Archive for September 2011
Typology in 1 Timothy 2:15, or an Allegorical Interpretation of Eve and the Church?
by Brent Parker Kevin Vanhoozer helpfully points out in his book, Is There a Meaning in this Text?, that an allegorical interpretation “sees the meaning of a text as constituted outside the text in another framework: the conceptual” (119). In such a scheme, this word means that concept. The tendency to allegorize a biblical text…
Read MoreMark Dever on Reformation in the Southern Baptist Convention
by Matthew Barrett With the annual Southern Baptist Convention taking place in Phoenix just the other week, I was reminded of an article by Mark Dever from 1997 titled: “Three Reasons to Hope for Further Reformation in the SBC.” I especially appreciate Dever’s emphasis on the Word of God and inerrancy. Here is the introduction…
Read MoreDiscerning Divine Providence
by Luke Stamps “The providence of God is like Hebrew words—it can be read only backwards.” This is an oft-quoted line from the Puritan John Flavel, but it bears repeating. Of course, Flavel is referring to the fact that the Hebrew language is read backwards from our perspective–that is, right to left instead of left to…
Read MoreHerman Bavinck and the parameters of sensus plenior
by David Schrock In volume 1 of Reformed Dogmatics, Herman Bavinck reflects on the multiple ways in which the New Testament authors use and apply the Old Testament. In the discussions that swirl today on this subject, it is noteworthy that he writes in favor of sensus plenior. He says, In the case of Jesus and…
Read MoreReflections on the Southern Baptist Convention 2011
by David Schrock This year’s Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix, Arizona was the smallest gathering of Southern Baptists since World War II (1944). However, its diminutive size (approx. 4,800 messengers) should not discount the importance of the two-day convention (June 14-15). As Bryant Wright, this year’s president, put it, “I do believe it could prove…
Read MoreWhich Comes First? Theology Proper or Christology?
by Luke Stamps Karl Barth and those who have come in his wake have often criticized traditional approaches to theology because they are supposedly too abstract and insufficiently Christological. Classical theology is faulted for beginning with an abstract view of the divine nature and only then moving on to consider the person and work of…
Read MoreHow the Lord saved my “Christian” family
by Luke Hinton There are many Scriptures that describe the spontaneous nature of Christian conversion. The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians about this reality: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins…But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in…
Read MoreThe Classical Doctrine of God
by Matthew Barrett It is very difficult to describe who God is in one paragraph. But I think the Westminster Confession does an excellent job of doing just that. However, the WCF’s description of God is considered to be an affirmation of the classical doctrine of God, a view of God that is not popular…
Read MoreOne Person, Two Natures
by Matthew Barrett The incarnation of Christ is a marvelous mystery. How is it that Christ is one person, yet two natures? Truly this is supernatural. I love how John Owen, puritan divine of the highest caliber, describes the person of Christ: “Each nature operates in him according unto its essential properties. the divine nature…
Read MoreWhat Does the Word “Law” Mean in Scripture?
by Matthew Barrett Today I will begin a series of posts where I will be blogging through Thomas Schreiner’s new book, 40 Questions About Christians and Biblical Law (Kregel). In my own experience, Christians are often times confused when it comes to understanding what the Bible teaches about biblical law and how it impacts them…
Read MoreReformed Rap: Shai Linne
by Matthew Barrett The Lord is doing something incredible today and this “something” has been termed by many as a “Reformed resurgence” or the movement of the “Young, Restless, and Reformed.” I am not ashamed to include myself in this category. Young Christians are tired of a small, small, small God, and are hungry –…
Read MoreGrace from the Father, Son, and Spirit: Revelation 1:1-8, by Thomas Schreiner
by Thomas Schreiner Today I begin a series of blog posts on the book of Revelation, starting with Revelation1:1-8. Martin Luther, writing about Revelation, complained that a Revelation should reveal something. We sense his frustration with trying to understand what the book of Revelation is saying. And we know that even today thoughtful Christians who…
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