My name is Mike Ratliff. I am a δουλος (slave) of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have been a Bible teacher since the late 1980's. I am currently learning Koine Greek, which I began in 1992 and will continue to do so until the Lord takes me home. I am Reformed in my theology because I recognize that God is Sovereign over all things. I write these posts as God directs. I am also part of the discernment team at Christian Research Network.
by Mike Ratliff
One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Luke 20:1-8 ESV)
I usually read two to three books at a time. No, not at the same time, but I will have those books in process all at the same time. One of these books I am reading now is the biography of William Tyndale by David Daniell. I read it over a year ago, but I am re-reading it. I wanted to go over again the condition of the visible Church at the time of the Reformation that God used to inspire men to be willing to be burned alive at the stake because they dared to put the word of God into the vernacular so common people could read it. Read the rest of this entry »
