Two good days at the John Owen Centre

It is a privilege to have the John Owen Centre so near at hand and once again this week I was able to take advantage of what is on offer there. First there was the regular reading group (called the Theological Study Group) - one of the oldest elements in the centre's history. This time around the set book was Bondage of the will by Martin Luther. As it turned out, the person originally slated to lead us in discussion had to drop out and several others were unable to make it for various reasons and so I was leading a group of just three. That limited things a little but not over much and it was good to learn the impressions that others had gained. We were all glad to have read it, knowing its significance. We agreed that it is not an easy read (though the Packer translation clearly is a great help) and that Luther's style would be very unusual today. It was good, however, to see how he slices through Erasmus's semi-pelagianism so effectively.

The TSG is free and if you are interested in joining us next time in October, do let me know. We will look at Sinclair Ferguson's new book or John Piper on Scripture.

As it turned out, there was a Greek study day the next day led by my fellow elder Robert Strivens. These are always good times when we expose ourselves to the original text under the expert guidance of someone who knows what he is talking about. This time around we looked at Philippians, a great epistle and about the ideal length for such a session. Some 10 of us gathered. A diverse group we were made up mostly of pastors. Just great stuff.

Robert is stepping down from this role and in future such days will be led by Flavien Pardigon, the Centre's new tutor in biblical studies.

Summer Reading 1 A Classical Primer

I was in The Works and I saw this little hardback covering Greek and Latin language, history, literature, philosophy. architecture and science and technology and fancied it for myself and hopefully for one of my sons who likes this sort of thing. I did a course on most of it in my first year in Uni and even toyed with the idea of learning Latin from scratch for half my degree. I suppose the Lack of Latin and the poor Greek is a bit of a regret but books like this do make so much accessible even for ignoramuses* like me. (* that is correct, I checked years ago).

Currid on Calvin

Somehow I missed this volume last year - Hebrew teacher John Currid's Calvin and the Biblical Languages. A straightforward book of only about a hundred pages it neatly sets out the facts concerning Calvin and the biblical languages. The thesis is that though Calvin was not an outstanding scholar in Greek or Hebrew he did use the languages and encouraged others to use them. Indeed he did more than many to encourage the use of the bibklical languages. Currid's argument is that use of the original languages is really a Reformation principle and one that we neglect at our peril. He has a compelling case and I for one felt a little ashamed of my laziness in this area. Details here.

TWTWTW

I must admit I'm half glad that the snow has come as I'm incredibly busy at present. It started last Monday with an evening committee meeting for the London Inreach Project in Covent Garden. Prior to that the day was fairly easy. Managed to go for a run round the park.

On Tuesday I was out all afternoon continuing to pursue the matter of where the Evangelical Library should move to. As reported, I spent Tuesday evening at Grove Chapel listening to jazz.

Wednesday was dominated by my regular visits to take services at Spring Court and Heath Grove Lodge (on Philippians 1 and Jonah 4). In between that I popped into central London to meet up with my good friend Chris Buckingham. In the evening it was our regular midweek meeting (looking at Deuteronomy 18).

In the midst of all this I found myself sheltering from the rain with my i-pod on. A live version of Sylvia (my all time favourite) came on and although I've listened to that song thousands of times it struck me once again how good it is. As I looked up there was the word Sylvia across the road in front to me (good job I'm not religious, eh?).

By Thursday I had so much to do I had to get up an hour earlier. I fitted most of it in, including writing a tract, preparing various other things and an afternoon Greek session at LTS on participles and the opening verses of the Sermon on the Mount. In the evening we had our bi-monthly church members meeting. It's always a good time but I wish we could have more present.

On Friday I was in Welwyn at the EMF lecturing on JWs and Mormons. I had some business at a bank near Goodge Street en route home plus a visit to Finchley to read from Lloyd-Jones' masterful Preachers and preaching with Richard Raven a student at LTS who is one of our mentoring students. (He preached for us yesterday and quite acceptably too). We celebrated Dylan's birthday in the evening with fahitas and krispy kreme doughnuts. Also that evening, of course, it was the clubs for children and young people where I spoke about this current ad on the buses suggesting there is no God and we had a quiz.

Saturday morning we were giving out tracts in Golders Green in the bitterly cold wind - not the best weather for it. In the afternoon most of the family went to Aldenham Country Park and had a nice time there despite the cold.

Sunday morning I preached in the Welsh church, as reported. The three older boys were in Childs Hill to hear Richard. We went for a walk in Kenwood in the afternoon. I took communion in the evening adn then Richard preached on Psalm 145.

Early October

Lunching with good friends,

The October sun shines down.

Paul's Greek, it's profound.

Lovely sunshine today. I went to West Hampstead for a bachelor lunch with one of my deacons and three other friends. He's getting married on Saturday.

I then went on to Finchley for some Greek studies at LTS. The class has mushroomed to eight which changed the dynamics, but it was good. Home via Golders Green with my camera. Church members meeting tonight.

Learning Greek

A lovely, stirring post worth reading here

Hellenisti Ginoskeis;

Interesting new blog on koine Greek here