Links open files in Dropbox. You do not need a Dropbox account to download files.
Bibliotheca Sacra
What Is Faith in Luke 18:1-8
This article examines Jesus statement in Luke 18:1-8, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth.” Was He referring to faith as doctrinal knowledge (truth assertions about the content of the faith)? Or did He refer to His disciples’ being found faithful to Him when He returns?
Bibliotheca Sacra July-September 2010-3
A New Kind of Christian – A Review
This article provides a critical review of McLaren’s thesis that modernity has so impacted evangelicalism that a new (or neo) kind of post-modern view of truth is necessary for ministry today. The review critiques this thesis by interacting with his fictional characters Neo and Dan as Neo seeks to lead Dan into a new post-modern view of truth and ministry.
Bibliotheca Sacra July-September 2004-2
Moral Virtues Associated with Eldership
This article provides detailed analysis of source and function of the lists of virtues and vice as codified in the elder qualifications. The study examines the source and function of the elder qualification while rebutting some proponents of the sociological-historical-exegetical approaches to these passages concluding that Paul did not simply copy or mirror Hellenistic virtues of the day nor did the list of virtues suggest the church was striving to fit into the Graeco-Roman society.
Bibliotheca Sacra April-June 2003-1
Heresy in the Pastorals
This article overviews the nature of the heresy that Paul addressed in the pastoral epistles concluding that errorists were a threat to the very existence of the Ephesian church.
Bibliotheca Sacra October-December 1999-3
The Discipline of a Sinning Elder
This article interacts with key interpretive views regarding elder discipline in 1 Timothy 5:19-20 and other passages concluding that elders who sin are to be rebuked before the congregation for sins that violate elder qualifications and this rebuking serves as a public reminder of the seriousness of sin.
Bibliotheca Sacra July-September 1997-1
The Laying on of Hands of Elder
This article rebuts views that the “laying on of hands” in 1 Timothy 5:18-20 serves to restore sinning elders; rather, Paul using the “laying on of hands” to refer to publicly identifying elders so there is church-wide recognition of true elders.
Bibliotheca Sacra October-December 1997-1
The New Testament Elder Pastor and Overseer
This article demonstrates that the Greek words for elder, overseer, and pastor all refer to the same office and office-holder while emphasizing ministry functions.
Bibliotheca Sacra April-June 1997-1
The Elder in the Old and New Testament
This article discusses the relationship of the Old Testament elder to the New Testament Church elder as well as how elders are to function. Additionally, the view that Eldership is two separate offices (Ruling and teaching) is rebutted.
Bibliotheca Sacra January-March 1997-1
Journal of Ministry and Theology (JMAT)
A Biblical and Theological Critique of Stanley’s book, Irresistible
This article critically interacts and refutes the thesis of Andy Stanley’s Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed from the World. The article demonstrates the biblical theological, hermeneutical, and methodological errors in Stanley’s thesis and argument. The article interacts and critiques Stanley’s incorrect thesis that the church in America is impotent due to integrating Old Testament truth into the New Testament Church as he proposes that the church needs to be “unhitched” and “unmixed” from the Old Testament thereby eliminating the need to defend the historical reliability of the Old Testament.
JMAT (Winter 2019)
What Should Christian do with Andy Stanley’s, Irresistible
Because of the popularity of Andy Stanley’s new book, Irresistible, I have asked my good friend and colleague, David Mappes to write a review of this book. As a biblical scholar steeped in the theological method, I wanted David not only to point out the book’s obvious errors (which many reviews have already accomplished) but to show how his incorrect theological method leads to careless theological practices such as jettisoning the OT. As the editor of the JMAT, it was my pleasure to sit down with David to discuss the book.
interview with Dr. David Mappes in JMAT (Winter, 2019)
A Biblical and Theological Overview of God’s Glory
This article explores the relationship between the present-age church ministry and the governing, political ruling authorities to conclude that the messianic kingdom-age of political rule and worldwide spiritual transformation is not identified with the NT church. The article overviews God’s sovereign rule through intermediaries, the delegated role and authority of government, and the role and authority of the church. The article demonstrates differences between God’s present sovereign kingly rule and his future earthly messianic kingdom-age through demonstrating distinctions between the role of government and the church.
in JMAT (Spring 2018)
Importance of using Properly Weighted Scholarly Material
This article provides an example of how evangelical scholars critique and evaluate post-conservative scholars using appropriately weighted scholarly material and provides bibliographies of this debate.
JMAT (Fall 2104)
How to Think about and Practice Theology
This article provides a non-technical discussion of how to use a proper Hermeneutical and Theological Method with a responsible doctrinal taxonomy to carefully interpret the Scripture and practice theology promoting Scriptural foundationalism (not to be confused with enlightenment foundationalism).
JMAT (Spring 2014)
A Biblical and Theological Discussion of Traditional Dispensational Premillennialism
This article provides an extensive biblical and theological examination of issues related to traditional Dispensational Premillennialism within a responsible taxonomy of doctrine including such issues Classic (or historical) Premillennialism, Amillennialism, Progressive Dispensationalsim, Covenants in Scripture and the Portrayal of the Messianic Kingdom Age.
in JMAT (Spring 2013)
Love Wins by Rob Bell A Biblical and Theological Critique
This article provides an extensive biblical and theological examination of Bell’s post-modern commitments and his attempt to post-modernize Christianity. Bell’s post-conservative theological method along with a brief survey of the book is provided.
JMAT (Spring 2012)
An Overview and Analysis of Apocalyptic Views Relating to the Year 2011 as the End of the World
This article critiques the 2012 doomsday sayers (New Age thinkers, historians, a few Mayan cultural anthropologists, and professing Christians who posit that December 2012 marks the end of the world as it is currently known. Special attention is given to how these detractors deny Biblical teaching about date setting and misrepresent fulfillment in Biblical prophecy.
JMAT (Spring 2011)
The Nobility and Knowability of Scripture
This article demonstrates the correct view and use of Scripture along with its knowability as the norming norm of Christianity by promoting a nuanced type of Scriptural foundationalism (not Cartesian foundationalism) that advances a type of literary
objectivity.
JMAT Part 2 (Fall 2008)
Nobility and Knowability of Truth Part One
This article provides extensive examination and analysis of how post-conservative evangelicals are promoting errant views of truth, the knowability of truth, inadequate views of language, and the non-foundational views of doctrine as a regulative norm.
JMAT (Spring 2009)
Miscellaneous Articles
8 Reasons to Reject Stanley’s Irresistible
This article interacts and rebuts Andy Stanley’s thesis that the church is ineffective because the Old Testament canon is mixed into its belief system. In his book Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed from the World, Stanley argues that the church with its modern version of faith is ineffective and too easily resisted. He conjectures that people resist the modern church and Christianity because the Old Testament is mixed into it. Consequently, when believers defend the Old Testament’s historicity and accuracy, they alienate what he refers to as “post-Christians.”
July-Agust 2019
Stanley’s Irresistible Is a Dangerous Disappointment
published in Baptist Bulletin Digital Edition MayJune-2019
Navigating the Theological Fog in Israel My Glory
This article overviews some of the current challenges that have evolved from post-modern theories of interpretation, interpretation, and culture concluding how t correct the course.
March 2018
Literal Interpretation and Theological Method by David Mappes
Ariel Ministeries Winter 2017
Contending with Sin in Pastoral Ministry
This article presents a pastoral overview of the threefold sense of salvation to engender a redemptive environment for followers of Jesus Christ while promoting that Justification by Faith is based upon imputation alone and not upon infusion or imputation of righteousness.
Baptist Bulletin Digital Edition September-October 2017
Sola Fide Future Justification A Present Reality or Future Recognition
This article is a non-technical overview of the Reformers’ view of “Justification by Faith” while critiquing the view of “Future Justification” promoted by some New Perspective on Paul advocates (e.g, N.T. Wright).
Baptist Bulletin September-October 2017
Prioritizing and Revising Articles of Faith
This article overviews how to use, update and prioritize the “Articles of Faith” within a church context and how to avoid common pitfalls along with surfacing recent destructive trends in the doctrinal formulation.
Baptist Bulletin July August 2016
Fostering a Christly Marriage in an Upside-down World
This pastoral article focuses on centralizing a personal relationship with God through Christ lest one deify marriage leading to idolatry.
Paraklesis Spring 2016
The Christian and Civil Disobedience A Biblical and Theological Overview
This article provides an in-depth Biblical and theological discussion for the basis of Christian civil disobedience.
Baptist Bulletin Digital Edition July August 2015
Biblical Apologetics and Ministry Today
This pastoral article discusses the meaning and practice of reasoned and biblical apologetic while avoiding sheer pragmatism, ant intellectualism, or philosophical intellectualism.
Paraklesis Spring 2013
Influence and Allusions of Wealth
This pastoral article discusses principles regarding the allusions and influences of wealth and intrinsic self-worth as God’s image-bearers. Additional issues of stewardship and protecting wealthy church members are discussed.
Paraklesis Fall 2011
Recalculating Why Were Still Here After Another Round of Failed Rapture Predictions
This article critiques 2012 doomsday sayers (New Age thinkers, historians, a few Mayan cultural anthropologists, and professing Christians who argued that December 2012 marks the end of the world as it is currently known. Special attention is given to how these detractors deny Biblical teaching about date setting and misrepresent fulfillment in Biblical prophecy along with how to interpret the book of Revelation.
Baptist Bulletin May-June 2011
Sorting Out the Players in the Certainty Debate
This pastoral article clarifies why post conservatives deny models of interpretive certainty and single meaning of a text.
Baptist Bulletin Nov-Dec 2010
Current Trends in Hermeneutics and Theology Certainty and Simplicity
This pastoral article clarifies why post conservatives deny models of interpretive certainty and single meaning of a text. The loss of certainty primarily results from post conservatives who separate God’s revelation from Scripture and promote a communal view of truth.
Paraklesis Summer 2010
What is Balance?
This pastoral article posts the truly balanced Christian life results from an intentional and progressive display of the Fruit of the Spirit in every area of life.
Inspire, The Cedarville University Alumni Magazine Summer 2006
Two Sermons of Major Impact
This small excerpt portrays the early controversies of theological liberalism as seen in Harry Emerson Fosdick’s infamous sermon, “Shall the Fundamentalist Win” and Clarence Macartney’s sermon, “Shall Unbelief Win?” who argued the context of Scripture alone should determine meaning.
Inspire, The Cedarville University Alumni Magazine Winter 2005
Of Infinite Value
This article presents a pastoral overview of how each child including the special needs population has inherent worth as being created in the image of God and how parents of special needs children can best advocate for their special needs children. Co-authored by my wife Karin Mappes and myself
Inspire, The Cedarville University Alumni Magazine Summer 2003.