Warning about “The Bible Project”

“And if you’re familiar with the story, how it works, hell–or evil or sin, the various names it’s called in the Bible–is something that humans have created by our decision to seize autonomy from God.” — Tim Mackie, creator of The Bible Project [1]

Huh? 

This morning we discovered the The Bible Project. We  watched the teaching about the prophet Ezekiel. It was so well done, so clear in its graphics and explanation, that we were bowled over. So bowled over that the link was sent out to others.

We were pretty excited. But after doing some research,  we realized The Bible Project should not be recommended–rather should people be warned.

Pastor Gabe Hughes notes that, “It’s [The Bible Project co-founder] Tim Mackie who is distorting the doctrine of the atonement.” Like the author of The Shack, and so many others these days, Mackie gobbledegooks understanding about the atonement.

We really appreciate this video by Pastor Hughes about Mackie and The Bible Project.  Please watch, that you may be equipped to warn others. Also, you may want to read: Hell needs “reframing,” says The Bible Project co-founder.

Propitiation: The act of appeasing the wrath of God.*

for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; (Romans 3:23-25)

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17)

and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)

As Hughes makes clear, The Bible Project, despite many wonderful videos, is not to be recommended. Omit propitiation and you have a different doctrine of the atonement. A different atonement means a different Jesus.

For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 3:11)

Related article: Hell needs “reframing” says The Bible Project co-founder     

Source Notes:

1. Compelled: Speaking and Living the Gospel, 32:01 in video 

Bonus! More articles HERE and HERE

55 thoughts on “Warning about “The Bible Project”

    1. Hi Linda, no I haven’t. But things are happening rapidly. This article, by Pastor Randles, if you have time, really has me thinking about repentance. https://thewordlikefire.wordpress.com/2020/06/23/why-the-nation-is-dissolving-a-biblical-analysis-pt-1/

      And give me a couple of days and I will also watch little of a Lion of Judah video and let you know what my take is back here in comments. The fact that they are “motivational” pretty much says it all.

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      1. 6/26 Okay, Linda, I watched portions of a couple of their videos. Kind of odd, sort of appeals to adrenaline (flesh) rather than the spirit. At least that’s how it seemed to me. I see what they are trying to do, and I don’t dispute their intentions at all. Too “motivational” for me.

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    2. What about the Unity of Isaiah? People need to understand that a very compelling argument for the faith is prophesy and the historical fulfillment. This is an important point of difference between those who believe in the inerrancy of Scripture and those who don’t. Proper handling of scripture involves standing firm on the reliability of the Word of God.

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  1. You make a claim about something Mr Mackie says in a video, but you never provide the link in the video nor say which video it is. There are a lot of videos on their website, so how are someone’s supposed to find the video that you’re referring to?
    I’ve been exposed to Tim Mackie’s teachings in one form or another going back to his days preaching at Blackhawk Church in Madison, WI. I can say that this church as a whole from my perspective has provided the most thorough and robust and grounded understanding of the scriptures to believers non-believers alike that I’ve ever experienced. It is certainly possible that Mr Mackie’s teachings have changed and that may be standing on ground that is theologically suspect now, but I find that hard to believe. I am of course, open to this idea, but then again that brings me back to the reason I posted in the first place, you need to provide the links to the videos which support your claim.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Barett, it’s in the beginning of “Warning About The Bible Project” post. Sorry about that. I would encourage you to watch the entire video as there is more that will sadden and surprise you. For what it’s worth, my own church has used The Bible Project for our youth previous to this information being discovered.

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      1. The sovereign will of GOD is not diminished by the autonomy of man and their free will choice to live a separated life apart from GOD. It is both GOD that punishes the sinner for not accepting the free gift of salvation offered by the innocent shed blood of JESUS as our propitiation and being reconciled to the Father and our choice as human beings that sends us to hell for unwillingness to live for and live GOD. It is just wrong to say that one way is wrong when GOD instituted free will. Tim Mackie is not wrong in his views because He doesn’t express both views in the Bible project episode on atonement and sacrifice. True Christians will further investigate and progress further in the faith to understand the propiation better as they walk with GOD. Do not bash the truth when it is proclaimed only bash false renditions of truth that spread heresy.

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      1. Hi Valerie,
        Thanks for the link. I will respond late today or sometime tomorrow. If I am in error I absolutely would make it right–but this is not the case. Thanks for your patience.

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      2. Hi Valerie, where exactly is this half sentence? Not sure what you mean. Do you mean Mackie’s comment about hell being made by people rather than God that I originally started this article with? I have to tell you, there are many problems with his comments on hell in that teaching beyond that one strange comment. I have gone over the blog and Pastor Gabe Hughes’ video, and Mackie’s erroneous teaching and omission are thoroughly covered. Here is a follow up article by Pastor Hughes. http://pastorgabehughes.blogspot.com/2019/08/whats-wrong-with-bible-project.html

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  2. Having just watched this teaching by Mackie, I can say that you took this entire statement out of context. You presented the video in the middle of the thought. I would encourage anyone reading this article to actually watch Mackie’s argument in its entirety an decide for yourselves. When tracing his argument I find that he seems to be pointing out that hell is not part of the original creation. He quotes, “God created the Heavens and the Earth” and then says “but it doesn’t say and God created Hell”. He later says that hell is brought into the picture by the rebellion of the first two humans. Please use integrity if you are going to call someone out for heresy.

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      1. I did not know Tim Mackie before today.. I only came to this site as I was looking up what others had to say about him (he was recommended to me by my parents)… so, I have no personal stake in defending him. In fact, I would have been interested to hear how he was wrong (if indeed he is wrong). However, your arguments are SEVERELY flawed in MANY ways.

        The video which you site “proving” that Mackie is “distorting the doctrine of the atonement” LITERALLY SHOWS HIM TALKING ABOUT PROPITIATION. At time code 3:50 WWUTText shows a passage where Mackie said (AND IT IS ALSO ON SCREEN) “Humanity is hopelessly trapped and GUILTY before God” and “Jesus came… to DIE ON BEHALF OF ALL PEOPLE AS A SACRIFICE FOR SIN” and “Jesus took into himself ALL THE JUST CONSEQUENCES of the pain and SIN and death WE HAVE CAUSED”. What then, is the doctrine of propitiation??? His (WWUTText’s) argument boils down (in this video at least) to “He never said the word PROPITIATION; and therefor does not believe in it”… THAT IS not just and bad argument… but shows and LACK OF UNDERSTANDING BEYOND MEASURE.

        You go on to say (in the above response) that Mackie teaches Lectio Divina… I had to look this up as I had never heard the term. Lectio Divina (LD) is a Catholic Mysticism which is rarely taught EVEN TO CATHOLICS today. You go on (in the linked page) to say that Mackie is teaching LD in the (there) linked video. This is incorrect ALSO… He is teaching (in a classroom at a college, not a church as you assert) not LD but Psalms 1:1-3; specifically verse 2 the word meditate which IS INDEED the Hebrew word Haga which DOES INDEED mean to study and pray (Strong’s H1897).

        You go on to criticize the teaching of “enneagram” which boils down to ‘you were created a pure being which our sin has killed, YET, Jesus made and path BACK TO GOD’. BUT THIS IS THE VERY TEACHING OF THE BIBLE!! Eph 2:1 “For you were DEAD in you your transgressions”, Romans 6:23 “For the wages of Sin is DEATH but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”, James 1:15 “when sin is accomplished, it brings forth DEATH”… and yet again John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” and again Col 2:13 “And you, who were DEAD in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made ALIVE together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses”

        You have FAILED on all accounts to prove that Mackie is “distorting doctrine” in any way… In fact.. Based on THIS VERY ARTICLE I have decided that Mackie is a FAR superior source on biblical teaching than you in fact are.

        You have (in error I believe) quoted men… I will now quote the Bible.
        2 Timothy 3:14-17
        “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

        Joshua 1:8
        This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall MEDITATE on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

        Acts 17:11
        “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, EXAMINING the SCRIPTURES daily to see if these things were so.”

        Psalms 1:1-3
        “Blessed is the on who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take
        or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who MEDITATES on his law day and night.That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season
        and whose leaf does not wither whatever they do prospers.”

        And lastly John 13:17
        “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

        In faith, and with respect and hope that you look into these things.
        Joshua Hatfield, Sgt USMC

        Liked by 3 people

      2. Hi Joshua, I want to give you my response, but I am still a couple of days away. Maybe if you feel like it you could research lectio divina and the Enneagram a little more–you really don’t want to defend or approve of either of these.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Hi Joshua,
        I hope you have resolved your concerns, even if it means we agree to disagree on some things. A portion of the church seems to be slowly slipping away, and false teaching or omissions in teaching are on the rise. God bless you my friend.

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    1. D. Murray, I have just watched the teaching again and it is a terrible and inaccurate teaching on “hell.” I wanted to verify one thing and have ended up with many other issues in this sermon. So much so that I will be posting an article about this.

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  3. As a pastor, as accurate and true as I try to be to the Scriptures, there are definitely times where someone could take a portion of a sermon or teaching where I emphasize some difficult aspect of theology, de-contextualize it, add it to other quotes, and paint me as heretical. Pastor, I humbly submit it is the same with you. I believe taken as a whole, Mackie’s teaching focus on Christ as the central figure of the Bible, mans depravity, our desperate need for him, and eternal separation from God for those who, in faith don’t believe. Let’s focus on what we have in common, and what is true, or we may find that we think the only person. Listening to is ourselves.

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  4. Actually, he is wrong about The Bible Project not covering the propitiation. On their podcast they covered it.

    And truthfully, Tim Mackie actually knows Biblical Hebrew, does Pastor Gabe Hughes?

    Like I admit, my theology has been recently wrecked and I don’t believe majority of the garbage I used to— Word of Faith, Prosperity Gospel, NAR garbage. But they are probably some of the most biblically rooted teachers out there.

    Now, I still digest what they teach with a grain of salt… but at least they do tons of research and they discuss what they’ve researched before they share it in an easy way for people to understand.

    Now, I heard Tim Mackie may believe in the Big Bang and slow creation, even if that is true he has never taught that as being biblically true and I commend him for not bringing his person beliefs into the pulpit. That takes a lot of restraint.

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  5. Watch the Bible Project! It is excellent teaching and a beautiful summation of the Bible and it’s overriding message… God loves humankind and is drawing us to Him. What we should avoid is letting someone else dictate what we watch and what we think. God gave us a brain and He encourages us to use it.

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      1. Jesus is the Word. The Logos. The way the truth and the life. The bible is not the Word. Let us not get confused. Christ didn’t come to point us to the scriptures, the scriptures point TO Christ, the Word. And we must read the Scriptures more like Christ did in order to receive any word, any truth from them. The Bible Project definitely talks about propitiation as well. It would be a lot more useful if you talked about what you disagreed with in regards to propitiation, rather than just saying they didn’t cover it… because that’s pretty lazy, right? That kind of humility goes like this. “Hmmm… I didn’t hear them speak here about propitiation, I wonder what they actually do think about that….” look it up. “here’s what they had to say about propitiation. This is what I lean towards in my own understanding, and, this is where I think we have a different understanding….”

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      2. Hi Tanya Lee,
        I WANT to be wrong about The Bible Project in terms of propitiation, and also hell, and I also would like to have a clear understanding about The Bible Project’s interpretation of the wrath of God. If you take the time to go through the ‘Warning about The Bible Project’ post the concerns about propitiation are made clear. And your statement “they definitely talk about propitiation” without showing me where is also, to use your words about me, “pretty lazy.” 🙂

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  6. You’re putting up period
    Maybe even an! We’re God put a …
    And now you’re seeking to destroy the name of a man who is dedicated his life to spreading the love of Jesus Christ and even if he’s not perfectly correct in one area that you see he is still doing good for the kingdom of God and his view of atonement it’s not so radical but it takes them out of the grace of God or even the story of Jesus. I feel bad that your messages are filled with bringing down and dissecting peoples messages. Remove the log from your eye and then you were more clearly see the splinter in your brothers. You do realize what that phrase means right. As you seek to judge it becomes a hindrance and a block to you to see that which you should be so righteously judging yourself. Blessings to you. I pray you help lead more people to heaven than to hell

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    1. Hi Jason, I have to disagree with your comments. This is not about Tim Mackie, who clearly is a kind and likeable man, but about the Bible–specifically about what is taught in the Bible. Understanding of the penal substitutionary atonement and propitiation as taught in the Bible are foundational. His teaching on hell is very strange. As far as the log in my own eye, I have no doubt Tim Mackie is a better and kinder man than me. Nevertheless, a false church is rising, and discernment, never popular in the visible church, is more important than ever.

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      1. The Bible Project is very subtle in its devaluation of the Word of God as authoritative and profitable. I began reading this discussion because of how popular the Bible Project still is today within the church. I am amazed at how angry people get toward your evaluation. I Listened to Tim for a few minutes on a video and realized that though he was talking about the the Bible as an epic story to be valued and lead us in our non-offensive faith, at the same time he was reducing it to a human work and not the valuable Infallible Word of God that Jesus Himself and reformers like Luther and Calvin upheld it to be. To me the Bible Project is just part of the Progressive Christianity movement that is kind of an anti-reformation movement giving authority once again the church and not the Holy Bible because in their words it was never intended by God to be that.

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    1. Hi Laurie, I can see how you might think that. But the God of the Bible is not a “higher power” a deity to be rearranged to our liking. We are not to re-define hell, or omit propitiation, or further water down what the Bible teaches. Christians are forbidden to teach or practice lectio divina or to use the occultic enneagram. So, there are problems here. https://thewordlikefire.wordpress.com/2020/05/20/more-the-bible-project-concerns-enneagram-lectio-divina/

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  7. I see where you’re coming from with the statement about him attempting to “redefine” hell. However, from the video it’s not taking out the biblical fact that those who do not follow The Messiah Jesus will end up in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 21:8). What it seems like to me is he’s stating that hell is an adjective to human behavior that is not of God (YHWH) and that The Messiah has come to remove that hold of evil (hell) from our hearts and replace it with our Heavenly Father’s Perfect Will. Let me know what you think about my view, thanks in advance!

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  8. It’s sad that Christians differ so much about the Gospel. Probably why we have so many variations of the same church. Theologically you may be correct but I have found Mackie’s sermons and videos a tremendous help. I think if we take a half a dozen churches we will find differing views on any given subject hence possible false teaching. I do not accept that God leaves the believer in the dark or that He would hold the Believer guilty of a heinous sin for being taught incorrectly. That judgement I believe would be for the teacher.

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  9. Over my decades of following Christ I have run into all kinds of ideas, theological debates, Bible teachers of every stripe, authors promoting their ‘brand’, pastors promoting their ‘brand’, ultra-conservative and uber-liberal believers and everything in between; the cold, the hot, the lukewarm.

    Throughout those decades there was one group I consistently found problematic: the folks who strain and sift at every subtle nuance, word, phrase, Greek syllable, Hebrew word or verse in a self-appointed attempt to keep the rest of Chrtistiandom’s dumb and ignorant sheep free of error. But in the end this parsing and atomizing always terminates in a spiritually blank and emotionless husk of Christianity. It’s a form of reductionism in which God is neatly dissected, and His organs labeled and displayed in jars of preservative; each jar with a big academic-sounding theological name. It’s all meant to sound astute and hermeneutically airtight, but it sucks the oxygen right out of the room; one is left with a rather sterile and conceptual abstract God, who is more a set of ideas and principles to be endlessly debated than a living, sentient, emotional being with real power and real presence in real time and real space. This is a God kept at a comfortable arm’s length, not a dangerous God that requires actively extending yourself in search of knowing Him. It’s a God you can only know stuff about, but never a God you can know. It’s a God absent of murkiness and disconcerting mystery because the self-appointed guardians have already figured Him out for you. You just need to sit quietly and listen to their version because theirs is, after all, the only true version. “Nothing new to see here folks. We got this.” Or so they claim.

    The Hughes video nearly becomes a kind of ‘Exhibit A’. (Jeez, and that annoying radio announcer voice) Hughes’ unwaivering self-assuredness is the immediate tip off. In an attempt to shape Jesus in the image of our theological arrogance, the Spirit is grieved and the human soul left bone-dry dehydrated. Where are the Ezekiels to call flesh back upon our parched skeletons? God’s people yearn for life, but we think arcane and clinical positions known only by a few with the hobby are at the locus of knowing God personally. We have professional Christians who can theorize and debate and argue about God, but no one to lead us to Him. Truth is not a perfectly accurate position, but Jesus the Christ. He—not theology or Christology or hermeneutics—is the Way. No wonder young people are ditching this mess in droves.

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    1. So very well said Bruce!
      I just watch his 2 hr lecture and teaching of how the Bible was made. Tim has a grip on Sin, Jesus and our need as humans for him. He even said at the beginning of this very video in question that because of the way the conventional era has distorted how we view life to death and basically earned trip to heaven by good works or hell if not, he wanted people to look at the reason for the NEED for Jesus. The focus is on following Jesus. His last thoughts were after this we can explore the details.
      I feel his detractors are missing his intro and conclusion thereby taking his model out of context.
      He’s a modern day theologian. He knows the Bible in Hebrew and Greek. He’s not leaving anything out. He’s just not delivering it the way some prefer the GOOD NEWS of Jesus delivered. Those are likely Of a Reformed persuasion.
      Thank you
      Debbieinitaly

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hi Debbie,
        I am not Reformed. I am a traditional Christian, meaning I accept the Bible’s teaching of the penal substitutionary atonement, and also the biblical understanding of hell. The Bible Project misses on both of these. This is not about Tim Mackie’s character or love of people or any of the other good things that are obvious about him–it is about these terrible teachings. Most of the videos are great–again, not the point. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

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  10. I checked out one video from Mackie and mostly liked it. But he specifically says that God doesn’t send people to hell. My Bible says God does. See Matthew 25:41 and more.

    The author here was clear to affirm that there’s some good stuff in Mackie’s teaching. I agree, I liked it. But in considering whether I should send Mackie’s stuff to someone wanting to learn about Christianity, I can’t do it. The ill of humanity is self-importance, trying to be God. We don’t need anything that cuts God out of the picture or misrepresents the word of God, I don’t care how good the other stuff is.

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    1. @Angie Harrison I think you misunderstand what Mr. Mackie is attempting to convey. In the video he’s not talking about judgment specifically like Matt 25:41. Rather he is attempting to say that on earth we make a decision to believe in and accept Jesus as our Savior and be redeemed or we don’t. If we don’t then yes God will judge us and we will not be apart of Heaven and Earth joined, but it was initially because we did not choose Him. In a sense those who do not choose Him are choosing Hell since Hell is separation from God. Similar to Frank Turek. God doesn’t force you to be with Him. If you choose to not to follow God and have a relationship here on Earth you will not have a relationship with him when you die. You will be eternally separated from Him (Hell).

      Basically, to convince me that Mr. Mackie actually believes that there is no Judgment and people don’t go to hell based on that judgment you’re going to have to find a video or evidence of Mr. Mackie explicitly stating that which you won’t because as many videos I’ve watched of him that does not appear to be his theology.

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  11. @thewordlikefire I have watched most of the Bible Project videos. And found them fascinating and instructive. Then I came upon this: https://youtu.be/vLNrW25SrRA . Watch carefully and you will see why, I now, am here and interested in your comments and kind responses to those who seriously disagree with you.

    I am horrified at all the false teaching going on today and it must be exposed, and then people can decide for themselves, discernment is a gift.

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  12. Thanks and it won’t take an hour to get to the issue, I did not watch all of it, there was no point.

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  13. Very interesting the long list of heretics that you recommend at the end of your video. I was taking your video very seriously until then….I will dig deeper.

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    1. Hi James,
      The video is by Pastor Gabe Hughes, not me. I reposted it, and I am glad I did. Before Pastor Richard Sweatman (article) and Pastor Hughes gave this warning, the saints were oblivious to the potential dangers in The Bible Project. Have not yet checked on the “long list of heretics” you are referring to at the end of the video. You may find this of interest as well: https://thewordlikefire.wordpress.com/2020/05/20/more-the-bible-project-concerns-enneagram-lectio-divina/

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  14. The Bible Project does an amazing job of presenting historically accurate views on Hell, wrath etc. They may not always present modern Western views as “more right” than older views, or than Eastern views, but I don’t think that is their goal. I think their goal is to present an accurate history of the lenses and angles believers throughout time have had on the Scriptures. It would be interesting to hear your take on someone like… say.. John Behr, an orthodox scholar who translates the early Christian texts from the Greek. His biblical exegesis lines up pretty well with the Bible Project’s way of talking about scriptures. Perhaps you believe the Western Christian view is the “most right?” and that’s why you struggle with the Bible Project’s even handed, literary, reasonable, scholarly approach to the Bible?

    Liked by 1 person

  15. I am 65, and I’ve been reading the Bible cover to cover since I have been in eighth grade. Every year using different reading plans.
    The Bible project plan which I just completed for 2021 was excellent.

    This is how you should have handled your complaints with Tim Mackey.
    “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother
    Matt 18:15
    Remember 2Peter 3:16 in reference to Paul, “speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.”
    By what I have just stated from the Bible, if you haven’t personally talked with Tim Mackey I believe you should retract your critical statements about the Bible Project and go and speak with him personally. By doing this Christ’s body will demonstrate the love of Christ, which he demonstrated at the cross.
    Best regards,
    David

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    1. Hi David,
      Thank you for your thoughtful comments. But you are taking both the Scriptures you used out of context. Matt 18:15 is NOT about warning the saints that false teaching is being spread. Here is an article if you want to research that further: https://thewordlikefire.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/should-those-teaching-false-doctrine-be-contacted-before-warning-the-saints/

      As noted elsewhere, I did send the article to the Bible Project way back when. As also noted a number of times, Tim Mackie seems a good guy and someone who really cares for people. I could say many good things about him.

      But here is what is not so good, David: So many people rise to defend Mackie but never deal with his incorrect teaching. Why in the world should I “retract [my] critical statements about the Bible Project”? Have you read this article or watched the video? Mackie totally twists the biblical defintion of hell, and over 500,000 people have viewed it. https://thewordlikefire.wordpress.com/2020/11/28/hell-reframed-by-the-bible-project-co-founder/

      Anyway, God bless you brother, and thanks for taking the time to bring your concerns to me.

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