Category: Evangelical Calvinist

For me I only have the capacity to follow a Dogmatic or Systematic theology insofar that I believe it is sticking to the theo-logic inherent to the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ. This is what keeps it Biblical. This is what keeps it from adulterating and going beyond the 𝑡𝑒𝑥𝑡; that is, by going to its inner and upward reality in the Godman (Theanthropos), Jesus Christ. In other words, speculative theologies, ones that reason from the being of humanity to the being of God; ones that reason discursively about nature vis-à-vis God, as if nature holds vestiges of God;…

After a long small print section of commentary on Revelation 4—5 on angels and heaven vis-à-vis a Heaven-world relation, Karl Barth ends the whole thing with the following passage: A final observation may be made. At one time θεολογία was thought of as knowledge of the kind of matters which have occupied us here. Rev. 4—5 was thus regarded as a typical specimen, and it was for this reason that the author was called John ὁ Θεολόγος. He would have been most surprised, and the 4 living creatures, the 24 elders and the many angels in heaven, must surely have…

An administrative question: is the new base font I’m trying out readable for all of you? I kind of like it because it reminds me of old typewriter font. But I always want to be mindful of my readers in regard to their reading experience here. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean I’ll change it back LOL. But I would seriously like to know what you think of it. I was going to use it in the past, but then thought it might be too small to read for some. Anyway, your feedback is most appreciated. Athanasian Reformed

I just listened to a Credo Podcast featuring Matthew Barrett, J. V. Fesko, Fred Sanders, and Scott Swain. The title of the podcast is: Is Natural Theology in Conflict with the Gospel: Credo Alliance. You can go and listen to it for yourself (only approx. 30 minutes), by clicking on the linked title. They all affirm the value of a natural theology; in the history often identified as the Two Books of Revelation (i.e., general/natural and special/revealed). What somewhat surprised me as I listened to each of them present their thoughts on this particular locus was how they seemingly, and…

The economy of God is the only real drama out there. It is characterized by the sobriety of Jesus Christ. The Man of sorrows acquainted with grief. To be steadfast immovable in a world of the transient requires a life lived grounded in union with Jesus Christ (unio cum Christo) by the Holy Spirit. Athanasian Reformed

TF Torrance often refers to what he calls ‘The Latin Heresy,’ when discussing Western theology; especially with reference to its fountainhead, Augustine. The Latin Heresy for TFT entails the neo-Platonist dualism that funds Augustine’s theology, and all other theologies that follow Augustine’s categories. For TFT, this dualism involves a competitive relationship between God and humanity; such that, humanity is thought in abstraction relative to God’s life, rather than finding its concrete ground therein. This shows up most clearly in Augustine’s doctrine of election. JND Kelly masterfully describes this, The problem of predestination has so far only been hinted at. Since…

Barth attempts to offer a Biblical Angelology. In the process he surveys some of the most primary developments on an angelology, in the history, as those were offered by Dionysius and Thomas Aquinas. Just on that level his treatment is interesting and rewarding. But in the midst of that, since he is slavishly beholden to the Protestant ‘Scripture Principle,’ he also identifies what I also take to be primary to a truly Christian presentation on the angels. As is typical, especially with reference to my own interests, Barth rightly recognizes the role that a prolegomena/hermeneutic will end up having on…

Longtime pastor and seminary Dean, John MacArthur, is currently on his way to be with the Lord. It was announced at his church, Grace Community Church, in Sun Valley, CA, that JMac has come down with a pneumonia that he isn’t expected to survive (like only days left). This is sad news, but also points-up, once again, that this life truly is but a vapor. May we hold his family and close friends up in prayer at this time. Relatedly, I have been a longtime critic of JMac’s, online in particular. I started out my blogging career in 2005 bantering…

My recent readings in Barth’s Church Dogmatics have me engaging with his development on a doctrine of nothingness (i.e., sin and evil). The particular section I am reading has been exceedingly edifying. The passage I am going to share from him is a summarizing type of statement of what he has been treating heretofore. As I was reading this section it gave me great hope to ponder the present and forthcoming realities, as those relate to Christ’s victory over nothingness-sin-evil, and all that entails eschatologically. It is hopeful to ruminate on the concrete victory of Christ vis-à-vis the despair and…

I wrote these for other social media outlets of mine. I thought I’d share them here as miscellanies.  People reject Barth out of hand simply because they’ve been told that Barth is ultimately a liberal (still). But these same people have never actually read Barth enough to know whether that be true or not. Coming from someone, an evangelical conservative Christian (me), who has both read Barth and Barth literature extensively, and published on Barth, these people are simply living in a willful land of ignorance. Granted, Barth’s 𝑜𝑒𝑢𝑣𝑟𝑒 is extensive. But there are ways into Barth that can introduce you…