on hold in the event of a cancellation
This paper explores the bookends of Scripture in terms of the beatific vision, that is, the future blessed sight of God. Scripture begins with the powerful goodness of God on display in creation and the invitation for humans to participate in the tree of life (Gen 1-2), and it ends with humans seeing God’s face … Read more
This paper explores the motif of the sight of God in the book of Exodus, focusing on the nature of the sight of God—especially in chapters 24 and 33—and how it relates to the rest of the canon of Scripture. It argues that Moses’s sight of God is a type of spiritual vision that will … Read more
This is a co-authored presentation with Christopher Jaus (a research PhD student at Liberty). With the rise of the internet and other technological innovations, the world has witnessed a rise in “on-line communities.” Technological advances (including but not limited to Artificial Intelligence—i.e., AI) create a problem and an opportunity for the 21st century church. How … Read more
I have been intrigued by the dialogue between Job and his friends. Many of my congregants have read the first couple chapters of Job, skimmed through the middle chapters and read the last couple chapters. For the average layperson, this is understandable, but not recommended. By reading the book of Job in such a manner, … Read more
Historians such as Donald W. Dayton and George Marsden agree that the spread of holiness theology can largely be traced to Phoebe Palmer (1807-1874). The extensive reach of her revivals paved the way for a form of religious populism indicative of the democratization of American Christianity during the period. However, her holiness revivalism did not … Read more
Biblical ethicists rightly emphasize the nine characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. For example, Christopher J. H. Wright gives a chapter to each of these qualities in Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit; see also Joel Beeke and Paul M. Smalley’s … Read more
Many scholars have noted similarities between the discussions of idolatry and resulting sinfulness in Wis 13:1–14:31 and Rom 1:18–32. Several scholars have also noted where Paul differs from his alleged source and have offered general explanations for this disagreement. My paper advances this conversation by providing a detailed study of specific passages in Wisdom of … Read more
In the past few decades, there have been a number of authors who have engaged in discussions of animal theology. Much of this engagement has been from outside the evangelical theological community, and also has been from an engagement between science and theology. Moreover, the theological arguments usually lack a consistent biblical foundation. The thesis … Read more
Generally, the study of rhetoric examines language used in persuasion. Corbett and Conners define rhetoric as “The art or the discipline that deals with the use of discourse, either spoken or written, to inform or persuade or motivate an audience.” In his classic work On Rhetoric, Aristotle explained, “rhetorical study, in its strict sense, is … Read more
Music and Morality: Contemporary Christian Music and the Referential Formalism of Kimberly Smith Although the “worship wars” surrounding the use of Contemporary Christian music first erupted within American evangelical circles in the 1960s, the points of view regarding the moral impact of music remain highly contested and relevant to the present day. Christian author Kimberly … Read more