Archive for May 2018
Book Review: The New Calvinism: New Reformation or Theological Fad?
In my lifetime, there have only been a few books that I’ve sat down to read and end up not stopping until the very last word. One of those books was Collin Hansen’s Young, Restless, and Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinists. As someone who would likely be considered a New Calvinist, I…
Read MoreBIG news: A brand new Credo with an embarrassment of theological resources
In 2011 I founded Credo Magazine out of a desire to bridge the gap between the evangelical church and the academy. It was glaringly apparent to me at the time that the church was suffering from theological drought. Countless churchgoers I came into contact with knew little if any theology. Pastors were not exempt either.…
Read MoreWhat does the War Scroll have to do with Orphan Care? (Todd Chipman)
Giving what I Received It was not just being adopted that prompted me to lead my family to adopt out of the foster care system (though that was part of it). My biological parents met in high school, once, at a party. When my biological mom discovered that she was pregnant, her parents kicked her…
Read MoreWork in the New Heavens and New Earth
Good Work Cut Short Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is one of the most famous makers of music ever to live. He composed over six hundred pieces of music that are cherished and studied and known the world over to this day. Mozart died in 1791 when he was only thirty-five years old. His early death is…
Read MoreSupporting Your Lead Pastor
One of the images used in the New Testament to describe the role of an elder is shepherd. The elder is to “shepherd the flock of God” willingly, eagerly, and faithfully (1 Peter 5:1-4). In response to this leadership, the flock is challenged to “submit yourselves to your elders” (vs. 5). The shepherd leads the…
Read MoreSpiritual Sight as an Act of Divine Creation: Charles Spurgeon on 2 Corinthians 4:5–6
Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), long regarded as the most renowned Baptist pastor and widely acknowledged as the “Prince of Preachers,” hovered over the Victorian era as its most popular minister. A distinctive in Spurgeon’s ministry was his preaching of God as sovereign in salvation. He knew from Scripture and experience that a Christian’s salvation was due…
Read MoreBook Review: Covenant and God’s Purpose for the World
In recent years, increased attention has been given to the role of covenants in the biblical storyline. Kingdom Through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants by Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum (Crossway, 2012) sought to chart a course between dispensational and covenant theologies under the label “Progressive Covenantalism.” This framework seeks to underline God’s…
Read MoreGrammar and the Divinity of Christ
It is hard to underestimate the importance of grammar. As it has been said before, “There is a big difference between, ‘Let’s eat, Grandma!’ and ‘Let’s eat Grandma!’” One comma determines whether Grandma is invited to attend a meal or whether Grandma is the targeted entrée at the meal! When it comes to our understanding…
Read MoreHow to Analyze the Historical-Cultural Context of a Book or Passage (Andrew Naselli)
Here are seven questions to ask when analyzing the historical-cultural context of a New Testament book or passage. Let’s illustrate this with the letter of 1 Corinthians. 1. Genre: What is the Style of Literature? First Corinthians is a letter–very similar to other ancient Greco-Roman letters. 2. Author: Who Wrote It? The apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians.…
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