The significance that the book of Ruth plays in the story of the Messiah can be seen clearly at the end of the book, with the genealogy connecting the child given to Naomi through Ruth to David. This is routinely noted by biblical theologians, seen recently in T. D. Alexander (1998), Kaiser (2008), and Schreiner … Read more
Proposal Proponents of afterlife apologetics argue that the best research into near-death (NDEs) and deathbed experiences (DBEs) provide evidence for the existence of a personal God, the afterlife, and other historic Christian doctrines. Some argue, however, that NDEs/DBEs contradict biblical teachings and are best explained as lies, hallucinations, or demonic deceptions. Thesis This paper examines, … Read more
Studies of John Webster have consistently focused on tracing his approach to various doctrinal loci over the course of his career or interacting with particular sets of essays (most notably those collected in his later years in the titles Domain of the Word and God without Measure 1 and 2). Less attention has been given … Read more
The recovery of the practice of “ecclesial theology” and the identify of pastors and theologians as “ecclesial theologians” has an exemplar in the late John Webster. He understood his own work in academic theology as a self-conscious repudiation of the practice of theology as a critical science and undertook instead to employ theology in service … Read more
In the past decade, several theologians have been exploring topics at the interface of Christian theology and the possible existence of Extra-Terrestrial Intelligent Life (ETIL). This interesting field is known as “Astrotheology.” Until now, there has been very little engagement from the evangelical theological community. The paper will begin with an overview of the field … Read more
Martin Hengel (1926–2009) was a German Neutestamentler of the 20th century and early 21st century, known for his work in Second Temple Judaism and early Christianity, as well as in a broad number of areas within New Testament studies including Pauline studies. His historical-critical approach differed significantly from his Tübingen and German predecessors, as Hengel … Read more
The term ‘Semitism’ has long accompanied analyses of the language of the Septuagint and, by extension, of the New Testament. However, the criteria for determining a Semitism are unclear. For Moulton, Semitisms of vocabulary are nothing more than ‘correct Greek’ used with greater frequency than normal owing to ‘the accident of their answering to Hebrew … Read more
It has been said that the Reformed notion of union with Christ is the central framework of T. F. Torrance’s atonement theology. Martin Davis argues that union with Christ is a heuristic, over-arching rubric for the discussion of many themes in Torrance’s soteriology, including incarnational reconciliation, the wonderful exchange, vicarious humanity, onto-relationality, faith, justification and … Read more
Among American divines in the nineteenth century, the doctrine of deification was either rejected as being too closely aligned with Hegelian pantheism or simply ignored when discussing the doctrine of union with Christ. Salvation was forensic justification, and the incarnation was the context through which God could suffer in the person of Christ. Union with … Read more
Massive debates have erupted over whether Paul calls Junia an apostle alongside her (presumed) husband Andronicus (Rom 16:7). There are three main interpretive issues: (1) whether Junia (or Junias) is even a woman, (2) whether he or she is “outstanding among the apostles” (and therefore an apostle) or “outstanding to the apostle” (and therefore highly … Read more