Writings and Video Classes
by Ashby Camp
“Ashby Camp is a model of Christian scholarship. His studies of biblical documents and theological themes, reviews of significant books, and critical engagement of issues that confront the contemporary church are well researched and thoroughly documented. This is a valuable resource for preachers, elders, Bible teachers, and all Christians who wish to help navigate the troubled waters of this present age. Your investment in reading this excellent repository of study aids will be personally rewarding and a blessing to those you teach.”
Tom Alexander
Emeritus Professor of Bible, Harding University
Ph.D. New Testament, Emory University
“Ashby Camp’s website is a rich mine of careful study with respect for God’s word. It contains a variety of materials that are useful in many situations, and whether you always agree with Ashby’s conclusions or not, you will always find a carefully reasoned, biblical presentation of important topics and studies of Scripture. I have always found Ashby’s material well worth reading – and often, worth reading again.”
Tommy South
Glen Allen Church of Christ
Ph.D. New Testament & Early Christianity, University of Virginia
“As was said of C. S. Lewis, Ashby Camp has the ability 'to make righteousness readable.' He provides a large number of researched, well-thought-out articles that will benefit those who read them. He thinks clearly and writes engagingly; he conveys heavy thought in simple language, a gift. Your preaching and teaching will likely be improved by feeding on Camp's material. I recommend highly this valuable website.”
Philip Slate
Germantown Church of Christ
D. Miss., Fuller Theological Seminary
The writings on the site have been created over many years. Some are more detailed and academic than others. Many are notes from classes I have taught at church. If I failed to credit a source of wording or ideas, it is because I did not cite the source in my notes and no longer remember it.
I add to and revise the writings regularly. If anything here is helpful to you, I would be encouraged by knowing that. Drop me a note at theoutlet@cox.net.
I thank Bernard Dawson for his work in video recording, editing, and posting the classes online. The YouTube channel, BitChute channel, Rumble channel, and collection of video playlists at "The Outlet" are his creations. His interest in my teaching has been an encouragement, and his labor has been a blessing.
If a writing has a corresponding video class, it is marked with an asterisk. The class can be located in the Videos section of the website.
All my material is available for viewing online free of charge. A person may download and/or print a single copy of the writings for personal use. I am happy for people to share with others links to the writings and videos on the website, but a person may not share or circulate any electronic files downloaded from the website or upload them to other websites or servers. The version of the writings at the website will always be the most current. Should anyone wish to print and distribute any of the writings, prior permission is required. Under no circumstance shall anyone sell or charge for any of my material or substantially alter it.
I am 72 years old and have been married to my sweet wife, Meg, since 1976. We have one child, Alissa, a son-in-law, Matthew, and three wonderful grandchildren, Dylan, Anna, and Audrey.
I was taken to the Methodist Church until I was 6 years old and did not attend church again for 20 years (except for one Easter when I was staying with a friend). In my teen years, I ceased to believe in (or think about) God and developed into a vulgar and immoral person whose major form of recreation was getting drunk and stoned.
I graduated with high honors from the University of Florida in 1974 (Phi Beta Kappa) and graduated from Duke University School of Law in 1977. I began practicing law in Orlando, Florida in 1977. The following year, my brother John, who shared my worldly outlook on life, became a Christian and “dogged” me with the gospel. He pushed me to the point of objectivity, the point where I was willing to entertain the possibility that God was real, and once I opened my heart it all became so clear.
Pursuant to a promise I made to John, I read the New Testament in a modern English translation (NIV) and was just blown away. I then read Josh McDowell’s Evidence That Demands a Verdict and Frank Morison's Who Moved the Stone. The reality of Christ and of his call to discipleship was heavy on me, and on June 14, 1978, I was baptized into Christ. I still recall the silence in my office when I announced to my colleagues, who had come to round me up for our Friday trip to the bar, that I was not going with them because I had come to believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
Meg initially felt betrayed when I converted. It was as though someone had stolen the irreligious man she had married. Her friends even suggested to her that I had lost my mind. It was a tense time in our marriage, but thanks be to God, on September 17 of that year Meg became a Christian.
I shared my faith with many people at work, which upset some of the senior partners. I was blackballed from becoming a partner in that firm (as I suspected at the time and later had confirmed), but the Lord blessed me beyond measure. I joined another firm in 1980, became a partner and a successful trial attorney, and had a wonderful relationship with my partners and fellow lawyers.
I left the practice of law in 1987 to attend Harding University Graduate School of Religion (now Harding School of Theology) in Memphis, Tennessee. I graduated from HUGSR with a Master of Divinity degree in 1990. I was the 1989 recipient of the Velma R. West Greek Award and the 1990 recipient of the M. Div. Academic Award. From 1990 to 2004, I was involved in planting and building a house church (University Church of Christ) in Tempe, Arizona. In the spring of 2004, I decided it was time to close that chapter of my service to the Lord. Our group essentially merged with a neighboring congregation, the Mesa Church of Christ. I have since taught Bible classes in that congregation and occasionally preach.
On April 26, 2018, I was honored as the Harding School of Theology alumnus of the year. I am grateful to all who had a hand in my selection. Here is a video of Dean Allen Black's introduction and my brief remarks: HST Award Ceremony (must turn the volume up to hear it).
Most of the numbered statements contain multiple affirmations. I have tried to provide support for each of them, but I present the Scriptures in canonical order rather than grouping them by the affirmation to which they relate. There was no attempt to be exhaustive regarding the Scriptures. Further support for and information about my beliefs is available in the writings on the website. Since as Christians we seek to please God in every way (2 Cor. 5:9; Col. 1:10; 1 Thess. 4:1; Eph. 5:10), absence from the list does not imply that the belief is unimportant.
1. The Bible is the inerrant word of God and therefore is the ultimate authority in matters of faith and practice. (Ex. 24:3-4; Deut. 31:9, 31:24-26; 2 Sam. 23:1-2; 2 Ki. 17:13, 17:34, 17:37; Dan. 9:1-2; Zech. 7:12; Mat. 1:22-23, 19:4-5, 22:31-32; Mk. 7:9-13, 12:36; Lk. 1:70, 16:17, 18:31; Jn. 10:35, 14:26, 15:26, 16:12-15; Acts 1:16, 4:24-25, 13:34-35, 28:25; 1 Cor. 2:13, 14:37; 2 Cor. 13:2-3; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 10:15-17; 1 Pet. 1:10-12; 2 Pet. 3:2, 3:15-16; Rev. 1:9-11, 1:19, 22:18-19)
2. There is one God, and he exists eternally as three coequal "persons": the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These are distinctions within the one being God not essential divisions in God. (Deut. 4:34-35, 6:4; Isa. 46:9; Mat. 3:16-17, 28:19; Mk. 12:29; Jn. 1:1-2, 1:18, 5:23, 20:28; Acts 5:3-4, 28:25; Rom. 9:5; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 2:22; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:1; Rev. 1:8 [with 22:12-13], 21:22-23, 22:1-3)
3. God created all things and made mankind in his image. (Gen. 1:1, 1:27, 5:1, 9:6; Ex. 20:11; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 146:5-6, 148:1-5; Isa. 66:1-2; Jn. 1:1-3; Acts 4:24, 14:15, 17:24; 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:15-16; Heb. 1:2, 2:10, 3:4, 11:3; Jas. 3:9; Rev. 4:11, 10:6)
4. All accountable humans have alienated themselves from God by sinning and therefore need forgiveness and reconciliation that they may live in accord with God's design and purpose and be saved from the coming judgment. (Deut. 1:39, 24:16; 2 Chron. 25:4; Isa. 7:15-16, 59:2; Ezek. 18:20; Mat. 13:47-50, 24:30-31; Lk. 13:22-28; Rom. 1:18-20, 1:32, 3:10, 3:23, 5:12, 6:23, 7:9-10, 14:12; Eph. 2:1-2; Col. 1:21; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; 2 Pet. 3:10-13; 1 Jn. 1:8-10; Rev. 21:8)
5. God the Father sent the Son to earth as Jesus of Nazareth, the promised Messiah or Christ, to take on himself the punishment for humanity's sins. Jesus was born of a virgin, is wholly God and wholly man, lived a sinless life, was crucified as an atoning sacrifice for sins, was resurrected, ascended to heaven, and is Lord of all. (Mat. 1:18-25, 26:28, 28:1-20; Lk. 1:26-38, 19:10, 24:1-53; Jn. 1:1-18, 3:17, 5:36-38, 8:46, 20:1–21:25; Acts 1:1-11, 1:22, 2:24, 2:31-36, 3:15, 4:10, 4:33, 5:30, 7:55-56, 10:40-41, 13:30-38, 17:3, 17:18, 17:31, 20:28; Rom. 1:4, 3:21-26, 4:24-25, 5:6-11, 5:15-19, 5:30-31, 6:4-5, 6:9-10, 7:4, 8:3, 8:11, 8:34, 10:9; 1 Cor. 6:14, 15:3-20; 2 Cor. 4:14, 5:15, 5:21, 13:4; Gal. 1:1, 4:4; Eph. 1:7, 1:20-22, 2:13, 4:7-10; Phil. 2:5-11, 3:10; Col. 1:13-14, 1:19-22, 2:12, 3:1; 1 Thess. 1:10, 4:14; 1 Tim. 3:16; 2 Tim. 2:8; Heb. 1:1-4, 4:14-15, 6:19-20, 7:23-24, 8:1, 9:11-12, 9:24-28, 10:10-12, 10:19, 12:2, 13:12, 13:20; 1 Pet. 1:3, 1:19-21, 2:24, 3:21-22; 1 Jn. 1:2, 1:7, 3:5, 4:2; 2 Jn. 7; Rev. 3:21, 5:9)
6. Salvation is a gift given by God to all who believe in Jesus as he is revealed in the gospel, repent of their sin, confess that Jesus is Lord, and submit to Christian baptism. (Mat. 10:37-39, 28:19-20; Lk. 5:32, 9:23-26, 13:3, 14:25-33, 15:10, 24:45-47; Jn. 1:12-13, 3:5, 3:16, 3:36; 5:24, 6:40, 11:25-26, 20:30-31; Acts 2:36-40, 3:19, 5:31, 8:35-39, 11:14, 15:11, 17:30, 20:21, 22:16, 26:19-20; Rom. 1:16, 2:4-5, 3:21-28, 4:5-8, 5:1, 5:15-17, 6:3-4, 6:23, 9:30-32, 10:4-13, 11:6; 1 Cor. 1:21, 15:1-2; Gal. 2:16, 3:24-27; Eph. 2:8-9, 3:6, 5:25-26; Col. 2:11-12; 1 Tim. 1:16, 6:12; 2 Tim. 1:9-10, 3:15; Tit. 3:5; Heb. 6:1, 10:22; Jas. 2:14-26; 1 Pet. 1:23-25, 3:21; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 Jn. 5:1)
7. God loves all people and wants all people to be saved, and to that end he graciously gives them the freedom to accept or reject his offer of salvation. (Ezek. 33:11; Mat. 11:28, 23:37; Mk. 3:5; Lk. 13:34; Jn. 3:16-17, 3:36, 5:22-23, 5:39-44; Acts 4:11, 7:51, 13:46, 17:30-31; Rom. 2:4-5; 1 Cor. 15:1-2; Gal. 6:9; Col. 1:21-23; 1 Tim. 2:3-4; 2 Tim. 2:11-12; Heb. 3:5-6, 3:13, 6:4-6, 10:26-27; 1 Pet. 2:4; 2 Pet. 2:20-22, 3:9; 1 Jn. 2:1-2, 2:24-25; 2 Jn. 9)
8. All Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit who empowers, strengthens, and transforms them into the likeness of Christ as they yield to his work in their lives. (Acts 2:38; Rom. 8:5, 8:9-14; 1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19; 2 Cor. 3:18, 5:5; Gal. 3:2-3, 3:14, 4:6, 5:16-17, 5:22-25; Eph. 1:13; 1 Jn. 3:24, 4:13)
9. The universal church is comprised of all who are in Christ, and Jesus is the head of the church. (Mat. 16:18; Acts 2:40-41, 2:47; Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:12-14, 12:18-20, 12:27; Gal. 3:25-28; Eph. 4:4, 4:15, 4:25, 5:23, 5:29-30; Col. 1:18, 2:19, 3:15; Heb. 12:23; 1 Pet. 4:17)
10. Jesus will return to earth at which time the living will be transformed, all the dead will be resurrected, and the final judgment will take place. All who stand forgiven on the basis of Jesus' work, which includes God's faithful people before and after Jesus' time on earth, and all who are unaccountable because of age or mental defect, will spend eternity in the immediate presence of God in a perfect reality of love, joy, and fellowship (the new heavens and new earth). All others will spend eternity in the misery of hell. (Isa. 26:19, 65:17, 66:22; Dan. 12:2; Mat. 13:24-30, 13:36-43, 13:47-50, 16:27, 24:27-31, 24:37-39, 24:42-44, 25:31-46, 26:64; Mk. 13:26; Lk. 21:27; Jn. 5:24, 5:28-29, 14:1-6; Acts 1:10-11, 3:17-21, 17:30-31, 24:14-15; Rom. 5:9-11, 6:23, 8:9-11, 8:1, 8:19-23, 14:10; 1 Cor. 1:7, 4:5, 15:12-26, 15:51-54; 2 Cor. 5:10; Eph. 1:7-10; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 2:19, 3:13, 4:13-17, 5:23; 2 Thess. 1:6-10, 2:1, 2:8; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:1, 4:8; Tit. 2:12- 13; Heb. 9:27-28; Jas. 5:8; 1 Pet. 1:7, 1:13; 2 Pet. 1:16, 3:4-13; 1 Jn. 2:28, 3:2; Jude 14-15; Rev. 1:7, 20:11-15, 21:1-5, 21:27, 22:12, 22:20)
The Story (1) – From Creation to Abraham*
The Story (2) - Joseph in God's Story*
The Story (3) - Moses in God's Story*
The Story (4) - The Ten Commandments and Beyond*
The Story (5) - From Sinai to Canaan's Border*
The Story (6) - Joshua*
The Story (7) - Judges*
The Story (8) - Ruth*
The Story (9) - Young David*
The Story (10) - King David*
The Story (11) - King Solomon*
The Story (12) - Kings (Part 1)*
The Story (13) - Kings (Part 2)*
The Story (14) - The Prophets*
The Story (15) - The Fall of Judah*
The Story (16) - Ezra*
The Story (17) - Esther*
The Story (18) - Rest of O.T. and the Intertestamental Period*
The Story (19) - Jesus' Birth*
The Story (20) - Jesus' Ministry*
The Story (21) - No Ordinary Man*
The Story (22) - Son of God*
The Story (23) - Hour of Darkness*
The Story (24) - The Resurrection*
The Story (25) - The Early Church*
The Story (26) - Paul's Ministry*
The Story (27) - Paul's Final Days*
The Story (28) - The End of Time*
The Story (29) - Recap and Covenants*
Evidence for God's Existence Apart from the Bible*
The Historical Case for the Resurrection of Christ*
Archaeology and the Bible*
Israel, Egypt, and the Exodus* (included in preceding class)
Answering the New Atheism*
Jesus in the Old Testament*
Questions Teens May Have About God, the Bible, and the Christian Faith
Scripture and the Shroud of Turin
Resources on Existence of God, Origin of Life, Resurrection of Jesus, and Problem of Evil
The Bible and Homosexual Conduct*
Being Judged by Homosexuals
A Note on the Transgender Issue
Abortion: An Uncomfortable Evil
The Bible, Personhood, and Abortion
A Christian Can Use Lethal Force to Stop a Life-Threatening Criminal Assault
Clarifying the Obligation to Forgive Those Who Sin Against Us
Another Look at Divorce and Remarriage*
Reflections on Worship*
A Primer on Christian Worship
Observing the Lord's Supper Each Lord's Day
Beyond the Argument from Silence: A Covenantal View of A Cappella Worship*
Assessing Evidence for Instrumental Music in Early Christian Worship
Rom. 14:1 - 15:13 - The Strong and the Weak
Worshiping Online Is Not Assembling with the Saints
A Comment on Nadab and Abihu
Review of The Other Side of the Keyboard
Review of Missing More Than Music
A Brief Study of Eschatology
The Resurrection of the Body*
The Intermediate State of the Dead*
Resources on the Intermediate State of the Dead
On the Materiality of the Eternal State
Does Scripture Teach the Annihilation of the Unsaved?
Mathew 16:16-19 - The Confession, the Rock, the Gates, and the Keys
A Sketch of Mat. 24:1-42*
Letter Explaining My Rejection of Hyper-Preterism
An Assessment of Hicks's Women Serving God
Women Are Not to Be Appointed to the Office of Deacon
Of Deacons and Ministry Leaders: An Attempt to Clarify
Women Are Prohibited from Teaching Men in Christian Assemblies
Responding to Claims of Some Egalitarians
Women Praying Vocally in Worship Assemblies
Expectations Regarding Female Head Covering in Ancient Greek, Roman, and Jewish Cultures
The Puzzle of David's Census
2 Kings 2:23-24 - Elisha and the Mauling of Forty-Two Youths
Reflections on the Forbidden Tree
A Comment on Moses, Aaron, the Rock, and the Water
A Comment on Nadab and Abihu
Uzzah and the Ark
Matthew 16:16-19 - The Confession, the Rock, the Gates, and the Keys
The Genealogies of Matthew and Luke
Harmony of Last Supper Accounts
Wenham's Chronology of Crucifixion and Resurrection Events
Romans 14:1 - 15:13 - The Strong and the Weak
Ruth*
Esther
Job*
Proverbs*
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs*
Lamentations*
Ezekiel
Daniel*
Amos*
Jonah*
Micah*
Habakkuk
Haggai*
Malachi*
The Gospel According to Mark*
The Gospel According to John*
The Book of Acts*
Romans*
1 Corinthians* (in process)
2 Corinthians*
Galatians*
Ephesians*
Philippians*
Colossians*
1 Thessalonians*
2 Thessalonians*
1 Timothy*
2 Timothy*
Titus*
Philemon*
Hebrews*
James*
1 Peter*
2 Peter*
1 John*
2 & 3 John*
Jude*
Revelation*
Sinful But Not Damning?
Reflections on God, Sin, Free Will, and Eternity
Dealing with False Doctrine in Public Teaching
Another View on the Structure of James
Some Thoughts on Prayer
Some Thoughts on Suffering
Tracing Solomon's Failure of Faith
Imparting Faith to Isaac
Imparting Faith to Jacob
Imparting Faith to Joseph
Introduction to Prophecy
Response to Ortlund Video on Noah's Flood
The 'Fall of Nature' in Scripture and Early Tradition
A Note on Scripture and the Claim of Universal Common Ancestry
A Reply to Bruce Gordon's Biblical Critique of YEC (off-site)
Bill Nye 'the Uniformed Guy'
A View of Creation
Radiometric Dating
Additional Clues That Something is Wrong with Conventional Dates
The Fossil Record and Distant Starlight
Summary of Big-Bang Creation Story
The Origin and Diversification of Life
Quotes on Complexity of Cell and Origin of Life
Letter to a Young Friend About God's Existence
Summary of Spetner's Not by Chance!
Review of Kurt Wise's Faith, Form and Time
The Nephilim and the Flood
A Note on Gen. 1:2 and Job 38:8-11
Select Books and Websites of Interest to Creationists
My Categorized List of Web Articles of Interest to Creationists (off-site)
Resources on Select Creation Issues
Overview of the Bible's Story (30 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist - OT
MCCbs Playlist - NT
Evidence for God's Existence Apart from the Bible (5 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
The Historical Case for the Resurrection of Christ (6 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Archaeology and the Bible (9 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Answering the New Atheism (12 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Jesus in the Old Testament (10 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
The Sermon on the Mount (13 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
The Parables of Jesus (17 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Matthew 23 (4 classes)
YouTube Playlist
Class 1: BitChute and Rumble
Class 2: BitChute and Rumble
Class 3: BitChute and Rumble
Class 4: BitChute and Rumble
A sketch of Mat. 24:1-42 (3 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
The Bible and Homosexual Conduct (8 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Reflections on Worship (1 class)
YouTube Video
BitChute Video
A Covenantal View of A Cappella Worship (6 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Some Thoughts on Angels (1 class)
YouTube Video
Some Thoughts on Demons (1 class)
YouTube Video
The Resurrection of the Body (1 class)
YouTube Video
The Intermediate State of the Dead (1 class)
YouTube Video
Another Look at Divorce and Remarriage (5 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Covenants and Commands - What I Wish Someone Had Told Me (1 class)
BitChute Video
Rumble Video
Ruth (7 classes)
YouTube Playlist (Audio only)
Job (10 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Proverbs (9 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Song of Songs (5 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Lamentations (9 classes)
YouTube Playlist (Audio Only)
Daniel (9 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Amos (8 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Jonah (3 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Micah (6 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Haggai (3 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Malachi (5 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
The Gospel According to Mark (23 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
The Gospel According to John (34 classes)
YouTube Playlist
Mccbs Playlist
Acts (27 classes)
Youtube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Romans (25 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
1 Corinthians (in process)
2 Corinthians (17 classes)
YouTube Playlist (Audio and Slides)
Galatians (11 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Ephesians (14 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Philippians (10 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Colossians (11 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
1 Thessalonians (6 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
2 Thessalonians (3 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
1 Timothy (11 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
2 Timothy (6 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Titus (5 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Philemon (2 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Hebrews (21 classes)
YouTube Playlist (Audio Only)
James (9 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
1 Peter (12 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
2 Peter (7 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
1 John (12 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
2 John (2 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
3 John (1 class)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Jude (4 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Revelation (27 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
The Story of the English Bible (3 classes)
YouTube Playlist
MCCbs Playlist
Sermons (46 videos, including two lessons by John Camp)
YouTube Playlist
Offline Website Software