Crumbs from the Table

 Baptist churches first emerged in the English-speaking world around 1609 (General Baptists), and 1640 (Particular Baptists) respectively. The Particular Baptists are so called not because of some inate "pickiness" but because of their (our) belief, along with most other reformed Christians at the time, in Christ's particular redemption. The saving work of Christ on the cross and in the resurrection actually saved particular people. This is sometimes referred to as "limited atonement".   The Particular Baptist churches in the English-speaking world emerged from existing independent congregations, which had sprung up in England from the late 16th century onwards. What made them "Baptist" was their conviction that baptism should be administered on profession of faith, and therefore should not be given to infants too young to profess faith. The practice of delaying baptism until the serious commitment could be made in an informed way was certainly a commo

Last Easter (2022) I spent some time studying the days and dates of the events at the culmination of Christ's life on earth.  You may know that Jewish days are considered to begin on the preceding evening after nightfall (so the Sabbath begins on our Friday evening, and runs until sundown on Saturday).  Also, the names of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread do not necessarily refer to what we think they refer to.  Fortunately the days of the Jewish months are numbered. The month in question is Nissan or Abib (these are two names for the same first month of the year) which falls around March/April.  On day 10 of the first month, the Passover lamb was to be "taken", and lived with the family before it was slain on 14 Nisan. If 14 Nisan fell on a Friday, then 10 Nisan would be a Monday. This may have some bearing on the meaning of Mark 14:1-9. On day 14 of the first month, at twilight, just before the end of the day, the Passover lamb was sacrificed. According to