Scholars and alumni from Dallas Theological Seminary, along with scholars from other so-called "conservative" seminaries, produced, circulated, and displayed a paper on their website in which the following statement was made --
This paper was written under the patronage of an association known as the IBR Jesus Group. IBR is an acronym for The Institute for Biblical Research. In addition to other professors and alumni from different seminaries, Daniel B. Wallace, professor of Greek at Dallas Theology Seminary (hereafter DTS), and one of the most outspoken critics of the King James Bible and the Traditional Text, is/was either a member or supporter of this group, along with other alumni of DTS, as he and they displayed this article for approximately a year or more on their website (Biblical Studies Foundation) before being forced to remove it by outcries from various sectors.
Note: For an additional example of the ignorance of the IBR group, see the very short: Addendum To: Bible Scholars Blaspheme Jesus Christ
Note: After this article first appeared, Wallace (in a further demonstration of his willingness to blaspheme the Holy Ghost, for the article in question positively REEKS of the spirit of the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost) has reposted this article on the BSF website, and currently (as of this update) may be found HERE.
Of course, it goes without saying that it is impossible for anyone born of the Spirit of Christ to condone or display or manifest such a demeaning, heretical assertion. It is not merely improbable; rather, it is not in the least wise possible for a genuinely born again Christian to display or condone or manifest such a statement. Not a single born again Christian anywhere on the planet would allow such a blasphemy on his website. Not one. The Holy Ghost is HIMSELF incensed at such a statement, and he who is born of the Holy Ghost, he who is indwelt by the Holy Ghost, is also incensed at such a statement. There are absolutely no exceptions. None whatsoever.
Though only one man is inscribed as the author of the paper containing this manifest blasphemy, this statement is nevertheless not the testimony solely of this one man. Rather, this paper was written under the auspices of conservative Biblical "scholarship," with numerous scholars and seminaries participating, and with all of the participants and conspirators proofing the content and agreeing thereto, thereby affirming themselves as silent signatories to the blasphemy. In fact, let us spring the trap by allowing them once again to speak for themselves:
This article was also posted on the website of Wallace, et. al.
The intent of the IBR Jesus Group "is to engage in a fresh assessment of the historicity and significance of ten key events in the life of Jesus and to do so in a group environment." [Darrell L. Bock and Robert L. Webb, Introduction Of The IBR Jesus Group]
And with regard to their methodology -- "This individual submits an essay for review and interaction within the group. Discussion and interaction take place via e-mail. Then the group meets over an entire weekend in the summer to discuss and respond to the paper. The author then reworks the draft in light of the entire group’s feedback... The article remains the author’s work, but it has been reshaped and enhanced by the extensive nature of the group interaction." [Darrell L. Bock and Robert L. Webb, Introduction Of The IBR Jesus Group]
In other words, the final product is a team effort! It is a consensus of "evangelical Christian scholars with specialties in Old and New Testament and in ancillary disciplines," whose vision is "to foster excellence in the pursuit of Biblical Studies within a faith environment."
Accordingly, the "entire group's feedback" clearly approved of the blasphemy.
Thus, suggesting that Jesus Christ might have been a sinner is the message that this group of "conservative Christian scholars" deems appropriate in their philosophy of "fostering excellence in the pursuit of Biblical Studies within a faith environment."
Further, this is a paper that by virtue of its exposure has been presented to a wide audience, and has thoroughly made the rounds within "conservative, fundamental" Christian scholastic circles in the past several years, and thus you have a classic example of the fruit of modern, "conservative" Christian "scholarship," a group of scholars heavily engaged in Bible translation and textual criticism, and a group represented by a wide range of scholars who profess to be Christians and who profess to be acting "within a faith environment," scholars who are universally known, and scholars who are universally respected within "conservative, fundamental" Christianity, scholars who are representative of modern Christian "scholarship" and textual criticism, scholars who operate by and through the very same principles and ideologues that produced modern "bibles."
I am reminded of the wise words of the very Jesus they blaspheme -- "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." [Matthew 7:20]
I am also reminded of the wise words of the regenerate and Spirit-filled John Bunyan, who stated -- "Thou mayest do that in half a quarter of an hour, from the evil of which thou mayest not be delivered for ever and ever." [The Barren Fig Tree]
As I said, is it not possible that anyone born of the Spirit would allow such a statement to be promoted or displayed or advertised on their website, or anywhere else for that matter, unless it was done with the clear intention of EXPOSING IT, which is what I'm dong here.
It's not simply improbable, but impossible for anyone born of the Spirit to display or advertise or promote such a statement, or even to reference people who commit such an open blasphemy, other than to thoroughly expose and discredit it and them, for the born again Christian knows that such a statement is not only the very highest of blasphemies, but also knows that the sick notion these vipers have asserted about Jesus Christ is utterly impossible. Absolutely, utterly impossible. There are no exceptions. Every one born of the Spirit of Christ knows this. He not only knows it by the inviolable Word of God, but he knows it by the inner testimony of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Ghost HIMSELF burns against this statement as the very highest of blasphemies.
Only God knows how deeply this sin penetrated the hearts of the conspirators, but one thing is clear: namely, that every single professing Christian, whether born again or no, ought to separate himself from such people. This is not a suggestion. It is a commandment of the Lord, for those who abide such men, which most defenders of modern "bibles" do, for most of those who defend modern "bibles" refer to these men and their articles in their defense of modern "bibles" in their continual assaults on the King James Bible and the Traditional Text, yea, those who mention these men and their articles in support of their own positions, even if only referentially, are equally as guilty of their blasphemies, at least in general, if not specifically. Don't be deluded -- those who refer to these men, those who fellowship with these men, who abide these men, those who in any way accommodate these men, are partakers with these men in their heinous sins and blasphemies, as it is written --
"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." [2 John 1:10-11]
The question will be raised -- yet another query from the carnal heart, for the carnal heart can never seem to grasp even the simplest and plainest truths of the Scripture, and the carnal heart will thus proffer his protest by asserting that perhaps he may not have known about this particular statement, and so, the carnal heart will posit, what then? Well, with rare exceptions, that is no excuse at all, and for several reasons. First, this is merely one of the statements made by this group that shows a complete disregard for Jesus Christ, and which shows a calculated, systematic assault against the character of Jesus Christ, particularly in their text-critical propaganda, however overt or subtle, and their denigration of Jesus Christ, while giving lip-service sufficient to divert and confuse the feeble-minded, nevertheless flows like raging rivers of rapids from these devils in their articles and their treatises and their books, and this is clearly manifest to every one born of the Spirit of Christ. In short, nobody born of the Spirit -- I say, nobody born of the Spirit of Jesus Christ could read anything at all that these men write without knowing infallibly that these men are unregenerate, even though they pretend to be regenerate, but who are nevertheless very devils incarnate, and he who has not discerned this proves himself infallibly unregenerate as well, for even a newborn by the mere perusal of their literature would see it in a very moment. [Matthew 24:24; 1 Corinthians 12:10]
Hear John Bunyan once more --
"The day of grace ends with some men before God taketh them out of the world." [The Barren Fig Tree]
Those who would argue this matter and claim that these men, despite their faults, are nevertheless regenerate, are people who prove, not only that they themselves are unregenerate, but also that they are nothing but mindless lemmings who would willingly strangle their own children at the behest of the local witch doctor -- blind, superstitious lemmings, for their heroes have already removed all doubt about themselves, for by asserting that Jesus Christ could be a sinner, these vipers have had a MARK placed upon themselves, similar to the MARK God placed on Cain, so that only a twice-dead soul could miss it -- I say, so that only a TWICE-DEAD soul could miss it -- for even some of the heathen can perceive this MARK, the same heathen who don't profess to be Christians, but who, unlike most present-day scholars and theologians, are not under judicial blindness, and who can therefore, even from afar, as it were, recognize the glory and sinlessness of Jesus Christ. Yea, the common people still hear Jesus Christ gladly, and unlike many of those in present-day Christian "scholarship," the heathen by-and-large have not passed their day of grace, and so the fields are still white already to harvest in their case.
Again, make no mistake: those who have referenced these men are not only partakers with them in their sins and in their blasphemies, but those who reference these men and their "scholarship" likewise prove themselves equally unregenerate, all their worldly and unenlightened protestations notwithstanding, and so, if any man who is guilty herein has even the slightest ounce of wisdom, he had better start seeking a way out of the fellowship he has entangled himself in, and let him be sure not to limit himself to fleeing only from the particular group under discussion here, for what this group is guilty of, virtually all of modern Christian "scholarship" is guilty of -- whoever has ears to hear, let him hear -- and every one who has seen even the tiniest slice of the glory of Jesus Christ IN THE SPIRIT knows it to be true.
To be clear: he who has any affinity in the least for modern Christian "scholarship" knows nothing of the glory of Jesus Christ. Nothing at all, and never was a Scripture more apropos concerning modern Biblical "scholarship" than these words following -- "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD." [Jeremiah 17:5]
In fact, we might here well ask: where is the condemnation within conservative, fundamental Christianity? Where is the condemnation from conservative, fundamental Christians who employ "bibles" and other material produced and promoted by this same universal cadre of scholars? It's not like this article has been hidden. No, this article has been displayed and has made the rounds for years now. So where is the condemnation from conservative, fundamental Christians who themselves quote these scholars in defense of modern "bibles," and who reference these scholars in their preaching and in their Bible studies? I say, where is -- not the rebuke, for these vipers have sailed FAR beyond the rebuke stage -- but where is the CONDEMNATION?
The answer as to why there is no outcry is as simple as it is Satanic: zeal for the glory of Jesus Christ is nonexistent in professing Christianity. If any of these pastors, preachers, scholars, teachers, ad nauseam, had seen even a TINY SLICE of the GLORY OF JESUS CHRIST in the MIRACLE OF THE NEW BIRTH, if any of these pastors, preachers, scholars, teachers, ad nauseam, were in the slightest degree jealous for the glory of Jesus Christ, the world could not contain the condemnations that would have been unleashed against these devils by now.
That is why there is no outcry -- for zeal for the glory of Jesus Christ doesn't exist in contemporary Christianity -- and that is why modern "bibles" are so readily accepted today, for no man born of the Spirit of Jesus Christ and who is jealous of the glory of Jesus Christ, would accept a "bible" that removes "GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH" in 1 Timothy 3:16, especially since ALL GENUINE REVELATION is founded in this scripture, and since the Holy Ghost HIMSELF bears UNMISTAKABLE WITNESS to that particular scripture in EVERY ONE that is born of the Spirit -- there are NO exceptions. See topic II in my article, The Blood Of Jesus Christ - Part I, for a demonstration of how "GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH" goes back to the very first act of the Godhead in eternity past.
In addition, no man born of the Spirit of Jesus Christ would accept a "bible" that contains that monstrous heresy of "ONLY BEGOTTEN GOD" in John 1:18, which happens to be the most monstrous heresy in the history of Christianity, a heresy which is utterly destructive of the glory of Jesus Christ, as every one who is born of the Spirit and who is jealous for the glory of Jesus Christ is certain of -- again, there are no exceptions -- (see topic III in my article, The Blood Of Jesus Christ - Part II), as if the DIVINE ESSENCE could be BEGOTTEN; yea, no man who is genuinely born again would accept the MULTITUDE of scriptures in modern "bibles" that are utterly destructive of the glory of Jesus Christ, while at least one scripture in modern "bibles" ITSELF reaches ALL THE WAY to the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. See my articles, Indictment Of Ignorance, and Satan's Semantics, topic number 2, for a demonstration.
Regardless of their silence, every pastor, every preacher, every teacher, every scholar, every Christian who in any way accommodates these scholars, is equally guilty of the same sins and blasphemies, and while a man may scoff at that today, Jesus Christ will verily condemn that man for it on the day of judgment, and without respect of persons.
Look to it, professors!
And yet, as surely as day follows night, there are those who don't believe this; there are those who will still in any way traffic with these men, not knowing that their trafficking will lead them into a fire that they cannot escape, all their skills notwithstanding, and thus they don't really believe this is true, they don't really believe that the above Scripture could possibly be true of themselves in this case, that they could be partaker of another's sins -- but their delusion will overtake and condemn them soon enough, and that eternally, for God's Word will prove them liars and deluded in the end, and so let that rare man who truly wants out of his dilemma -- that rare man who realizes he's trafficked with devils and now wants out -- who truly wants to escape the damnation of hell, yea, let that man be certain he understands FULLY what is at stake here -- to wit: those who in any way traffic with these men are PARTAKERS with them in their sins and blasphemies, and thus, get out NOW, if you have been guilty of this, and FLEE from these men and their blasphemies, otherwise you WILL be swallowed by them. Remember Lot's wife.
Fair warning.
Notwithstanding the severity of their wickedness, these men and their seminaries will undoubtedly have many defenders, being they and their seminaries are in high standing in worldly Christianity (for there is absolutely nothing of the Spirit of Christ in any of their seminaries or their writings, as any newborn in the Spirit will instantly recognize), but in worldly Christianity they are of Caiaphas' stature. Their defenders and allies will remonstrate that of course they should not have made such a statement (along with all the other statements that could be produced), but still, as their loyal defenders and allies will undoubtedly cry, they aren't really such a bad sort. They didn't mean it that way. It was, after all, just a scholastic exercise. And so on ad nauseam. And thus their defenders and allies will not only show themselves equally unregenerate in this effort, but as well, equally liable to their sin. And their damnation.
In fact, I happen to know of least one instance where these vipers attempted to explain and rationalize this statement by asserting to one individual who questioned them on it that they were merely exercising open minds and allowing the liberal element in Biblical "scholarship" to have its say.
Of course, these same vipers who attempted to justify the article on these grounds don't seem to be able to comprehend the simple syllogism wherein it reveals that they cannot reconcile their attempt at justification since they themselves approved and participated in and displayed the article in the first place.
And thus, as the SINLESS Lord Jesus taught us, "Wisdom is justified of her children." [Matthew 11:19]
Conversely, the born again Christian will not only condemn these men as enemies of the cross of Christ, and would never even THINK to trust them or have anything at all to do with them, but will likewise utterly warn all men of them, for the genuinely born again Christian not only knows what is truly at stake here, but is also unspeakably incensed that someone who names the name of Christ would spew and display such insatiably foul filth, and it is only the carnal heart that would deign to go running forward with offers of forgiveness to such men, for the carnal heart knows nothing of the spiritual truths of the Bible, especially that spiritual truth concerning God's SEVERITY, which is as mighty -- and as FINAL -- as his love, as Ananias and Sapphira swiftly discovered, to name just one example. [Romans 11:22; Acts 5:1-11]
He who truly belongs to Jesus Christ, and who is zealous for the glory of Jesus Christ -- in other words, he who is actually born of the Spirit of Christ -- considers these men, and others like them -- like Ananias and Sapphira -- to be murderers of souls, and thus the born again Christian will not only decline to pray for them, but will in fact intercede AGAINST them, and will do so IN THE SPIRIT, and he who doesn't feel that way knows nothing of the glory of Jesus Christ, or of the holiness of God, and he certainly knows nothing of the operation of the Holy Spirit. Nothing whatsoever. [Psalm 69:22-28; Psalm 109:6-15; Acts 5:1-10]
In closing, let me also warn you of Wallace and his NET bible, especially its notes. Many today hail the NET bible's notes as a wondrous thing. This, once again, not only demonstrates the rapt ignorance of modern Biblical "scholarship," but also the pervasive unregeneracy of modern Biblical scholars, and of mainstream Christianity in general. These are two of the reasons why this generation of Bible scholars will go down as the most inept and incompetent generation of Bible scholars in the history of Christianity.
To be blunt, the NET bible's notes are a work of fiction throughout. Nothing less, nothing more. For a clear demonstration, merely read the NET bible's notes in 1 Timothy 3:16, and then compare the actual evidence with my short article, False Citations. And, unlike modern Bible scholars, understand what constitutes actual evidence, and therefore understand that valid historical evidence, which you will find in abundance in my article, is considered to be one of the very strongest types of evidence there is, and this valid historical evidence certainly outweighs the naked assertions and carnal opinions and blind theories of unregenerate modern textual critics like Wallace.
I might also add that Wallace's heralded book on Greek, in which he asserts that he is taking his readers beyond the basics, is also primarily a work of fiction, as native Greeks know. For example, Wallace demonstrates in his explanation of the Greek syntax in 1 Corinthians 6:11 that he isn't even of aware of probably THE most COMMON idiom in the Greek language. And that's just one example of a plethora of examples. In short, Wallace's book ought to be placed in either the comic or fictional section of the bookstore. And he himself ought to get back to the basics and not attempt to go beyond them himself until he actually understands them. The fact that his book is widely employed in Anglo seminaries is just another proof of the rapt ignorance of modern Anglo Biblical "scholarship."
Beware of Wallace, et. al., for they are unregenerate vipers, murderers of souls, and -- unless they are given exceptional grace to repent, grace which was not offered to Esau, Saul, Judas, and many others throughout history -- they will not only destroy themselves eternally, but millions of others as well. In fact, many have no doubt already been eternally destroyed by the carnal, unregenerate leaven of Wallace, et. al.
But what can you expect from someone who participated in and circulated and displayed an article that blasphemes Jesus Christ to the uttermost? And even a cursory reading of his other articles will demonstrate instantly to the genuinely born again that Wallace's works are the works of a darkened, unregenerate mind.
You've been warned, whoever you are.
Farewell.