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Category: Theology

  • David Talley — 

    ... Grace is a concept that we have fully received, but one that we will never fully comprehend. Throughout all of eternity we will be grow(ing) in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Our worship and praise of the One who has bestowed grace on us will only increase, ever and always there will be no end of our awe ...

  • David Talley — 

    I love advent season. Every year at our church we have a sermon series focused on advent during the five weeks leading up to Christmas day. It is always a joyous celebration. This year our focus is on John 1:1-18 ...

  • John McKinley — 

    This devotional is a reminder that God works through us as his instruments in ways we dont choose. While there are many valuable things of research and teaching that God works through us in various ways, a primary mode of Gods work is easy to forget.

  • Mark Saucy — 

    While Im not usually too much into merchandising in the Temple, I must here. Thats because the book at issue in this modest review is a grabber. Not only does it concern a topic most pressing in our ever secularizing worldand therefore one Evangelicals must get good at talking aboutits a topic that touches every one of us in everything we do ...

  • Thaddeus Williams — 

    What gifts does God give us in the person and work of Christ? How can we unwrap and enjoy them every day with the wide-eyed wonder of a kid on Christmas morning? Dr. Williams offers some Christmas reflections.

  • David Horner — 

    "GOD ISNT FIXING THIS," New Yorks Daily News announced in the aftermath of the latest US mass shooting, in San Bernardino. Their target? Presidential candidates who immediately responded to the tragedy by offering sufferers their thoughts and prayers, not calling for more gun control.

  • The Good Book Blog — 

    An Interview with Talbot's Dean, Dr. Clinton E. Arnold, and his son, Jeff Arnold, about their most recent book: Short Answers to Big Questions about God, the Bible, and Christianity.

  • Dave Keehn — 

    The national pastime has become a sacred holiday: shopping on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving has developed into a manic state of sales and spending as retailers, seeking bigger holiday profits, offer new bargains and longer hours to lure holiday shoppers to good deals and great values on amazing products. The spending hype reaches fever pitch as stores open earlier and earlier each year, replacing the day dedicated to gratefulness with unashamed greed and giddiness for a purchase that is meant to show our love for another, bought in rushes of grabbing items that has led to fights, stampedes and debt. Many justify this intense season of shopping with the value of the purchase the money saved on an item they would buy at a higher price later indicates this was a good value-based purchase ...

  • John McKinley — 

    In part 2 of this blog series, I present the second biblical metaphor revealing the Holy Spirit: the wind. We need to discern what the metaphor is, and what its meanings are within the biblical and ANE framework. I will be drawing some details from the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. My goal is to recognize patterns of meaning that may be intended to expand our understanding of the Holy Spirits presence and action in subtle ways hinted at through metaphors ...

  • Joy Mosbarger — 

    There are times for all of us when we feel bruised and battered by the relentlessness of life. We long for respite, a chance to catch our breath before the next project or crisis consumes us. But often, lifes challenges are unremitting. They just keep on coming! ...

  • Charlie Trimm — 

    Every year, the week before Thanksgiving brings the annual scholarly conferences for biblical and theological studies. Like most years, 51蹤獲 and Talbot professors and students are well represented at these meetings in a variety of ways ... The following list (mostly compiled by David Roberts) includes all those at 51蹤獲 and Talbot participating in the meetings this year. As always, 51蹤獲 professors and students are doing fascinating work in many different areas! ...

  • The Good Book Blog — 

    What Did the New Testament Authors Really Care 51蹤獲? The easiest way we know to answer that question is to pick up Matt Williamss and Ken Berdings (editors) book: What the New Testament Authors Really Cared 51蹤獲: A Survey of Their Writings. The second edition has just been released by Kregel in an attractive full-color format with some added materials ...

  • John McKinley — 

    ... Deeper than the recent history, we seem to be pushing against the same thing that Martin Luther identified as the theology of glory. Luther recommended to us the contrast of the theology of the cross ...

  • Mark Saucy — 

    You know that part of your Bible where the gold leaf on the pages still looks pretty fresh? Some of the pages might still even be stuck together. Or, more au courant, the portion you rarely scroll to on your phone or iPad Thats right, for most of us its that part of the Bible starting right after Psalms and going all the way to Matthew. A lot of prophets big and little, and a good bit of Israels Wisdom traditionbut it just doesnt get a lot of air-time in most evangelical churches or personal Bible-reading. Now, Im the first to admit that last claim stems from my own highly subjective internal polling data, and Im glad to be proven wrong; but I dont think I am, because I know a good bit of its true in my own life ...

  • Doug Geivett — 

    Prince of peace is biblical language. In other words, it derives from its use in the Bible as a descriptive title with a very specific context. The title Prince of Peace is used of the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6. It is, thereforeaccording to Christian orthodoxya reference to Jesus Christ. This is an extraordinarily honorific title. It denotes the full realization of messianic hope. In the Christian Scriptures it alludes to human reconciliation with God, and only by extension to the realization of peace within the human community. The agent, of course, is the Prince of Peace ...

  • Gary Manning Jr — 

    It is commonly claimed that when Jesus used the phrase I am (廒帠 庰廒匿樁, ego eimi), he was making a direct reference to the name of God in the Old Testament, YHWH. There is some truth to this, but I want to suggest three important caveats to this claim: I am (廒帠 庰廒匿樁), by itself, is not a code for the name of God; I am is only intended to refer to deity in some of Jesus sayings; Paying too much attention to the I am part of the sentence distracts readers from paying attention to the rest of the sentence.

  • Kenneth Berding — 

    One of the keys to understanding the New Testament (NT) use of the Old Testament (OT) may be the recognition that when a NT author draws upon an idea found in a particular OT passage, it does not have to be the main idea of that passage to be usable. The contemporary assumption (often not articulated) that it has to be the main idea of an OT text to be legitimate seems to be a key stumbling block for people studying the NT use of the OT. The tendency for people to focus only on the main idea of a text (rather than also upon sub-themes) may also explain my present discomfort with the sense / referent distinction made by various authors.[1] The sense / referent distinction seems to assume a single sense for a verse that is akin to an exegetical idea of that verse.

  • Joanne Jung — 

    Have you ever wondered what theology and ice cream have in common? Some Zondervan authors shed some light on the matter, and our very own Dr. Joanne Jung chimes in.

  • Kenneth Berding — 

    The dialogue between Michael and Jim comes to a close: Michael: But what if it doesnt happen the way I hope? What if I set out on a course of action and my impact turns out to be minimal? Jim: I dont believe that anyone who lives a life of whole devotion to God will only have minimal impact. But its not until eternity that we will be able to see all that has occurred through our lives. In other words, we dont always see fully now. But, lets say that you really dont make an impact; you cant even see a dent. Even then, youve lived life according to the purpose for which you were created, and that can never be called an empty life. Michael: But if your ministry is unsuccessful, you havent succeeded. Jim: Not necessarily ...

  • Dave Keehn — 

    As a parent, my favorite word to say is yes. Saying this word puts me in a favorable position with my children. The look of joy on their faces when I say yes compels me to say it more and more. I even struggle saying yes when I know it would be wiser to say no due to budget restraints (yes, take my last $20), or health concerns (yes, eat the whole gallon of ice cream), or just common sense (yes, you can play in the street). My children expect a yes when they ask because I love saying yes so often. So when I say no they are surprised by my objections to their request. However, my disapproving no is just as loving as my yes, and many times it is a much more compassionate response ...

  • Kenneth Berding — 

    The dialogue between Michael and Jim continues: Michael: I think Ill never find a church I can take my family to. Jim: WHY NOT?! Michael: Theres just too much hypocrisy! Jim: I have to agree with you there. Michael: (not listening to Jims answer) I know its hard for you to hear this, since youre in the ministry and everything (all of a sudden catching on) did you say you agree?! Jim: Of course I do ...

  • Tom Finley — 

    Amos has much to say about oppression and the plight of the poor in Israel, so it is only natural that his book has become a focal point for discussions about social justice.[1] At least three aspects of the issue dealt with by Amos concern the nature of God, the role of the individual, and the role of the social system ...

  • Kenneth Berding — 

    The dialogue between Michael and Jim continues: Michael: I admire your courage. But I still think that what youre trying to do is almost impossible. Jim: Thats one of the reasons were trying it. God is the one who makes the impossible possible. What do you think, Michael? Is the church a triumphant church, or are we just a band of persecuted idealists? Michael: In your case Id say that you look more like a group of persecuted idealists. At the same time, the church does seem to be making strides in many places in the world ...

  • Joy Mosbarger — 

    For many of us who are not pastors or missionaries, integrating our walks of faith and our vocational callings can be a challenge. Throughout church history, there have been some remarkable men and women who have excelled at meeting this challenge. One such example lived in the early centuries of the church. Her name was Bathild (c. 630-c.680), and she found herself in various vocational situations at different stages in her life. In each of those situations, she found opportunities to be a blessing to others and to advance the kingdom of God ...

  • Kenneth Berding — 

    The dialogue between Michael and Jim continues: Jim: The issue, as I see it, is this: Are we supposed to make decisions according to wisdom or should we look for special guidance from God? Michael: Thats the question. Jim: Proverbs tells us that were supposed to seek after wisdom in every area of life.[1] Michael: So wisdom is obviously important. Jim: Definitely. But Paul describes the believer as one led by the Spirit.[2] This description may be broader than simply the internal processes in decision-making, but also probably includes those as well. The Bible also presents many examples of God giving specific guidance to individuals for specific situations by various means ...