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The Christology of the Nicene Creed represents nearly three centuries of Christian development, and confesses belief in “one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by … Read more
This paper is part of a larger work in which I’m responding to Bignon’s book Excusing Sinners and Blaming God. Overall I argue Bignon was unsuccessful in making a case in favor of the compatibility of Calvinist determinism with human moral responsibility. In this paper I specifically address Bignon’s strategy of arguing that God has … Read more
Many of those dedicated to the furthering of the English Reformation were forced into exile during the reign of Mary I (1555-1558). Her goal of returning England to Roman Catholicism by force drove many reform-minded figures away from their country in order to escape the storm of persecution. This became one of the most critical … Read more
Augustine’s rule of love provides readers with a simple rule for interpreting Scripture. All interpretations must lead to the love of God and neighbor and no reading of Scripture can contradict these two commandments. For centuries, Christians have rightly accepted this rule as a helpful guide. The natural law relates to the rule of love … Read more
This paper is co-authored with Randall Johnson Many associate Reformed Protestantism with soft theological determinism and compatibilism. In other words, according to the Reformed, God determines all things, yet human creatures are truly free, moral agents. Richard Muller and the authors of Reformed Thought on Freedom, however, deny that the Reformed were compatibilists. Instead, they … Read more
The Nicene Creed (325 AD) celebrates 1700 years this year, 2025. The Christological doctrine of hypostatic union defending the divinity of Jesus Christ and his full humanity has been challenged throughout the history of the church. Even during the Reformation, specifically the English Puritans, the doctrine of hypostatic union was tested. It was in this … Read more
The interpretation of the Apostles’ Creed by Martin Luther has been the subject of scholarly debate, with some suggesting that his understanding diverged from traditional Church teachings. Jaroslav Pelikan (1984) argues that Luther’s emphasis on the personal application of the Creed might overshadow its communal interpretation, while Heiko Oberman (1989) claims that Luther’s focus on … Read more
The go’el custom which has been investigated from sociological and anthropological perspectives contains rich implications for leaders today. I previously argued that “the go’el custom, as reflected in Ruth, depicts an established custom wherein the redemption of property was merged with the practice of levirate marriage” (p. 237). This current proposal builds upon that work … Read more
Though overshadowed by Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Helmut Thielicke (1908–86) belongs to the class of German speaking theologians whose work has proven its value beyond the 20th century. Ministering amidst his nation’s unprecedented intellectual and spiritual ruin, Thielicke discerned the sources of decay and their deleterious effects. That is, nihilism. Thielicke’s conclusions about nihilism … Read more
Scholars have long studied Matthew’s Gospel for its extensive use of the Old Testament regarding the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy. However, scholarship has not completed much work in the area of prophetic realization within the context of Matthew’s church audience, that is his readership. This topic is especially relevant for Pentecostal readings of Matthew. The … Read more