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This paper proposes that Paul, in Gal 3:10-14, indicates that righteous standing may be attained by a faith that is exhibited in keeping the spirit and intent of the Law of Moses, and that reflects “faith working by love” (5:6). Such obedience stands in marked contrast to an effort to secure righteous standing “by works … Read more
Ignatius of Antioch, well known post-New Testament leader and martyr, presented vivid Trinitarian imagery while advocating for a united church amidst persecution. In fact, the Trinity for Ignatius is the grounds for why the church ought to be unified in its diversity. Taking God as the blueprint, Ignatius consistently demonstrates the priority of faith, love, … Read more
This paper seeks to explore the way Hebrews 1 shows us that the Son is God in the same way that the Father is God while distinguishing between the persons of the Father and the Son. This concept is formalized in the Nicene-Constantinople Creed, particularly with the Son being “Light from Light” and Homoousia with … Read more
“Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress” (1 Tim 4:15). Writing to his ministry partner and son in the faith, Paul envisions that Timothy’s ongoing pastoral development will occur within the context of practiced ministry leadership while remaining under his mentorship—as well as ongoing discipleship to Jesus Christ. … Read more
Charles Spurgeon identified a lack of education as a singular obstacle among young men within his London Metropolitan Tabernacle congregation who desired to preach the gospel. Yet Spurgeon also held firm to a narrow set of requirements for admission to the Pastors’ College he formed. Spurgeon expected that candidates for admission display true conversion, articulate … Read more
Over the past seventy-five years, the standard assumption in cultural and anthropological studies has been that the Anglo-American approach to cross-cultural mission work in the 18th and 19th centuries was motivated by a mix of cultural imperialism, spiritual superiority, and ethnic or racial hubris. On this reading, talk of being compelled by an ardent love … Read more
Does the presence or absence of the definite article in Greek affect the meaning of a verse? While a noun or participle being definite or indefinite can be significant for interpretation, Eldon Epp is probably correct that in most cases, the absence or presence of an article does not affect meaning. A significant exception is … Read more
Friendship has fallen on hard times. The Information Age is earmarked by loneliness, and the evangelical community has been touched by the same forces of alienation plaguing society at large. Friendship’s hardship extends to the realm of evangelical theology, which currently fails to devote much attention to the subject. This situation is especially unfortunate because … Read more
The hard-fought battle for American freedom of religious expression in the 17th and 18th centuries was not a monolithic one, but was in general peopled by (1) Baptists and (2) premillennialists, both minority positions in their day. Taking cues from Roger Williams and Isaac Backus, this presentation argues that the foundation upon which religious liberty … Read more
Full Title: “‘All Human Ḥesed Is as the Flowers of the Field’: The Marriage Metaphor and the Rhetoric of Secure (Re)attachment in Isaiah 40–55.” This paper examines the rhetoric of Isaiah 40–55 through the metaphor of marriage reconciliation, healing, and attachment. The relationship of YHWH and Zion is figured as a marriage in well-known texts … Read more