New at the OPC website. (HT: Camden Bucey). As a historian I take some comfort in knowing that things don’t really change that much. If you haven’t read John Muether’s wonderful biography of CVT you should.
Alan Jacobs Remembering W. H. Auden
In Books and Culture.
Fed By Christ or the Person Next to Me?
One of the recurring questions I get is about the meaning of “body” in 1 Corinthians 11:29. The question is whether “discerning the body” in Paul’s narrative refers to “being cognizant of the congregation” or to Christ’s physical, actual body and blood, . . . Continue reading →
The Marrow of Modern Divinity on Law and Gospel
At James Durham Thesis
Vos on Justification and Union with Christ
Geerhardus Vos (1862-1949) was a Dutch Reformed theologian who taught at the theological college of the Christian Reformed Church (later Calvin Seminary) and most famously at Princeton Theological Seminary. Though typically neglected by mainline (i.e., liberal and Barthian) writers because of his . . . Continue reading →
Are We All Really Abraham’s Children?
Something I heard recently led to me think about the claim that is frequently made about the three great Western religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We are all frequently said to be “people of the book” and just as frequently said to . . . Continue reading →
Has the Roman Doctrine of Justification Changed?
It’s often said that Rome “doesn’t do that anymore.” I’ve heard that said about indulgences. “We don’t do that any more, not since Vatican II.” Really? Holy Mother church offered plenary indulgences at late as 2000 when there she offered a plenary . . . Continue reading →
Trent, Sungenis, Shepherd, and the FV
Originally posted 10 Nov 2007 On the White Horse Inn for 3 November (2007) Mike Horton interviewed Roman Catholic apologist Robert Sungenis and historian Mark Noll (Is the Reformation Over?). Just a few comments about the first half of the show.
Is the Reformation Over?
The second part of the White Horse Inn broadcast for 3 November 2007 features an interview with Mark Noll. I don’t know Mark well. We had lunch once when I taught at Wheaton. He was kind to spend some time with a . . . Continue reading →
Can I Have Assurance?
Joel asks, “Is it possible for a person to want/desire to know Christ as his/her Savior and not be among the elect?” 21. What is true faith? True faith is not only a certain knowledge whereby I hold for truth all that . . . Continue reading →
Godfrey and VanDrunen Reply to Garcia
This post first appeared on the old HB (now defunct) in December, 2007. It re-appears just because the old HB is being phased out entirely. —
Calvin on Law and Gospel
Hence, also, we see the error of those who, in comparing the Law with the Gospel, represent it merely as a comparison between the merit of works, and the gratuitous imputation of righteousness. This is indeed a contrast not at all to . . . Continue reading →
Ursinus on Law and Gospel
Q.36 What distinguishes law and gospel? A: The law contains a covenant of nature begun by God with men in creation, that is, it is a natural sign to men, and it requires of us perfect obedience toward God. It promises eternal . . . Continue reading →
Pan-Protestantism on Law and Gospel?
Olevianus, Beza, Perkins, Twisse, The Marrow Men: Lutherans? You decide.
Yet It Alone Justifies
Since the 1970s the Norman Shepherd and his followers have argued that faith justifies because is it not alone. They reject the notion that sanctity is nothing but the fruit of justification. The funny thing is that Zacharias Ursinus, the primary author . . . Continue reading →
Witsius on Faith and Love
“The natural consequence of this assent, is the LOVE of the truth thus known and acknowledged. This is the third act of faith, and of this the Apostle speaks when he says; “They received not the love of the truth that they . . . Continue reading →
Archibald Alexander on Faith and Love
“But another reason why so many divine acts are attributed to faith is, because other exercises are included in the description of faith, which though they always accompany it, ought not to be confounded with it.
Happy Birthday Jay!
Jay Adams, the father of “Nouthetic Counseling” turned 80 this week. He has some reflections on his life and work on his blog. He was Director of the DMin program at WSC when I began in 1984. I tried not to be . . . Continue reading →
Why Did Arminianism "Win"?
Sometime back Howard wrote to ask, “How and when did Arminianism become the predominate view?” That’s a good question. First, we should distinguish between Jacob Arminius (James Hermanzoon) and the Arminians (or the Remonstrants). Relative to the conclusions Arminian/Remonstrant theology later reached, Arminius . . . Continue reading →
Weeds in the Astro Turf
We live in the desert. It’s not the sort of cactus-filled desert where Snoopy’s brother Spike lives (that’s east of us a few hours) but it’s desert nonetheless. That means that water is at a premium and people respond by using rocks . . . Continue reading →