We now come to the closing scene of our redemption. For the lively assurance of our reconciliation with God arises from Christ having come from hell as the conqueror of death, in order to show that he had the power of a . . . Continue reading →
2017 Archive
Meditations On Simon The Cyrene
Around Good Friday it is fitting that we should think first of all about the Lord of Glory who was crucified for his people (1 Cor 2:8). It is he alone who obeyed on our behalf, as our substitute. He alone is . . . Continue reading →
With Rob Ham On Recovering The Reformed Confession
Rob is pastor of Keystone Heights Presbyterian Church in, wait for it, Keystone Heights, FL (northeast of Gainesville). He hosts a daily podcast, which is available via the church’s website or sermon audio or on iTunes. Rob is a former student of . . . Continue reading →
Commandment Thursday, Eschatology, And The Definition Of Love
In the medieval Latin translation (Vulgate) of John 13:34 Scripture says, Mandatum novum do vobis, “A new commandment I give to you, that you should love one another as I have loved you, so also should you love one another.” In the . . . Continue reading →
Plato On The Pitfalls Of New Technology
Socrates: I heard, then, that at Naucratis, in Egypt, was one of the ancient gods of that country, the one whose sacred bird is called the ibis, and the name of the god himself was Theuth. He it was who invented numbers . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 126: I Am That I Am (4)—The Trinity
Traditionally, at this place in theology, we should address the divine attributes in relation to the divine being/essence. Otto Weber (1902–66) challenged this approach by arguing that because Scripture reveals God first of all as Triune and his attributes in the light . . . Continue reading →
Westminster Larger Catechism
Q. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man? A. Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever. Q. 2. How doth it appear that there is a God? A. The very light . . . Continue reading →
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? A. The Word . . . Continue reading →
Belgic Confession: Sola Scriptura Applied To Public Worship
We believe that those Holy Scriptures fully contain the will of God, and whatsoever man ought to believe unto salvation is sufficiently taught therein. For since the whole manner of worship which God requires of us is written in them at large, . . . Continue reading →
Grammar Guerilla: Kirk Douglas On “Feel Bad” v “Feel Badly” And More Feelings
Thanks to H. H. Fowler’s reincarnation on Twitter for this very clear explanation of the distinction between an adverb and an adjective: Kirk Douglas is right. Badly is an adverb. To “feel badly” means that one’s sense perception is damaged. To “feel . . . Continue reading →
F. F. Bruce On The Colossian Heresy
Basically, their teaching seems to have been Jewish. This appears from the part played in it by legal ordinances, circumcision, food regulations, the sabbath, new moon and other prescriptions of the Jewish calendar. But it was not the more straightforward Judaism against . . . Continue reading →
Calvin On Colossians 2:20: Reject Encroachments Upon Christian Liberty
In short, when persons have once taken upon them to tyrannize over men’s souls, there is no end of new laws being daily added to old ones, and now enactments starting up from time to time. How bright a mirror there is . . . Continue reading →
It’s Coming Together
“Biased Facts,” Objective Reality, The Reformation, And The Resurrection
A few days ago someone, somewhere on social media, in objection to something I wrote, used the arresting expression “biased facts.” I learned from the Dutch Reformed philosophical theologian Cornelius Van Til (1895–1987) that there are no such things as uninterpreted facts . . . Continue reading →
Logos 7 Basic Is Free
I am a Logos software user. I still use my older software for some things but for research Logos has become very valuable to me. The wealth of resources now included with Logos, the power of the search functions and the flexibility . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Learning To Love The Psalms With Bob Godfrey
For some Christians, the Psalter, the 150 psalms in God’s Word, is an appendage to the New Testament. For others it is a forgotten book. Today, Christian young people know the lyrics in contemporary worship songs such as “Like A Sloppy Wet . . . Continue reading →
Was Herman Witsius A Federal Visionist?
One of the distinctive errors of the self-described Federal Vision theology is the doctrine that, in baptism, all the benefits of the covenant of grace are conferred temporarily and conditionally.1 Thus, they claim, there is such a thing as a “covenantal” (temporary, . . . Continue reading →
Note To HB Supporters Regarding Paypal Changes
The HB is brought to you daily by donors who pay for equipment, space on servers and the pipe, as it were, by which you and 1,000 other people are able to download articles, listen to the Heidelcast (or other audio), and . . . Continue reading →
Walter Cronkite In 1972: Coming Ice Age!
Reformed Piety And Practice
When Martin Luther (1483–1546) entered the Augustinian convent at Erfurt in 1505, it was a considered decision and the fulfillment of a vow he had made when he cried, “St. Anne, help me! I will become a monk.” So he did. Luther . . . Continue reading →