This paper argues that the widening theological and ecclesiological divide between Northern and Southern Baptists in the early twentieth centuries can be traced, in part, to differing views on the binding and permanent nature of New Testament polity. While Southern Baptists experienced a heightened sensitivity to questions of church polity during the nineteenth century, many … Read more
The Council of Nicaea is a pivotal moment in Christian doctrinal formation. At a time of severe trinitarian and christological uncertainties, the council provided guidance to the early church in respect to the identity of Jesus and composition of the Godhead. There are, however, deficiencies both in the Nicene Creed and later conciliar pronouncements related … Read more
When Thomas Aquinas considers the fear of the Lord, he employs language that is largely emotional and postlapsarian. Fear of God’s judgment and fear of separation from God each feature prominently in Aquinas’s treatment of the fear of the Lord. A problem arises when one considers Isaiah 11, however, for it claims that the Spirit … Read more
This paper illustrates the progression of the Christian faith from a persecuted, underground movement to the center of Roman public life. Constantine’s choice of Nicaea for the first ecumenical council was not only a strategic choice but also a symbolic statement for repositioning the place of Christianity in civil affairs. The First Council of Nicaea … Read more
In Acts 17:26, Luke, inspired by the Spirit of God, records Paul proclaiming to the people of Athens that God “made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.” This was part of a larger explanation … Read more
One of the striking realities of theological discourse is that the same story can be told in radically different ways, yielding divergent meanings. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the early Christological debates, where scriptural texts functioned as battlegrounds for competing theological visions. This paper will explore how the interpretation of 1 Corinthians 15:28 … Read more
Abstract I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins The Apostles creed affirms: “I believe in the forgiveness of sins.” What is it we believe? The paper asserts the heart of the doctrine of forgiveness of sins is the sacrificial, atoning death of Christ. Sin is the context of forgiveness and is preceeded by repentence. Paper’s … Read more
The Nicene Creed’s place in the Mass has contributed to its vast cultural legacy, as the creed has been recited in worship around the world for centuries. The creed is also recited whenever Masses by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and other composers are performed in concert halls. In this music, today’s most secularized audiences continue to … Read more
While the Council of Nicaea is best known for its watermark creed and political context, this paper will examine the pastoral theology of the Canons of Nicaea. Often neglected in the study of Nicaea, the Canons give a snapshot of the shared convictions about ministry and illuminate the pastoral concerns of the leaders behind the … Read more
Recent research indicates that Gen Z is undergoing a mass exodus from the church and traditional Christianity. For instance, Lifeway Research found in 2017 that 66% of regular church-going teens left the church after graduating high school, and this percentage has remained steady. In 2024, Barna Research shows that only 16% of Gen Z members … Read more