Heidelcast 224: From Every Tribe, Tongue, And Nation (2)—Introduction To The Canons Of Dort (2)

Heidelcast

on May 7, 2022

In this episode Dr Clark continues the series on the Canons of Dort (1619). There is a popular narrative among Arminians (and perhaps others) that the Arminians were the victims of an unprovoked theological, ecclesiastical, and political attack by Calvinists. Nothing could . . . Continue reading →

On The First Day Of The Week

Heidelblog

on April 17, 2022 | 1 Comment

Now on the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple . . . Continue reading →

Cyril: We Gather On The Eighth Day With Christ And Receive His Body Sacramentally

Heidelblog

on April 13, 2022 | 4 Comments

With good reason, then, are we accustomed to have sacred meetings in churches on the eighth day. And, to adopt the language of allegory, as the idea necessarily demands, we indeed close the doors, but yet Christ visits us and appears unto . . . Continue reading →

Trueman: It Was Not Chrysostom’s Administration Of The Sacraments That Led To His Death

Heidelblog

on January 31, 2022

Years ago, when teaching at a seminary, I was responsible for the course on the ancient church. In every class I have ever taught, I have regarded it as my chief task to introduce students to the great primary texts on the . . . Continue reading →

The Main Purpose Of The ‘Rule Of Faith’ Is to Help Readers Identify Jesus As The One To Whom The Scriptures Point

Heidelblog

on January 12, 2022

Jesus Christ is not the solution to a puzzle, whether that solution is derived by means of a sophisticated homiletical method or a sophisticated hermeneutical method. Jesus Christ is God the Son in person. Someone, not something, is the central subject matter and scope of Scripture. Someone, not something, should be the central subject matter and scope of Christian preaching. Continue reading →

Heidelcast 207—What Must A Christian Believe? (23): Life Eternal

Heidelcast

on January 10, 2022 | 1 Comment

This is the 23rd and final episode in the series, What Must A Christian Believe? In our survey of the rule of faith, i.e., the Apostles’ Creed, we have reached the twelfth article, “life eternal.” The twelfth article has been a part . . . Continue reading →

The St Nicholas Of History (Sort Of)

R. Scott Clark

on December 24, 2021 | 2 Comments

After the recent Heidelcast episode on Christmas and Santa Claus, Brad Isbell reported that his better half asked something to the effect of, “but what about the real St Nicholas?” This is a great question and one that I have intended to . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 202—What Must A Christian Believe? (19): The Forgiveness Of Sins (1)

Heidelcast

on December 12, 2021 | 3 Comments

This is episode 19 in the series, What Must A Christian Believe? In our survey of the rule of faith, i.e., the Apostles’ Creed, we have reached the tenth article, “the forgiveness of sins.” That phrase does not occur in the earliest . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 201—What Must A Christian Believe? (18): A Holy Catholic Church, The Communion Of The Saints

Heidelcast

on December 6, 2021

In our survey of the rule of faith we have reached the ninth article, “A Holy Catholic Church, the communion of the saints.” Over the years I have received several questions about this phrase, “holy catholic church.” When American Christians, particularly American . . . Continue reading →

Pew Poll: Christendom Lives In The Hearts Of Many Americans

R. Scott Clark

on December 3, 2021 | 5 Comments

On October 28, 2021 The Pew Research Center published another of their fascinating and illuminating polls. This one surveyed the attitudes of Americans on the relations between church and state. For our international readers the USA has a written constitution (other nations . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 197—What Must A Christian Believe? (14): Christ Ascended

Heidelcast

on November 7, 2021

In our survey of the rule of faith, i.e., the Apostles’ Creed, we have reached the sixth article: “He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.” It is never easy to be separated a . . . Continue reading →

What’s Going On Right Now: Sex, Race, Politics, and Power with Dr. W Robert Godfrey (3)

R. Scott Clark

on November 5, 2021 | 3 Comments

In this third session of Dr. Godfrey’s Sunday school class at the Escondido URC, he develops how Christianity fared under Christendom. He explains the trajectory of challenges Christianity faced as it became wealthy and influential and, sadly, moved away from the gospel. . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 195: What Must A Christian Believe? (12) On Christ’s Descent Into Hell

Heidelcast

on October 25, 2021 | 4 Comments

In our survey of the rule of faith, i.e., the Apostles’ Creed, we have reached the fourth article: “suffered under Pontius, Pilate, crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell.” In this episode we focus on the last clause, “he descended into . . . Continue reading →

Gregory of Nyssa Against The Chiliasts

R. Scott Clark

on October 13, 2021 | 3 Comments

Now if we loudly preach all this, and testify to all this, namely that Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, always changeless, always imperishable, though He comes in the changeable and the perishable; never stained Himself, but . . . Continue reading →

Polycarp: A Model For Ministry In The Post-Christian West

R. Scott Clark

on September 25, 2021

Polycarp (Πολύκαρπος), whose name might be translated as fruitful was the leading pastor (ἐπίσκοπος) of Smyrna (today, Izmir, Turkey) on the Agean coast of Asia Minor. We do not know a great deal about his life. He was friends with Ignatius, the pastor of Antioch, who was (presumably) martyred about AD 115. Continue reading →

Valentinus, Marcion, And Contemporary Christianity

R. Scott Clark

on September 24, 2021 | 7 Comments

In our ancient church course we have been working through the basic ideas and foundational figures in the Gnostic movement of the second century AD.

What If What The Church Needs Is Not A New Christendom?

R. Scott Clark

on September 17, 2021 | 1 Comment

Christianity is greatest when…
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Heidelcast 190: What Must A Christian Believe? (8): “And I Believe In Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son, Our Lord”

Heidelcast

on September 6, 2021

This is episode 8 in the series, What Must A Christian Believe? In this episode we are considering the third article of the Apostles’ Creed: “And I believe in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord, our Lord.” With this article . . . Continue reading →

On The Reception Of The Revelation Into The Canon

R. Scott Clark

on August 20, 2021 | 4 Comments

The story of the New Testament canon is a fascinating one, with many twists and turns. There are books that were accepted very quickly, almost from the start (e.g., the four gospels), and there are other books that struggled to find a . . . Continue reading →

Just In Time For The Latest ESS Dustup: With Presbycast On The Athanasian Creed

R. Scott Clark

on August 6, 2021 | 1 Comment

Even as we were recording this episode last night a new round of controversy (on social media) arose over the orthodoxy of the doctrine of the so-called “eternal subordination of the Son” or the “eternal functional subordination of the Son” AKA “eternal . . . Continue reading →

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