Publications of James R Hughes

Additional articles by Jim Hughes, available at Creation.com.

Old Testament Studies

History's Opening Act

A commentary on Genesis 1-11. In the form of daily meditations. Written from an explicitly young-earth and six-day creation viewpoint, within a Reformed and Covenantal theological framework.

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An Examination of The Assumptions of “Eden’s Geography Erodes Flood Geology”

Abstract: In “Eden’s Geography Erodes Flood Geology” (The Westminster Theological Journal, Spring, 1996, pp. 123-154), John C. Munday argues that a cataclysmic view of a world-wide flood cannot be supported after an analysis of the geography of Eden. Munday bases his argument on two unproven assumptions: 1) Moses was the author of Genesis two and 2) the account was written from the perspective of the Israelites living in Canaan around 1500 B. C. These assumptions are invalid. It is more consistent with the data to attribute the account to Adam. He communicated it (possibly orally) from a pre-Flood perspective. Moses used Adam’s account (unchanged) when compiling Genesis. The geographical terms in Genesis two are generic. They are not specific to any location, and could have been used for both pre-Flood and post-Flood geographic features. Eden’s geography was destroyed by the Flood. Its location cannot be found in a post-Flood setting. Creation Research Society Quarterly Journal, 34(3):154-161 (1997)

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The Covenant of Creation

This essay Address two questions: 1) Did God in fact make a covenant with Adam, when there is no explicit statement that he did? 2) In what way is the “covenant of works” different from, or the same as, the other covenant administrations between God and man?

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Why Does God Use Covenants?

Examines the reasons why God may have chosen to structure his relationship with man in the form of a covenant and addresses the question of why he uses a covenantal form that was used by the nations surrounding ancient Israel.

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Why Did God Permit Man to Eat Meat?

It appears that man was a vegetarian before Adam's first sin and until the Flood. This essay examines the question of why man is now permitted (and in fact, required) to eat meat, in the context of the covenant meal, and the implications of this provision.

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A Faithful Man Who Can Find? Joshua a Faithful Man

A Bible Study Guide on the life of Joshua.

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Daniel - The Man who Feared God

A Bible Study Guide on the book of Daniel. Corresponding bookmark outline [print page twice, back-to-back, cut into four].

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Nehemiah - the Church Builder

A Bible Study Guide on the life of Nehemiah.

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Esther

A Bible Study Guide on the life of Esther and Mordecai.

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Proverbs Topical Index

An MS Windows application for searching the (ESV) text of the book of Proverbs. Includes topical search and concordance search functions. (Browser may give download warning. There are no viruses in the app.)

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OT Books - in Historical Order

A chart showing the Old Testament Books in approximate historical order with a related time-line.

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New Testament Studies

Meditations on the Life of Jesus

An applied commentary on the four Gospels organized to follow a chronological harmony of the Gospels, structured into 365 daily meditations.

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When was Jesus Born?

Relates events recorded in the Gospels about the birth of Jesus to the death of Herod and concludes that Jesus was born in the spring of 4 BC.

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Meditations on Acts

A commentary series of 365 daily readings on Acts with lessons for living in a pagan culture. 

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And So all Israel will be Saved

Answers the question: Does Romans 11 teach that there will be a mass conversion of the Jews before the return of Christ?

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Pastoral Guidance for a Congregation [Part 1]

A Study Guide on 1 Corinthians.

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A Consideration of The ‘Head Covering’ of 1 Corinthians 11

This essay attempts to answer the question: “Does 1 Corinthians 11 teach that women must wear a hat, scarf, or similar object in public worship?” It concludes that long hair is the natural covering given to women. [This article was published in Semper Reformanda, Vol. 13, Is. 1, Spring 2004]

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Was Paul the Author of Hebrews?

A brief analysis responding to (weak) arguments against Paul's authorship of Hebrews and a presentation of internal evidence within the book that likely shows that Paul was the author.

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Meditations on Revelation

A commentary on the book of Revelation, structured as a series of short meditations.

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Thinking of Divorce

A story about the birth of Jesus, told in the first-person from Joseph's perspective.

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Studies in God's Law

Biblical Ethics

Applying the Ten Commandments in the 21st Century. A series of 365 daily readings on topics in ethics.

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The Principle of the Portion (A Structure for Organizing Biblical Law)

Exodus 34 provides an organizing principle for Law and shows that man, under covenant obligation to God, owes God a portion of each area of his: life (not to mix the unlike, firstborn, blood), worship, possessions, and time.

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Does God's Law Apply to All Men, in All Nations, Through All Time?

The view that is held by most Christians is that God's laws are at best personal guidelines for holiness and they are not to be considered standards for our nation. This outline, for personal bible study, considers representative verses from the Bible that answer the question posed in the title and show that God's Law applies to all nations, through all time.

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Criteria for Assessing Whether a Proposed Human Law is Legitimate

A brief set of questions that can be used to evaluate whether a proposed law of a human legislature is consistent with Biblical Law and if it is proper law for the legislature to enact the law.

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Christian Libertarian Manifesto

A manifesto which illustrates the Biblical principles that maximize the God-defined individual human and family rights and responsibilities and minimize the role and involvement of the state (governments) in the life of individuals and families.

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Worship and the Christian Sabbath

In Spirit and Truth: Worship as God Requires - Understanding and Applying the Regulative Principle of Worship

There is much confusion about the doctrine of worship and variance in worship practice among those who are Presbyterian and Reformed and claim to accept the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Regulative Principle of Worship taught in the Confession. This book defines worship from the Bible and demonstrates that God regulates worship today. It then identifies the elements of worship for the NT Church and defends the practice of exclusive Psalm-singing without instrumental accompaniment. It also deals with many of the counter arguments and misinterpretations of the Regulative Principle of Worship.

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The Sabbath - A Universal and Enduring Ordinance of God 

This study addresses the perpetual and universal requirement for all of mankind to keep the Sabbath holy. It considers the Biblical evidence that Sabbath-keeping is a continuing requirement under the NT economy and responds to the arguments against Sabbath-keeping. It then shows that the Sabbath Day was moved to Sunday (the Lord’s Day) by Christ and responds to the contrary arguments of the Seventh Day Adventists. It then gives principles, with applied examples, for how the Sabbath should be observed in the 21st century. This study also demonstrates why the civil magistrate is responsible for enforcing Sabbath-keeping.

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Why Should Christians Go to Church

Seven reasons for attending church and ramifications which follow from those reasons.

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Why We Sing the Psalms

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Why We do not use Musical Instruments in Praise-worship

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Psalms Selector

An MS Windows application for selecting Psalms for worship, from the RPCNA's The Book of Psalms for Worship. Includes topical search and concordance search functions. (Browser may give download warning. There are no viruses in the app.)

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Cultural Analysis

Comparison of Biblical Christianity with Selected Other Belief Systems

Tables comparing Biblical Christianity with a sample of other belief systems existing today, by selected key belief factors which highlight differences among the belief systems.

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The Positive Influences and Contributions of Christianity

A brief essay, outlining the contributions which Christianity has made toward the advancement of civilization. It includes topics such as, Christianity’s stand for absolute truth, morality and justice, human life, and marriage and the family. It also identifies benefits of Christianity such as providing a foundation for operational science, the advancement of material prosperity and selfless service, and the provision of the only solution to mankind’s essential problem (sin).

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The Church of the Holey Donut

A satirical Look at Secular Humanism.

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I Don't Have to Believe a Lie

A brief response to the myths, fables,' scientific' fabrications, and views of the bewitched.

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The Passion of the Christ

An analysis of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ from a Biblical perspective. Addresses the question of whether or not it is proper to have images or representations of Christ.

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Defining the Fundamental Rights of Humanity

In The Tyranny of Experts, William Easterly argues that the existence of rights is essential for overcoming poverty. However, he does not define ‘rights’. What are the fundamental human rights which are missing in the countries which are poor? The problem of defining fundamental human rights is made difficult by a number of factors: 1. a lack of precision in definition, 2. a lack of universal acceptance, 3. the expanding definition of ‘rights’, and 4. a lack of an accepted objective standard.

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Is it Right for a Christian to Resist a Mandate to Get a SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine?

A brief essay, from a Biblical perspective, on why Christians should be willing to get a SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine.

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The Church in Cyberspace – The Coming Impact of the Computer on the Church

A review of telecommunication and computer technology (at the end of the 20th century) that was having an impact on the Church for good or bad. A consideration of how the Church may use modern computing technology for the advance of the Gospel, as it did the printing press.

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Other

 Bible Interpretation – Best-practice Principles

Considers challenges and assumptions in Bible Interpretation. Then provides guidelines for Bible interpretation with case study examples.

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Review: Darwin Devolves – The new Science About DNA That Challenges Evolution, by Michael Behe

In this book, biochemist Michael Behe, a biochemist, considers research at the molecular level making Darwinian evolutionary mechanisms self-limiting and “incapable of building functionally complex molecular structures.” Behe demonstrates the impossibility of life developing by random mutations and natural selection. However, he does not hold to Biblical creation. He accepts long ages for the existence of the earth and evolutionary processes. Creation Research Society Quarterly Journal, 55(4):182-183 (2019)

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Escape - Historical adventure romance novel

Set in 16th century Spain during the Inquisition ... Bartolomé Garcia accepts Lutheran teachings while studying in Paris. An urgent request from his father brings him back to Valladolid, Spain where he meets with a calamity—he is struck by a runaway carriage. While under the care of Doctor Abram Mendoza, he meets Catalina, the doctor's daughter, who assists in his recovery. Catalina , a rare educated woman in these times, and Bartolomé share an interest in learning. Not unexpectedly, they fall in love and promise to marry after Bartolomé completes his education. Bartolomé returns to Valladolid in the fall of 1558 where he and his father are betrayed to the Inquisition and imprisoned. Abram , Catalina’s father, is called to serve King Felipe II as part of his household’s medical staff and they move to Madrid with the court. Catalina is separated from Bartolomé, who languishes in prison. She is also promised in marriage, by her father, to a Conde in Felipe’s court ... [Reviewed by Michael A.G. Haykin Gospel Witness (January 2007)]

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Microsoft Word Concordance Generator

An MS Windows application for generating concordance files for creating indexes in Microsoft Word.  

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