#19 – Can You Trust Your Bible with Dr. Michael Kruger

07/05/18 • 27 min

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley talk with Dr. Michael Kruger about how the Bible, as we know it, came to be and how we know we can trust it.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

Can we trust our Bibles?
How did we get our Bibles, what was the process?
Where is the original Bible?
What is self-authentication?
What is the biggest misconception about the canon?
There are brackets in my Bible around Mark 16:9-20. Can you explain that? Should we read and teach this passage as if it is authoritative?
If archaeologists were to dig up a copy of Paul’s letter to Laodicea (Col 4:16) should it be included in the NT canon?
If a member of your congregation approached you in distress, having watched the latest History Channel documentary or attended a class on the New Testament from the local State University. What would you say to them? Where would you begin?

Helpful Definitions:

Canon: Standard or rule

Guest Bio:

Michael Kruger is president and professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Kruger received his B.S. from The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, his M.Div from Westminster Theological Seminary in California and his Ph.D at the University of Edinburgh. Dr. Kruger has served in leadership capacities for the Evangelical Theological Society and has been a visiting scholar at both St. Edmund’s College and the Tyndale House at the University of Cambridge. He is the author of several books including The Canon Revisited and The Question of Canon. In addition to his many academic accomplishments, Dr. Kruger serves as a Pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America and is married to Melissa - who is a popular author and women’s minister.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

“Canon Revisited” by Michael Kruger
“Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion” by John Calvin
Cannon Fodder

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Show Notes:

Michael J Kruger's Website

Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books

Sponsored by HOPE International:

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley talk with Dr. Michael Kruger about how the Bible, as we know it, came to be and how we know we can trust it.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

Can we trust our Bibles?
How did we get our Bibles, what was the process?
Where is the original Bible?
What is self-authentication?
What is the biggest misconception about the canon?
There are brackets in my Bible around Mark 16:9-20. Can you explain that? Should we read and teach this passage as if it is authoritative?
If archaeologists were to dig up a copy of Paul’s letter to Laodicea (Col 4:16) should it be included in the NT canon?
If a member of your congregation approached you in distress, having watched the latest History Channel documentary or attended a class on the New Testament from the local State University. What would you say to them? Where would you begin?

Helpful Definitions:

Canon: Standard or rule

Guest Bio:

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

“Canon Revisited” by Michael Kruger
“Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion” by John Calvin
Cannon Fodder

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Knowing Faith.

Sponsored by HOPE International:

Support Knowing Faith and Become a Patron:
patreon.com/knowingfaith

Show Notes:

Michael J Kruger's Website

Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books

Sponsored by HOPE International:

Our Sister Podcasts:

The Family Discipleship Podcast | Tiny Theologians

Support Training the Church and Become a Patron:

Previous Episode

#18 – In His Image with Jen Wilkin

JT English and Kyle Worley chat with Jen Wilkin about her new book, “In His Image,” and how we, as limited humans, might strive to display the character of our limitless God.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

Jen, how many books have you written and what are they all about?
What’s the elevator pitch for “In His Image?”
I want to know God’s will for my life. What should I do?
What is the difference between incommunicable and communicable attributes?
Is holiness given a preeminent standing in describing the character of God?
How do I become like Christ?
When you think of patience in particular, what are some ways patience and power work together?

Helpful Definitions:

Incommunicable Attributes: Things that can only be true of God.
Communicable Attributes: Things that are true about God that can also be true about us.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

“Women of the Word” by Jen Wilkin
“None Like Him” by Jen Wilkin
“In His Image” by Jen Wilkin
“The Holiness of God” RC Sproul
“Patient Ferment of the Early Church” by Alan Kreider

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Knowing Faith.

Sponsored by HOPE International:

Support Knowing Faith and Become a Patron:
patreon.com/knowingfaith

Show Notes:

In His Image

None Like Him

Sponsored by HOPE International:

Our Sister Podcasts:

The Family Discipleship Podcast | Tiny Theologians

Support Training the Church and Become a Patron:

patreon.com/trainingthechurch

You can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.

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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

Next Episode

#20 – Questions, Answers, & a Little Bit of Debate

On this episode, Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Elizabeth Woodson to answer theological questions from our listeners. Listen to the crew discuss (and debate) topics like how we should read passages about Israel in 2018 or why God seems to be silent about the treatment of women...

Questions Covered in This Episode:

Are Israel and the Church the same in the New covenant? How should we read passages about Israel in 2018? Do they relate to current events in the state of Israel?
Why does God seem to be silent in the OT regarding the treatment of women/multiple wives/treating women like property? There is harsh punishment for other things...
What will the role of the Holy Spirit be in eternity?
Kyle, what brand of toothpaste do you use? What brand of laundry detergent does Kyle use to get the toothpaste out of his shirt?
How can we understand God’s moral will versus His sovereign will? He commands: Thou shalt not kill. Yet, he orders the genocide of the Canaanites by the Israelites.
Are you a cessationist or continuationist and why?
Is the Village a Baptist church? Why are you a baptist?

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Genesis 12:1-3, Romans 9, Galatians 3, Romans 11:1-2, Romans 11:11, Romans 11:25-26, Romans 11:29, Exodus 21, Deuteronomy 4, John 15:26
“Progressive Dispensationalism” by Craig Blaising
“Kingdom Through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants” by Gentry and Wellum
“God's Kingdom through God's Covenants: A Concise Biblical Theology” by Gentry and Wellum
Culture Matters Episode #34 - Apologetics, Hard Conversations & the Phenomenon of Stranger Things
“Is God a Moral Monster” by Paul Copan
SBC
NAMB
ERLC

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Knowing Faith.

Sponsored by HOPE International:

Support Knowing Faith and Become a Patron:
patreon.com/knowingfaith

On this episode, we answer theological questions from our listeners. Listen to the crew discuss (and debate) topics like how we should read passages about Israel in 2018 or why God seems to be silent about the treatment of women in the Old Testament.

Sponsored by HOPE International:

Our Sister Podcasts:

The Family Discipleship Podcast | Tiny Theologians

Support Training the Church and Become a Patron:

patreon.com/trainingthechurch

You can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at