000 http://www.pietyhilldesign.com/blog/?p=357#comment-10273 Great lecture, I liked his idea that religious people have to accept being part of the problem. The Grace stance is inspiring. He failed badly in answering some legitimate questions on his evolution theories and the one question regarding the resurrection truth. Does it ever cross theologians minds that the writers of the gospels would of known credibility for the resurrection would not be accepted if women where to have been the first witnesses to it and therefore it would be used as proof of it's validity?That has always been a large part of the resurrection's confirmation, has anyone questioned that? I really enjoyed it. Wish they could spit the questions out more coherently! Great lecture, I liked his idea that religious people have to accept being part of the problem. The Grace stance is inspiring. He failed badly in answering some legitimate questions on his evolution theories and the one question regarding the resurrection truth. Does it ever cross theologians minds that the writers of the gospels would of known credibility for the resurrection would not be accepted if women where to have been the first witnesses to it and therefore it would be used as proof of it’s validity?That has always been a large part of the resurrection’s confirmation, has anyone questioned that? I really enjoyed it. Wish they could spit the questions out more coherently!

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