Josephus does not tell us that Christianity is true, and Christians do not need Josephus to tell them that Christ is risen. But Christianity makes claims about things that happened in public history under identifiable rulers, priests, and governors. For that reason, testimony from outside the church matters.
09/18/26
Today, the longing for cultural Christianity on both the left and the right hearkens back to an older version of Christendom that was a mixed blessing for the church in the western world. The cultural mediation of Christian views on created order has certainly benefitted the civilization we’ve inherited. But the gospel itself isn’t something that can be reduced to cultural mediation either. Instead, the gospel as a message stands apart from all human accomplishments and achievements, no matter how beneficial they might be.
09/16/26
The student of Scripture should always have a map open next to their Bible as they read. If possible, they should also travel to Israel, not to make a pilgrimage, but to see the context of the land in which these stories took place. These are not fairy tales made up about fictional fantasy lands; these are stories about real people in real places interacting with a real God.
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Brian W. Thomas
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09/14/26
God's purposes for His people are good — not comfortable, not free of suffering, but good in the deepest sense. The exile ended. The Messiah came as promised. The tomb is empty.
08/10/26
Jesus offers something infinitely better. He tells us to put down our gavel—not because sin isn't real, but because the only Judge who has the right to condemn is the very One who was condemned for us.
05/01/26
This is an excerpt from the third chapter of By Water and the Word: God’s Gift of Baptism for You by Brian Thomas (1517 Publishing, 2026), pgs 52-60.
02/16/26
Faith, for Peter, is not suspended in religious abstraction. It is tied to something that happened in time and space.
12/16/25
Christianity doesn’t start with our speculation about God. It starts with God’s self-revelation.
11/21/25
Caesar gets your taxes. Christ gets your heart.
10/31/25
The Reformation isn’t just a chapter in church history. It’s a reminder that the gospel remains forever good news.
09/24/25
Election is not a riddle to solve. It’s a pillow to rest your head on at night.
09/05/25
The reason Christians argue so much about the sacraments is because, deep down, they matter.
05/29/25
The ascension is not about Jesus going away. It's about Jesus taking his rightful place so that he might fill the world with his presence and power.
05/01/25
If you struggle with doubt, take heart: You are not alone.
04/24/25
If Jesus rose from the dead, then his claims about himself and his promises to humanity warrant serious attention and response.
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