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• The Good Book Blog

  Why Were Some Books Left Out of the Bible?

  Clinton E. Arnold — April 19, 2016

  A few years ago, the National Geographic Society announced the discovery of a lost gospel called the Gospel of Judas. Every major news outlet covered this event, with some hailing it as the discovery of the century. The Society then aired a television special on the Friday before Easter telling the story of this great find and discussing its significance. This discovery raised many questions for people, but especially two of a critical nature for the Christian faith: (1) why were some books left out of the Bible (like the Gospel of Judas), and (2) should we consider including other books in the Bible? ...

• The Good Book Blog

  New Book Provides Short Answers to Big Questions about God

  Sean McDowell — April 18, 2016

  I recently received a copy of an intriguing book in the mail called Short Answers to Big Questions about God, the Bible, and Christianity. One of the authors, Dr. Clinton Arnold, is a friend and colleague of mine at Biola University. This father-son pair tackle some of the biggest theological questions raised about Christianity today, such as, “Is Hell a real place?” “Do angels and demons really exist?” and “Does God hate sex?” If you’re looking for an easy-to-read, insightful, and timely book that tackles these types of questions, then I highly recommend this book. To give you a sense of the content and approach of this book, the Arnolds answered a few of my questions ...

• The Good Book Blog

  Properly Understanding Properly Basic Beliefs

  William Lane Craig — April 15, 2016

  "Another example would be the warrant for Christianity's truth that comes from the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. To assume that the experience of the Holy Spirit's witness to the truth of Christianity is mere emotions is question-begging. If God does exist, He is certainly capable of communicating His truth to you in an interior way as well as through external evidences. Again, certain Christian beliefs are, I'm convinced, known to be true in a properly basic way, grounded in the inner witness borne to us by God Himself. Interestingly, beliefs based on testimony--like my belief that your name is Grant--is a properly basic belief which I am rational to hold unless and until a defeater for that belief comes along. Similarly, many Christian beliefs are beliefs warranted to us by testimony--God's own testimony. Don't be too quick to dismiss it, lest you fail to hear the voice of God speaking to you." Okay then. We have two properly basic beliefs: (1) The testimony of others (2) Inner witness ...

• The Good Book Blog

  Does God Want Me to Be Happy?

  Clinton E. Arnold — April 12, 2016

  Without any hesitation we can say that yes, God wants you to be happy. The Bible (as well as experience) tells us that the Christian is given happiness in an incredible number of ways. But Christ has actually sweetened the deal and offered us something even better. While happiness is used to describe a basic feeling of gladness and contentment, what Christ offers is joy, which includes happiness, but runs much deeper, lasts much longer, and is felt much more strongly than happiness. The word joy shows up roughly four hundred times in the Bible, and it is no coincidence. Christ wants you to experience the joy that comes from him ...

• Biola News

  Students Volunteer at Hospitals as Part of Death and Dying Sociology Course

  Professor Brad Christerson gives insight into the sociology of death and how to grieve in new class

  Shayna Brodsky and Sarie Koes — April 12, 2016

  Junior student Erin Choi was admitted to a hospital and told she had two months to live. According to doctors, she was dying of cancer. As it...

• The Good Book Blog

  Why Evolution Is Not "Just a Theory"

  Sean McDowell — April 11, 2016

  One of my favorite presentations to do at universities, schools, conferences, and churches is my Atheist Encounter, in which I interact with the audience while role-playing an atheist. After briefly setting up my character (which involves putting on my “atheist glasses”), I then take live questions from the audience and do my best to defend atheism so Christians can see how well—or how poorly—they defend their faith ...

• Biola News

  The Campaign National Tour Heads East to Washington, D.C. and New York City

  Events draw local alumni and help campaign reach 94 percent of goal

  Cambria Aviles — April 11, 2016

  Biola University’s Campaign National Tour continued with back-to-back events in Washington, D.C. and New York City on April 1 and 2, respectively....

• Biola News

  Winners of Biola University’s First-ever Startup Competition Announced

  First place wins a $15,000 cash prize and more to fund their dream business

  Daryn Daniels — April 08, 2016

  Biola University Crowell School of Business announced the winners of its first-ever startup competition on April 8. First, second and third place...

• The Good Book Blog

  Is the Universe a Necessary Being?

  William Lane Craig — April 08, 2016

  Dear Dr. Craig, In the Leibniz' Contingency Argument, the premise 2 states that "If the universe has an explanation of its existence, that explanation is God". This requires that the universe does not exist by the necessity of its own nature, and that anything that could possibly exist outside the universe, could not be the cause of the universe, except for God. The universe is further defined as all of space-time reality, including all matter and energy. You have previously answered the question "Is Part of the Universe a Necessary Being?" (Question #235), essentially by stating that it would be absurd to suggest that a specific set of elementary particles would exist necessarily in all possible worlds, while being the cause of all the other similar particles ...

• The Good Book Blog

  How Do We Help Students Resist our Pornified Culture? Part 2

  Sean McDowell — April 07, 2016

  In my first post, I discussed two underlying reasons why pornography has such a stronghold on many youth today. In this post, my goal is to offer six practical insights so we can best help students resist the lure of pornography. These are some of the points I will be sharing at the upcoming Set Free Global Conference on pornography.

• Biola News

  Biola Launches Office of Employer Relations

  New department is dedicated to connecting students and alumni with top tier internships and jobs

  Drew Mattocks  — April 07, 2016

  The Center for Career Development at Biola University launched the Office of Employer Relations this spring in an effort to provide more...

• The Good Book Blog

  How Do We Help Students Resist Our Pornified Culture? Part 1

  Sean McDowell — April 06, 2016

  For the past two decades, I have been speaking, teaching, writing, and counseling students on a variety of issues. Yet in the past few years, no issue has become more critical to address with students than pornography. And yet, sadly, many parents, youth workers, teachers, and other adults simply ignore it ...

• The Good Book Blog

  La Vida es un Regalo Divino / Life is a Divine Gift

  Octavio Esqueda — April 04, 2016

  Todos los viernes en la tarde un grupo de estudiantes y maestros de la universidad cristiana en donde trabajo se reúnen a jugar basquetbol. Hace unas semanas fui a jugar con ellos y lo que parecía un día normal se convirtió en una experiencia que me ha impactado y que también ha tenido el mismo efecto en muchísimas personas. Después de jugar por más de una hora uno de mis alumnos del doctorado se disponía a irse a su casa cuando le pedí que me esperara unos minutos porque necesitaba hablar con él. Primero se sentó y después se recostó en el césped a un lado de la cancha en lo que terminaba de jugar mi partido. En cuanto el juego terminó fui a hablar con él y en ese momento me di cuanta que estaba inmóvil, sin respirar y con una apariencia pálida y descolorida. Inmediatamente pedí ayuda y mientras algunos lo trataban de resucitar yo llamé a los servicios de emergencias. Gracias a Dios lograron que respirara otra vez y se lo llevaron a la sala de emergencias de un hospital cercano ...

• The Good Book Blog

  Presentism and Past Existence

  William Lane Craig — April 01, 2016

  Dear Dr. Craig I was reading the part of your book "Time and Eternity" that talks about perdurantism, and I have a question over your objection to the Perdurantist's view of personal consciousness. You claim that on Perdurantism, personal continuity from moment to moment is an illusion and that they believe that I was a different person one second ago than I am now, which you claim to be absurd. However, it appears to me that by the same token, we can argue against Presentism, because Presentism states that only the present exists ...

• The Good Book Blog

  Why Our Storytelling Nature Provides Evidence for God

  Sean McDowell — March 30, 2016

  I love stories. And I know that you do too. Whether it’s a captivating novel, an enthralling movie, or an anecdote from a friend, human beings love stories. We love to tell them and we love to listen to them. In fact, we can't resist them. In The Storytelling Animal, Jonathan Gottschall says it beautifully: “Human minds yield hopelessly to the suction of story. No matter how hard we concentrate, not matter how deep we dig in our heels, we just can’t resist the gravity of alternate worlds.”[1] Good public speakers know that the best way to engage an audience is through storytelling. Whenever I feel like I’m losing an audience, I quickly tell a story and they’re right back with me! ...

• The Good Book Blog

  Metaphors Revealing the Holy Spirit, Part 3: Oil as a Metaphor for the Holy Spirit

  John McKinley — March 28, 2016

  In part three of this series, I will present the third biblical metaphor revealing the Holy Spirit: oil. We need to discern what the metaphor is, and what its meanings are within the biblical and ANE framework. I will be drawing some details from the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. My goal is to recognize patterns of meaning that may be intended to expand our understanding of the Holy Spirit’s presence and action in subtle ways hinted at through metaphors.

• The Good Book Blog

  The Resurrection Answers Three Big Questions

  Sean McDowell — March 26, 2016

  “The resurrection of Jesus Christ is either one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted on the minds of human beings—or it is the most remarkable fact of history.” My father has often shared these words to me in person, and he’s written them in his books. The older I get, the more I realize they’re unmistakably true. There’s no middle ground with the resurrection of Jesus. Either it is a colossal fabrication or the most important event in history ...

• Biola News

  Cook Celebrates Alan McMahan, Recipient of Annual Donald A. McGavran Award

  Biola professor receives award recognizing contribution to church growth

  Kathryn Toombs — March 25, 2016

  Alan McMahan, department chair of the under�ƹ���Ƶ intercultural studies program at Cook School of Intercultural Studies (CSICS), received the...

• The Good Book Blog

  Why Does God Exist?

  William Lane Craig — March 25, 2016

  Dear Dr. Craig, I am currently a high school student extremely interested in both philosophy and theology. My question is one that has puzzled me for a long time, and I believe that if there is anyone who could explain the answer in an understandable way, that person would be you. To be clear, I am a Christian and affirm the existence of God. In a theistic view, why does God exist? Did He choose to exist, and to have the attributes that He does? For example, did He choose to exist in a Trinitarian form? ...

• Biola News

  Business Alumna Presented with Biola Ruby Award for Teaching and Mentoring

  Chelsea Vukovich honored during women's history month

  James O'Hearn — March 24, 2016

  Alumna Chelsea Vukovich (’15), a business major, was awarded the Biola Ruby Priscilla Award for Teaching and Mentoring at an award ceremony during...

• The Good Book Blog

  Can I Get A Witness?

  Sean McDowell — March 24, 2016

  ... If the bones of Jesus were found, then Christianity would be false. Paul said, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17, NASB). Some religions may make untestable claims about reality, but Christianity makes claims about real events in history that can be tested. Let’s put it to the test ...

• Biola News

  Henry Honored By International Tennis Hall of Fame

  Dee Henry recognized with educational merit award.

  Neil Morgan — March 24, 2016

  LA MIRADA, Calif. --- In early-March the International Tennis Hall of Fame honored Dee Henry, Biola Women's Tennis head coach, with its Tennis...

• Biola News

  Coach Dave Holmquist Secures Another Milestone

  Biola celebrates Holmquist — 900 wins, GSAC title, NAIA Coach of the Year

  Marissa Ray — March 24, 2016

  Biola University head men's basketball coach Dave Holmquist had a season to remember — capturing 900 wins, named 2015-2016 NAIA Coach of the Year...

• Biola News

  Archer, Funches Named NAIA All-Americans

  Dakari Archer and Terrell Funches earn men's basketball all-american honors.

  Neil Morgan — March 24, 2016

  NAIA RELEASE LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Terrell Funches and Dakari Archer formed a formidable backcourt for Biola Men's Basketball from wire to wire...

• The Good Book Blog

  The Culture of Complaint: Moving from Complaining to Gratitude

  Karin Stetina — March 23, 2016

  This past fall a friend shared an article from the New York Times entitled The Microcomplaint: Nothing Too Small to Complain About. It was amusing to read about all the silly complaints that celebrities tweeted to the world. Everything from the misery of only decaf coffee being available to what the writer deemed a “complaintbrag” of not being able to buy a Persian rug with cherub imagery. This habit, however, does not appear to be limited to celebrities. Cruise ship directors have received equally amusing complaints. For example, one passenger reported that the sea was “too loud” while another passenger grumbled about there being no celebrities on the Celebrity Cruise ship. In the past complaining was something often reserved for private ears. Today, however, it is not only acceptable to publically complain about the littlest inconvenience, it is often encouraged. It has even been identified as a communication style, particularly of Americans, who frequently see themselves as victims. Are Christians exempt from “microcomplaining” or are we part of the “culture of complaint”? What does Scripture have to say about complaining? ...