OpenTheo

Q&A#88 Call No Man Father, Castor and Pollux, and Contraception

Alastair Roberts

Q&A#88 Call No Man Father, Castor and Pollux, and Contraception

November 3, 2018
Alastair Roberts
Alastair Roberts

Today's questions:

"1.) How can Paul call Timothy his "true child in the Faith" (1 Tim 1:2; cf. 1 Cor 4:17, 2 Tim 1:2) when Jesus forbids calling anyone Father besides God (Matt 23:9)? I'm assuming Jesus meant "call no man a spiritual father" but that seems to not clear up the issue since it seems like Paul is referring to himself as Timothy's spiritual father (maybe in a nuanced sense). Is this situation analogous to how, in the next verse, Jesus tells us to call no man instructor except for the Christ, but we obviously have instructors in the church?

2.) What is the significance of Luke mentioning in Acts 28:11 that the boat Paul was sailing on had the twin gods (Castor and Pollux, I think) as figureheads? That might be an historical detail but was curious.

3.) What should Christians think of contraceptives (specifically non-abortive contraceptives, like condoms and birth control)? Should Christians only use methods of "family planning" or are any methods (artificial or natural) of preventing children from being conceived immoral?"

If you have any questions, you can leave them on my Curious Cat account: https://curiouscat.me/zugzwanged.

If you have enjoyed these talks, please tell your friends and consider supporting me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/zugzwanged.

The audio of all of my videos is available on my Soundcloud account: https://soundcloud.com/alastairadversaria. You can also listen to the audio of these episodes on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/alastairs-adversaria/id1416351035?mt=2.

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditCopy Link

Transcript

More on OpenTheo

What Do I Tell a Child Who Feels Guilty for Not Wanting to Read the Bible?
What Do I Tell a Child Who Feels Guilty for Not Wanting to Read the Bible?
#STRask
September 19, 2024
Questions about what to tell a child who feels guilty for not wanting to read the Bible because he finds it boring and confusing, what Bible was print
Your Religion Prohibits You, Not Me
Your Religion Prohibits You, Not Me
#STRask
August 26, 2024
Question about how to respond to a meme that says, “Your religion does not prohibit me from anything. It prohibits you. Learn the difference.” * How
#226 Why bother improving the world? Can Christians attain perfection? (replay)
#226 Why bother improving the world? Can Christians attain perfection? (replay)
Ask NT Wright Anything
August 8, 2024
Why bother with earth and not just create heaven? Why try to make the world a better place if God is going to fix it? Is the world getting better or w
When Does a Human Receive a Soul?
When Does a Human Receive a Soul?
#STRask
October 14, 2024
Questions about when a human receives a soul and how to respond to someone who rejects science, reason, philosophy, and objective morality in her effo
Should Christians Make Use of the Concept of Meditation?
Should Christians Make Use of the Concept of Meditation?
#STRask
August 8, 2024
Questions about Christians making use of the concept of meditation, advice for discussions with panentheists, and how to not be discouraged when pasto
Life, and Ministry, and Laughter with Jason Helopoulos
Life, and Ministry, and Laughter with Jason Helopoulos
Life and Books and Everything
August 28, 2024
Listen as the two friends talk about the Land of Lincoln, about influential books and authors in their lives, and how the importance of friendship. Yo
Does the Bible Explicitly Forbid Premarital Sex?
Does the Bible Explicitly Forbid Premarital Sex?
#STRask
September 30, 2024
Questions about whether the Bible explicitly forbids premarital sex and whether Song of Songs 2:4–6 promotes premarital sex.   * How should I respond
Relitigating the Deception of Isaac
Relitigating the Deception of Isaac
Alastair Roberts
September 18, 2024
The following is a reading from this post: https://argosy.substack.com/p/32-intellectual-salons-and-a-new. Follow our Substack, the Anchored Argosy a
Why Didn’t God Start Humanity Over Right Away by Destroying Adam and Eve?
Why Didn’t God Start Humanity Over Right Away by Destroying Adam and Eve?
#STRask
July 25, 2024
Questions about why God didn’t start humanity over right away by destroying Adam and Eve instead of waiting for the flood, whether another fall will b
How Is Access to God in the New Covenant Different from the Old Covenant?
How Is Access to God in the New Covenant Different from the Old Covenant?
#STRask
August 29, 2024
Questions about how access to God through Jesus in the New Covenant differs from access in the Old Covenant, whether the salvation of Gentiles is just
Why Mordecai Did Not Bow
Why Mordecai Did Not Bow
Alastair Roberts
October 12, 2024
The following is a reading from this post: https://argosy.substack.com/p/breakfast-and-move-things. Follow our Substack, the Anchored Argosy at https
Isn’t It Better to Do Good for Goodness’ Sake?
Isn’t It Better to Do Good for Goodness’ Sake?
#STRask
September 2, 2024
Questions about it being better to do good for goodness’ sake rather than to earn approval and avoid punishment and a good initial approach to take wi
What if God Intended for My Child to Transition from a Girl to a Boy?
What if God Intended for My Child to Transition from a Girl to a Boy?
#STRask
October 10, 2024
Questions about how to respond to someone who says that maybe God intended for her daughter to transition from a girl to a boy and how kids in a small
Is It Circular Reasoning to Say the Bible Is True Because God Says It’s True?
Is It Circular Reasoning to Say the Bible Is True Because God Says It’s True?
#STRask
August 19, 2024
Questions about whether it’s circular reasoning to say the Bible is true because God says it’s true, how we can know when sarcasm or some other releva
How Would One Argue That a Particular Truth Is Self-Evident?
How Would One Argue That a Particular Truth Is Self-Evident?
#STRask
October 3, 2024
Questions about how one would argue that a particular truth is self-evident, the biblical justification for the claim of our Founding Fathers that God