Next Time We Hang Out, I’ll Be Using You to Get to God

The Bible teaches that God created humans “in His image” (Gen. 1:27-28). Nearly every discussion I have ever had about the meaning and implications of this phrase emphasize one or both of the following points: (1) humans reflect something about God when they do anything good; (2) all human life has inherent value and dignity. [...]

Andrew Can’t Post Videos from his Computer…

…so sometimes he has me do it. It’s weird, I know, but for whatever reason we post the very same code, and nothing comes out for him. Anywho, this video is rad and he wanted you to see it. I do too. There’s something about good art which allows you to suspend disbelief and see [...]

Way of the Donkey: An Interview with Ken Way, author of Donkeys in the Biblical World – Part 2

I thought about calling these interviews, “Everything You Wanted to Know about Donkeys but Never Would Have Thought to Ask” — but it was too long and a nice pun won the day. We conclude with Dr. Ken Way, Talbot Old Testament professor, with some more practical questions. If you missed yesterday’s post, please go [...]

Way of the Donkey: An Interview with Ken Way, author of Donkeys in the Biblical World – Part 1

I had the fortune of interviewing Dr. Ken Way, Old Testament Professor at Talbot School of Theology about his recent book, Donkeys in the Biblical World: Ceremony and Symbol, a book about… well, donkeys in the Biblical world. I’ll let him speak to the book more specifically, but I had the fortune of taking Dr. [...]

An Unjustified Emphasis on Justification?

I’m preaching through Romans right now in my youth group, which means that a lot of issues related to justification and the like have been on the top of my mind. So I suppose that could be part of why I loved Tanner Gish’s post at The Two Cities* about whether or not we over-emphasize justification to [...]

Athanasius vs. Grammar

…those, however, who accept everything else that was defined at Nicea, and doubt only about the [word] “Homoousios”, must not be treated as enemies; nor do we here attack them as Ario-maniacs, nor as opponents of the Fathers, but we discuss the matter with them as brothers with brothers, who mean what we mean, and [...]

Of Athanasius and Sensibility

Athanasius, who eventually became bishop of Alexandria, but who would also be exiled five times for his defense of Jesus’ divinity, did not consider Arius’s arguments as philosophical curiosities. Rather, he viewed them as daggers aimed at the very heart of the Christian message. His memorable treatise De Incarnatione (Of the incarnation) was written early [...]

The Abundance of Christ

Jeremy Treat, from his always excellent blog: The sufficiency of Christ is a glorious doctrine: Jesus is enough. But in rejoicing over God’s sufficient provision, may we never forget the abundance of his grace: Jesus is more than enough. God is “rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4), so he gives “plentiful redemption” (Ps 130:7), “exceeding joy” [...]

From “Peter the Foolish” to “Peter the Exegetical Genius” in One Swift Move

From the “I’ve never noticed that even though I’ve read this biblical passage a million times” department*: In Acts 1:6, the Apostles ask Jesus if he is about to sit on his messianic throne as the King of Israel and bring the triumphant, militaristic, Israel-centered kingdom they were expecting. From everything we know about Peter, [...]

Polygamy’s Unlikely Partner

Joanna Brooks, Mormon culture writer, has an interesting post whether gay marriage will inevitably lead to the “decriminalization of polygamy”. Brooks notes the LDS church’s own reluctance to speak publicly on the church’s actual position if polygamy were decriminalized. She notes (to my own shock) that the church currently, The extent of polygamy in Mormon [...]