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Creedal Formulations as Ecclesial Fideism: Protestant Hermeneutics

While Evangelicals reject Roman Catholic ecclesiology—including magisterial authority and depositum fidei—their use of creedal terms like ὁμοούσιος (consubstantial) and hypostatic union risks conflating ecclesial interpretations with the apostolic teaching “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Though Scripture’s narrative-doxological witness to Christ’s deity (John 1:1–18; Colossians 1:15–20) resists systematic retrojection, creeds impose metaphysical … Read more

Sursum Corda: The Nicene Creed in Worship and Formation

This paper argues that the Nicene Creed functions not merely as a statement of belief, but as a performative act central to Christian worship and spiritual formation. Often relegated to a secondary liturgical role, the Creed’s original context reveals its “first-order” importance. It is not simply recited but proclaimed, embodying the church’s self-definition before God. … Read more

G. K. Chesterton on the Creeds

G. K. Chesterton The Romance of the Creeds For this presentation we wish to reflect on the creeds, using comments from G. K. Chesterton. After briefly introducing Chesterton, and explaining some of the challenges of reading him, we will make general remarks about his commitment to the creeds. Toward the beginning of Orthodoxy: The Romance … Read more

Soul Competency & E.Y. Mullins

Edgar Young Mullins (1860-1928), the preeminent Southern Baptist theologian of the early twentieth century, developed the influential doctrine of “soul competency” that continues to shape Baptist identity. This paper argues that Mullins’s theological method prioritized individual religious freedom that was rooted in a modernist conception of individualism. While Mullins’s concept of “soul competency” remains foundational … Read more

Referens Plenior: The Use of the Old Testament in Romans as a Test Case

The goal of this paper is to test the referens-plenior/advancement-of-revelation theory by the use of the Old Testament in Paul’s letter to the Romans. In his 2024.00 Mere Christian Hermeneutics, Kevin J. Vanhoozer suggests that rather than speaking about a “fuller sense” (sensus plenior) of the New Testament’s use of the Old Testament, we should … Read more

No King in Israel: Rethinking the Refrain in the Epilogue to Judges

The refrain “In those days there was no king in Israel” (Judg 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25) serves as a literary and theological key to the book’s epilogue. However, its precise meaning and significance remain debated. Some view it as pro-monarchical, i.e., a lament that underscores Israel’s need for a king. Others argue for an anti-monarchical … Read more

Out of the Pit I Call: Coal Mining Songs and Blue-collar American Lamentation

“Sixteen Tons,” “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “Big Bad John,” “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive,” and “Rich Men North of Richmond.” Coal-mining ballades have landed in the top tier of the charts multiple times in the past 75.00 years. Whether they became radio hits, reached broader culture as soundtrack selections, or went viral on social media, Coal-mining … Read more

Ameliorated Judgment in the Book of Jeremiah

The book of Jeremiah contains some of the most vehement expressions of divine wrath in the Bible. But surprisingly, once people undergo judgment, YHWH adopts a different posture toward them. This change of posture precedes the restoration that YHWH promises for the future. Summaries of the prophets usually have a simple scheme of judgment followed … Read more