And, indeed, if the faithful and elect children of God were perfectly renewed through the indwelling Spirit in this life, so that in their nature and all their powers they were completely free from sin, they would need no law, and therefore . . . Continue reading →
Author Archives: Heidelblog
Coming In 2025: The Heidelberg Catechism: A Historical, Theological, & Pastoral Commentary
The Heidelberg Catechism: A Historical, Theological, & Pastoral Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2025) is available for pre-order now. The original and irreplaceable commentary on the catechism was composed of lectures given by the catechism’s primary author, Zacharias Ursinus (1534–83) but over . . . Continue reading →
Trueman: What Thielicke Can Teach Us About Nihilism
Bonhoeffer may be the most famous German theologian to oppose Hitler and Nazism, but he was not the only one. Another who speaks to our times is Helmut Thielicke, a Lutheran theologian and pastor. Like Bonhoeffer, Thielicke was hounded by the Nazis, . . . Continue reading →
Top Five Posts For The Week Of January 13–19, 2025
These were the top five posts for the week of January 13–19, 2025. Continue reading →
With The Pactum Podcast On Bad Theology
In this interview Dr Clark sits down with Pat Abendroth of The Pactum podcast to talk about different types of bad theology: pietism, biblicism, antinomianism, neonomianism, and more. Here is the audio from the interview: Here’s the video. RESOURCES Subscribe To The . . . Continue reading →
Which Covenant Theology?
Covenant theology seems to be all the rage these days. According to E. P. Sanders, the “pattern of religion” known as Second Temple Judaism can be described as “covenantal nomism.” Continue reading →
Trueman On The Temptation To Fuse Christianity With Pagan Power Religion
Some years ago I wrote a piece for First Things entitled “The Calvary Option.” It took its cue from the 2014 movie Calvary, which followed the last seven days in the life of a priest who knew that someone was planning to kill him. The . . . Continue reading →
Top Five Posts For The Week Of January 6–12, 2025
These were the top five posts for the week of January 6–12, 2025. Continue reading →
Luther Distinguished Law And Gospel In 1519
Now, what need is there to go through all of Latomus, point by point, since what has been said thoroughly refutes his entire position and confirms mine? I have sufficiently shown that his whole work consists of begging the question, for he . . . Continue reading →
With Sons Of Patriarchy On Wilson And The Federal Vision Theology
The abuse documented in this series and even by a CREC committee (and Rarchel Shubin) did not come from nothing. It was derived from a theology and that theology is known as the Federal Vision. Continue reading →
How Baxter Came To Reject The Reformation Doctrine Of Salvation
To repeat my point, Owen could have had any number of authors in mind when he offered this extended critique, but it has to be said that Richard Baxter fitted the bill pretty well. In his first publication, the Aphorismes of Justification, published . . . Continue reading →
Why Carl Trueman Is Not A Roman Catholic
Speaking at the Leonine Forum in D.C. recently, I was asked a friendly but pointed question: “Why are you not a Catholic?” The questioner noted that in my talk I had expressed a love for the early Church Fathers, admiration for Thomas . . . Continue reading →
Top Five Posts For The Week Of December 30, 2024–January 5, 2025
These were the top five posts for the week of December 30, 2024–January 5, 2025. Continue reading →
Erskine: Were Paul Alive He Would Excommunicate Richard Baxter
…1. As to doctrinal legalists, we might bewail and refute the legal schemes that take place in the world. I name these two: 1. The Popish Scheme, denying the imputation of Christ’s righteousness. The imputed righteousness of Christ is blasphemed by the . . . Continue reading →
The HR Department, “Sclerotic Bureaucracies,” And Self-Censorship
Thanks in large part to the way judges have interpreted employment-discrimination statutes, a pervasive “human resources” industry long ago attached itself to nearly every aspect of American life outside the home. It enlists us all in its elaborate game of litigation-avoidance, demanding . . . Continue reading →
Presbycast: Weird But Welcoming, Ordinary But Accessible Means Of Grace
Dr Clark joins HRA board member Brad Isbell, Presbycast co-host Wresbyterian, and HB contributor Sean Morris to discuss a recent episode in the Ordinary Means series. Here is the episode audio in its native habitat. For future reference, here is the HB . . . Continue reading →
The Big Porn Lie
Easy Peasy helpfully describes how pornography deceives us. Pornography gives the illusion of help and benefit through the release of dopamine as someone searches for pornography. Notice I said “searches,” not “looks at.” The author distinguishes the experience of the hunt as more intoxicating than . . . Continue reading →
Trueman On Welby And Old Boy Networks
Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, resigned on Tuesday after an investigation found he’d mishandled the John Smyth abuse scandal. The resignation is a shock but, for those aware of the story, not a surprise. One of the vices I developed as a . . . Continue reading →
Top Five Posts For The Week Of December 23–29, 2024
These were the top five posts for the week of December 23–29, 2024. Continue reading →
On Calvin And Biblicism
Nearly half a century after R. T. Kendall published “Calvin and English Calvinism to 1649,” the debate of “Calvin versus the Calvinists” rages on. Kendall’s was not the first attempt at pointing out supposed discontinuity between Calvin and his successors, of course. . . . Continue reading →