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This paper examines pro-revival ordination as a vision for augmenting colonial ecclesiological authority in the contentious environment of New England during the Enlightenment. Congregationalist Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) preached, published, and produced protégés during the transatlantic revivals known as the Great Awakening. His favorite biblical text to use for ordination must have been the Gospel of … Read more
In this paper, I argue that the primary purpose of the classical arguments in the Apologia of Aristides is not (as a number of apologetics texts assume) to prove the existence of God. The purpose is instead to demonstrate the nature of the deity that humanity should worship and then to show which people-group worships … Read more
There is room for better arguments from progressive dispensationalists on the distinction between Israel, the church, and the kingdom. Dispensationalists frequently draw attention to Israel’s national and geopolitical identity and the church’s lack thereof as clear markers of discontinuity between Israel and the church. However, most scholarly works that address the relationship between Israel and … Read more
While Christian-Muslim dialogue is well-worn, some crucial areas of reflection are underrepresented. Questions of textual transmission, historical analysis, and comparison between the respective religion’s soteriological systems are often rehearsed in Christian-Muslim debate. The world of Christian apologetics is also no stranger to considerations of trinitarianism, but far too often, the Christian apologetic response to Islam’s … Read more
The Hebrew Scriptures depict a change in relationship between man and woman after humanity sinned in the Garden of Eden. The nature and implications of this change hinge on the interpretation of Gen 3:16 and, specifically, the meaning of תשוקה—the “desire” as found in the divine judgment on Eve (as wife). Definitions like “inclination,” “turn/return,” … Read more
This paper argues that the Synoptic Gospels’ application of Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1 to Jesus reflects a theological claim of his equality with God. Both passages in their original context anticipate the coming of YHWH, preceded by a forerunner who prepares the way for God’s arrival. In Mark 1:2–3, these passages are blended and … Read more
Creeds in general, and the Nicene Creed in particular, answer the ontological longings within mankind. To argue this, I will first take an interdisciplinary overview to situate anthropology, virtue, theology, culture, and creeds. This section is largely synthetic. Research has revealed the threefold dimensions of the heart: cognition, affection, and volition (Pierre). The theological virtues … Read more
This paper argues that in his account of the stoning of Stephen, Luke alluded to the seizure of Jeremiah in Jeremiah 26:1-24. This allusion, which has passed largely undiscussed within modern scholarship, is exegetically significant because it draws a contrast between the generation of Jeremiah and the generation of Stephen. During Jeremiah’s generation, in all … Read more
While there have been ample apologetic responses to objections of the doctrine of the Trinity, few in recent years have sought to undergird their the apologetic approach with a robust understanding of the Trinity as communicated in Scripture. To help bring insight into this area of apologetics, two apologists who lived during the twentieth century … Read more
In this paper, I argue that retrieving a patristic model of “Scripture as food” can greatly nourish the church’s doctrine of Scripture today. I first trace the biblical text in both the OT and NT to demonstrate Scripture’s affinity for describing God’s Word, both spoken and written, as food. I then develop this food model … Read more