INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PASTORS DECEMBER 2012 Prospects and challenges for Adventist biblical interpretation hermeneutics Christ-centered CONTENTS 04 lEttErs Christ-centered hermeneutics: 05 EDITORIAl Prospects and challenges for Adventist 06 rEvivAl And rEForMAtion biblical interpretation 20 & 27 The matter in any gospel-centered hermeneutic boils down to the 28 rEsourcEs issue of the proper relationship between Christ and the Bible. Frank M. Hasel 29 dAtElinE Getting Straight Bs 10 Find out what your church membership needs to be healthy and grow for Jesus Christ. Michael Halfhill Ministry® intErnAtionAl Editors International Journal for Pastors Chinese-Robert Wong 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Indonesian-Edwin T. Pandjaitan Creating a climate for the discovery of Spring, MD 20904-6600 U.S.A. Japanese-Yukio Ebihara www.ministrymagazine.org Korean-Sung Sun Hong truth: A perspective on doctrinal [email protected] Portuguese (South America)- 13 Zinaldo Santos development Editor Russian-Ilie Leahu Derek J. Morris Spanish (South America)- How should we deal with issues that concern us? Marcos Blanco AssociAtE Editor Spanish (Inter-America)-Pablo Perla Reinder Bruinsma Willie E. Hucks II intErnAtionAl Advisors consultAnts to Editor Mario Brito, Mikhael Kaminsky, John Fowler, Clifford Goldstein, Janos Kovacs-Biro, L. Chansanga The mission of Adventism: The Myrna Tetz Colney, Armando Miranda, EditoriAl spEciAlist Rudatinya M. Mwangachuchu, significance of the three angels’ Sheryl Beck Daniel Opoku-Boateng, Jongimpi 17 Papu, Bruno Raso, Ángel M. messages for today FinAncE And tEchnology Rodríguez, Hector Sanchez, MAnAgEr Houtman Sinaga, David Tasker, Ivan The question of identity must confront every church member. John Feezer IV L. Williams, Ted N. C. Wilson Eugene Zaitsev AdvErtising subscriptions Cheri Gatton 12 issues: United States US$32.99; [email protected] Canada and overseas US$47.00. +1 208-965-0157 To order: send name, address, and Make the main thing your first priority payment to Ministry® Subscriptions, Could you reach unreached language groups without knowing subscriptions/rEnEwAls/ 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver 21 AddrEss chAngEs Spring, MD 20904-6600 U.S.A. the parameters of the task? [email protected] www.ministrymagazine.org/subscribe +1 301-680-6515 to writErs Clyde Morgan +1 301-680-6502 (fax) We welcome unsolicited manu- covEr ILLUSTRAtion scripts. Before submitting, review 316 Creative the writers’ guidelines at www.ministrymagazine.org. Please lAyout send manuscripts via email to The most important ingredient in 316 Creative [email protected]. 24 church growth: Faith-based optimism Two simple words can change you, your church, and your co-hosts Anthony Kent and derek Morris future. www.MinistryinMotion.tv S. Joseph Kidder Ministry® has been published printEr Pacific Press® Pub. Assn., monthly since 1928 by the Minis- 1350 N. Kings Rd., Nampa, ID 83687 terial Association, general confer- ence of seventh-day Adventists®. Standard mail postage paid at Nampa, Ministry is a peer-reviewed journal. Idaho. (issn 0026-5314) sEcrEtARY Jerry N. Page Member of Associated Church Press. AssociAtE sEcrEtAriEs Adventist®, Seventh-day Adventist®, Jonas Arrais, Robert Costa, and Ministry® are the registered biblE crEdits Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Willie E. Hucks II, Anthony Kent, trademarks of the General Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. Scriptures quoted from NKJV are from The New Derek Morris, Janet Page Conference Corporation of King James Version, copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers. MinistEriAl rEsourcE cEntEr Seventh-day Adventists®. coordinator Cathy Payne vol. 84 number 12 © 2012 888-771-0738, +1 301-680-6508 www.ministerialassociation.com PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. LETTERS “As we seek to feed, guide, and protect the flock, we should still relate with love and humility toward these false teachers.” Biblical spirituality love and humility of our Lord towards Third International Bible he August 2012 issue of Ministry the teachers themselves is lacking. Conference Tanswered some questions I have All of the five strategies shared in was quite disappointed in the article had on the subject of spiritual forma- this article are clear. May the Holy Ireporting the International Bible tion. The excellent article by Stanley Spirit guide and redirect our focus Conference that was supposedly E. Patterson (“My Quest for Biblical on them. As we seek to feed, guide, devoted to biblical anthropology Spirituality”) was most impressive. and protect the flock, we should still (October 2012). Contrary to the I wish that all conference adminis- relate with love and humility toward title statement about breaking new trators and ministerial secretaries these false teachers. They, too, need ground, it merely restated historic would read and digest those wise salvation. positions. The five “ground breakers” words. If only these leaders would —Halerimaana Naphutali, pastor, Uganda had nothing to do with the Bible or give pastors the space to let the anthropology. What interested me Spirit work, if only pastors would be ark Finley’s article (“Biblical was what the conference chose not to affirmed more and compared less MSpirituality: Rediscovering Our discuss, that being the role of women to others, the work would advance Biblical Roots or Embracing the in the church from the aspect of bibli- with greater enthusiasm. Patterson’s East?”—August 2012) was the best cal anthropology. At a time when our article shows how being treated as I have seen on this issue. One minor church is embroiled and potentially an employee, a “hireling,” results in point needing clarification was: divided over this issue, why did this “transactional behavior—minimal “The idea of ‘the god within’ comes remain the elephant in the room no contribution, marginal commit- directly from Eastern mysticism.” one wanted to address? The question ment, and low creativity.” I truly While that is true, it also comes might have been asked, Does gender endorse his statement, “The pastor directly from the Bible. Jesus who play a role in the effective proclamation doesn’t work for money—the pastor is God does dwell in us through the of the gospel? is given money so he can work!” Holy Spirit. The difference is that He In elementary education we have —Gloria Josiah, St. Croix is in us for the purpose of working only recently come to realize that gen- out His will through us. We do not der plays a role in learning, and if we thank Jerry N. Page for his words pray to the God in us; we pray to “our feel it is necessary to teach boys and I of counsel to us (“Strategies for a Father who is in heaven” to forgive girls differently because they “hear” False Teaching”—August 2012). It us, protect us, and empower us. We and “learn” differently, maybe evan- reminded me of how often as minis- pray to Him in order to invite Him gelism would also be more effective ters we have handled false teachings to live in us. I know that the author if it were presented by both women within our congregations. Some- believes that; I just felt it should be and men, with both on equal footing. times we create more mess while clarified a little more. Again, great job Would biblical anthropologists like to trying to solve the issues related to and badly needed. tackle this possibility? such teachings. At times, a spirit of —Jac Colón, retired evangelist —Carlyle Welch MINISTRY 4 DECEMBER 2012 EDITORIAL | DEREK J. Morris the truth about Jesus istinguished Harvard Divinity This season of the year provides relationship with the Father and His School professor Karen King a unique opportunity for each one Son Jesus Christ. Jesus declared, Dhas caused quite a media of us to share the teaching of the “ ‘These things I have spoken to you, stir with her comments regarding a Scriptures regarding the life and that My joy may remain in you, and recently translated codex fragment, mission of Jesus. He certainly made that your joy may be full’ ” (John which she refers to as The Gospel some startling declarations about 15:11). of Jesus’ Wife. King has carefully Himself: “ ‘I am the way, the truth, Frank Hasel reminds us in this examined this small fragment (12 and the life. No one comes to the current issue of Ministry that the partial lines) that includes the words Father except through Me’ ” (John truth about Jesus is clearly revealed “Jesus said to them, ‘My wife. .’ ”1 14:6).4 “ ‘I am the bread of life’ ” in the Bible. We don’t have to specu- Written in Coptic, it may date from (John 6:35). “ ‘I am the light of the late about Jesus. Nor should we. the fourth century a.d., though some world’ ” (John 8:12). “ ‘I am the “God has arranged to use His Holy have suggested that this is a copy of resurrection and the life. He who Spirit to lead us to the Living Word an older book, perhaps written in the believes in Me, though he may die, (Jesus Christ) through the Written late second century. he shall live’ ” (John 11:25). Word (Holy Scriptures). The Is the fragment genuine? Gary The apostle John was an eyewit- Bible is the source that tells us all Manning Jr. from the Talbot School of ness of the life, ministry, death, Theology makes this observation: “It’s and resurrection of Jesus, and he too early to tell. When manuscripts provided this firsthand testimony: are discovered, it usually takes some “That which was from the beginning, time of examination and scholarly vet- which we have heard, which we We don’t have ting before forgeries are discovered. have seen with our eyes, which we There are some concerns about The have looked upon, and our hands Gospel of Jesus’ Wife’s unknown have handled, concerning the Word to speculate provenance and history of ownership, of life—the life was manifested, and but the initial reports make it seem we have seen, and bear witness, likely that this is a real fourth-century and declare to you that eternal life about Jesus.