Paper Category: Systematic Theology

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

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

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

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

In the context of retrieving Classical Trinitarian Theology, one of the key questions that must be addressed is whether the psychological analogy is an essential element of Nicene Trinitarianism. In other words, does the Word proceed from the intellect (understanding) and the Spirit from the will (love)? Some of the most prominent heirs of the … Read more