In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” In response, the disciples tell Jesus, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Matt 16:14). Why would the Jews identify Jesus with Jeremiah, the weeping prophet of the exile?(1) … Read more
Analogical language is an effective solution to the problem of religious language. However, the literature contains many criticisms, generally arguing that analogy is insufficient for bridging the gap between God and human beings. In this paper, I respond to these criticisms by proposing that analogy should not be understood in isolation but as part of … Read more
Creeds define doctrines of primary importance. Many churches adopt creeds to encourage unity but still encounter divisions over secondary doctrinal issues. Despite the frequency of conflicts over secondary issues in the local church, pastoral ministry textbooks and training tend to neglect instruction on shepherding a congregation through disagreement on secondary issues. This paper will demonstrate … Read more
The purpose of this paper is to examine the catechism’s opening statement from a historical and biblical perspective. Was comfort a critical element of concern for the Reformers and those who preceded them? Why did the author(s) of Heidelberg give such prominence to comfort that the topic precedes the doctrine of God and the authority … Read more
This paper explores the distinct nature of missionary calls in contrast to generalized calls to ministry leadership, arguing that while all Christians are called to salvation and service, the missionary call bears unique theological, historical, and practical characteristics that merit specific discernment. In an era where many church leaders promote the phrase “every Christian is … Read more
Hebrews uses “tabernacle” rather than “temple” language in its cultic discourse. This preference raises the question of why the author avoids temple terminology, despite Hebrews’ clear emphasis on priesthood and sacrifice. Some scholars suggest that Hebrews grounds its cultic system in the authority of the Pentateuch, viewing the wilderness tabernacle, rather than the post- exilic … Read more
This paper explores how Lottie Moon’s 1889 letter to the Foreign Mission Board functioned as a strategic model of crisis communication in a missionary context. Facing a significant shortage of male pastoral leadership in Northern China, Moon articulated a crisis that was both biblical and organizational in nature. Grounded in Matthew 9:35–38, she framed the … Read more
Jeremiah 52 largely parallels 2 Kgs 25, and Jer 40–43 contains various sentences that are also found in 2 Kgs 25:22–26. This presentation compares these parallel texts in order to determine the relationship between the Masoretic text of Jeremiah and the book’s Old Greek translation. The agreements between the Old Greek of Jeremiah and the … Read more
Is same-sex attraction sinful? This question has been a major theological flashpoint in recent discussions of sexuality among evangelicals. One group (e.g., Rosaria Butterfield, Christopher Yuan, Denny Burk) maintains that same-sex attraction is sinful, regardless of one’s response to it, while another group (e.g., Preston Sprinkle, Greg Coles, Wesley Hill) insists that same-sex attraction is … Read more
Music plays a vital role in the pivotal points in Saul’s career. In his election as the inaugural king of Israel, he is told to join a procession of prophets playing various musical instruments (1 Sam. 10:5). While Saul joins the procession, the spirit of the Lord comes upon him, causing the future king to … Read more