Must Satan Be Released
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0.44 in. TMSJ Cover 2013 Spring_Layout 1 4/30/2013 12:25 PM Page 1 The Master’s Seminary Journal The Master’s The Master’s CollegeandSeminary The Master’s THE MASTER’S SEMINARY JOURNALTHE MASTER’S SEMINARY 24, NO. 1 VOL. SPRING 2013 Sun Valley, CA 91352-3798 Valley, Sun 13248 RoscoeBlvd. Volume 24, Number 1 • Spring 2013 Have They Found a Better Way? An Analysis of Gentry and Wellum’s, Kingdom through Covenant Michael J. Vlach Three Searches for the “Historical Jesus” but No Biblical Christ (Part 2): Evangelical Participation in the Search for the “Historical Jesus” ADDRESS SERVICEREQUESTED ADDRESS F. David Farnell Did God Fulfill Every Good Promise? Toward a Biblical Understanding of Joshua 21:43–45 (Part 2) Gregory H. Harris Repentance Found? The Concept of Repentance in the Fourth Gospel David A. Croteau The Question of Application in Preaching: The Sermon on the Mount as a Test Case Bruce W. Alvord Permit. No.99Permit. Van Nuys,CA Van U.S. Postage Organization Non-Profit PAID THE MASTER’S SEMINARY JOURNAL published by THE MASTER’S SEMINARY John MacArthur, President Richard L. Mayhue, Executive Vice-President and Dean Edited for the Faculty: William D. Barrick John MacArthur Irvin A. Busenitz Richard L. Mayhue Nathan A. Busenitz Alex D. Montoya Keith H. Essex Bryan J. Murphy F. David Farnell Kelly T. Osborne Paul W. Felix Andrew V. Snider Michael A. Grisanti Dennis M. Swanson Gregory H. Harris Michael J. Vlach Matthew W. Waymeyer by Richard L. Mayhue, Editor Michael J. Vlach, Executive Editor Dennis M. Swanson, Book Review Editor Garry D. Knussman, Editorial Consultant The views represented herein are not necessarily endorsed by The Master’s Seminary, its administration, or its faculty. The Master’s Seminary Journal (MSJ) is is published semiannually each spring and fall. Beginning with the May 2013 issue, MSJ will be distributed electronically for free. Requests to MSJ and email address changes should be addressed to [email protected]. Articles, general correspondence, and policy questions should be directed to Dr. Michael J. Vlach. Book reviews should be sent to Dr. Dennis M. Swanson. The Master’s Seminary Journal 13248 Roscoe Blvd., Sun Valley, CA 91352 The Master’s Seminary Journal is indexed in Elenchus Bibliographicus Biblicus of Biblica; Christian Periodical Index; and Guide to Social Science & Religion in Periodical Literature. Articles are abstracted in New Testament Abstracts; Old Testament Abstracts; and Religious and Theological Abstracts. This periodical is indexed in the ATLA Religion Database® and it is also included in the full-text ATLASerials® (ATLAS®) collection. Both are products of the American Theological Library Association, 300 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60606, E-mail: [email protected], and www.atla.com. Copyright is waived if photocopied articles are for use in a classroom or local congregation and if the number of copies does not exceed one hundred which are distributed free and include the notice “Copyright (year). Reprinted from The Master’s Seminary Journal.” For any other use, such as posting on the Internet, advance permission is required. ISSN #1066-3959 Volume 24 Spring 2013 Number 1 THE MASTER’S SEMINARY JOURNAL CONTENTS Editorial ...............................................................1–4 Richard L. Mayhue Have They Found a Better Way? An Analysis of Gentry and Wellum’s, Kingdom through Covenant................................5–24 Michael J. Vlach Three Searches for the “Historical Jesus” but No Biblical Christ (Part 2): Evangelical Participation in the Search for the “Historical Jesus” .................................................25–67 F. David Farnell Did God Fulfill Every Good Promise? Toward a Biblical Understanding of Joshua 21:43–45 (Part 2) ..............................69–96 Gregory H. Harris Repentance Found? The Concept of Repentance in the Fourth Gospel ......97–123 David A. Croteau The Question of Application in Preaching: The Sermon on the Mount as a Test Case ............................................125–136 Bruce W. Alvord Reviews ...........................................................137–177 J. Andrew Dearman The Book of Hosea................................................137–138 Reviewed by Irvin A. Busenitz Gregg L. Frazer The Religious Beliefs of America’s Founders: Reason, Revelation, and Revolution.........................................138–141 Reviewed by Dennis M. Swanson Mark D. Futato and George M. Schwab The Book of Psalms, The Book of Proverbs...........................141–143 Reviewed by William D. Barrick Donald W. Hagner. The New Testament: A Historical and Theological Introduction.........143–146 Reviewed by F. David Farnell Greg Heisler Spirit-Led Preaching: The Holy Spirit’s Role in Sermon Preparation and Delivery ..........................................147–149 Reviewed by Jeff Crotts James K. Hoffmeier and Dennis R. Magary, eds. Do Historical Matters Matter To Faith? A Critical Appraisal of Modern and Post Modern Approaches to Scripture. .................149–157 Reviewed by F. David Farnell Andreas J. Köstenberger and L. Scott Kellum, and Charles M. Quarles The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament..............................................158–159 Reviewed by Keith Essex Michael J. McClymond and Gerald R. McDermott The Theology of Jonathan Edwards .................................159–161 Reviewed by Jonathan Moorhead Martin McNamara Targum and Testament Revisited: Aramaic Paraphrases of the Hebrew Bible...............................................161–163 Reviewed by William D. Barrick David G. Peterson The Acts of the Apostles............................................163–165 Reviewed by Keith Essex Andreas Schuele An Introduction to Biblical Aramaic.................................165–166 Reviewed byWilliam D. Barrick Marion Ann Taylor (editor) Handbook of Women Biblical Interpreters: A Historical and Biographical Guide................................................166–168 Reviewed by Dennis M. Swanson Peter T. Vogt Interpreting the Pentateuch: An Exegetical Handbook. ................168–170 Reviewed by William D. Barrick Daniel B. Wallace, ed. Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament: Manuscript, Patristic and Apocryphal Evidence. .................................171–177 Reviewed by Kelly T. Osborne MSJ 24/1 (Spring 2013) 1–4 EDITORIAL AVOIDING THE UNAVOIDABLE: PROTECTING THE MASTER’S SEMINARY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS You “have kept My Word, and have not denied My name.” When the church in Philadelphia heard this commendation from the Lord Jesus (Rev 3:8), I can only imagine how thrilling it must have been for this small band of believers. Yet they were the exception to the rule. In Christ’s messages to seven churches in Revelation 2–3, five receive strong rebukes. Ephesus forgot their love for Christ. Pergamum entertained false teaching. Thyatira tolerated sin. Sardis was spiritually dead. Laodicea became self-righteous. I remember my favorite professor, Dr. John Whitcomb, being concerned about the future of the seminary that I attended. He sent me an article recalling the first graduate seminary in America, Andover (now Andover Newton). Begun in 1807 as a beacon of doctrinally sound pastoral training, Andover produced graduates like Adoniram Judson, the nineteenth-century missionary whom God used mightily to preach the gospel in Myanmar (Burma). Andover long ago began abandoning the Christian faith, and just this year formed a sweeping interfaith education program, offering training in multiple religions. In fact, their student body now represents over thirty different faiths. This is a sobering thought as we look to protect the future integrity of The Master’s Seminary. Seminaries are almost unavoidably corrupted by doctrinal error and sin within several generations. Given the bleak forecast from history, our challenge is to obey Christ’s command to Philadelphia, “I am coming quickly; hold fast to what you have.” The mission is clear: Avoid the unavoidable. The life-expectancy of integrity in Bible-believing seminaries is usually brief, so we have given great thought for years as to what might threaten The Master’s Seminary. What flaming arrows in his packed arsenal will Satan try to use? With Scripture guiding us, we have identified (a) two broad threats, (b) six examples of specific threats, (c) ten specific shields of protection, and (d) one shield of shields. Knowing Satan’s ploys from Scripture, I’ve asked myself, “If I were Satan, how would I try to ruin The Master’s Seminary?” Overall, I would bring two broad, deviously subtle threats. I would try to slowly change the mission and the doctrine of TMS. I would create tiny fissures and 1 2 | The Master’s Seminary Journal weaknesses, so imperceptible that they would cause no alarm. After a sufficiently weakened structure, then would I launch a bold offensive to detonate one fatal explosion. If I were Satan, what specific threats would I slowly introduce? First, I would encourage hiring the wrong faculty. History shows that one wrong faculty member can lead to the eventual demise of a seminary by his subtle altering of the seminary’s mission. Second, I would encourage neglecting commitment to the local church. TMS exists to serve the church by training qualified shepherds. Once we forget our dedication to Christ’s bride, we become a self-serving institution instead of an instrument in the hands of God to bless His people. Third, I would encourage neglecting finances. As a 40-year student of seminary history, the foot-high