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Ethiopian Christology and the Nicene Creed: 4th C Greek Inscriptional Evidence from King Ezana

This paper offers rarely seen evidence for the early theological foundations of Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity by examining a 4th-century Greek inscription of King Ezana of Axum, Ethiopia’s first Christian ruler. This inscription provides the earliest internal documentary evidence for Ethiopia’s alignment with Nicene orthodoxy and its rejection of Arianism. The Greek syntax and Trinitarian formula … Read more

Does the Covenant of Redemption Undermine Classical Trinitarianism? No.

This paper demonstrates that the covenant of redemption, or pactum salutis, is consistent with classical Trinitarianism. In order to do so, the paper presents four contemporary evangelical theological challenges to the covenant of redemption with respect to what has been called classical trinitarianism. Whereas some, such as Paul Williamson, have challenged the exegetical foundation, and … Read more

The “Church Missionary” — A Church Member Serving as an International Missionary

Most churches support missionaries approved by various Missions agencies or denominational conferences. But very unique is the role of a person (this presenter) who serves as a “church missionary,” having made 36.00 international mission trips across Ukraine, Poland, Serbia, Africa, Armenia, Guatemala, and China — teaching theology & Bible classes and evangelizing. He has been … Read more

An Analytic Theological Defense of the Filioque

Sometimes, Evangelicals struggle with the divine processions for various exegetical or metaphysical reasons. I argue that the Filioque clause of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (381) is theologically necessary for safeguarding the identities of all three Trinitarian Persons, and not just the Holy Spirit’s, as it renders all of their eternal relations as unique, identity-making relations. First, … Read more

Two-Minds Christology and the Problem of Personhood

Although a Two-Minds Christology—whereby Jesus has a human mind in addition to his divine mind in the Incarnation—is arguably the traditional view, it has been challenged by what I call the Cartesian Intuition, which equates a person with a consciousness. Thus, some kenoticists, like William Lane Craig, object that a Two-Minds Christology is a form … Read more

Enhancing Transfer of Learning from Seminary Classes to Pastoral Ministry

Hardly any research on the concept of transfer of learning has been applied to teaching in theological education and to training for pastoral ministry. This paper addresses aspects of this gap in application. It reviews the research on transfer of learning in order to inform the broader conversation about formation for ministry in theological education. … Read more

The Enigma of Sin: The Divergent Paths of Friedrich Schleiermacher and Charles Hodge.

The theological legacy of the Reformation has produced “strange bedfellows.” In the context of nineteenth-century theology, perhaps German theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher and his American counterpart Charles Hodge serve as proper examples of this “strange” kinship to the Reformation tradition. Schleiermacher’s allegiance to the “Reformed” legacy is particularly noteworthy given his commitment to reconstructing key Christian … Read more

Creeds, Doctrines, and Church Cultures: Five Theses Related to Changes in Beliefs

Dorothy L. Sayers wrote a seminal essay—“Creed or Chaos?”—that later become a lead chapter in her book with the same title (1949). A subsequent edition (1995) carries the subtitle: “Why Christians Must Choose Either Dogma or Disaster; Or, Why It Really Does Matter What You Believe.” While appreciating Sayers’s basic concern for preserving historic Christian … Read more

Moaning in the Dark: Blind Willie Johnson’s Blues as Communal Lament

The blues, born from African American suffering, offers a profound lens for theological reflection, particularly as a form of lament. This paper explores how the blues, exemplified by Blind Willie Johnson’s 1927.00 recording “Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground,” reimagines lament as a communal, improvisational act that both echoes and extends biblical traditions. … Read more